Thinking of buying a 97 Camry LE...questions

[Agrippa]

Im thinking of buying a 97 Camry LE with 85k miles on it. The timing belt and water pump has been replaced. What I'm mostly concerned with is the potential sludge problem. The carfax is clean and indicates that the owner even took it to the dealer every 3k miles for service so it looks well maintained.

My question is, is there any way to check for a sludge problem without taking the valve cover off? I don't know if the seller would be too thrilled about this.

Also, what are some indicators of other potential problems I should look out for? When do CV joints usually go out? Shocks? Alternator? Transmission? Thanks for the info guys. Good forum.

[Zviator]

Yes, u can check the sludge without taking the valve off IF u are superman, lol. Just flush the whole system with seafoam.

For other's concern, a test drive would speak for itself.

How much are u paying anyways?

[Agrippa]

Hes asking for 5500.

[Zviator]

Carfax clean is a good start, what options the LE got ? ABS, leather, moonroof ...

[Agrippa]

just the basic stuff. no leather, no moon roof, no alloy wheels. Just the way I like it.

[ASG14]

For Sludge, you really need to take the valve cover off.

CV Joints: As long as the boots are not ripped, they are fine. Only time I have seen a CV joint on a Camry go bad is with a ripped boot.

Struts/Shocks: Depends ont he road conditions in your area. My friend has a '99 Camry with 87k miles, and the struts are BEYOND dead, but it spent most of it;s life as a NYC car. On the other hand, I changed the struts on my dad's '96 Camry at 100k miles, and they were not too too bad yet. So all depends on the road conditions in your area.

Alternator: Random. My old '92 camry had the original one when I sold it at 190k miles 3 years ago. The one in my current '96 camry crapped out last month at 120k miles.

Transmission. All about how the previous owner drove it. Normally, the tranny hold up well. Check the tranny fluid though, and see the color. It should still have a redish tint. If it's black, thats not really good. If it;s brown, get a tranny flush.

Other then the sludge issue which you know about, there is nothing else really except the usual basics to check over.

[ONE_to_HATE]

have a TRUSTED mechanic check it out..

the IAC unit goes bad here and there- this causes the car to have a hard time starting when the engine gets cold..

there's a service bulletin for the catalytic converter where you'll get sulfur smell through the a/c vents- in the 3500-4300 RPM range .. usually- stopping in front of an up-hill road and accelerating to the top will make this problem show up if its present.

.. good luck!

[Zviator]

Originally Posted by ONE_to_HATE

there's a service bulletin for the catalytic converter where you'll get sulfur smell through the a/c vents- in the 3500-4300 RPM range .. usually- stopping in front of an up-hill road and accelerating to the top will make this problem show up if its present.

.. good luck!

ADD ON: when u get knocked up, passed out and die then u know its present

[Agrippa]

Looking at a new owner of a 97 Camry LE. 85k miles. Timing belt, water pump replaced. Great carfax. But all wasnt perfect. The wheels were a bit unbalanced (shaking at 75 mph). And worst of all. The interior was covered with faux wood trim.