Rusty seat parts.. and what is this underneath my seat? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

paperbanjo · 07-29-2010, 04:46 PM

I've got a 1999 Toyota Camry LE. It's currently my work car but I figure over time that it can become sort of a car where I can start to learn all about fixing things or modifying things.. or whatever. Basically I'll probably be here often with a lot of questions since I'm almost clueless.

Anyway, it's got what seems like some pretty nasty rust on the pieces that hold the seat down (and possibly the passenger seat as well). I'm wondering if this is something I should fix as soon as possible.. and if it is, is this a part I can buy or will I need to be checking junk yards?

While getting a picture of that, I saw this..

What on earth are these (the black things) and why is there a giant slit in the carpet of my car underneath the seat giving access to it?

Thanks!

carsrus · 07-29-2010, 04:52 PM

I woudlent freak out about the rust. As long as the carpet is dry its no prob, happens during the winter when snow and ice get tracked into the car.

Those are ducts for the heating/ air conditioning. They blow air.

73sport · 07-29-2010, 05:01 PM

Its just surface rust and is not impairing the strength or function so it nothing to worry about.

I'll hope I'm way off base, but any chance its been deep six'd in the river (whole car). I mean it doesn't have a salvage title or nothing does it? Just curious as it had be fairly humid for rust of that nature to set in.

How's the rest of the car, doors, fenders, parts under the hood?

Chris Crash · 07-29-2010, 05:05 PM

Probably just spilled soda and stuff. Maybe a little bit of vomit.

paperbanjo · 07-29-2010, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 73sport

Its just surface rust and is not impairing the strength or function so it nothing to worry about.

I'll hope I'm way off base, but any chance its been deep six'd in the river (whole car). I mean it doesn't have a salvage title or nothing does it? Just curious as it had be fairly humid for rust of that nature to set in.

How's the rest of the car, doors, fenders, parts under the hood?

It does have a salvage title and it was due to flood damage. I bought the car aware of it since I planned to actually do something with this car in the coming years. As far as I can tell, the whole car wasn't in the water, but that is just my guess based on everything I can see.

If it helps any, the vehicle history report has the salvage title dated originally in 2002. 03/14/2002 53,666 Auto Auction AUCTION ANNOUNCED AS SALVAGE, EXTENT OF DAMAGE UNKNOWN The mileage now is almost 154k (I bought it at just above 152k and am in the higher half of 153k).

As for the rest of the car, everything seems fine. I haven't seen any rust out of norm for an 11 year old car. The doors (and everything attached to them) and fender both seem fine. Under the hood seems fine, though I took a couple pictures to maybe get your opinion if you were curious.

ETA: That being said, when I originally purchased the car, all parts on the car were original except the front bumper. I've since had THAT bumper replaced as well as the hood and some other parts that were destroyed in an accident.

73sport · 07-29-2010, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Crash

Probably just spilled soda and stuff. Maybe a little bit of vomit.

^^ +1
Salvage vomit! That's allot of vomit!

73sport · 07-29-2010, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paperbanjo

It does have a salvage title and it was due to flood damage. I bought the car aware of it since I planned to actually do something with this car in the coming years. As far as I can tell, the whole car wasn't in the water, but that is just my guess based on everything I can see.

If it helps any, the vehicle history report has the salvage title dated originally in 2002. 03/14/2002 53,666 Auto Auction AUCTION ANNOUNCED AS SALVAGE, EXTENT OF DAMAGE UNKNOWN The mileage now is almost 154k (I bought it at just above 152k and am in the higher half of 153k).

As for the rest of the car, everything seems fine. I haven't seen any rust out of norm for an 11 year old car. The doors (and everything attached to them) and fender both seem fine. Under the hood seems fine, though I took a couple pictures to maybe get your opinion if you were curious.

ETA: That being said, when I originally purchased the car, all parts on the car were original except the front bumper. I've since had THAT bumper replaced as well as the hood and some other parts that were destroyed in an accident.

I hope it was a good deal!

Yah, bring on the pix and anything else you car to share.

paperbanjo · 07-29-2010, 06:45 PM

You know it.

Yeah, I need a nicer battery. :P

I've got some more from underneath the car, as well.

paperbanjo · 07-29-2010, 06:52 PM

Now looking underneath it seems kinda unusual.. I don't recall my Avalon looking like this when I looked underneath a few days ago. =\

Chris Crash · 07-29-2010, 08:19 PM

...Was it in a lake for a year?

Also, your valve cover gasket is leaking. Might wanna fix that.

But overall, from the first picture, that's a nice clean looking camry!

paperbanjo · 07-29-2010, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Crash

...Was it in a lake for a year?

01/03/2002 REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
03/14/2002 AUCTION ANNOUNCED AS SALVAGE, EXTENT OF DAMAGE UNKNOWN
04/29/2002 TITLE
04/29/2002 REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL

I'm gonna guess not for a year.

Who knows exactly what happened to it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Crash

Also, your valve cover gasket is leaking. Might wanna fix that.

That it is. It was supposed to go into a shop yesterday to have the suspension and everything checked out but work called and that got canceled. I'll probably head in tomorrow and I'll ask them about that while I'm there. They usually give the engine a peek. Thanks.

paperbanjo · 08-16-2010, 03:27 AM

Ok.. back to this topic.. I took the dash apart today because I had nothing better to do and I'm trying to learn as much about my car as I can.. replaced a bulb and removed 5 of the green covers. Bought some blue lights but I'm not sure if I like it or not so I left them out for now..

But now I have a picture to add to all the other rusty pictures.. is this normal!? (This is behind the dash, to clarify.)

73sport · 08-16-2010, 09:09 AM

Its not hurten nothing but NO, its not normal. Its just surface rust in large quantity.

Where this cami might fall short is the grounds and connectors corroding. At some point strange electronic dysfunctions may occur.

Mike Gerber · 08-16-2010, 03:10 PM

In answer to question 2 of your original post, those 2 black things are heating ducts for the floor of the rear seat area. That slit in the carpet that they are coming out of is also normal.

Mike

73sport · 08-16-2010, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paperbanjo

. . . .

But now I have a picture to add to all the other rusty pictures.. is this normal!? (This is behind the dash, to clarify.)

I didn't see this in the first glance but there is a fracture in the metal support bracket which seems pretty odd. How did that happen unless A, its not metal, or be something torqued on heavily (referring to the spot just left of the nut with the crack. Doesn't that just hold the inst clust?