explroreco97

I have a 97 Camry LE with about 125,000 on it. I am going to change the plugs and plug wires my self and wanted to know if anyone can tell me what plug wires to go with. I intend to keep the car for at least 200,000. Is it worth the extra money to get the oem wires from the Toyota dealer or are the wires from Autozone or AdvanceAuto ok?? Any brands recommended? Also, is there any advantage to getting the Bosch Plat +4 over the +2? Are they worth the extra $$$.

Is there any other recommend maintanence you could think of for a car with this mileage? I have done the timing chain, new hoses and belts, getting the trans fluid changed and the fuel injectors cleaned this weekend.

Thanks for your help.

RIP

Been a shadetree mechanic for 30+ years and have never used what I call exotic parts. I've used nothing but Champion and Autolite plugs in my Toyotas and Dodge and have never had so much as a hickup from them. A rule of thumb on plug wires I use is buy whatever the mid priced wires cost. Many will spend extra on parts thinking they have to be better. They swear they can "feel" a difference. I smile when I hear that. The only way to know for sure is to put it on a dyno and measure the HP and torque output. Save your money and buy what's tried and true.

Don't forget to change the differential fluid. Many overlook it. Replace the brake fluid every 4 -5 years especially if you live in a wet and/or humid region. Change the fuel filter every 3 years. Change the coolant thermostat and radiator cap every other coolant change. You said you changed the hoses. Did you change the little crossover hose and the heater hoses? Check your manual or better yet get a maintenance manual if you don't have one. It's all listed there. There's plenty of websites where you can get the same info. Cheers.

AccordCodger

Diff fluid? On a Camry? This is a front wheel drive car we're talking about here. And he already mentioned the transmission fluid.

RIP

AccordCodger - You betchya, at least on an 87 and 94 BOTH WITH FRONT WHEEL DRIVE. Even front wheel drive cars have to tranfer mechanical motion to left and right wheels. It's what the axle assemblies attach to on the inboard side. They just moved the differential from between the back wheels upfront as part of the transaxle. It sits just aft of the transmission pan.

Though the differential uses the same type of transmission fluid for lubrication, it has it's own reservoir of fluid in the bottom of the differential case. Changing the transmission fluid in the "tranny" does not change the fluid in the differential. It's a completely separate process to change it. There is a drain plug on the bottom of the case and a fill plug on the back of the case. Kind of a pain to get to but, doable. Cheers!

Sure your Honda doesn't have a differential? Read step 13..... http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBr...3d800d1882.jsp

Brian R.

Also, alot of Camrys don't have a differential fluid reservoir separate from the transmission. Some do and some don't. In the ones that don't, you change the differential fluid every time you change the transmission fluid.

As far as plugs go, IMO, use the brands and part numbers recommended by Toyota. They are not significantly more expensive than others.

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AccordCodger

Hmm. Interesting. I know they all have a diff of course, but I didn't know any of them had a separate reservoir. I wonder why, then, they use transmission fluid? I always thought that was a poor lubricating compromise, necessitated by having the transmission and the diff in one unit.

Brian R.

I would guess that they can use ATF because, unlike a normal differential, they don't have hypoid gears to change the direction of the rotation.

Camrys 1998 and newer have integrated fluid reservoirs with the transmission, even though they still have separate drain plugs. You fill the differential through the transmission filler tube.

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jd-autotech

i recommend oem parts the fit and perform right, aftermarket wires especially seem to over do the length of the wires and that tends to rub this and that and cause future misfires. and i never ever use autozone or places like it. i have been a prefessional technician for 20 years and those parts store chains seem to lack quality but if you go aftermarket go with a napa or a local bumper to bumper or independent there parts seem to do the trick at a fraction of the oem price.

Luke Home

How would I know if my 1999 Camry has a separate chamber on the differential fluid or not? I have a 1999 A541E trans., 3.0 (1MZ-FE Engine). When looking a drawing of the So Called Fill Plug for this differential fluid ... it does not exist on my differential.

Feedback on this would be great!

Luke

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1998 Bonneville SE 156,000+, Miles, Running Good So Far
1999 Camry LXE 105,000 3.0 V6 (1MZ-FE Engine), A541E Trans.
1997 EAGLE TALON ESI 2.0L L4 SFI DOHC 16V (Project Car - 140K)

Brian R.

See my previous post

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Luke Home

Yes Brian ... I saw this after I send the last post ... thanks.
Too fast with the mouse button and I also had the car up on the jack stands and was hoping to get a quick response.
I just need to "Chill" when looking for info and read, read, read, before posting.

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1998 Bonneville SE 156,000+, Miles, Running Good So Far
1999 Camry LXE 105,000 3.0 V6 (1MZ-FE Engine), A541E Trans.
1997 EAGLE TALON ESI 2.0L L4 SFI DOHC 16V (Project Car - 140K)

Soilent Green

My old '98 had a separate diff fluid reservoir. My new '98 probably has one too. Didn't do it yet though. Both 4Cyl

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...erential+fluid