1992 Camry: looking for advice - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

binglax09 · 12-13-2009, 09:24 PM

Just picked up a 92 Camry with about 363K kilometer on her (225K mies). It's got the 3S-FE motor and the A140L tranny. Here are my Q's since I will be doing some extensive driving over the next three months!

1: What are some common things to look for?
2: Oil change - Is there any oil that this motor really doesnt like? I was planning a 5w-30 full syn.
3: ATF flush - The fluid is dark but not burnt and has some sediment as a normal high mileage tranny would have. How much fluid comes out during just a drain? I will probably not drop the pan and just do 2-3 drain and refills.
4: There is no box on the right side of the engine bay that I have seen in other photos? Is this the cruise control possibly that was taken out?
5: Randomly I will get slight RPM surge when I let off the gas while cruising in gear. No surging while idling in gear or out of gear ever.

If you can give me any advice that would be awesome! Thanks so much in advance!!!

Jimnist · 12-13-2009, 10:22 PM

1) Service history. If it doesn't have one, it's best to change all fluids and filters. Air, engine oil and filter, fuel filter, tranny, bleed brakes and new coolant. Maybe even new power steering fluid

2) I don't think so, but i'm sure others will jump in

3) That's a fair bit of mileage, you should at least drop the pan to clean the strainer or replace it.

4) Yes, box is cruise control. It was probably a feature that the first owner didn't want to put in when buying new

5) Can't help

binglax09 · 12-14-2009, 12:01 AM

Thanks for the reply!!

A little update
1: I have no service history other then the timing belt at 270Km
2: Might go with a 5w-40 since I will be doing a lot of hot weather driving.
3: Found out that it is not the E series but the L series (don't know if it really matters) Although is the O/D button just torque converter lock-up?
4: Figured it was cruise, probably seal off the vacuum ports better though.
5: I took a look in the TB to find a lot of carbon build up so I will clean that out to see if the surging goes away. Is there a idle air control valve on these motors? if so do they get gummed up normally? I just don't want to knock to much carbon out all at once in fear of getting it stuck in a valve seat

Jimnist · 12-14-2009, 01:52 AM

If you're going to be doing extensive driving, you might want to consider doing that TB then - may as well do waterpump and thermostat while you're at it. Rough service interval is 100k km's/5 years. It's not an interference engine, but snapping it will leave you stranded.

5w-40, 10w-40, doesn't really matter. Though, if you won't be going anywhere near cold temps, i'd go a 10w since it'd be slightly thicker at lower temps, reducing the risk of oil slipping through worn/thin seals. Whatever floats your boat

O/D(overdrive) is just 4th gear. If you turn it off, it'll never shift into 4th - even when doing freeway speeds. I'd leave it on unless you're doing city driving and don't go past 70-80km/h often.

If it wasn't fitted with cruise from factory, vacuum ports will already be blocked off

Yes, these engines do have an idle air control(IAC) valve. It;s that little hole on the bottom of the TB before the butterfly valve. Give that a good spray/soak with Seafoam(or TB/carby cleaner) and scrub with an old toothbrush. You can clean the butterfly valve too. Not really carbon, just oil vapour(and maybe a bit of dust) that has condensed there from the PCV vent coming off the valve cover into intake manifold.

Mike Gerber · 12-14-2009, 10:52 AM

By the way, a 92 Camry is the first year of the generation 3 Camry and should have the 5SFE engine, not the 3SFE engine. If it is indeed a 92 5SFE engine, the recommended oil was 10W-30. It should say that on the oil cap itself if the OEM oil cap is still on the car.

Mike

Jimnist · 12-14-2009, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Gerber

By the way, a 92 Camry is the first year of the generation 3 Camry and should have the 5SFE engine, not the 3SFE engine. If it is indeed a 92 5SFE engine, the recommended oil was 10W-30. It should say that on the oil cap itself if the OEM oil cap is still on the car.

Mike

OP isn't in the states. I guess Gen2's ran for (slighly) different periods in different countries. I know that they ran from 87-92(possibly 93 too) and overlap with the Gen3's here in AU

binglax09 · 12-14-2009, 08:52 PM

It's an AU/NZ model thus being still in the Gen2 section with the 3S-FE motor. I'm from the states but I bought the car here in NZ to travel around the country. All my tools are back home but I have access to some stuff at the current place I am staying. I just need to get most of the things sorted before I do a trip.

After thinking for a while last night, I will probably just do whatever oil that I can find for a reasonable price in the range I want. I would love to have a 5W-40 full syn. but that might be to expensive down here in NZ. As for the tranny, I will do about 3-4 flushes while keeping the current filter on there since it's really just a screen. Dex-III is fine correct? as this is just a normal 4speed AW tranny?

As for the timing belt, rollers, and water pump. I believe they were done 92,000Km ago in 07 so I should be fine for another 8K and if so I will just tow it to a station to get it done. possibly keep all the parts on me so I don't get robbed with retail prices on parts.

Whats the average time for the timing belt on these cars including a water pump?

Once again thanks so much for your input on this guys!!

Mike Gerber · 12-14-2009, 09:12 PM

It was the Maine in your signature that fooled me.

Mike

binglax09 · 12-14-2009, 09:30 PM

Sorry my bad! Currently in Auckland, NZ

white90dx · 12-15-2009, 01:34 PM

Use 10w30 or thicker oil unless the weather is *really* cold (which it shouldn't be this time of year down there...). No need for synthetic on that motor - it doesn't run hot or stress the oil much. Save your pennies on that one.

Dex III is fine for the trans. Flush and drive a few times. Make sure to fill to the correct level. Over or underfilling by as little as 1/2 quart can cause shifting issues.

For OEM parts, the timing belt will probably reliably go around 100k miles and waterpump around 150k miles. Aftermarket parts will not las as long (I lost an aftermarket waterpump after only ~70k miles on my first Camry).

-Charlie

***zythr*** · 12-16-2009, 11:51 AM

Don't forget about the oil seals (crankshaft, camshaft, etc)