maintenance advice needed by tomorrow night!

[Robertslowpoke]

hi! thanks for ALL your great help. my daughter left her car with me for a bit. i would like to go through it. i just washed, clayed, and collinite waxed it. looks surprisingly good.

it is a 1999 toyota Camry. 56,000 original miles. it has had a timing belt done around 30,000 miles. new brakes and tires. new flex pipe on the exhaust, needed to pass inspection. my mechanic will do the work this Friday morning, 7 am.

only question: What should i have him do?

I myself with my limited knowledge would consider transmission fluid change, brake fluid change, steering fluid change, coolant change, check all belts and hoses. engine and cabin air filters. ???new spark plugs????

thanks for any hints!

have a GREAT summer day!


best
Bob

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

It needed a timing belt at only 30k...?

 

[bruno]

Timing belts are replaced on a time/distance basis - whichever comes first and the car is a 1999 .

 

[eljefino]

Depending on how the low miles racked up, the TB might have been an okay idea at 10 years age/ 30k if one were afraid of the rubber cracking or the short trip driving rotating the belt more than the miles would indicate.

A little "Type A" but if one is interested in keeping the demons at bay at any cost...

I'd do what's needed for inspection. 56k is still pretty new. If you keep slowly racking up the miles like this the car will rust out before it has any other issues.

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

Good points.

 

[Robertslowpoke]

thanks guys! wife's sister was original owner, did timing belt AROUND 30,000 miles at around 5 years old. preventative maintenance.

i am more concerned about what to do on Friday!!!

any ideas? want to help out my daughter, who cannot afford a new car.

best

bob

 

[scurvy]

I think your plan is sound: all fresh fluids (oil, PSF, ATF, brake fluid, coolant) & filters (oil, engine air, cabin air), check condition of belts, tensioners, hoses, plugs, wires, distributor cap & brakes. Check the spare tire condition & inflation. Let the mechanic know this car gets low mileage short trips.

Give it a double dose of Gumout Regane (or your favorite PEA fuel additive) and take it out for a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG highway drive, fill it up with fresh fuel.

 

[pbm]

Bob, I would do all the things you mention and possibly change the pcv valve too.

The PS fluid you can do yourself with a turkey baster. The coolant you can do, the pcv and filters too.

 

[CharBaby]

Well Bob, all of the maintenance items that you mentioned are all great ideas that will help the car last and to keep your daughter safe and away from the wrong mechanic. And too, this will let you know where you stand with the car. Can you get them done in a short time frame?...IDK!

When my daughter bought her '06 Mazda(50K miles) in Aug. 2009, I went through it and father-ized it but, over time!

I preformed all of the items that you mentioned but, over a several months. She lives 80 miles away from home and each time she came home for a visit/weekend, I did a little something to the car for example:

The very first week, I went through the brakes at each wheel. Took off each wheel, starting with the Pass/Rear, lifted off the caliper, checked the pads and blead out the fluid. Proceded to the next wheel.

Another time it was the tranny fluid, drain/refill. Then the coolant & P/S fluid, drain/refill(s). And so on! After each time I do a maintenance item, I then wash/vacuum. Of course, I have done many 4+mo/4K+mile OCI's(or longer). She doesn't come home often but when she does, I try to do something. Sometimes not as it doesn't always need something. Now, we're on top of things.

Since then, I have done even more, as she uses her car for her job and puts on about 20K-23K mile/year. Between Oct/Nov 2010, I put in a new AutoCraft GOLD battery, Rain-X Latitude beam wipers and 4 Hankook Optimo H727 tires. In April 2011 I installed all new brakes/rotors(Centric premium rotors and Posi-Quiet Ceramic pads).

Before winter this comming year,new drive belts. They look fine but are still OE and there is 80K miles on the car now. Engine has a timing chain. Engine has never thrown any codes in almost 2yrs. I'm waiting though!

The used car dealer that she bought the car from did a nice job preparing the car with new front brake pads/turned rotors, rotated the tires, changed the oil/filter and ATF. Car was nice an clean in/out/engine compartment.

I just want to know that the car has the specific fluids that are correct for the car or the fluids that I have chosen based on knowlage/BITOG. My daughter has yet to have a single issue with her car in almost 2 yrs(Aug. 2011).

I did change things a bit prematurly such as brakes/tires/battery and such because IMHO, these items were substandard or too "old" for how she will be using the car and the brakes/tires were just plain noisy. I want my kind of stuff on her car. She has found a mechanic in her area by recomendation of others, should she have any issues. It's not the same as me doing the work but, it's a place that she can go to!

 

[berniedd]

Don't forget to have the valve clearances checked.

 

[CaspianM]

Char Baby neiled it.
I had a 98 til last year. Power steering is weak in this Camry so change the fluid with Toyota fluid. I used Trans fluid and caused a lot of noise when cold then I awitched back to Toyota brand PS fluid.
If you are going to be selective than get all done start with safety related items for her. Such as breaks, battery and tires.
Make sure you change the pcv as this engine have had soem cases of slug. And change all the fluids at the end.

 

[Robertslowpoke]

THANK YOU GUYS!!!! this is the specific information i need!!

have a great day

Bob

 

[walk23]

I'd change the drive belt, flush the transmission and drive it to check the struts. That's it. They are remarkably durable cars.

 

[hattaresguy]

Since its a 12 almost 13 year old car I would change all the fluids and filters so you have a base. 13 year old brake fluid is kind of scary.

Also do the plugs so they don't weld themselves in the head.

I'd also do the upper and lower radiator hoses and any accessory belts, rubber ages. Don't be surprised if the radiator cracks at some point, plastic doesn't last forever.

 

[Robertslowpoke]

thanks guys!!! GREAT advice. will make a list now for the mechanic tomorrow!!!1

best

Bob