91 camry-EXPENSIVE REPAIRS!!!!!

[worledl]

I recently bought a 91 Camry 4 cylinder with 87,000 miles for $3300. I immediately paid a local mechanic $500 to replace the radiator and bunch of belts (timing belt?). the mechaninc said i needed a new power steering pump for $200 installed but that i could also keep an eye on fluid level and replace fluid rather than the pump. I now have problems with it stalling at stoplights so i took it to the Toyota dealer. Dealer says i need:
1. plugs and wires to prevent stalling-$250;
2. throttle body and EFI service-$125;
3. power steering pump replaced-$582;
4. rack and pinion- $740;
5. left side axle boot-$265;
6. valve cover-$100;
7. distributor o ring-$85.
Mechanic at dealership offered to give me $500 for car.
Are any of these life-threatening safety issues?
Which repairs will make the car quit stalling?
Are there any cheaper fixes?
HELP!!!!

[Brian R.]

Get another opinion from a mechanic you trust. Then you can balance these two opinions. I doubt you need everything the dealer is recommending you fix. Particularly, the pack and pinion, the power steering pump (as you already said), and the valve cover (gasket, I suppose). Are you leaking oil?

[rob3]

Originally Posted by worledl

I recently bought a 91 Camry 4 cylinder with 87,000 miles for $3300. I immediately paid a local mechanic $500 to replace the radiator and bunch of belts (timing belt?). the mechaninc said i needed a new power steering pump for $200 installed but that i could also keep an eye on fluid level and replace fluid rather than the pump. I now have problems with it stalling at stoplights so i took it to the Toyota dealer. Dealer says i need:
1. plugs and wires to prevent stalling-$250;
2. throttle body and EFI service-$125;
3. power steering pump replaced-$582;
4. rack and pinion- $740;
5. left side axle boot-$265;
6. valve cover-$100;
7. distributor o ring-$85.
Mechanic at dealership offered to give me $500 for car.
Are any of these life-threatening safety issues?
Which repairs will make the car quit stalling?
Are there any cheaper fixes?
HELP!!!!

I am not a mechanic, but I wouldn't trust anybody at a dealership ever. I don't know why anybody goes to a dealership unless they have a warranty even then they will look for some way to screw you. Find somebody else.

[typesix]

$250 to install plugs and wires? Wires are $80(includes distributor cap) from dealer, plugs are little over $1 each. Labor shouldn't be more than 1/2 hour.

[ycl1688]

in my opinion the distributor cap, spark plugs and spark wires to install is one the easiest jobs to
do. Specially 4 cylinders easy to reach, I
have installed my 91 camry the whole shot
in half hour. Autozone should sell you the
entire staff quality wise pretty close to dealer.
Get the wells brand from autozone.

[Chapol]

Several years ago my '90 Camry was leaking power steering fluid, so I had the dealer check it out (along with some other things). He said I needed a new power steering pump for about $700. Meanwhile, I took the car to my regular mechanic, who said I had a leak in a hose. Fixed it for under $100.

By the way, if I recall, the power steering unit takes transmission fluid. Am I right?

[Bmaintz]

The High Pressure hose that goes to the pump sometimes springs a small leak.... Mine did & it was inside the heavy foam wrap, doesn't take much on this hose... I didn't fix it in time, ran it out of fluid & took out the power steering rack seals..... What a job that was....

[ycl1688]

chapol,
yes, steering unit takes trans fluid,
should be written on the unit cap.