some service questions

- R
- Robert Cooper
  
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posted
20 years ago

Mon, Dec 8, 2003 6:09 PM

Hi,

I have a 1998 Toyota Camry, with 85,000 miles on it. This car has been an excellent, reliable car.

Anyway, the car is getting some miles on it now and I was wondering if there is some service that I should be having done on it at around 85,000 miles? I am going to be going on a sort of long drive for Christmas so I am particularly interested in preventive maintenance.

Any advice would be appreciated. Also, any recommendations on books and Web sites that provide good information on what needs to be done when to keep a '98 Camry maintained? I bought this slightly used (it had been with a rental company before the Toyota dealer) and the owner's manual was not still with it.

Thanks.

Robert

- W
- William W. Plummer
  
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posted
20 years ago

Mon, Dec 8, 2003 8:09 PM

My '95 has 130,000 miles. It has never had a "tune up", not even chaning the spark plugs. I did have the timing belt (chain?) replaced around 95K and I think that is necessary. Ain't broken, don't fix it. Just get regular oil changes and every few Winters, change the coolant.

This is not a single data point. My previous car was a Honda that went for

187K miles before the FRAME rusted out. I never had that endure a scheduled maintenance.

Same story with my '71 Olds Cutlass that went 112K and eventually rusted out. Roof leaks resulted in mushrooms sprouting in the rear rug. Very tacky.

- W
- Wolfgang
  
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posted
20 years ago

Mon, Dec 8, 2003 8:14 PM

Timing belt should be changed at 60-75k miles - have you done it yet? If not thats over due. Radiator fluid needs to be flushed and changed every 2-3 yrars. I like to drain (what comes out - maybe 2-3 quarts) the transmission (auto) every 3rd oil change --- vice the costly dealer trans flushes. Change the brake fluid. Relpace plug wires - plugs/distr cap if no already done. Change the fuel filter. Original battery? I'd change it since 5-6 years is about it for dependable service. Some of these are only needed to make your trip un-eventful! Check on ebay for an owners manual - $5-10. Haynes or Chilton's ($12) is ok for maintenance.

- M
- MDT Tech®
  
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posted
20 years ago

Mon, Dec 8, 2003 8:24 PM

Wow, your plug gap has to be somewhere around .125" (1/8" for those in Rio Linda) gap or larger. Atleast pull them and regap them, or the spark will start looking for an easier path to ground through the insulation. High voltage from wide gaps can lead to coil failure too.