Toyota Isis Magazine

I bought this magazine about a year ago when I Isis come into my family. Its an old magazine back in 2005 and it feature everything about Isis to the reader. It started with the development concept from Toyota to the comparison with Wish and Noah and close with the catalogue of Toyota Isis.
You could always order a copy from the local Kinokuniya and the details are as below :-

ISBN : 4-87904-821-6
Price : JPY 420 / RM 21.20

And a word of caution, it is entirely in Japanese as this is purely for the Japanese market only.

New Toyota Isis Commercial (Japan)

The above is the latest commercial for Toyota Isis. You can see the new design of the front grill of Toyota Isis.

Changing Air Cond Filter

Afte using Isis for a year, I think the air cond performance decreases maybe due to the air cond filter chocked with dust and dirt. So one day I open up my passenger side drawer and take out the filter to have a look, it was black and dirty. I remember take this out during the first day of owning the car 1 year ago that it is clean and white, never think it will change to this condition after 1 year.

To change the filter is easy, you just need to open up the drawer and remove the air cond filter holder and replace the filter only.
I bought a replacement filter from local denso supplier for around RM50.00 and replace it myself following the photo shown above. The filter that I bought are meant for Toyota Wish and I assume that it can be used in my Isis. The original filter were different because the side panel are square and thick, while the denso are thin.
Anyway the part number for this filter are :- 014520-0890

Reverse sensor

During my visit to CNAudio, I also take the opportunity to install a set of reverse sensor because of an parking incident by my wife the other day. After an explaination from the boss, I choose the more expensive model as he say it is much better and faster.

I don't really understand why and how but the price is not too much of a different between the cheaper model and this one, I just choose it. Plus the sensor have the same colour with my car then it will reduce the cost and time to paint match it.

I think most toyota have the reverse beeping sound as standard even without the reverse sensor. So by installing this, when I engage reverse I will hear 2 different beep as one from the toyota while the second sharper sound will come from the reverse sensor.

Personally, I feel the sensor is just a safety device, my other car have no reverse sensor and I have used to it for some time. Just remember to look at the side and rear windor more during reverse.

2nd row blower from Taiwan

A few months ago, I bought this item from a group buy in WishClubMalaysia and I been keeping it in the store because of lack of time to go to install it. However after a road trip during Hari Raya that my Isis need to carry 7 person including myself, I think its time to install it before the next road trip. Reasons ? During the afternoon the cold air at the front can't penetrate or reach the third row resulting a big complain and some comments.

This blower is not an air conditioner system, it is just a blower that function to blow air from one side to the other. Simply say it is a fan. It is made in Taiwan and I heard that the Toyota Wish at Taiwan do install it in their car. There are 2 speed for this blower, and the operation switch can be switch to I or II for the different fan speed and when you activate it, it will turned on the side led too.

A few days ago, I drop by CNAudio in Shah Alam to install this item, it is a highly recommened shop for its good workmanship. I do agree with it. The boss is friendly too.
Above is the photo of where it is fix in the car now. I had tested it and the 3 row passanger can really feel the air even on the low setting.

The second photo show when it is activated with the blue led glow at the side.

For those having a MPV same as me or wanted something like this for the comfort of the back passanger, it is a good upgrade for car in the hot and humid country same as Malaysia.

Toyota Isis U-Selection in town

Found an advert about this car in the internet and it is the highest spec for Toyota Isis, its a year 2005 model 2l. You can also spot that it had sonar sensor, rear air-conditioner, front camera and twin power door.
Its the best you can get from Toyota Isis but the price is still a bit too high. If it is price at around RM100k then it will be a good deal as the car was manufactured back in 2005 it will soon be a 10 year old car.
Anyway, for those looking to get one. Try to contact this seller and see the car for yourself.
Links to their website:-
http://www.carlist.my/used-cars/458431/

p/s : I have no association and link with the seller. Don't come back and blame me for anything.

Toyota Isis Crash Test Video

Today I found this video regarding the crash test for Toyota Isis. Many people does question the ability of Isis to endure the side collision for the panoramic door design. I hope this video will give them assurance that it is a good car. I do believe now. The model used for the frontal design and side collision is Platana.

Below is the video for frontal collision :-


This is for the side collision (left hand side) where the pillarless design of the door :-


I am not sure whether the result is good or bad but it mention it got a 6 stars. I think that is pretty enough for a MPV.

Tom's Racing for Isis

Here is another company that does aftermarket parts for Isis, Tom's Racing is another great company that does internal and external modification parts for Toyota cars.

Links to the company website :-
http://www.tomsracing.co.jp/products/car/typedetails.php?carID=1090&typeID=2108

WALD Parts for Isis

Wald International is one of the leading styling house for many Japanese car. They also produce styling kit for JDM Toyota Isis too and their car in black is very beautiful to my taste. The style that they bring is very smart and executive like.
They only produces external parts and not engine mod like other modification company.

Links to their website :-
http://www.wald.co.jp/parts_acce/carrange/toyota/isis/10isis/isis.html

TRD Parts for Isis

If you like to modify your car, TRD is one of the best modification house for Toyota. You can refer here for all parts for Isis (JDM) market. Always use google translate or any online translator to have a better understanding.

