Toyota Camry Problems

NOT an easy one, because it isn't possible to predict when it will become uneconomical to maintain. The reality is that the higher the mileage, the more likely it is to break down, but it may not. The Camry generally doesn't give too much trouble, so I wouldn't rush in and sell it simply because the odometer is climbing. If you want to update, then it's probably better to do it sooner rather than later because its value is decreasing. I get the feeling you're happy with the Camry, so keep it.

GENERALLY the Sportwagon was a good car with plenty of features for the price. Hyundai mechanics report the engine starts to use oil once it clocks up 100,000km. Look for a well-cared-for car and get it checked by a mechanic. Also consider a Mazda 626 wagon or a Toyota Camry. It's hard to beat the Camry.

IT'S HARD to diagnose the sort of problem you report without actually driving the car. Whining noises can be caused by many different factors. The best thing to do is to take your car to a Toyota dealer for proper diagnosis.

There's no reason the Avalon should be any thirstier than the Camry. They're about the same weight and they share the same V6 engine and drivetrain. The Avalon is locally produced, not imported, so the parts are the same price as the Camry's. On the current market the Magna is the best buy in that its used values have slumped, the Camry and Avalon are standing up well, while the Commodore remains popular and hence has good resale value. In terms of mechanical reliability, it's hard to go past Toyota and I would probably prefer the Camry or the Avalon, but all four have good reliability and will do the job well.

THE dealer may have found the gaskets were leaking but the leak wasn't serious enough to warrant fixing immediately. If the leak is nothing more than a slight weep, it might not have been enough for the RACV mechanic to pick up. Because the car is running perfectly I wouldn't be too concerned, but I would make a mental note and keep a careful watch on the temperature gauge. If it indicates the engine is running hot, get the car to your mechanic and have it checked again.

EITHER car would be fine for your purpose. But remember that whatever car you choose, it's likely to have lots of kilometres on the odometer. By all means try to find a Telstar or a Camry, my preference would be for Toyota as long as it's a four-cylinder model, but if you cast your net wider you might land a mint model of some other make. The key things with a car that old is to find one that's in good condition with the lowest odometer reading possible. Hopefully, you will find a car that has been lovingly looked after by its owner, and perhaps not often driven.

TO get ABS, a driver's airbag and remote central locking on the 1999/2001 Camry four, you will need to move up the model range and look at a CS-X. You'll pay $15,000-$20,000 and for that you'll get a safe, reliable and well-built car. The JS and JSII Vectras were similarly equipped with driver's airbag, ABS and central locking, and will be slightly less expensive at $16,000 to $18,000. The Vectra is basically sound and has a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 104kW. The Camry is a similarly sized four with 94kW -- power and price advantage to the Holden.

WHEN you start your engine, the transmission is in the overdrive mode -- it will shift through all gears, including the overdrive fifth gear. If you press the overdrive button, you will notice the warning light on the dash is illuminated telling you that the overdrive is off. In this case the transmission will not engage fifth gear. If you press the button above 80km/h the transmission will shift down to fourth. The overdrive should be engaged for normal driving to get better fuel consumption, but you can disengage it when you want more passing performance, or to slow the car when you are approaching a town.

I HAVEN'T had any experience with the additives, so I can't recommend them, but they wouldn't do any harm. The cause of the smoke is likely to be worn valve stem seals, which allow the oil to run down the valve stems and into the cylinders while the car is sitting overnight. The puff of smoke is the oil being burned when you start up. Try the additives, but think about getting the valve stem seals replaced as a long-term solution.

CHECK the driveshaft joints. You may have a worn joint, which could have the effect you describe. It would also be worth checking the front wheel bearings.