Maintenance on 2005 Camry/Solara after 150K Miles?

[bushmaster1313]

About 7.5 years ago got a soft-top Toyota Camry/Solara with 28K miles. Put 130K mostly commuting miles on it over the past 7.5 years. So now it's a smooth running 15 year old car with 150K miles.

Over the 7.5 years I had the oil changed every 4000 miles and got new brakes when needed. It's been left outside the whole time and in the past year I got a new roof, headlamps, struts and tie-rods. Last month I had the transmission fluid changed for the first time.

The old saying goes: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." But maybe there is something that should be done to anticipate potential problems and hopefully keep it on the road for another 75K miles:

Hoses?
Belts?
Change radiator fluid?
Water pump?
Alternator?

It does not have a timing belt.

What says the Forum?

 

[Eric300]

Have you checked the air in the tires?

 

[Narragansett]

Your best insurance for longevity is oil keeping your oil changed, and if you use a little between changes, keep it topped off. I presume your manual says 5K n intervals, and you are doing it at 4K. That is great. Normal acceleration is good for the tranny. If you have fittings that need grease, keep them greased. I might expect the next thing you might need could be wheel bearings.

Do you have a timing belt or timing chain? If you have a belt, I would do that now

Unless you get tired f it, there is no reason that your Camry should not go 300K miles.

Oh one other thing, use " top tier" gas. None of this no name convenience store type gas. If you do not know " top Tier" gas, google it

 

[Skwirl]

The items you listed depends more on you actually.
They all could be done at that mileage. That way you can control the inconvenience of not having the car and a towing bill.
I'm not familiar with NJ inspection procedure, but PA the front end and wheel bearings get checked. Usually they give some signs of going bad, not always but usually.
After all, we dont have a crystal ball, we are just mechanics, lol.

 

[Camster]

The belt and anti-freeze for sure. Hoses if they don't look right or feel right.
Water pump and alt only when they fail. (I've driven well over a million miles in my life, and never had an alt fail)
In cars with age or mileage, I like to replace the battery before it fails.Why risk a walk in order to get another $10 of value out of it.
Two items you don't mention:the air cleaner and fuel filter.
Spark plugs should have been changed about 75k ago.
I'd be keeping an eye on CV joint rubber for breaks and leaks.

...I'd say that you have a 15 year old car. ;-)

I'm a believer in giving automatic transmissions the same level of fluid care as the engine's oil. Might as well junk some cars than put the big bucks to have a front wheel drive transmission replaced.

 

[vonn]

I see them with lots more miles on them regularly. Keep an eye on fluids and remember to look under the car . At that miles and age when I work on one I redo entire systems as problems arise. Generally it is cheaper to repair than to replace. If you can’t do it yourself find a good shop and have them look it over top to bottom for potential problems. Lots of common problems can be found on the net.

 

[Farmer17]

I bought a 2012 Toyota Rav and put 200k miles on it and the only repair I had was new front wheel bearings, I then gave the car to my daughter and she has about 250K miles and recently had to replace a radiator hose. I will say, when a car has a lot of years and miles keep an eye on it and if it has a problem get it checked immediately! I had a Titan pickup with 250k miles that was basically trouble free and and it started blowing blue smoke. I tried to drop it off at a shop but they were really busy, I was very busy with work and the smoke went away, and a week or so went by and I finally made an appointment to drop it off next week. The day before my appointment the engine blew!

 

[wood714]

Your best insurance for longevity is oil keeping your oil changed, and if you use a little between changes, keep it topped off. I presume your manual says 5K n intervals, and you are doing it at 4K. That is great.

My 2018 Tacoma's manual says to change the oil every 10,000 miles, or every year which ever comes first.

I have a 20 year 200K mile drive train warranty. This is the only ride I've ever owned that I let someone else change the oil in.

 

[sar4937]

I would check the owner's manual for recommended timing belt/spark plugs/water pump replacement. The timing belt replacement may require a waterpump also, so it will not have to be performed soon after. Probably a coolant system flush and hose replacements will be needed. It sounds like a lot, but if done in the wrong order the bill cascades.

 

[Skwirl]

This thread just became funny.

My water pump decided it was tired, at 88k miles. It's the 2nd pump, first pump at 100k miles.
The 1st pump going also took out my alt, and I think it may have again. Wont know for sure till I put it back to together. But if it did, theres another 150 bucks for a rebuild of my alt.

Had to call out of work to, cause I dont have a ride. Theres goes my ot for the week.
So even though I can fix it, have all the tools and knowledge, it still gets expensive real quick for a brake downs.
I'll get some parts tomorrow and hopefully be mobile again, lol.