1998 Toyota Camry review from North America

Planned a trip up north and had the car inspected for safety purposes. The dealer said it needed a new timing belt. We had it replaced for $800 or so. Not really sure it was needed; showed no signs of any problems. It might just have been on scheduled maintenance?

Some of the plastic parts, the front turn signals grazed badly in the Florida sun. I was able to buy on-line for about 20 dollars each. I found replacing them a real trick, kinda screwed up the first one figuring how to get the old one off. Broke a few small plastic gizmos, which I glued. Once I saw the weird way they were held on, the second one was easy. The head lights are also covered with plastic which turned a light brown. However a plastic headlight cleaner took off all the brown haze.

Finally the gas pedal would stick at stop lights. I tried to figure out what was sticking. The linkage has lots of wire and hydraulics from the gas pedal to the fuel injector. I cleaned, greased, wd40'd to no avail.

Got an estimate from a mechanic, full linkage replacement 400-500 dollars.

Not taken in I went to the Internet and found the problem and solution. The air hose goes into the mouth of the fuel injector horizontal to the ground. This arrangement allows a very small amount of carbon to gather on the lip of the injector interfering with the throttle plate. 2 and 1/2 minutes a rag, a screw driver

a drop or carburetor cleaner, was all it took to wipe away the carbon. Instantly no more sticky gas pedal. This was at about 120,000.

Aside form a possible hood winking by a dealer, I drove this Camry from 98,000 to 162,000 for under 50 dollars in repairs.

When I played with hyper mile driving, I got 33+ on average. What a joy at $4.25 a gallon.

I am sad and also glad to say this...

My 1998 Toyota Camry "SAVED MY LIFE".

I am sad because I was sideswiped on a super highway and pushed into a 70 mph rollover, which totaled my beloved car. A wreckless lane change by an 18 wheeler (who just took off) caused the driver beside me to panic and pull into my lane.

I am glad because I sat for a second, gathered my wits, shut off the engine because the front wheels were still spinning and starting to smoke from friction, then I skedaddled out of the car up to the highway.

A witness who saw the rollover had stopped and was totally amazed I just strolled out of the tall water weeds unharmed. Actually I do not think my hair was even messed.

I am afraid I had subconsciously begun thinking of the 200,000 mile celebration, which I know was cut short by a wreck-less truck driver and probably a distracted driver.

Always wear your seatbelt... always.