We have a 4-cyl. 1988 Camry with only +116K on it. We think it's worth fixing up. The immediate question is about rack & pinion. The steering seems pretty decent, but if you grab hold of the tire and manually turn it there's a lot of play. There's highway vibration/bumping, but I guess that could be the struts. My husband says the play appears to be at the inner tie rods coming out of the steering gear. Is it possible to do an adjustment to fix this? If so, with limited time, can we do the adjustment properly ourselves? Or, should we just have the rack & pinion replaced? We've gotten 1 estimate of $295/labor only for replacement. Hubby's found parts for $150.
We're on a budget with both time and money. The A/C has been out for quite some time, but we don't think it was the compressor. (Needed as we're in Louisiana and it's HOT!) Any tips on that? Also have a leak in the exhaust. Cold start sensor has always been weird.
We bought the Camry used about 5-yrs. ago. Large area of glass coat was peeled away from one fender when we bought it. Any idea how to affect a cosmetic repair there to help protect the paint (dark, metallic maroon)?
----- Original Message ----- From: "inez" Newsgroups: alt.autos.toyota.camry Sent: Saturday, July 22, 2006 11:32 AM Subject: '88 Camry - rack & pinion?
Only?
We think it's worth
Based om what you've said next, I don't think so.
The immediate question is about rack & pinion. The steering seems
Definitely not, unless you folks are so talented you can also perform appendectomies on each other. Suspension specialists spend thousands of dollars on equipment to align steering systems, and you're going to try to do it yourself under the pepper trees? Please face facts.
How do you know the parts are any good?
I'd guess that driving a 19 model-year old automobile of any make would indicate a money budget.
The A/C has been out for quite
What gives you that idea? Maybe indeed it IS the compressor....and they're expensive. (Needed as we're in
Another costly repair, and don't try to do this one at home either ....a little exhaust leak into the cabin and you'll be calling yourselves dead and deader.
Here's another little insignificant item that can cost you big time. And it's not going to fix itself.
Not a clue, but since you've been driving it that way for five years, who's counting? and evidently you don't much care.
Inez, I hate to bring you bad tidings, but I think you ought to dump this problem-mobile at the first opportunity. It's darn near 20 years old, it has steering issues, suspension issues, cold start issues, air conditioning issues, and the paint's bad on (at least) one fender. All the issues (and there are probably more, be honest) are things that amateurs like yourselves will only throw good money after bad trying to fix, and when you get done, the old car won't be worth 5c more than it is this minute. Trust me. I'd advise saving your dough and getting something in future where the year model starts with a "2" as in 2000, 2001, 2002 etc. And don't get fooled by someone who has a beautiful car with low mileage at a great price....it's likely been swimming in the murky waters of the gulf coast since Katrina struck and is just now dried out. You don't need that kind of aggravation. (I am not saying that there aren't good cars out there from the 1990s, there are.....but they're starting to get into the "getting old and needing lots of help" category too, so go for something newer that will be more trouble free.
Well, that's why I asked her and why I've been getting estimates.
How do I no any part is good?
And maybe it's not. I'll live without A/C if I must, as I have done for the last 3 summers.
leak in the exhaust.
No intension of doing it ourselves, just noting that it's something we should get around to.
I think I'll trust my husband's judgement on that part and it's replacement. At any rate, she starts reliably.
Not deeply. Thus far the paint has held up amazingly well, but it's finally beginning to show a few tiny spots.
We won't be getting anything that begins with a "2" unless someone has already driven it into the ground, it's been Katrinasized, or they're just in that "giving" mood;) If we can have this one repaired for $1,000-$1,500 and have it last another couple of years we'll be happy. We may add another used car, but it will be something we can get for under $4,000. We need another gas saver, or the huuby needs to start filling up with fryer oil in his '94 turbo deisel Suburban;) My husband isn't a professional mechanic, but he does pretty well at finding decent used cars, and at working on them if time and tools/equipment allow.
As for saving our dough, it probably won't save us a lot of money if my steering goes out while I'm driving, so I think we might want to get the rack & pinion adjusted or replaced. Then again, it could mean one less mouth to feed, but not a sure thing.
The outer tie rods are replacable without changing the rack. IT WILL need an alignment after. Forget about painting it, not worth the expense. The air cond ??? BIG MONEY R12 system so it will need to be converted to R134 you might get away for $600-700. I drove my 88 Camry yesterday, mine was a gift, drove it from LasVegas to LA Ca Never missed a beat. It also looks like shet has 212K miles, but mechanically has been well take care of. my air doesn't either. IF IT IS just for transortation keep it until you can afford something better. FIX THE STEERING & THE EXHAUST leak before driving it
Thanks for your response. I've mostly been depending on mine for shopping and errands, but recently have been needing to hit the highway and get in traffic 2-3 times a week. Not at all comfortable doing that with this steering problem. BUT, she runs great;)
So, they'll force an A/C conversion on me?
Hubby doesn't believe that replacing the outer tie rods and struts will cure the problem, but I've been trying to sell him on trying that first anyway as I imagine they may need replacing either way.
Believing in the quality of parts and in the honesty/skill of mechanics is another matter entirely:\
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