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.
Hi All:
I'm a new member of the Camry Owner club. Just bought a 1988 Camry Wagom..4cyl...I'm in no way mechanically inclined and am really happy just to surf here and learn...This car is pristine, having belonged to the proverbial old lady whose son didn't want her to drive anymore...42,000 miles and the car runs perfectly...so far! Looks like it was stored for a while. I had my long time mechanic...whose customer is the seller...check it out and said it was perfect..He's also been maintaining it...So I paid a lot for this 22 year old car after having had real bad luck with the 2 previous used car purchases...I'll be checking in and am glad to have this forum as a reference!
JT
Paid 2800..I know it's a lot, but the car seems like it'll last for quite a while...Did I get badly ripped off? It's been properly maintained and all seems well and works on the car. One thing I did notice is that the light warning lamp goes on and stays on after I put the car in gear, but all the lights and blinkers are working properly....All else is perfect....Runs great so far, but I've only driven it a little. We just got hammered hard by a snowstorm, so I'm gonna dust the snow off and wait until the weather clears....Figures! If I didn't have bad luck, I'd have no luck at all! Grin....Any advice regarding maintaining this vehice is greatly appreciated!
You did great, mine is one year newer than yours but not nearly as nice, same color even.
I got mine free from the in-laws though so I guess that counts for something.
One thing you should do is run some seafoam in it and really run the snot out of it at high rpms. 'Old Ladies' are notorious for not going on the highways or above 40 or so mph so the motors kind of 'settle in' to a certain rpm. Seafoam and a bit of high rpm driving will definitely blow out whatever carbon is in the engine.
Even though you know the mechanic I would have the oil and all other fluids changed elsewhere (or even better, do it yourself) and the filters and possibly the spark plugs. Also run it through the car wash and make sure there are no leaks in any of the window or door seals.
Finally check the air pressure in the tires to make sure it is spec to what the door frame says. (Driver side door, where the latch is there is a psi label) I got mine and it was 10 lbs over in all four tires.
Have fun with it, mine has almost 1/4 of a million miles on the engine and it runs great.
The Following User Says Thank You to Blakeman For This Useful Post:
You did great, mine is one year newer than yours but not nearly as nice, same color even.
I got mine free from the in-laws though so I guess that counts for something.
One thing you should do is run some seafoam in it and really run the snot out of it at high rpms. 'Old Ladies' are notorious for not going on the highways or above 40 or so mph so the motors kind of 'settle in' to a certain rpm. Seafoam and a bit of high rpm driving will definitely blow out whatever carbon is in the engine.
Even though you know the mechanic I would have the oil and all other fluids changed elsewhere (or even better, do it yourself) and the filters and possibly the spark plugs. Also run it through the car wash and make sure there are no leaks in any of the window or door seals.
Finally check the air pressure in the tires to make sure it is spec to what the door frame says. (Driver side door, where the latch is there is a psi label) I got mine and it was 10 lbs over in all four tires.
Have fun with it, mine has almost 1/4 of a million miles on the engine and it runs great.
Hey, Thanks a lot for the advice and input Camry brother. I'll do all you suggest as soon as the 2 feet of snow melts a little! Ha..Oil was supposedly just changed, but Another change surely wouldn't hurt. And new plugs and filters would be prudent as well. I'm also planning a 700 mile round-trip drive to Maine and back soon, so that should be a good test for the highway. But I want to be sure of all before I do that. And I will run it through a carwash asap as well. I never thought to do that to check for leaks! And I'll also check the tires too, very sound advice, my friend. What "running some seafoam" entail? Pardon my ignorance, but I've not heard of that. Again, Thanks for the good advice!
Seafoam is a product that an auto parts store like advanced, napa or autozone will have. It is basically a solvent that you add into your engine and it helps break up carbon and other mucky mucks. I did it to mine and had a nice white cloud following me out the exhaust for about a mile or two. It cost me about $10.00 and half goes in the gas tank and half goes through a vacuum line in the engine.
When my wife gets home I will try to get a pic of the exact hose you will need to let it suck up into. Well worth it as my motor runs a lot more evenly since using it and it has helped with the mileage a bit as well.
Mine is getting a color change this year as well as a lot of other maintenance once I change out that kia in the backgrounds timing belt this weekend. No rest for the weary, rain or snow.
Seafoam is a product that an auto parts store like advanced, napa or autozone will have. It is basically a solvent that you add into your engine and it helps break up carbon and other mucky mucks. I did it to mine and had a nice white cloud following me out the exhaust for about a mile or two. It cost me about $10.00 and half goes in the gas tank and half goes through a vacuum line in the engine.
When my wife gets home I will try to get a pic of the exact hose you will need to let it suck up into. Well worth it as my motor runs a lot more evenly since using it and it has helped with the mileage a bit as well.
Mine is getting a color change this year as well as a lot of other maintenance once I change out that kia in the backgrounds timing belt this weekend. No rest for the weary, rain or snow.
Thanks for the tip. My only problem with working on the car myself is that I live in an apartment in the middle of NYC, and have no work space at all. Would it be any help to do just the adding seafoam to the tank without running it through the line? And is there any risk or downside to doing this? And how long a ride should I drive after adding it to the gas tank? BTW I did notice a little engine knock in the little bit I've driven the car so far. I guess the Seafoam would also help get rid of that. Thanks! And good luck with the KIA!
Maybe take a ride out of town and add it at a friends house, or in a parking lot somewhere and drive it around. It will smoke a lot and you will almost think something is wrong, but after a while it will stop. It does better if you add it to the vacuum line as well and that is the normal way of adding it, and half in the tank.
u got a great deal for that good looking wagon man!
Thanks! I initially thought that was a lot of dough, but after thinking about it, I think with the very low milage and its careful maintainance it seems like a decent deal. Everything about it seems like it's been in a time warp..Grin..Now after I can put on some miles, I'll be more certain...When this darn snow melts a little!!
If it has been stored awhile, also check the Tming Belt and the seals behind it(oil, camshaft,crankshaft}, and the CV Boots. They're rubber and can degrade. Other than that, and what the other members posted about oil and fluids, you should be good to go.
checkk your oil, coolant, tranny fluid, belts, thermostat, alternator and plugs/wires...they all went on me shortly after buying, and the car sat for 3 years before buying
Thanks for the tips. My car was supposedly run, although not too much. Three days after I got mine, we had a huge snowstom so I want the snow to melt a little before I run it too much in the salt etc.. The alternator was already changed, but I will definately change all fluids and check the belts just to be sure. Thanks again for your suggestions, and good luck to you on your car too!
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