93 V6 XLE 210000 miles - is it worth to fix it?

[camry93v6]

Hi all,

I got a 1993 V6 XLE camry. It has been running fine till about 210,000 miles. Now i have the following issues

- Engine check light is on
- torn CV boots - need to replace together with axle (~$400)
- needs to replace timing belt (~$400)
- while driving, feel shaking (not from the steering wheel). could be a tranmission problem???
- minor leak from power steering fluid. Not a big deal. Just need to check and refill from time to time.

The camry is up for a TEST-ONLY center smog check. Not sure it will pass.

My concern - should I take it to the SMOG check. If it fails, should I fix it? If pass, should I fix the rest of the items. is it worth the money to fix the car or just donate it?

The car has been running very well. Not problem what so ever. Most repairs are only torn and worn items.

Any advice? Anyone has similar experience? How many more miles can I get from the engine?

thanks for your input.
camry93V6

[Gary_602Z]

Lot of questions only you can answer! What is it worth to you? Have you done regular maintence or not? Do you want to keep the car or not?

Gary

[RAV4EVR]

If you love it, fix it.....
If u think u will want to buy a new car in the next 5 years..... don't......... !

See what is in your heart..


Let me give u my example...

I have a 1996 with 139k miles..... when I spend on it,,,... I think of future... how long do I plan to keep it and will I want to buy new in a few years... the answer is always NO and I go ahead and fix whatever needs fixing.......... One day I will draw the line if I fall in love with another vehicle...... and I have the money to buy new or used new....

[camry93v6]

Originally Posted by Gary_602Z

Lot of questions only you can answer! What is it worth to you? Have you done regular maintence or not? Do you want to keep the car or not?

Gary

Yes, I do the regular maintainece, oil change, and tune up at a local mechanics.

I do want to keep it but wonder how much more can it run?

[BlueFusion6851]

Cars are a black hole of disappearing cash...

[anoiel]

Originally Posted by BlueFusion6851

Cars are a black hole of disappearing cash...

aint that the truth

[RAV4EVR]

BlueFusion.... I love my cars and spend on them to keep them running smooth.
I have to make sure I have money for my kid's lunch at the same time..

I give it to the courage of mod people who spend on modifying their cars. I have to think twice before changing tires on my car... how much will that take out of my Roth IRA or college fund for kids........

Modpeople have got the balls........... or may be money...

[JMSinMD]

Rav4Ever,
In my case I have both =). As well as a Roth IRA I have been funding since age 18 to it's max and a 529 savings plan that I started a few years back. I'm currently 26 BTW so it is possible. Jon.

[amerikim]

If you can find a decent mechanic, fix it.
Still got life in dem ol' bones.
Someone just offered me $4K for my 176,000 V6 LE, no hesitation in saying 'NO'.

[solarinsocal]

Get a Haynes manual and fix them yourself. Saves lots of cash, builds character, and chicks dig scars! he he! Anyway, axles are a cinch! Get stop leak power steering fluid.

[marc780]

First off id find out if the car can be smogged with few or no repairs. Have the engine scanned and put that check engine light out, the smog place will not even look at it until you do.
Test only places are a huge pain in the azz nightmare for older cars even when they are running well. So take it to a place thatll check it out first and make sure it can be smogged ok, if not see what THAT will cost you to fix it. If it cant be smogged then consider getting rid of it.
If it smogs ok (hooray!) then address the other items.

"torn CV boots - need to replace together with axle (~$400)
- needs to replace timing belt (~$400)
- while driving, feel shaking (not from the steering wheel). could be a tranmission problem???
- minor leak from power steering fluid. Not a big deal. Just need to check and refill from time to time."

If you can do this work yourself you can save enough to maybe make keeping this car worthwhile.
1. CV driveaxle change = $67 each one, remanufactured, from napa
http://www.napaonline.com/masterpage...d=8&SubCatId=8

2. timing belt, $20 or 30 (a lot of work but the savings is probly worth it for most of us)

3. The shaking could just be warped rotors on the front brakes ($20 cheapo rotor at Kragen). If you feel it only when braking its probly a safe bet this is the cause. Otherwise you could have a bent (steel) wheel or worn out ball joints, or maybe even just a bulgy tire that needs replacing. BTW you havent added stop leak goop into the tires have you, this will cause vibration big time.
Id make sure it will smog first, i've donated or sold several cars cause they couldnt be smogged. But thats how it goes now here in California.

