illowa

I am a Toyota Camry owner-my 4th one since 1993. I have never had a problem with Toyota that hasn't been dealt with to my satisfaction,quickly and well done. This latest problem does in no way discourage me from considering another. Toyota has treated me well and I plan on sticking with them. I am not slamming .Ford,G.M., Chrysler or any other car company. I used to be a G.M.[CHEVY} man but switched to Honda and after a MAJOR problem with them over a recall that I did have fixed and resulted in an axle breakage [they said I never had the recall done-I proved I did] , I decided to try Camry. My first ,a 93 Camry LE. It had a noise in it driving me nuts & @ 6000 miles the front wheel drive was out of alignment and caused the tires to go bald on the inside of the tire[by the rotors]. Toyota fixed it and arranged for a new set of tires[4]. The problem caused by an employee had driven over the rail of the car carrier when it was delivered. They completely fixed it and not another problem for 45,000 more miles until time for new one. Then i bought a 98 LE and one driver side window came out of the track-no further problems for 50,000 miles when i bought an 02 Camry LE. Nothing wrong with this one except some aftermarket wheels kept freezing when I got them wet. Toyota didn't have to fix it,but did,another almost 50,000 miler. Then I bought my 07 Camry LE-not a single problem in this one. So in my mind this is the best one I ever bought. Oh, I did take the mats out---long before the recall. I don't like carpet mats. So Toyota has done me right on every turn and I will not desert them even though the C.E.O Toyoda is a jerk. I am convince that despite the problems,they still have the best quality of any car company--BAR NONE!!!! B)

What I was trying to convey is that this Foreign car and TOYOTA EXPERT MECHANIC said -the CAMRY[it's the only one he commented on] doesn't have to be changed until it's worn out or breaks. How it is determined to be worn out I don't know. He stated that if the belt BREAKS, it will do NO DAMAGE and that Toyota has made that possible while other manufacturers haven't corrected this problem. I have a 2007 Camry LE 4cyl and it's the best car I have ever had. It's my 4th Camry and this time out ,I think I WILL KEEP IT. I have always traded it before the change in belts was due. I always loved driving a NEW Camry because I always got my value at tradein time and because of this I was always able to get a new one because I WANTED A NEW ONE,NOT BECAUSE I NEEDED ONE. So, now that I have decide to keep it longer, I have to get advice on long term maintenance. I tend to believe this mechanic because of his reputation. A lot of people who have Toyotas of any kind go to him. He is not a Toyota dealer ,therefore he is not pushing something that they would like you to do to keep their service people busy,something the dealer always is pushing-unnecessary maintenance...Thanks..ILLOWA :)

<_< I have been talking to several Toyota car owners and was told by a couple that you no longer need to change the belt @ 90,000 miles. One of those is a lifelong Toyota mechanic who has a very good reputation. Another was a fellow I spoke to at a gas station and I asked him how he liked his 02 Camry. He loved it and I then asked at what mileage did he change the belts. He saidd he had 187,000 and hadn't changed it at all and he also said he didn't know he had to[guess he doesn't read the owners manual]. I would just like to know if any mechanic know anything about the belt chage at 90,000 miles. The mechanic also said if the belt does break, unlike other car manufacturers, that Toyota's don't lock up the motor and wreck everything. I don't know if this just knowitalls blowing off or if it's a fact. Any Ideas?.....Thanks Illowa. I'll Check back tomorrow if anyone wants to reply... :D