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Jim Grant's Tech Tips
94 Toyota
Camry, Oil Pan and CV boot Problems
Q: I own a '94 Toyota Camry sedan with about
115,000 miles that's given great service. I've had regular tune-ups and
work such as timing belt replacement done at the local dealership. After
a tune-up (90k) , I was told that the oil pan is severely rusted and that
the right front CV boot is cracked and leaking grease. The estimates are
$500 and $420, respectively, for the two jobs. I was puzzled since I've
taken good care of the car; I've done all but two of the oil changes (about
every 3,500 miles), avoided accidents with the car and done mostly highway
driving. When I asked the dealer's service rep why I'd need a new oil
pan, he said it probably got bent and damaged when the car was lifted
to change the timing belt (at their shop, no less!!) Have you heard of
a problem such as this? Wouldn't it be the dealership's fault that the
oil pan got bent and rusted, and should I ask them to cover the cost of
a new pan? Could the CV boot have been damaged at the same time or would
that cracking just be due to wear and tear? I've never had these problems
with any of the other three Japanese front-wheel-drive cars I've owned.
Maybe an offer to split the costs of theses repairs would be a good compromise?
A: Here
in New England, oil pan leakage due to rust is not an epidemic, but it
does happen with surprising frequency. As for CV boots? Once again, not
an uncommon problem. You may ask what Im comparing your Toyota to. Well
a 95 Toyota just had to have its right side drive axle assembly replaced
because the owner drove the vehicle too long with a bad CV boot. The damage,
parts and labor on the replacement (new) axle made $500 go bye bye real
fast. Rebuilt axles were not available for this vehicle. As for oil pans
rusting out, once again there is an early 90s Toyota on the schedule
for a replacement oil pan. Recently, we replaced oil pans on a Ford and
Chrysler Products. No manufacturer is safe from salt in our region. But
you oil pan story has an interesting flip. The Service Writer tells you
that some "bright light" used your oil pan as a lift point for servicing
your vehicle, (ahh in their shop). Maybe you should have someone else
take a look and provide a second opinion. Then proceed from there.
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