200,000 mile maintenance - Toyota Camry

stonefiddle

I have a 1993 Toyota Camry that just turned over 200k miles. It is a 4cyl with a 5 speed manual transmission. It's been running great. What maintenance should be done now. The owners manual doesn't go this high.

armtdm

So, if you changed the timing belt as recommended, 60,000, 120,000 you should have changed it at 180,000 and not needed at 200,000. Plus, if platinum are the same as the timing belt.

Only thing new is at 10 years , at least in my state, they require a air bag inspection at 10 years

silvernubira

You must be very lucky. Toyota Motor Sales bought back my 1998 Camry because it was a lemon. I hope my 2000 Nubira with better steering, suspension (no excessive leaning at curves) and better plastics inside will last 200K too, even it cost only about half as much as 1998 Camry. My 1988 Accord has only 196,000 miles on it so far.

About maintenance schedule: continue regular maintenance by repeating the intervals as before. For example, continue changing oil every XXXX miles, rotate tires every XXXX miles etc.

isellhondas

So you went from a Toyota with a well known reputation for lasting forever to a Daewoo without a track record???

Your 16,000 mile problem Toyota was an extreme fluke.

Mr_Shiftright

I've pushed a number of fine cars to well over 200,000 miles and it has been my experience that after around 225,000, the laws of diminishing returns kicks in. The automakers never planned for cars to go that long, so weird problems and all kinds of strange metallurgical fatigue can set in at these extreme mileages. Aside from normal maintenance, I would pay particular attention to any safety related items, including inspections for cracks in suspension, motor mounts, etc. You should plan on retiring this car in a year or two before it starts eating up money at a rate that approaches new car monthly payments.

my rule of thumb is that when a used car starts costing $150/200 a month to keep going, it's about time for a change.

mrdetailer

If you want to keep it for a while then you should have the steering and suspension components looked at seriously by a trusted mechanic. If old components are replaced, it can steer and absorb bumps as if it were new. It may not be cheap, but definitely worth it. I have a friend who has 257,000 on his Camary. [non-permissible content removed] cars are designed to go over 200,000 miles.

Mr_Shiftright

I think that number, while admirable, is very optimistic and only achieved by a small percentage of Japanese car owners. If it were true, all japanese cars in junkyards (that are not wrecked) would have over 200K on their speedometers, but I think a quick glance would show this not to be true.

Certainly, things like shocks, brakes, front end bushings, belts, hoses, tires, alternators, pumps, switchgear, upholstery, starter motor etc. are not designed to go 200K....BUT...if you mean the basic driveline is ABLE to go 200K on a Japanese car with excellent maintenance...yeah, I'd buy that.

edwardh5

Have you changed the fuel filter much?
When?
Did you use OE or aftermarket - what brand?

Thanks.

rayfbaird

Fuel filters in my recent experience is somewhat frustrating. I used to change them myself because they were easy. That changed when they were buried in the middle of the engine, or by the gas tank. Labor cost on changing my filter $75.00.

Complaints aside, it depends on the quality of fuel and whether it is Oxygenated. We have Oxygenated for part of the year, and my mechanics recommend changing every other year, or 30,000 miles. If you aren't oxygenated and use good quality gas you can go longer.

edwardh5

I read where they were had to change as far as not having a leak afterwards.
Anyone changed one themselves on a 4 cyl Camry?

sunshine60105

Is there any problems with the 2001 Camry such as engine problems,transmission problems e.t.c.?

Mr_Shiftright

Too early to know on a 2001 car I think. People need to rack up miles and report in, and this often takes 2-3 years before any real defects are commonly known/admitted by a manufacturer. You might pick up some Technical Service Bulletin info at www.alldata.com, but TSBs are not necessarily indicative of factory defects. They may only concern alerts to adjustment or changes to service procedure. Worth a browse, though.

sunshine60105

I've decided that I am gonna get a 2001 Camry....
The Camrys have always been reliable,and so that's what I'm gonna ge. I just hope I wont have a hard time finding the collectors edition,and such.... Anybody that gets 2001 Camry now will probably get a deal on it,but may not find the color they want e.t.c. The thing to do is go from dealership to dealership,and see if any of them have the color you want......