Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1998 09:15:11 -0500 From: Ron Vopicka <cvopickanopsams.com> Subject: Re: Another Camry 300K miles engine with real data
Mr. Ed wrote: > > ah pook wrote in message <3678a2f8.6059775nopsam.slip.net>... > >Well, maybe I'm the exception to the rule, but I've got a Camry that's > >a total lemon! > > > >89 Camry wagon (cheaper 4 cyl model, don't know what the engine model > >is). 86k miles, driven gently by my wife until she got a 97 V70 GLT, > >which she is *much* happier with. Now I have it, though I'm shopping > >for a C70 for early next year. > > > > You don`t say how it was maintained , before and after you acquired it.No > car will live long without proper maintenance, just like people. Lemons are not brand specific, and this one with the muffler problem would seem to have (have had) a serious engine combustion/tuning problem. Other than the problems, this car sounds a lot like my wifes 1991 Camry wagon (currently with 107k). Nothing has been done to the car... and I don't know why. She drives like a demon (thank deity it was a 4 cylinder we bought and not the 6... she would surely have wrapped it around something solid by now). She goes thru brakes about 3x as fast as I do (ride with her and you will know why) and tires 30-40% faster. We got her one of those 10 alignments for $100 deals (the tire dealers figure no one will use more than 2), and she goes back religiously every 7500 miles. She has had tires replaced twice with 40% rebates on the new ones because they didn't make it to the 60k miles that they guaranteed. I think they are sorry they ever did this deal with us. BTW, she has always been this way on tires and brakes, on numerous other cars. Timing belt replaced once (as scheduled maintenance). The Toyota dealer tried to tell her bolts had fallen out of the transmission, engine oil pan, and suspension (bull****) and a LOT of extra work would be needed if she was going to have a "safe" vehicle. She blasted them... and has never been back (btw, nothing had fallen out, nothing was replaced... you can't trust some dealer service departments) That was the ONLY trip to a dealer/servicer. Original muffler still on the car (it is probably afraid to fail on her). Uses no oil between changes. Oh, just so you don't think I change the oil on this one every 10,000 miles, too, fear not. Oil is changed about every 7-7.5k miles. I AM consistent, however, as it too is changed twice a year mid-spring and just before winter sets in. Aside from believing in 2x a year changes, her short-trip driving pattern rates changes more frequently than 10,000 miles. Oh, I headlight bulb and the wiper blades have been replaced (once). YMMV. Ron
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