Toyota Repair: Toyota Camry 2002 4 cyl, toyota camry 2002, honda accord v6

Question
After 55K miles, my dealer recommended (after its 60K maintenance) to flush the transmission, brakes, power steering and replace the external drive belt. This is my first Toyota after owning two Honda Civics for 10 years  each & 120 K miles each and the Hondas never required this type of maintenance. Are these flushes really needed and do you know why I never needed to do this with the Civics?

Since I plan on owning my car for another 6 years I want to take care of it but I also don't want to spend money on services that are not needed.

Thanks!

Answer
Because you're a poor maintainer of vehicles that trusts luck instead of proper mainteanance?
I'm teasing you sweetie so don't think I'm being an ass! But seriously babe... For example, a complete lack of maintenance is half of the reason the Honda Accord v6 has about the crappiest excuse for a modern v6 transmission on Earth when it comes to longevity.
I digress... You were a poor maintainer of your Civics & lucked out on not having problems it sounds like. I have an old civic in the driveway too ya know! ;)




All cars require the same basic maitnenance, at the same basic maintenance intervals. Do you *really* think one company that uses semi-quality parts last longer than anothers? In the end any fluid is a fluid. It burn, evaporates & leaks. Rubber is still always rubber. It cracks, splits & breaks.



Flushing the transmission fluid on any automatic transmission is essential for it's longevity & should be done no LESS than every third year, regardless of the fluid put in it. More than 90% of transmission failures are from overextended & low transmission fluid alone.
Belts only last about 60,000 miles on anything. Only very rescently has anyone gone to 90,000 mile accessory belt intervals.


Just so you get the idea, here's the maintenance log straight out of the civic repair manual.
250m/weekly:
Check oil, coolant, washer fluid, brake fluid tires & tire pressure
3000m/3months:
check powersteering fluid, transmission fluid change oil & filter
7,500m/6m:
inspace/replace wiper blades, clutch release arm freeplay, check/service battery, check/adjust the drivebelts, inspect/replace all underhood hoses, check cooling system, rotate tires, check front disc pads (rear disk pads for CRX)
15,000m/12m:
Adjust the valve clerances
Inspect the brake system, fuel system, chekc/replace the spark plugs, plug wires, distributor cap & rotor, steering &s uspension components, drive-axle boots (CV boots)
change the transaxle fluid
check the manual transaxle lubricant level
check rear differential level (for 4WD models)
Replace the air filter


So don't think you didn't get away with a nice long list of no-no's for owning & maintaining a vehicle. We're only up to year *1* of owning a civic hunnie! Shit Honda has got you adjusting valves every year on a civic. Atleast with the Toyota engines from the same peirod they're built with alot stronger parts, and don't require the first valve inspection until 60,000m or 90,000m depending on the engine.

But that's about it... You simply don't know any better & had some extremely good luck. Honda's are great if you maintain them. Toyota's are stronger. :)









At the very least learn this:
Change the oil whatever the specified original schedule is. Note that most good manufacturers (Toyota) will advise multiple schedules. A normal schedule, and a harsh driving schedule. Most owners fall under harsh driving...
Change the oil & filter every 4,500 to 7,500 miles. (4,500m)
Replace the transmission/differential fluid no less often than every third year.
Replace the coolant every other year. (If is a newer long-life coolant... They don't last that long, trust me. Replace them at 1/2 the published life. You'll save youself trouble 5 years down the road for tens of dollars)
Replace the thermostat, and any pressure caps every other coolant flush (every 4 years)
Powersteering & brake fluid, change them out every 3 years or so.


If you do that, you'll never have a major mechanical repair on anything you own - ever.

If you ever buy a new car. Install an auxillary transmission cooler. (Like one would use on a vehicle that would tow something.) You'll never have a transmission failure unless the transmission design itself has inherant problems. Costs about $50. Talk about cheap insurance huh?







Keep all recipets of any maintenance done. And throw a log book in the glovebox & write it all down. it'll pay off when you dicth the vehicle, or you ever have warranty work done trust me.