Should I repair my 97 Camry?

Question

I went to the shop for inner tie rod ends because it's been pulling to the right. I was estimated $340 but they found that the steering rack has been leaking fluid and also needs replacing. I knew it had a slow leak, very minor, which I thought was due to an easily accessible o-ring which could be swapped. For the power steering rack replacement the shop is asking $350 for the assembly and $270 for the labor. I can possibly save some money if I buy the part for $150. It includes the inner tie rod ends.
The car has 152,000 miles. The radiator also has many micro cracks in it, which I can replace myself, the O2 sensor looks like it was replaced right before I bought it but it is bad and needs replacing also and has an uncommon connector so it costs around $160 and I can easily replace myself. So should I just sell the car?

Answer 1

In my opinion if the car  was mine  I would give it away and get me a later model car.

Answer 2

Consider a car of that age with a 10K per year minimum driving the odometer would read 230K if you had to buy the exact same car.  You only got 154K means you don't drive it all that much.   The steering box is leaking fluid? in a 24 year old car?  You can probably get a refurbished one for half the cost as most auto parts stores should carry it (like UAP/NAPA or another outfit.  It does not need to be a new steering box...still they need to do a wheel alignment after the parts have been swapped out.  Something you can't do because you do not have to big tools. Alignment rack, lasers, knowledge,

You CAN'T buy the part cheaper than THEY can because they get it for wholesale price.  You get it for retail price(which is always higher)  O2 sensor should be obtainable at NAPA.for cheaper than dealership.  Radiator micro cracks are there for looks..  If all you got wrong with the car is naturally worn out parts...don't think you are gonna buy a car for that price.

Ask the shop if the steering box is just an O ring replacement and if they can do it or what is their song and dance?

. Tell them you are tight for cash and work out a better deal or go to another shop.

Answer 3

It's not that difficult to change the rack & pinion yourself. 

Answer 4

I'd do the rack before it gets worse. Once they are in there all of the labor is included to reinstall outer tie rods and set the toe (alignment). You would just have to pay for the outer tie rods and new rack. If it needs castor and camber adjustments on the front and rear end then they would charge you for a basic alignment which is around $79-$120 at most shops, these days. 

Answer 5

Get the Blue book price for it if you traded it in.   If the repair is more than that,  sell the car to a junk yard and buy a new car.  

Answer 6

thats up to you

Answer 7

How much would it cost you to buy a 97 Camry that has absolutely nothing wrong with it?

Answer 8

Tie rods don't cause pull. Caster causes pull if it's off. if the power steering is leaking suck as much of the PS fluid out of the reservoir and top the system up with LUCAS power steering additive. I 6 to 8 weeks the LUCAS reconditions the rack seals and will stop the leaks. It doesn't work for leaking hoses...just the rack seals. Tie rod ends are under $40 each at Advance Auto. You can crack the tie rod nut loose and unwind the tie rod after popping it out of the steering knuckle. Watch a youtube video showing how to replace them.

Answer 9

That is adding up to quite a repair bill. (!)  I hate to see the end of a great car, but this might be the time.  An option might be to look for a similar Camry that is not running, cheap, and has all the parts that you need.   You could also just drive the car the way it is until it just can't go any more, and then scrap it.  That might be quite some time from now as none of your troubles seem really terminal 

Answer 10

Low miles for a 1997. Get another opinion about the tie rods, unless they're visibly damaged. Low tire pressure can also make the car pull to one side.  Depending on the OBD2 code, there may be a few different problems to make it give a bad O2 sensor signal. Test all the suspects before buying a bunch of parts that might not need replacing. If you took really good care of the car, it might be good for another 100,000 miles. If you drove it like the devil and neglected it, any number of things could come up troublesome. Over the life of a car- 200K-300K miles, you either pay to keep it in top shape, or pay way down the line, replacing stuff you could have preserved better. If you're a rough driver, how would you feel replacing the transmission at 200,000 miles. If you don't like that idea, start shopping for a new car

Answer 11

Green 666 by isotope rays is NOT forgivable; it leads to permanent hell. 666 is given with World Passport with no name on it (grey plastic card). Police 666 people on highways. Food stores and prisoners/insane asylum folks (released by the antichrist) 666 people too. Reject vaccines. Don't go into UFO to be “healed” by evil demons. Hide with Orthodox Christians to escape 666; leave all electronics behind so that antichrist's minions can't track you; burn documents as documents are from Satan.

Answer 12

"I knew it had a slow leak, very minor, which I thought was due to an easily accessible o-ring which could be swapped." 



This is your assumption. 



Usually, when a rack leaks at the ends where the tie rods are, the reason is from excessive wear, which can not be cured by the replacement of the seal. 



You need to replace the rack. 



So check on the cost of a rebuilt rack at the auto parts store for initial cost of repair.  Add labor of some mechanic, or do it yourself. 



$150?

Answer 13

Do all that and it will still pull. Keep the car and take it elsewhere. Tires cause pull. Rear alignment out causes pull. Old steering racks all leak a little once you crack the seal. Suck some PS fluid out and add a good seal conditioner. I would jack up a front wheel and check for tie rod looseness myself. Need to get a Denso O2 sensor. Others don't last. 

Answer 14

It is time to get a new or newer car.



 “Should you find yourself in a chronically leaking boat, energy devoted to changing vessels is likely to be more productive than energy devoted to patching leaks.”



― Warren Buffet