Hello Scotty,
I enjoy listening to you give advice. I have a 2005 camry it has been a problem since it was new with the power steering. But over the years I had an oil leak. The toyota dealer seemed to finally find the answer saying it was the gasket so they supposedly fixed it. Then a couple weeks later the oil reading was down so I added some and I told them at inspection that I had to add oil. They said to bring it back at next oil change and they'll check it that it is probably the timing belt and tensioner and it would cost about $2,000. They replaced a new battery at inspection but it has been idling louder since I got it back especially when I turn on the A/C. I left them a message that they gave me a bad battery. I am afraid to bring my car back to them. Do you have any advice for me? Thanks. 🙁
Is your Camry 4cylinder or 6cylinder?
My advice is to find an independent honest mechanic and do all the repairs there. A pod dealers as much as you can. For the idling issue, it isn't the battery issue, since they changed the battery, the computer has been reset and you need to drive the car for the idle to relearn.
Hi. Thanks for getting back to me. It is a 4 cylinder it has 109,000 miles on it. So you think the idle might return the more I drive it? Ok, I will see. I will look for an independent mechanic I have asked some neighbors already. I appreciate your advice. 🙂
The dealer is scamming you. Your engine goes not have timing belt. If they refer to the drive belt, it is a big rip off. Find a good mechanic.
Okay, there sure seems to be something wrong with what they told you. Yaser asked about what motor, that would have been my first question as well, because a 4 cylinder 2005 camry has a timing chain, the older ones had belts. $2000 for a timing belt job, even if it had the v6 is crazy high. Lastly, I really can't figure what losing power steering fluid led them to thinking it needed a timing belt, tensioner pulley, etc change, even if it had a timing belt!
As far as the car idling funny after you get it back from them, I would have already been finding me another mechanic. Those camrys are pretty solid and reliable, you shouldn't have much trouble with them.
