99 camry Engine failure - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

ananttew · 02-06-2008, 10:54 AM

Hi I am new to this forum. I apologize if I am putting it at wrong place. I own 99 camry 4 cyclinder and while driving yesterday its engine started making noise from passenger side. Initially it looked like there is something stuck in passenger side wheel so I did not mind but slowly it started becoming loud I immidietely pulled over and stopped the car with engine running. I opened the hood and noticed that there was burning smell coming from serpentine belt side. I immeditely switched off the engine. As soon I stop the engine I see engine spitted out all the oil and it was all over parking lot. The car was then towed to dealership and they did visual inspection and saying motor looks clean and there was no oil sludge problem. I spoke to toyota and they said they are not going to cover it and I have to fix it myself as engine did not fail becuase of sludge formation. Dealership wants me to pay them 1000$ to tear apart engine to diagnose what the problem is and advise what my car needs. They are saying it might be just bad oil pump but they are not sure. for putting the new engine it would cost 6500$ from delaership. Car has just 70K miles and it looks very unreasonable why it failed when I do all maintenance and have records. I always changed oil at 3k miles. Can anybody help me I would highly appreciate.

Stangar · 02-06-2008, 11:03 AM

With the prices you mentioned, my initial gut reaction is to have it towed to a different dealer. 6500 is too much for a 4 cylinder unless they plan on putting a factory new engine in it but it sounds like they want to rebuild yours.

ananttew · 02-06-2008, 10:52 PM

thanks a lot for reply. There was no warning sign when engine noise became koud. no oil light came on or check engine on. Today was horrible I spoke to so other toyota dealership and they are asking me 109$ for computer diagnostics and 575$ to rip apart the engine and findout the cause. When I confronted with these number with the dealership my car is in. Service Manager said they don't know the problem and once they start working on the car I would get the call again for more service to authorize. Also now he says me that I have to decide in 24 hours else I must tow it out. Looks like these guys are more interested in selling me new Car. Then he hooked me up to sales associate. I asked sales associate how much money they could offer me for my car if I buy one from them. He asked me how much I want I told him whatever edmunds.com says(its coming 3200$) he did not commit anything but tells me to come on saturday to talk about . Lets see how it goes I am planning to tow it to other dealership. On other thought I am thinking of going to him on saturday to find out how much he would offer for that car if its reasonable I might well buy another toyota though I desperately don't wan't to but don't have an option.
I am in big dillemma on one side I don't want to spend 6500$ to get new engine but don't want to give up without knowing what caused the problem may be its fixable. I have this car for last 3 years and never had problem. Still it puzzles me what caused engine to fail at 70K miles when I took very nice care of it.

ananttew · 02-06-2008, 10:54 PM

they would try to rebuild but only after they rip apart if I then decide not to fix it they would junk this CAR. I asked then do I need to pay for junking it they said they will take care of it. So its gamble if I get unlucky my pocket me lighter by 1000 bucks.

***toyomoho*** · 02-06-2008, 11:16 PM

Suggest checking with other shops. Would be leery of any firm that steers someone into buying a new car without knowing what is wrong with this one.

The oil pump is located on the passenger’s side of the engine and powered by the timing belt. If you smelled burning in the belt area it could be the timing belt failed, the oil pump seized up and broke apart or something else happened.

There are only so many places the engine can spew oil out, a decent mechanic should be able to find the leaking area in 1-2 hours and provide guidance as to your options.

If the engine is totaled, a shop should be able to find a good used engine and install it for much less then the dealer wants. Completely rebuilding an engine is typically more expensive then a used one.

As to sludge, this year of car and engine is covered under the Toyota sludge warranty. A mechanic should be able to determine sludge. Would be reluctant to have the same shop responsible for fixing the engine (and the costs) under warranty make the determination of the problem.

Kitto · 02-07-2008, 03:02 AM

I will say tow to independent shop that you trust, dealerships are asking too much money, maybe just a small problem.

ananttew · 02-07-2008, 09:50 AM

Local shops are not cheaper either. No shop other than dealer is willing to look inside engine to find the cause. They would install only rebuild engine thats not cheaper either

Used Engine : 3500$+tax
Jasper Engine: 4532+NJ Tax it has 3yr/100K miles warranty.

In one instance I spoke to Midas Auto I go to for gerneral car service to look at if I tow it to their shop service advisor told let delaership look at the engine we only do minor repairs. SO this option is out too.

***toyomoho*** · 02-07-2008, 12:12 PM

Try finding an independently owned auto shop. The major franchised shops only what to do the easy work where they can make fast money. They also charge a high hourly rate.

Kep · 02-07-2008, 12:13 PM

Unfortunately, I expect that you are without a car and frantic. It seems like the dealer is applying more pressure by insisting that you get the car out or have it fixed in 24 hours. It sure sounds like they are stong arming you into buying another vehicle from them. I may be wrong but I don't see why they wouldn't let you park it for a reasonable fee for a few weeks while you sort things out. Find a cheap car rental and a place to keep the car. I tend to lean towards the other dealer that seemed to be willing to work with you more but either or both could be messing with you.

