97 LE 4 cyl, should I keep? What would you do?

My Camry has a few issues
1) 2nd timing belt will be needed soon
2) sticky IAC valve. Car will not hold idle most of the time on startup. I have to press the gas, break to get my car out of the drive way but one it's out, it runs ok
3) engine oil leak. probably from head gasket and "main seal"? I guess
4) car shakes when braking
5) tires wore out from the outter, probably need new tires in the future
6) center seat belt on the rear doesn't work
7) some side wipes, dings... from parking lot


1. The timing belt is an easy job to do and a good investment if keeping (or selling) the car. Good tutorials on here for it.

2. I have the same symptom but it has not gotten persistant enough for me to fix it yet.

3. You have to trace where the engine oil is coming from. Clean the engine and note where it is coming from (ie from the timing belt cover = oil seal that you'll change while doing TB anyway, all along the top of the engine = valve cover gasket, etc)

4. Warped rotors it sounds like, easy fix and you can buy rotors so inexpensively these days I would just replace them.

5. Fixing #4 "may" help, but check alignment and inflation of tires too. Worn struts or strut mounts, other suspension stuff can cause that.

6. Depending on how often you have 5 folks in your car (we hardly ever do), this one hinges on.

7. Part of having a 13 year old car. Our's has them too. ANY car can be banged up from a shopping buggy, doors in parking lot, teen drivers, etc.

And any car is eventually going to need these type maintenance items done. If you have a reliable car, it doesn't make sense (to me) to go out and "start over." Our 1997 Camry has like 192,000 miles on it and is still a pleasure to drive, good and strong. Hope this helps.

Tracy

I have this same situation and thinking about what to do.

For the oil leak, I believe thats just a simple gasket that can be replaced easily. At 150k on mine I had the gasket replaced, but I cant remember which gasket.

Here are the prices for everything that you are talking about:

1) 2nd timing belt will be needed soon - $450
2) sticky IAC valve. $150 for the valve from Rockauto - $150 for the labor at independent mechanic
3) engine oil leak. $100 I think.
4) car shakes when braking ignore it
5) tires wore out from the outter, probably need new tires in the future - get the cheapest set you can find

One idea is to fix the car up in the cheapest way possible...i.e.aftermarket rotors, cheap $60 tires, independent mechanic etc. Then use the car for local use only meaning going to the grocery store, etc. OR use the car once or twice a week so as to limit mileage on the other cars.