2001 Camry Maintenance

[ericwilson54]

I have a 2001 Camry with 118,000 miles. I bought this car new and have essentially changed the oil regularly and added gas. I have not had any major maintenance performed on the car to date. I'm wondering what all I need to have done on my car. I'm thinking it is surely time to get new plugs and wires. I would like to do that myself if it is easy. My mechanic skills and experience is very limited but I enjoy doing maintenance myself if I have good directions to follow.

Any input, direction or advice is appreciated.

[Shelbrain]

I would also change the water pump and timing belt or chain given the mileage. Have you changed air filters? Flushed coolant? Flushed brake fluid? Flushed transmission fluid? Start there...

[Mike Gerber]

If you bought the car new, you should have the owner's manual. That's a good place to start for maintainance. Shelbrain is correct on just about everything he mentioned. The plugs were due to be changed at 60,000 miles, and the timing belt at 90,000 miles. As far as the water pump, that is really personal preference. Most of the time, if the water pump is not leaking, I wouldn't advise changing it out until the second timing belt change, which would be due at 180,000. However, as I think about it more, since you never have changed the engine coolant, the water pump may have taken as beating as far as corrosion is concerned, and it probably would be a good idea to have it changed while doing the timing belt.

Mike

[ericwilson54]

Guys, Is it as easy as it looks to change the plugs and wires? Again, I'm no mechanic.

[ericwilson54]

I found the maintenance booklet that came with the owner's manual. I'm really surprised the spark plugs need to be changed so quickly in the Camry. My Mustang reccomends changing plugs at 120,000. I would think the Toyota plugs would last longer than the Motorcraft.

[Kep]

It is pretty easy to change out plugs & wires. Remember, you are working with alluminum. Don't over tighten the plugs. Better yet, get a torque wrench. If you plan to learn to do your own work you should need one often. The shop manual online is very helpful. Haynes & Chiltons put out good ones also.

Allow yourself more time than you think you will need. Stupid things happen (like the little rubber end cap sticking in the spark plug tube or dropping a ditributor cap screw) that you can deal with. The more you do the more confident you will become.

Do some searches on this forum to get various opinions on Toyota parts vs aftermarket parts. There are good reasons to go both ways.

Have fun
Kep

[Mike Gerber]

Originally Posted by ericwilson54

Guys, Is it as easy as it looks to change the plugs and wires? Again, I'm no mechanic.

On the 4 cylinder 5SFE engine it is. The V6 can be difficult to reach the rear set of 3 cylinders. With either engine, remember to use antiseize compound on the threads of the spark plugs before installing the new ones.

Mike