Is my Camry worth fixing - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

thehittmann · 03-19-2005, 12:02 AM

Car: 1989 Toyota Camry SV21 - 3S-FE

I bought my camry around 8-10 months ago and in this time it has converted from a decent drive to a clanking oil leaking machine. The Camry cost me $1500(au) and this is the list of problems it now has and how much I have been quoted for some of the repairs.

front lower control arm bushes inner and outer need replacing ($380)
rear brake cylinders and shoes ($300)
front shocks ($275)
rear shocks ($275)

on top of this it has a power stearing leak, the motor has developed a bit of a rattle and in the mornings it will take a good 2-3 kilometers before the auto trans will change into the top gear.

I'm seriously thinking weather I should bother fixing this car or just try and sell it and hopefully get my money back on it.

userlain · 03-19-2005, 12:12 AM

Try and get your money back on it.

KamryStylez · 03-19-2005, 12:40 AM

if ur hobby is restoring a car back to normal then any old clunk can work but if your just trying to get the car to stop breaking down then i suggest u sell it, cause its way to old to dump money into it.

thehittmann · 03-19-2005, 02:32 AM

I think that I'm gonna keep it and dump money into it...... I figure I can't afford a brand new car or even a $5000 car so I might as well fix each problem on a priority basis. I wouldnt mind doing it up nice in the future..... new paint, tint, bodykit, rims and tyres... I already have a decent audio system, 7" TFT and xbox installed might as well just keep draining the cash into it.

karazy · 03-19-2005, 03:55 AM

After spending that much on it, it's probably too late to get your money back anyways. Before you put anymore into it, find the ps leak. If it's the rack, you're talking about a lot more money. It may just be a line. The rattle is normal for a car that old. As long it is just at start up, there is nothing to worry about. The tranny thing is by design. It won't shift into od until it is warm enough. The parts you already changed, are just normal wear and tear stuff that probably won't end there. I'm guessing the last owner had probably shifted into drive her til she drops mode awhile ago. Get yourself some good tools and a manual, and learn to fix it yourself.

thehittmann · 03-19-2005, 05:03 AM

the ps leak is the high pressure line it squirts when full locked leaks a little bit during normal driving. I've got a manual theres no point doing the rear brakes myself cause theres only $40 difference between parts and parts + labour for the front end though I can do it myself for around half the price so that one I will do. The Engine rattle sadly isnt just on startup it rattles kind of mid revs when just letting off the accelerator. I'm not sure what this is caused by.

jackfrost1031 · 03-19-2005, 10:20 AM

I look at it this way, if you can afford the downtime, fixing $100 parts a month is still a lot less than a car payment and the associated full-coverage insurance required by an unpaidfor car.

91camryDX · 03-21-2005, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackfrost1031

I look at it this way, if you can afford the downtime, fixing $100 parts a month is still a lot less than a car payment and the associated full-coverage insurance required by an unpaidfor car.

I concur

***eyeball96*** · 03-21-2005, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackfrost1031

I look at it this way, if you can afford the downtime, fixing $100 parts a month is still a lot less than a car payment and the associated full-coverage insurance required by an unpaidfor car.

I agree! Just take care of the engine!