Just bought a 96 Camry LE, it runs good. This is all I could afford at the moment and want to make sure it stays running well as long as possible and is safe as I will be driving around with a newborn baby. Anything I should look out for etc? Any tips for this car would be greatly appreciated. Thank-you.

 

For max life of components make sure all the fluids are changed and thus fresh such as trans, diff and PS. Trans and diff fluid at least every 60K miles, shorter if just doing a drain and refill of the trans pan. Trans fluid should be red or reddish. The darker it gets the more it is worn out, black fluid is bad.

PS fluid can be pulled out of the reservoir with a suction device and new fluid installed between drives until it is clear again thus no need to take the system apart to drain it.

Also check brake fluid, should be clear, not dark.

Coolant life depends on type used but suggest even if long life no more the 5 years or around 60K miles.

Make pick up a Haynes (name of author) service manual at around $20 new or check your library for manuals.

Determine when the timing belt was last changed. Toyota provides no mileage or year life. Older belt designs are recommended to be changed every 60K, new-improved belts 90K. If the belt breaks the engine will NOT be damaged but the engine of course will not run.

Also check the front axles boots for splitting or damage. If holes or cuts in the boots the grease will come out and debris enter resulting in much shorter axle joint life.

The main issue is keeping the fluids fresh.