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My 2012 Toyota Camr...
 
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My 2012 Toyota Camry se with 97,000 is becoming a money pit

  

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My problem is that my power steering light keeps coming on and off. my steering wheel stiffens for about 30 seconds then the light goes off and the wheel unstiffens . This repeatedly happens throughout my drives at every speed . The battery light, abs , traction control, and parking brake comes on and off as well. Ac blows inconsistently , ac lights flicker , and headlights flicker, high beams don’t turn on . I took it to the Toyota dealership and they replaced battery, belt tensioner and tested battery and alternator. The problem still persist . 1000$ later Ive gotten no solution


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Posted by: @mattiamhim

I took it to the Toyota dealership

That was your mistake. The technicians at dealerships are usually parts changers that do only a minimum of diagnostic work, if any at all. That's due to the way their pay is structured. They are financially encouraged to throw parts at a problem and get the vehicle out the door and the bill paid.

https://youtu.be/CfevTLNjNIM

There is no reason to take a 13-year-old car, long out of warranty, to the dealer for anything but recalls. Find a good independent mechanic who will actually diagnose these problems rather than guessing and loading up the parts cannon. (Also stay away from chain shops such as Pep Boys, Midas, Firestone, etc.)


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Posted by: @mattiamhim

My problem is that my power steering light keeps coming on and off. my steering wheel stiffens for about 30 seconds then the light goes off and the wheel unstiffens . This repeatedly happens throughout my drives at every speed . The battery light, abs , traction control, and parking brake comes on and off as well. Ac blows inconsistently , ac lights flicker , and headlights flicker, high beams don’t turn on.

Check all of your grounds. I Googled, does a 2012 Toyota Camry have electric power steering? It does. There's an issue with your car's electrical system. 

 

 


@justin-shepherd the grounds was the first thing they checked


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Have you replaced your serpentine belt lately?


@imperator yes , I got that replaced a couple days ago and the problem didn’t go away


were the tensioner, idler, and all the pulleys in good shape too?


@imperator tensioner was replaced as well but not pulley or idler


it sounds a lot like something is dragging on the belt drive system. A/C compressor or clutch malfunction?


@imperator ac blows harder when I press the gas pedal


measure your voltage


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