Links to TRD Japan website (Isis) :-
http://www.trdparts.jp/list_isis.html

ABS Problem

After using my Isis for around 6 months, a weird problem surfaces during my outstation trip. My ABS light will on after pressing my brake pedal/engage my brake. But the ABS light will gone after I stop and restart my engine.
This problem will arise more frequently over time and I wonder what causes this problem. My car is a new car and even it is and old production model but it is still new, all the parts are new and I really doubt it is a ABS sensor problem.
Hence I started to search online for potential solutions to this and might even get the source of the problem. I read around a few forums and mostly direct my search to Toyota Wish fan's forum as there are not many English forum that discusses about Isis. Isis is a JDM only car and not exported out of Japan, so finding information outside of Japan is very hard.

After facing this problem for a few months, I manage to get some leads. It turn out that the potential cause of this problem lies at the faulty brake switch. Then I take sometime to look and try to disconnect the wire and reroute it back a few times. It seems to solve the problem but after a while the ABS light will come back during driving, but the interval is much longer.

Fedup with this constant popping of ABS light, I visit my favourite spare part shop in Sentul and ask for the replacement parts (brake switch) for Isis. It cost my RM80.00 for it and it just a simple job changing it.

Since replacing the brake switch, I had never had problem with the ABS light on again. I think it had solve the problem I am facing. If you are having the same problem, try give it a try too.

Brake switch part number :- 84340-69025

Add on Fog Lamp

My Isis doesn't come original equip with fog lamp and there is a black plastic cover on the supposedly fog lam locations. Hence after discussion with my wife that we need extra light during the long night outstation trip, I started to find online for a Isis fog lamp.
Then I bump into an online seller that sell the original fog lamp kit for Isis and the same design for 2005 model. There are some difference between the old and new Isis bumper design, so I am skeptical during the initial period before the purchase.
The original fog lamp kit come with everything you need for DIY job to install it, a pair of fog lamp, switch, relay and instruction manual, even the screws are included. That is why I like original add on kit, they will think and package everything you ever need to do it yourself.

I take this opportunity to install it myself and it is not too difficult if you can read japanese because the instruction manual is in Japanese but it comes with plenty of picture to guide you. I pretty much look at the picture as a guide.

I didn't manage to capture some photo on the process installing the fog lamp but it is not difficult and should be around 1-2 hours job.

Overall it is a great add-on the my Isis and it does really enhance the look and functionality of the car. If your Isis doesn't come with one, you should order and install one too!

The parts number for the fog lamp kit :- 81025-44080

Some of the Toyota Isis Commercial in Japan

All these commercial is in Japanese and for Japan market only. Toyota uses a lot of family and leisure approach to sell Isis as a fun car to drive and to be enjoy.

2005 commercial :-


2006 commercial :-


2007 commercial :-


2008 commercial :-


2009 commercial :-


2011 commercial :-


All the video were posted in youtube and you can search more commercial in youtube directly. If you understand what they are saying, drop me a comments too.

If you watch the commercial, you may notice that for year 2005& 2006 the word "Your Oasis" is being used as the tagline to sell Isis. I not sure whether it is because the word "Oasis" sound familiar to "Isis" and the feeling of "Oasis" is the way they hope the car will bring to the owner. Anyway, I think it is not that sellable using that word and eventually they drop it out for the commercial from year 2007 onwards.

Anyway, I really like how Japanese market their car using the soft touches of life which is not entirely showing the pro of the car directly/focus on that part. They show you the entire feeling of having the car.

Toyota Isis Brochure

Who don't like to read brochure and find nice photo in it. Here you can download some of the brochure release by Toyota Japan about Isis.

Links to Toyota Isis Brochure (2004) :-
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=AHXECWHC

Links to Toyota Isis Brochure (2005) :-
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=S1AZ4ORQ

Links to Toyota Isis Brochure (2007) :-
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=IYYI6CHT

What's is Toyota Isis

Launch in September 2004, Toyota Isis is a mini-MPV grade passanger car my by Kanto-Auto Works for Japan Domentic Market (JDM). This model is still available now only for Japan market and come in 2 engine sizes 1.8l and 2.0l.



Engine had change from the old and reliable 1ZZ-FE (1.8l) and 1AZ-FSE - Direct Fuel Injection (2.0l) to 2ZR-FAE (1.8l) and 3ZR-FAE (2.0l) both Direct Fuel Injection and Dual VVT-i new engine.

What is so special about Toyota Isis ?
Toyota Isis is design with the concept of being practical and with characteristic. Compare to others Toyota model in the same grade i.e. Toyota Wish or Noah, it feature a built in B pillar to the sliding door on the left of the car, something which is very rare in the MPV market. Toyota name it panoramic door. When open together with the front passenger door, you can have a feeling of space and wideness in the interior of the car. The left hand side sliding door come standard with power activated vacuum seal.



Toyota Isis seat 7 with a 2-3-2 configuration and the front passenger seat and be folded to the front to extend the 2nd row leg room a bit more.

Overall, Toyota Isis is a special mini-MPV car offer to the Japan market.

Links to Toyota Isis - Press release document :-
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=MYWF08WP

Links to Toyota Isis Japan website (Japanese) :-
http://toyota.jp/isis/index.html