- Joined: April 1999
- Post Count: 81
I just purchased a 1997 Toyota Camry - 4 Cylinder w. Auto Transmission with 155,000 km/93,000 miles and was wondering if anyone has any anecdotal experience with this car and engine configuration. I've heard some bad things about this generation and year (specifically sludge problems, valve problems, etc). Is this car a reliable one - I do hope it is, as I plunked down $200 down and have to pay the rest next week. However, if there any particular issues with this particular model and year, then perhaps I'll count the downpayment as a loss and take it from there. Any opinions would be greatly appreciate. I would like to add that I had a 1990 Celica that used the same engine I believe (5SFE) and it lasted almost to 300,000 km/ 180, 000 miles before a utility truck backed up on me. I took consolation that this Celica engine was the same one in the Camry - so are all these sludge problems a realised threat or just the media exaggerating things?
Thanks,
Darren.
Religion is the opium of the masses. Revolution is the opium of the intellectuals.
- Joined: June 1999
- Post Count: 1,154
Re: 1997 Toyota Camry I-4, Any Experiences?
Yep, great cars as long as you keep the oil changed, which pretty much goes along with anything. I bought my GF a '94 Camry several years ago that had 180k on it but after I drove it 10 miles with a empty radiator, we were forced to change out the motor. Still a great car. My oldest son just bought a 96 Camry to drive to work as he has a couple of big Ford trucks and so far, it has been a great car. I certainly believe Toyota makes a long long lasting vehicle. In the 70-80's, I had a Toy truck that had 160k on it when I sold it and it was still going strong.
\"There comes a time in the lives of men, when taken at the tide, you\'re liable to ****ing drown...\" R. Farina
\"or go broke due to upgraditis...\" D. Davis
- Joined: April 1999
- Post Count: 3,515
Re: 1997 Toyota Camry I-4, Any Experiences?
Darren,
I'm a tech in the service dept. of a largish Toyota dealership in Central California.
You have to really neglect oil changes to get sludge on one of these. I pull the valve covers off these with 150k miles on 'em and they're clean as a whistle if the oil's been changed every 5k miles or so, only see sludge if it's been let go for 10-15k between changes.
If the timing belt's never been changed, get it done. These typically last 90-100k miles. If it breaks the engine will stop and you'll coast silently to the side of the road, but it's not an "interference" engine so no damage to the valves will occur--you'll just have to have it towed in for a new timing belt.
Early signs of belt stretching are rattly noise for a while on cold starts that diminishes a bit when warmed up.
These did have a problem with clunky/rattly noises from the front end on small "chatter bumps"--cured by a redesign of the upper front strut mounts.
If you notice a clunky rattly noise from the front suspension on smallish sharp road irregularities, take it to a Toyota dealer and have them listen to the noise. Independent shops like to sell you new struts for this noise, the upper supports are cheaper.
Chances are the power windows are making a sorta gronky noise as they go up and down, sorta like a big clockspring creaking as it unwinds, perfectly normal and won't hurt anything. There actually is a big clockspring in the regulator to assist in the up motion (not unique to Toyotas btw) and it will make this noise.
I had a neighbor in my condo complex get 260k miles out of one of these (she was in real estate and this is a big spread out area). She sold it to her kids and bought a Mercedes when she got a new job that didn't require such a reliable car.
Steve S.
I prefer not to push the subwoofers until they\'re properly run in.
- Joined: April 1999
- Post Count: 81
Re: 1997 Toyota Camry I-4, Any Experiences?
Thanks for all the info, I do appreciate it. I would also like to ask whether using a synthetic oil would be advisable for a car this age - or is it just superfluous? Once again, thanks for the input - always good to have some personal insight.
Take Care,
Darren.
Religion is the opium of the masses. Revolution is the opium of the intellectuals.
- Joined: April 1999
- Post Count: 3,515
Re: 1997 Toyota Camry I-4, Any Experiences?
Darren,
I wouldn't go to the expense of synthetic oil at this late date. I've used it in my Mazda 3 since the second oil change and plan to continue but if your Camry's been using dino oil for 90+k miles it's not really going to be worth it to switch.
Do have the oil and filter changed every 3500-4000 miles or so.
If you are at all worried about sludge the valve cover on one of these can be removed in about 20 minutes. The valve cover is held down by those 30mm nuts threaded onto the tops of the sparkplug tubes. While you're there look down into the sparkplug tubes--if you see any oil around the bottom of the tubes you should have them resealed. They unscrew from the head--just clean up the lower threads with a wire brush and apply some teflon sealant to the threads and re-install.
Sludge will look like partially melted icecream or big thick globs of dark tar coating everything under the valve cover. Thin sorta film-like flaky deposits are nothing to worry about.
