100 dollar camry - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

srodgers · 11-14-2009, 11:19 PM

I am thinking of buying a camry, its probably a 1990 to 95, but it hasn't run in 7 years. It has 78k, and the outside is good. I haven't had a chance to look at it, but the owner only wants 100 bucks for it. The tires on it look like they're worth 100. I'm not a mechanic, but I can replace a battery, wires, and oil, but I wonder if it'll leak and if the gas in it has turned thick . I'd appreciate any advice.

msrdude · 11-15-2009, 12:00 AM

Hasn't run in 7 years? 78K miles? Dude the car is going to have a lot of problems, unless the owner warmed up the car just to preserve the engine n let the oil roam around. My friend hasn't drove his car for a year, and now the engine is shot, the cat is clogged, and the fuel lines and whatever has to do with the fuel is all clogged. Tires ripped here and there. And it drove fine with no problems before he stopped driving it.
Yeah, I would go check out the car, test drive it, and if you can let a mechanic look at it or bring someone who knows about cars with you. I mean 100 dollars is cheap, but it might and will cost thousands and thousands of dollars to fix it up and it probably still wont drive well. Ive seen it happen before

***2wickedtoyz*** · 11-15-2009, 07:35 AM

get it and learn........
before start up remove the oil and the valve cover. then pour 10w-30 over the cams and follow that with lucas oil stabilizer. put 2 cans of seafoam in the tank(after checking to see if the fuel pump still works).
turn it on and see what happens. an engine swap and a new fuel pump is still cheaper tan another car. also tires can be bought on craigslist real cheap.

carsrus · 11-15-2009, 08:11 AM

I agree with the poster above. Before you start it completely inspect the fuel and gas lines, Drain the oil and do a oil change, pop the valve cover and get some more oil up there.

Youd probally have to drain the gas tank but its possible itll start but run like crap untill all the old gas gets burned up.

If it start running dont drive around in it to much. maybe around the block or something. Then change the tranny fluid and diff fluid at least. Coolants probably nasty by now too. This is all simple and cheap stuff to change.

Also check the air filter to see if some friendly rodents haven't taken home up their.

Kenny_McCormic · 11-15-2009, 09:10 AM

Pretty much what has been mentioned, check airbox, change fluids after short warm up trip. I dunno if the fuel system is okay(not full of varnish), about 10 years back good gasoline ceased to exist.

mazdaverx7 · 11-15-2009, 09:56 AM

you may want to pick it up as a parts car if anythigng else..

Bdub215 · 11-15-2009, 06:22 PM

you gotta check EVERYTHING. look for chewed wires, fuses, fluids etc. i suggest bringing some gas in a bottle or something so if the pump doesnt work you can bypass it and get fresh fuel in the cylinders. you might wanna call David Rock to see if he can do a resurection. lol

ricamryman · 11-15-2009, 06:36 PM

No thanks!

***84Cressida*** · 11-15-2009, 06:54 PM

A 1990 Camry and 1995 Camry are two different cars. Do you know which year it is exactly?

***84Cressida*** · 11-15-2009, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bdub215

you gotta check EVERYTHING. look for chewed wires, fuses, fluids etc. i suggest bringing some gas in a bottle or something so if the pump doesnt work you can bypass it and get fresh fuel in the cylinders. you might wanna call David Rock to see if he can do a resurection. lol

he had an '82 Cressida that sat for 7 years as well that had crappy gas, was rusting to hell, and overall looked like hell. It started right up!

***96paseo*** · 11-15-2009, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2wickedtoyz

get it and learn........
before start up remove the oil and the valve cover. then pour 10w-30 over the cams and follow that with lucas oil stabilizer. put 2 cans of seafoam in the tank(after checking to see if the fuel pump still works).
turn it on and see what happens. an engine swap and a new fuel pump is still cheaper tan another car. also tires can be bought on craigslist real cheap.

+2 on everything above. Your 2 biggest enemies are lubrication and fuel. After you do your oil change, remove power from your ignition coil. There's 2 connectors on the distributor. One 2-pin for the coil and one 4-pin for the pick up coils. Remove those connectors. Hook up your jumper cables(the battery is probably dead

) and crank the engine until the oil pressure light goes out. Crank it for 5- 10 seconds. Let it sit for a minute and then crank it again until the light goes out. This will help distribute some lubrication to your rod bearings and main bearings as well as get fresh oil moving through the oil pump. You should still oil the cams and seafoam as 2wickedtoyz mentioned above.

Hajoca · 11-16-2009, 08:55 AM

Forget the lucas oil stabilizer, it is too thick for what is suggested. Make sure you have good clean oil, and crank the engine over without fuel/spark so the oil pump can build up some pressure.

My Aunt has a 1991 Tercel, just got it's second oil change at 6200 kms. It sits there for a couple years at a time. Just started right up this August with another new battery (3rd one now).