[marc780]

So CAMRY93, what did you end up doing ultimately?

[dbkevindb]

I think that if you fix it it will probably run more 70000 miles...

[BAGGEDCAMRY01]

with the check engine light on go to auto zone ask to borrow the machine to see what code is on and fix it some times it can just be a simple thing like gas cap needs to be replace. for timing belt same thing auto store and buy the belt and ur axles and see how much it will cost to replace so u dont have to buy from them $$$$$ ur saving what u need is very simple to do. dont be affraid of smog test only stations if u do ur regular tune up before smog u should be find, its better to drive on freeway before to go into smog station and keep ur engine running so it stays hot . hope this helps u out a little

[skewe]

see response in UPPER CASE. Sorry, lazy to break it out and no, i am not screaming

- Engine check light is on
TAKE IT TO AUTOZONE, PULL THE CODE AND COME BACK HERE. WE CAN TRY TO ISOLATE THE PROBLEM FOR U. THE STICKY ON THE CAMRY FORUM WILL ALSO HELP IN IDENTIFYING THE PROB

- torn CV boots - need to replace together with axle (~$400)
I GOT MINE FIXED FOR 120 PER SIDE. SO IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE WHOLE AXEL, IT MIGHT BE $240++ (EVERYTHING INCLUDED, LABOR, PARTS)

- needs to replace timing belt (~$400)
THAT IS A BUMMER. I THINK IT COST $240 TO FIX TIMING BELT AT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. PARTS AND LABOR. I GOT MINE FIXED FOR $199 AT DEALERSHIP W/ COUPON. GO TO TOYOTA.COM AND LOOK AROUND SOME OF THE DEALERSHIPS. THEY ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING FOR TIMING BELT.
THEY WILL ACCEPT OTHER TOYOTA'S COMPETITOR COUPON.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO CHANGE THE OTHER MISL BELTS, DRIVE BELT AND FAN BELT. BELTS ARE CHEAP, LABOR IS A BIT*H. LOOKING AT AN ADDITIONAL 1 HR LABOR

- while driving, feel shaking (not from the steering wheel). could be a tranmission problem???
AT WHAT SPEED? TEMP OF THE CAR ENGINE (AFTER START UP OR AFTER A LONG DRIVE?)
I DO NOT THINK THAT IT IS A TRANSMISSION PROB

- minor leak from power steering fluid. Not a big deal. Just need to check and refill from time to time.
WHERE IS THE LEAK COMING FROM?

The camry is up for a TEST-ONLY center smog check. Not sure it will pass.
THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THE SMOG TEST IS THE ENGINE CODE. USUALLY, IT MIGHT BE A P0441 WHICH TELLS YOU THAT THE CAR IS BURNING TOO LEAN OR SOMETHING + NOT EFFICIENT. YOU WILL FAIL THE TEST.

PULL THE CODE AND RESOLVE THE ISSUE. YOU WILL MOST LIKELY PASS.

I PAID $350 TO CHANGE OUT MY CHARCOAL CANISTER AND VSV. SPENT 4 HRS TRYING TO REMOVE THE CHARCOAL CANISTER AFTER CRAWLING UNDER MY CAR BUT I WAS UNABLE TO DO SO COS THE CANISTER WILL NOT FIT THROUGH THE AXEL AND EXHAUSE GAP.

IF YOU CAN AFFORD ANOTHER CAR, I WOULD SELL IT.
AT THIS AGE (1993), YOU ARE LOOKING AT HIGHER MAINTAINENCE AND AT A POINT, YOU WILL BE PAYING MORE IN CAR FIXES THAT WHAT YOUR CAR IS WORTH. I ASSUME THAT YOU CAR WILL BE WORTH ABOUT $3000-4500 (MAX OF $5000).

BASED ON YOUR EST:
CEL - $10-$400
CV - $400
BELT -$400
TRANS? - $XXX - $XXXX
PS LEAK - $XX - $XXX

YOU ARE LOOKING AT ABOUT $1K IN FIXES (MIN) TO $2-3K

IF YOU KNOW AN AUNT OR GRAND DAD WHO HAS BABIED HIS CAR, THEN GET THAT CAR FROM HIM IF HE IS SELLING IT FOR A FEW K MORE THAN YOUR CAR.
iF YOU ARE GETTING ANOTHER USED CAR FROM A UNKNOWN PERSON, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE PROBLEMS THAT THE SELLER WILL NOT DISCLOSE TO YOU.