Not knowing just what type of noise you heard it is hard to outright condem the engine. If the oil pressure light didn't come on I would think that your oil pressure was OK until you lost all that oil. I also can't think of why there would be an oil leak associated with a sludge problem. I'm sure that I could be wrong on both points. I don't know if you can get to your car but have you checked the oil level? How much leaked out after you turned it off? Where did it leak from?

Surely there are local mechanics that could work on the car in the area (not a national chain, a local guy with just their own shop and Toyota oriented). If you're not going to tackle this yourself you should really consider finding a couple. You should be able to get a used engine installed for under $2,000 I would think. And, after an independent mechanic inspects it there may be a much more reasonable explanation or he may indeed confirm a sludge problem that you could insist for recall help on.

Just thoughts really, good luck,
Kep

***toyomoho*** · 02-07-2008, 12:26 PM

Try finding an independently owned auto shop. One that will work with you to locate and find a good used engine from an auto parts salvage yard. The large franchised shops typically only want to do the easy work where they can make fast money on labor and parts.

You still do not know what is wrong with the current engine. The oil came from some place, if a large hole in the side of block then the engine is toast. If something else less dramatic then perhaps only a few parts need to be replace. An oil cooler hose could have broking due to age or the oil pump failed because of sludge build up. Both have happened before.

As is you are stuck with the dealer opinion on something they stand to make a lot of money repairing.

ananttew · 02-07-2008, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kep

Unfortunately, I expect that you are without a car and frantic. It seems like the dealer is applying more pressure by insisting that you get the car out or have it fixed in 24 hours. It sure sounds like they are stong arming you into buying another vehicle from them. I may be wrong but I don't see why they wouldn't let you park it for a reasonable fee for a few weeks while you sort things out. Find a cheap car rental and a place to keep the car. I tend to lean towards the other dealer that seemed to be willing to work with you more but either or both could be messing with you.

Not knowing just what type of noise you heard it is hard to outright condem the engine. If the oil pressure light didn't come on I would think that your oil pressure was OK until you lost all that oil. I also can't think of why there would be an oil leak associated with a sludge problem. I'm sure that I could be wrong on both points. I don't know if you can get to your car but have you checked the oil level? How much leaked out after you turned it off? Where did it leak from?

Surely there are local mechanics that could work on the car in the area (not a national chain, a local guy with just their own shop and Toyota oriented). If you're not going to tackle this yourself you should really consider finding a couple. You should be able to get a used engine installed for under $2,000 I would think. And, after an independent mechanic inspects it there may be a much more reasonable explanation or he may indeed confirm a sludge problem that you could insist for recall help on.

Just thoughts really, good luck,
Kep

Thanks a lot for jumping to help me out. Really appreciate that. This is exactly what happened.

Generally I use this car for getting to PARK and RIDE and then ride bus to NY. I drive it 10 miles a day. Other day when I was returning home I started the engine and headed for home within half mile I started listening some kind of howling sound from passenger side which looked like some debris is stuck in wheel I did not mind and kept driving very slow till I get a place to park and have a look. When I parked the vehicle and opened the hood I could listen noise coming from drive belt side. I immeditely stopped the engine and the came to see what was cauing the problem and I saw very little burning smell coming from belt side it was 9:00PM so I could not see anything. after that when I stepped to driver side door I see oil spill it may be around 1 quart of oil. Then I called Geico and they towed it to dealership. I did not get chance to see where that oil leak was from.
Yesterday when I was speaking to dealership service manager said that they checked oil in the engine and it looks clean. That is all I know. They would do anything if I authorize for service repair but for any minor repair he asked me to be prepared for spending atleast 3 to 3.5 K if its fixable and if it it not fixable you have to get new motor for 6500$.

Now I have heads up which direction to go to I would look for some independent mechanic who can have a look and help me out. By the time I am buying AAA plus for 100 bucks and they said they can help me towing the vehicle for repairs. thats big relief too.

bcsbadboys · 02-07-2008, 01:34 PM

Not Toyota, but my sister's Altima broke a timing chain of all things and smashed up the valves, pistons, etc.

Long story short, she got a used engine AND labor for $1700. Took the valve cover off and the used engine looked pretty good. Get quotes from local, independent mechanics. No Toyota stealerships. You should be able to find a quality used or remanufactured engine. Be patient!

ananttew · 02-07-2008, 02:21 PM

I am curious about one thing. Even today Car can be started but it would make loud noise and probably do more damage. Does that mean there may not be significant damage to engine? and it may be repairable. I am trying to be optimistic.

Mike Gerber · 02-07-2008, 02:33 PM

If you don't know of any good independant mechanics in your area, use this site to find one. There is a place on the left-hand side about half way down to put in your zip code and search. You can even search for one who specializes in Toyotas. These 2 brothers and their call in radio show on public radio are very well known.

http://www.cartalk.com/

Good luck.

Mike

Kep · 02-07-2008, 03:11 PM

It sounds like you are coming up with a plan. Work with it. The engine may be fried (I don't associate anything with a "howling" noise) or not. Once you get someone other than Toyota to look at it things may clear up. It just doesn't sound like they are telling you enough for having looked at it and (if I understand you correctly) being able to run it.

Mike Gerber, I am pleased to know about the mechanic search feature but I've never seen it and even with you clue to look about 1/2 way down, I still can't find it. Is it the red Ask.com box? I would like to find this as well.

Kep