Nuts and Bolts with Buffalo Jim

Howdy Jim,

I wanted to pick your brain about my 1996 Toyota Avalon XLS and what type of work will be needed in the foreseeable future. The car has 95,240 miles now. At 59,447 miles the timing belt was replaced. Does this year/make Toyota have an interference engine? When should the belt be replaced?

At 59,447 the service record printout of work performed at the dealership stated they performed a major service and replaced the platinum spark plugs. At this time the engine is starting, running and idling okay. When should a tune-up and plug replacement be done?

--Stan

To be honest, bro, most people put too much faith in tune-ups. They bring in a car that's idling rough or starting hard or accelerating poorly, and expect a simple tune-up to cure all their problems. Back in the day, when carburetors ran rich and spark plugs often fouled, this might have worked, but on today's computer-controlled cars, the average tune-up consists of nothing more than changing spark plugs, checking idle speed and swapping out a few filters. These are important preventative procedures for sure, but they're not likely to improve the car's day-to-day performance in any perceptible way.

That being said, there's still plenty to do to prepare your car for the dog days of summer. Around May, your cooling system should be flushed with cold water and refilled to capacity with fresh coolant. You'll also want to have those platinum plugs replaced in about 5,000 miles, along with your fuel filter. In terms of a major tune-up--that is, plugs, cap, rotor, wires, fuel filter, air filter and fuel-injection service--you can hold off on that until about 110,000 miles. The same goes for your timing belt, which should be replaced about every 50,000 miles. Don't worry; your V6 engine is noninterference, so if the timing belt does break, you won't need a complete overhaul. And always have your oil changed every 3,000 miles--especially in July and August, when the heat will turn old oil into blackened sludge faster than you can say "thermal breakdown."

Hi Jim,

I've been reading your column for a long time. I have a '94 Saturn SW2 wagon. I had the "check engine" light diagnosed by Autotech and they seem to think it's the torque converter (transmission?). The estimate for the repair ran from $1,500 to 2,200. I don't mind paying for quality repairs.

My question is, where would YOU take it to be repaired? You seem like an honest, no-nonsense type of guy with good advice to give. My experiences at both Saturn dealers on Sahara and in Henderson were bad for previous repairs. Any other suggestions? The car is in otherwise great condition--only 106,000 miles. Thank you for your response.

--Rich

If I were you, the first thing I'd do is make absolutely sure that your transmission needs attention. It sounds to me like your warning light came on because of a faulty torque converter, which can be serviced independently of the transmission. Either bring it to another shop or check for yourself: If the fluid on the dipstick is not burnt or discolored, you might be able to get away with just replacing the converter. That should run you less than $500--$150 for the rebuilt part and $300 for the labor.

I recommend you take it to an independent transmission shop--not a franchise--that's been in business no less than 20 years. I'm sure some of the transmission chains in town do fine work, but my experience has been that their estimates tend to run a little high. Wherever you go, you should insist that the work be warrantied and thoroughly explained to you. If you're going to drop that kind of money at a shop, the least you can expect is a little customer service.

Buffalo Jim is the owner of Allstate Auto Marine. When he was in the wrestling business, he used to ride a 7-foot-tall mechanical buffalo to the ring. The all-terrain beast took a year to build and features a two-speed transmission, laser-light eyes and a smoke machine in its nostrils. Although he no longer pilots it to the squared circle, he still rides it between the couch and the fridge. E-mail him you car questions at buffalojim@lasvegasmercury.com.