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I bought my 2007 Toyota Camry CE on 20-Sep-06. I had my first (6 month) service (Toyota recomended services including oil and filter change, tire rotation, etc.) on 24-Mar-07 (3000 Miles Odometer Reading and 6 months after purchase).
Today (27-Aug-07 and at 7150 miles odometer reading); "Maint Reqd" light on my dashboard blinks three times and then disappears.
Can you please guide me what should I do? I could go to the dealer; but I don't want to get ripped off in 5 months instead of the recommended 6 months. . I was planning to just have my oil and filter changed at the end of next month; since I have not reached the 10,000 miles mark.
Regards,
Pratik
Last edited by pratikthakkar; 08-27-2007 at 08:20 PM.
It starts coming on around 4000 miles after it's reset. You can safely ignore it until you are ready to service the car. I think around 4500 or 5000 miles it will stay illuminated.
If it annoys you enough, you can reset it. Use the search to find instructions on reseting the light.
touringcamry is correct. The light will remain lit after 5000 miles since your last oil change. There are instructions in your owners manual to reset it. It is usually left on until the oil and filter are changed and then it is reset again. It will come on once again in another 5,000 miles.
As a side note, many people consider 5000 miles too long to go between oil changes. I personally like to change my oil roughly every 3000 miles or 3 months. I know the owner's manual recommends 5000 intervals. I'm just anal about oil changes as I want my car to last 200,000 miles plus. I believe frequent oil changes is one of the cheapest investments we can make to extend the life of our cars. IMHO.
First of all thank you guys very much for the replies.
As you pointed out my car has run 4000 miles from last oil change (total 7150 miles on odometer in one year). I am not planning to do the full recommended service and only go for oil and filter change.
Is it necessary to do the full recommended service or is the oil + filter change good enough?
I have decided not to throw money every six month on the full service. I would rather go for oil + filter change and full service alternatively evey six month.
I drive 10 miles one way to office - and that's mainly it. My wife goes to school 2 days/week-3 months in a year (20 miles one way).
I completed one year with my car and still its only 7000 miles on it. I guess it would be a waste to throw money for full service ($60) every six months.
It is not absolutely necessary to rotate the tires but helps to keep tire wear on the front and back even. If you don't do this, the front tires just wear out faster because they have a heavier load and when turning, they travel further. It is generally advised that you have the same tires on all four wheels, but you can have the same tires on each axle and be ok also.
Visual brake inspection at 7000 miles depends on your driving. I would generally say that it should not be necessary to inspect the brake wear at this point, but if the tires are being rotated, it takes at most 20 seconds of labor.
It is not absolutely necessary to rotate the tires but helps to keep tire wear on the front and back even. If you don't do this, the front tires just wear out faster because they have a heavier load and when turning, they travel further. It is generally advised that you have the same tires on all four wheels, but you can have the same tires on each axle and be ok also.
Visual brake inspection at 7000 miles depends on your driving. I would generally say that it should not be necessary to inspect the brake wear at this point, but if the tires are being rotated, it takes at most 20 seconds of labor.
I have a free coupon for Oil + filter change. Last time the dealers charged me 60$ for the list I sent earlier.
Wow...in that case, personally I would use the coupon.
I guess $60 isn't that bad compared to what some other dealers charge, but it's still slightly higher than what I expected. I was thinking about $45-50 but you are doing this at a dealer so the price would be slightly higher. I do most of the maintenance on my car myself, so I am not familiar with what dealers charge for services.
You could also ask if they can rotate your tires but the absolute maximum I would pay is $20 for that service.
Your plan about alternating between oil changes and 6 month service sounds good though so that will be fine.
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2007 Camry 2.4L 5M
Last edited by touringcamry; 08-28-2007 at 11:36 PM.
Is it necessary to do the full recommended service or is the oil + filter change good enough?
Strictly speaking, since you only put 7000 miles on it in one year, i'd say oil and filter is enough this time. but your warranty may specify otherwise so i'd ask the dealer what you can get away with not doing.
I have to agree with touringcamry that an oil and filter change and a tire rotation is all that is necessary here. You do not have to take the car to the dealer for these services; just keep the receipts from wherever you have it done. Just be aware that if your CE has the 4 cylinder engine, 0W-20 or 5W-20 oil is required. Mention this to whoever does the oil change, so they are aware of that.
I can also recommend that you read your owner's manual to determine what is actually required maintainance on the car. The dealer's service department will try to sell you as much maintainance work as they can. That's their job; to make as much money as they can for their dealership. Your job is to determine what is necessary and what is not. The manual's maintainance schedule will go a long way toward helping you determine that.
I would not like to break the warranty. I would perform the required: Replace engine oil and oil filter Rotate tires Visually inspect brake linings/drums and brake pads/discs
However, I think I do not require these (since I am only driving in city):
Additional Maintenance Items for Special Operating Conditions:
Driving While Towing Tighten nuts and bolts on chassis Driving on Dirt Roads or Dusty Roads Inspect ball joints and dust covers Inspect drive shaft boots Inspect engine air filter Inspect steering linkage and boots Tighten nuts and bolts on chassis
Your comments are welcome. I just did State and Emission Inspection on 08/18/2007.
I checked the Maintenance Manual. It says Ist service at 6 months/5000 miles and II service at 12 months/10,000 miles.
Regards,
Pratik
Last edited by pratikthakkar; 08-29-2007 at 06:37 PM.
Just do the oil change and possibly the tire rotation.
You will not void the warranty on your vehicle if you do the services elsewhere. As long as you can provide evidence, such as receipts, that you did maintain your car, your warranty will remain valid.
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"Maint Reqd" Light in just 5 months of Service!
. I was planning to just have my oil and filter changed at the end of next month; since I have not reached the 10,000 miles mark.
Replace engine oil and oil filter 1 
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