Would you do this??? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

crc13 · 08-21-2010, 04:55 PM

Ok, I bought a 94 xle with 212000 miles on it for 1300 dollars. I am now finding some issues with it and don't know if I should put the money into it. Please give me your advise.

When I got it, the tranny slipped, but it was 2.5 quarts low. Now it is fine. There are two oil leaks, one will involve changing the timing belt, water pump, etc. About a 500 dollar fix. The other is the left front output shaft seal, which will involve changing the tranny fluid. Probably a couple hundred dollars. The tranny fluid is black. The strut mount is loose, causing a clunk. It seems to be using oil, but runs great! What would you guys do?

crc13 · 08-21-2010, 04:57 PM

Just to clarify, the oil leak can't be get at without removing the timing belt. IT was last changed at 104k. Also, I never owned a toyota before, that is why I am looking for others opinions.

schumionbike · 08-21-2010, 06:33 PM

How much oil are you losing??? If it's less than a quart every 3 K miles, I would leave it. You probably should change that timing belt anyway since it's only rated for 90 K and if it's doesn't cost too much extra to change out the seal, you might want to do it. My car has 180 K last time I was in for a timing belt. The timing belt and the water pump along with the accessories belt cost me 315 bucks, it would cost me 480 if I would do the two seals (cam seal and O seal?) so I decided not to to do it. I lose about a quart every 3 K. The thing is I don't really know the service history on my car since I got it at 165 K so I didn't want too spend money on it. Oh I believe my cam seal and o seal are perfectly fine, it's the valve cover seal that's causing the leak the slow leak so the seals weren't absolutely necessary for me anyway.

***LynchburgCSI*** · 08-21-2010, 06:42 PM

If you can do the work yourself, DO SO. It saves money and those repairs aren't the hardest in the word. It should be time to replace the timing belt and water pump anyways. The other stuff is just routine wear at this age. It's usually cheaper to have an old car repaired than to buy a newer one.

***zythr*** · 08-21-2010, 07:15 PM

Is it a 4 or 6 cylinder?