Steve S.
I prefer not to push the subwoofers until they\'re properly run in.
- Joined: April 1999
- Post Count: 81
Re: 1997 Toyota Camry I-4, Any Experiences?
So the general consensus is that it is a reliable car, correct. That's important right now in my life (or should I say our family life - as we have a 2 year old). I can handle the nuances of the car - but the big thing for me is the engine and transmission reliability. I expect maintenance repairs but do not want any major repairs that might dip into our savings just yet. My 1990 Celica had its issues, but the engine was reliable and I could count on it getting to A and B with little issue. I can handle the odd rattle or squeak, but I can not handle being nickel and dimed to death, or frequent costly repairs. The reason for my trepidation is that I have scoured many websites and magazines, and some of the reviews of the '97 Camry are not too flattering, something, quite frankly, I am not used to as a loyal Toyota owner (every car except my first has been a Toyota). Once again,
Thanks,
Darren.
Religion is the opium of the masses. Revolution is the opium of the intellectuals.
- Joined: April 1999
- Post Count: 3,515
Re: 1997 Toyota Camry I-4, Any Experiences?
Darren,
Having worked in a Toyota service dept. since 1971 I can assure you that the 97 Camry has been a more trouble free car than the '90 Celica was.
When buying a used car with fairly high mileage like the one you purchased by far the most important factor relevant to future reliability is how well the car's been maintained up to this point.
If the thing runs really well, all the toys work, the AC blows cold, the belts look good, the coolant is nice and clean, the trans fluid is a clear clean red color and doesn't smell burnt, the brakes don't squeal excessively and don't pulsate when slowing from freeway speeds, no odd rattly mechanical noises from the engine, and none of the doors is falling off you probably got a good one.
I've driven many a Camry of just about any generation with 200k or more miles on it that I wouldn't hesitate to drive from California to New York.
Steve S.
I prefer not to push the subwoofers until they\'re properly run in.
- Joined: April 1999
- Post Count: 81
Re: 1997 Toyota Camry I-4, Any Experiences?
Steve,
I picked it up on Friday, and other then the odd problem that I will take care of in the future, it runs well. The transmission and engine seem tight and it passed emissions with flying colours. However I do hear that front end chatter whenever I drive over small bumps and such. And I think there might be a wheel bearing problem in the rear as I sometimes hear a groan and slight whirring sound coming from there. But on the whole I am happy with it - I just need to sink a few dollars into it, to keep it running on the long haul.
Thanks,
Darren Crouse
Religion is the opium of the masses. Revolution is the opium of the intellectuals.
- Joined: October 2002
- Post Count: 592
Re: 1997 Toyota Camry I-4, Any Experiences?
"These did have a problem with clunky/rattly noises from the front end on small "chatter bumps"--cured by a redesign of the upper front strut mounts.
If you notice a clunky rattly noise from the front suspension on smallish sharp road irregularities, take it to a Toyota dealer and have them listen to the noise. Independent shops like to sell you new struts for this noise, the upper supports are cheaper."
I have this exact car (i.e., a '97) and do have this problem. It's very annoying and the dealership wanted to charge me $1,100 to fix it. After being told that it wouldn't affect the safety of the car (and would only be annyoing) I decided not to go through with it. My old boss also has a '97 Camry and has the same problem, although his doesn't seem to be as loud as mine.
The only other problems I've had have been related to the electrical system. The light under the shifter knob burned out about two years ago and the clock keeps fading in and out on a consistent basis. Also, I seem to be going through headlights much faster than I should be, given the limited amount of time I drive at night/in the rain.
All in all, I've been very happy with it and take very good care of it. I've got 112k so far and am looking to get at least 150k out of it (which I don't see as a problem) before picking up my next car (likely a Honda).
I just wish that rattle could be fixed inexpensively!
\"My name is El Nino which in spanish means.... The Nino!\" - Chris Farley
- Joined: April 1999
- Post Count: 3,515
Re: 1997 Toyota Camry I-4, Any Experiences?
If the left or right turn signals start to flash really fast, remove the bulb in the front turn signal (see owner's manual for instructions). Look down into the empty bulb socket and you'll see a little tab of metal about 3mm wide protruding down the side of the socket. This tab is meant to contact the side of the metal base of the bulb. Bend the little tab toward the center of the bulb socket and re-install the bulb, your turn signal will now flash at the proper speed.
Steve S.
I prefer not to push the subwoofers until they\'re properly run in.
- Joined: October 2002
- Post Count: 592
Re: 1997 Toyota Camry I-4, Any Experiences?
Never had that problem with the turn signal, but thanks
\"My name is El Nino which in spanish means.... The Nino!\" - Chris Farley
