How to Inspect the Drivetrain in a Toyota Camry

Since its debut in 1983, the Toyota Camry has maintained a solid following and continues to be a good selling car. The popular family car comes with a 5-year/60,000 mile drivetrain warranty that covers the engine, the transmission and the wheels. You should perform regular drivetrain inspections every 12 months or 15,000 miles to keep your Camry running smoothly.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

things you'll need:

• Hoist
• Old rags

1. • 1

     Lift the Camry on a hoist and look at all the components of the car's drivetrain. Inspect for any signs of breakage or wear on the axles that connect the driveshaft to the wheels. Look for seepage of fluids from the joints. At the outer end of the driveshaft, check the support brackets for the drivetrain, making sure they're tight.

   • 2

     Inspect the straps holding the transmission in place, making sure they are all secure. The Camry experienced problems with one of the straps breaking on its 2007 models and issued a technical dealer warning, not a recall.

   • 3

     Test drive your Toyota Camry. Listen for any unusual noises, such as a clicking or clunking when you're cruising at a low speed, a clicking noise when you turn or clunks when you round a corner. Any of these noises could indicate trouble with the drivetrain.

   • 4

     Open the hood to check the oil and transmission fluid levels. The oil dipstick is on the front of the engine block and the transmission stick is further back on the passenger side.

   • 5

     Wipe the dipsticks with an old rag and reinsert them into their respective holes. Gauge the level of fluid in the container and add more, if it falls below the full mark.

   • 6

     Check all the hoses and clamps attached to the engine and coming from the oil and air filters, because it could create bigger problems if they're allowed to break.

Tips & Warnings

• Your Camry will slip a gear, if one of the transmission straps breaks while you're driving, leaving you plenty of time to drive it to the dealership for repair.

• If you experience any shaking, rattling, drift or pull while driving your Toyota Camry, you may have damage to the steering or suspension.