camry in the shop

[DAMON]

well guys, i just got done dropping of my camry at the local auto shop. I ran into a curb in a snowstorm earlier this year and messed something up in the front end. The wheel was shimmying and the car was pulling to the left. judging from the search button, sounds like my front tires need to be balanced and it needs to be alligned, but theyre looking at it now. It makes me cringe when i imagine what those grease monkeys could be doing to her as I type this, ill let you guys know how it goes later. If my rim is bent from the impact, is there any way to straighten it? or will i need a new wheel? I was probably going like 10 to 15 mph tops when I hit.

But anyway, I have a quick question for you guys. I took off my clear tail lights for winter because I was worried about moisture or ice getting into them somehow. was this a good idea? or do you think they would be alright? I also thought that with the snow and a white car I should probably have my red tails on for visibility, even though my clears have red and amber bulbs. Any comment is apreciated, thanx in advance.

[zoni]

lights are fine, rim should be fine, i hit a curb one time going about 20, and it was almost straight on. not in my camry, but in my old saturn, that thing was hell. anyways, new tire should fix your problem, and then alignment job...

[DAMON]

man how long does an alignment take? i dropped my car off at nine this morning, it is now quarter to four. what is going on? i called and they said my car was on the alignment rack, then they took it off and did some guys truck, and they were about to put mine back on. that was an hour ago. Needless to say that i am done with this shop.

[jhbhatia]

I have a 4wheel alignment warranty (lifetime)...So i take it in once a year after i get my major services done. Judging by what you have mentioned....

1. Lights would have been fine..if left alone...but if you want to be cautious...then by all means...
2. Was an alignment done when your car was dropped?
3. By hitting a curb.....
a. you could have messed up suspension components
b. needed a wheel alignment / balancing
c. bend rim (which to a certain degree is repairable....If that is determined...then i'd get a new wheel and use the bent one as spare)

As far as how long an alignment takes...maybe it was done and when one of the tech's took it for a t/drive..they found it was pulling towards one end..n wanted to correct that and give it in....What i usually do..is tell them to take their time..and get it right...once they needed to keep my car for over 8 hrs.....but i didn't have to keep on taking my car back to them to get it right...

[DAMON]

yeah, all of that makes sense, thanks for putting things into perspective a little bit. this is the first i have ever had a car taken in for something other than an oil change, so im probably just a little antsy. I was probably just jumping to conclusions because the guys that work there are always dickheads, they treat me like i am a little boy who knows nothing about automobiles. I honestly dont know a whole lot but I am learning, im only eighteen, this is my first experience of the sort. but yeah, hopefully they did a good job and everything will be ok again. how much does the typical alignment cost? it probably depends on how messed up it is huh...

[DAMON]

ok heres the verdict from the shop:

I hit the curb once on each side traveling somewhere between ten and fifteen mph each time. I need two new rims @ a cost of sixty dollars each. these are not new steelies, they are ones that have been "reconditioned:" by a local shop. I also need tires because mine are worn. I dont like the guy there, he wouldnt make eye contact with me, my mom brought me in and he gave her a bunch of bullshit about the new tires and wheels, it seems that my mom is always happy with these auto guys, i think they take advantage of her knowing nothing abpout cars.

So anyhow my mom is all gun hoe about getting these no-name tires and "reconditioned" wheels from this shop, while i think if im going to get new tires and wheels i should do it right. What do you guys suggest? i would like to upgrade to possibly sixteens at the largest, i think that is a good size. But i definately need some wheels and tires for all season daily driving use, anything else just aint gonna fly. My mom "cant see putting new wheels on a ten year old car" but im going to be going to college soon and doing a lot of driving, so i need something that will last. thanks guys, any opinions or advice is welcome. Im lost right now.

[jhbhatia]

If tires and rims are all you need...then look around ebay or locally. I'd get them of a 2004 camry wrecked in a junk yard (4 tires+rims) than take something reconditioned by a tire shop! Not to brag, but i've helped my frind buy konig 17's for that low of price ($60/ rim)...new....your looking at reconditioned alloys! geesh! Tell you mom, your keeping your options open..and search around junkers in your area over the weekend (anything avalon, camry, solara, es late model should work on your camry) ie. rims + tires.

[DAMON]

thanx again man, i thought that price seemed a little steep... ill check out ebay and maybe some local yards. Hopefully i can get my mom to swing my way. id love 17s, but i just dont think theyd be practical enough. I think sixteens would be awesome, but ill talk to my uncle tomorrow (hes in town from montana, drives a 2004 porsche turbo!) and see what he thinks, if anyone can swing my mom to let me get rims itd be him! he knows performance. but yeah, keep the advice coming guys! thanks again

Damon

[Nico]

Yes this is certainly the best option : used ones. You'll also get the tires with them, so that'll be even easier and cheaper

[DAMON]

Well, heres what happened, theres both good and bad news. The good news is that I didnt have to pay for anything. The bad news is that my mom took my camry while i was asleep saturday morning and got the two new steelies and cheap ass tires put on. I guess that could be good, but i dont have an excuse to buy rims now. At least she filled up the gas for me too . I know I probably shouldnt be complaining, but the tires look like truck tires, huge sidewall, and now i have two nice steelies and two rusty ones. Ill have to do some painting in the spring. And now shes leaking anti freeze, so Im sure it will be in the shop again soon

[LebaneseCam]

Hitting into snowbanks? Don't we all do it? Happened to me once, I was on this street, curvy style street, f1 style. Well, i tried pulling some f1 skills but it had just snowed real badly, and i spun out of control and hit a big snow bank. Couldn't get out for awhile, would of called a tow truck but some guys from my school drove by and they lifted the front part while i reversed. Well, damage? First the plastic part on the bottom of the car was scarping the ground so i ripped that off. Second the bottom of the radiator was all pushed in but I haven't touch anything, it's still fine, can there be any problems later on? (this was a year ago) Third, the paint chipped off the front of my cam so ill have to get the bumper painted. Other then that the car is still running perfectly.