I brought my car today to my local Toyota dealer for service after
observing the "Check Engine" light illuminating a couple of days ago.
The technician diagnosed the problem and replaced an Air Fuel sensor. I
think this is also called an Oxygen sensor. This turned off the light,
but I was advised that I should have the Cam Seals replaced soon as Oil
was found to be seeping through. In addition, he suggested that the
Timing belt also be replaced as it is located in the same area and it
would save on labor since the same components would have to be
disassembled.
Are Cam Seals a common part failure? I've had the oil changed regularly
(3 months/3000 miles) and the car has not been driven hard.
Thank you for any advice/comments.
BigJim - 24 Mar 2007 04:25 GMT
I don't know about the seals but my neighbor changes his timing belt every
60000 and the car is now
going on 280000. Hey if the seals are leaking they need to be replaced.
>I brought my car today to my local Toyota dealer for service after
> observing the "Check Engine" light illuminating a couple of days ago.
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> Thank you for any advice/comments.
Robert Wiggins - 24 Mar 2007 13:58 GMT
> I don't know about the seals but my neighbor changes his timing belt every
> 60000 and the car is now
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> >
> > Thank you for any advice/comments.
Yes, the Toyota (1992 Corolla) I had previously had its Timing Belt
changed at 60K intervals and it had over 200K when I sold it. It is
still on the road today. The 2002 Camry Owner's Manual recommends a 90K
interval, but I suspect I will do that sooner if the Cam Seal
replacement is inevitable.
Jason James - 24 Mar 2007 20:30 GMT
> I brought my car today to my local Toyota dealer for service after
> observing the "Check Engine" light illuminating a couple of days ago.
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> Thank you for any advice/comments.
Similar thing happened to me. I bought a 2nd-hand Camry '96 with 155,000 km
on it. I put it in to Toyota for a belt change as I had no idea how long it
had been in service. When they pulled the belt-cover, all the seals were
shot and oozing oil, plus the belt tensioner and jockey pulley bearings were
sandy (noisy). It costs a bit, but after that you dont have to worry about
oil-leaks damaging the new belt.
Jason
lobo - 26 Mar 2007 03:23 GMT
Since the 2002 Camry has a timing chain and not a belt, I would suspect
anything that mechanic said. You say he was the dealer??
I recently replace one of those air/fuel ratio sensors. More Denzo crap.
Sure, the seals could be leaking so could the valve cover gasket, crank
seals,and oil pump O rings. 70,000 is low mileage for all that to happen.
>I brought my car today to my local Toyota dealer for service after
> observing the "Check Engine" light illuminating a couple of days ago.
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> Thank you for any advice/comments.
Bob - 26 Mar 2007 19:54 GMT
> Since the 2002 Camry has a timing chain and not a belt, I would suspect
> anything that mechanic said. You say he was the dealer??
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> >
> > Thank you for any advice/comments.
I believe the 2002 V6 engine has a belt, but the 4 have a chain. I was
not surprised when I was told that it was the air/fuel sensor (I think
this engine has 2 of them). I experienced the same issue with the 92
Corolla I had previously; at about 60K I noticed the engine began to
hesitate slightly from a complete stop. After a while, the Check Engine
light came on. The Oxygen Sensor was replaced, the light went out and
the hesitation went away for another 60K, then the cycle would repeat.
Back to the 02 Camry, I know I had requested the dealer to use Synthetic
Oil for each oil change. This is one the Sludge Issue cars so I have
been using Synthetic Oil in it from the very first change. I am now
wondering if the Synthetic Oil slips through the Cam Seals more easily
and this is why I have the issue now.
Nobody Important - 27 Mar 2007 03:12 GMT
> Back to the 02 Camry, I know I had requested the dealer to use Synthetic
> Oil for each oil change. This is one the Sludge Issue cars so I have
> been using Synthetic Oil in it from the very first change. I am now
> wondering if the Synthetic Oil slips through the Cam Seals more easily
> and this is why I have the issue now.
There was a problem in the distant past with synthetic oil eating seals,
but that was resolved decades ago. It's a good idea to change oil and
cam seals when you do the timing belt; they harden over time from the
heat and start to leak.
Bob - 27 Mar 2007 19:24 GMT
> > Back to the 02 Camry, I know I had requested the dealer to use Synthetic
> > Oil for each oil change. This is one the Sludge Issue cars so I have
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> cam seals when you do the timing belt; they harden over time from the
> heat and start to leak.
I will keep an eye on things, and plan to consolidate the replacement of
these seals when I have the Timing belt replaced.
Thanks to everyone who replied.