1st & 2nd Generation (1983–1986 & 1987-1991)Toyota Camry Discussion for years: 1983-1986 & 1987-1991.
Topics of discussion range from fuel economy, safety, modifications, performance all involving America's favorite family car, the Toyota Camry.
As I've mentioned, in an effort to offset some of our fuel costs, we traded our Previa to another family for $1500 and an 88 Alltrac LE.
Well, I knew the car had some issues, but decided that since I knew most of the ins and outs of the Gen 2 Camrys, that I could make this work.
Here is a list of things that were screwed up/broken/wrong with the car.
1: Fuel line leak.
When I went to test drive the car, they mentioned it had a fuel leak near the fuel filter. So I popped the hood to check the fluid levels then started the car. It took it a bit longer than normal to catch and start but seemed to be idling fine. Got out to listen to the engine better and noticed that the fuel leak was a full on spray. So before I could even take it out for a drive I had to fix the fuel line to the fuel filter.
2: Tail lights
They mentioned the tail lights did not work (Brake lights worked fine though) and they thought it was the taillight fault circuit box. (the little yellow box at the rear left fender) Someone had turned the wiring harness in the trunk into a mass of spaghetti trying to figure out what was wrong with them. They had tried to replace the yellow fault box only to destroy it too. It took me 20 minutes and a multimeter to track the problem down to one of the taillights in the decklid. It turns out they put a single filament lightbulb where there was supposed to be one of the high/low bulbs. The center contact was shorting out the two contacts causing the fault circuit to burn out.
3: Speedometer
The speedometer did not work, they said they took it to the Stealership and were told it would cost $75/hr plus parts to fix and they couldn't afford it. It turned out to be a seized 90 degree cable adapter and a broken short shaft that cost about $9 to replace.
4: Climate Control
The electronic climate control did not function at all, (I suspect the contacts at the plug need to be resoldered as I could get is to flash if I moved the harness just right) for me this turned out to be a simple fix, I just happened to have a spare one put aside and replacing it took a few moments.
5: Stereo
One of my pet peeves is cutting into factory wiring harnesses. It is so simple to get an adapter and wire your stereo to that instead, I can understand why someone would want to just cut the factory plugs off. I had to rewire the (aftermarket) stereo to get it to work.
6: Power antenna
After I got the stereo hooked up, I discovered the power antenna didn't work. Going back to the spaghetti in the trunk I discovered they had busted the antenna relay box trying to fix the taillights. Fortunately I had a spare one of those too. The mast has a few kinks and I'll probably replace that later.
7: Automatic seat belt (drivers side)
The belt was stuck in the closed position and would not slide forward when the door was opened. After pulling the pillar covers, I discovered the wiring harness was disconnected from the seat belt assembly. I plugged it in and it immediately went to the forward position. Then I discovered that it would not retract. I figure they had it stop working and moved it back manually only to have it move to the forward position, so they unplugged it.
8: Drivers door wiring harness
Since most of the controls on the drivers side door did not work like the power window switches and door locks, it was a good bet the wires worried themselves apart at the flex point. So after a few hours rewiring the door harness, I got the full functionallity of the master switches and the automatic seatbelt works properly now.
9: Rear Passenger door
The door would not open from the outside. There is a plastic clip that holds the rod at the pivot point of the handle that wore out letting the rod fall out. Replaced and fixed.
10: Dipstick tube
The dipstick tube was cracked and in the wrong orientation leaving the end of the dipstick behind the exhaust manifold. Trying to bend it back was a bad idea, it broke at the block leaving me with an instant smoke bomb. I drove it for a few days with oil splashing out onto the hot exhaust, causing the car to smoke and look like a real beater. I attempted to get the end of the tube out with an EZout but it only made it tighter. I ended up having to remove the exhaust manifold to get to the broken tube. I discovered that one of the machine bolts I had, had just the right thread size to thread into the leftover tube and I took a socket that had a larger diameter outside than the tube outside diameter and tightened the bolt down on the socket, thus drawing out the broken end. I replaced the tube and put the exhaust manifold back on. At the same time I replaced the missing heat shield that normally sits over the exhaust manifold.
11: CV joint
Front drivers side CV joint needs to be replaced $65 at Autozone, had to be special ordered.
12: Passenger side power window
Will not work, I suspect the wiring harness on the passenger side door needs to be rewired also.
13: Tires
Would you believe that it is difficult to find a decent used 185 70 R14 tire around here as a temporary replacement? At this point I intend on replacing the 14's with 15's and going with 195 65 R15 but as I don't have a full set of the 15" alloy wheels, I wanted to replace the badly worn 14 that is on the front passenger side. I tried 6 tire shops in the area with the same reply, "used 14's are rare." I had to go digging, but as it turns out I had another (spare) that will suffice for now.
Redeeming factors:
Engine seems to be tight. Compression is good, no valve clatter, no burning oil out of the exhaust (although there was a lot burning off of the exhaust)
Interior in fairly decent shape. Somebody had a few cigarettes in this car because there are the telltale melt marks in the velor seats.
Body is straight and rust free with the exception of a parking lot ding that has some surface rust where the paint was scraped off
Current upgrades:
Replaced smaller airbox with larger airbox from V6 Camry for better airflow K&N airfilter dropped in.
Synthetic oil and K&N oil filter
Pioneer CD Player
Planned:
Tinted Windows
Replace wheels and tires (after CV joint replacement and alignment)
Put rear spoiler on this car (I have one from another gen2 that has been just sitting)
Minor bodywork and paint
Pictures soon to follow
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90 Lexus ES250 Auto, 90 Lexus ES250 Stick, 88 Camry LE AllTrac Stick, 88 Camry Wagon
^Like it? Get yours from XSPEED!
Did I mention it has a sunroof, can you afford the extra weight?
Eh, I could deal with the weight. It really would be more of a daily driver for me. (you know, a 300hp daily driver with AWD like my WRX )
If you truely are trying to get better gas mieage a 2wd Camry would be much better.
At the moment, I couldn't offer much, but if you are willing to sell it in a while (end of the summer?) I could easly have some money saved up. Just keep me in mind - and you know it would go to a good home.
-Charlie
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2003 Impreza WRX Wagon 5spd - 2.2L stroker + other goodies
1989 Camry Alltrac LE 3S-GTE 5spd - SV25/ST205 hybrid
1990 Camry 3S-GTE 5spd - parted out / junked
1990 Camry DX 3S-FE 5spd - The original white90dx; gone but not forgotten
You could do some serious humiliation at the drag strip with that thing. By the time a 400 hp 'stang or whatever actually hooked up, you'd be halfway down the track.
You could do some serious humiliation at the drag strip with that thing. By the time a 400 hp 'stang or whatever actually hooked up, you'd be halfway down the track.
That's exactly why I want to have a 300+hp AWD Camry!
__________________
2003 Impreza WRX Wagon 5spd - 2.2L stroker + other goodies
1989 Camry Alltrac LE 3S-GTE 5spd - SV25/ST205 hybrid
1990 Camry 3S-GTE 5spd - parted out / junked
1990 Camry DX 3S-FE 5spd - The original white90dx; gone but not forgotten
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88 Alltrac... The first week...
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