toyota camry manual 97-01 - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

kelley5795 · 08-31-2010, 12:33 PM

I had a bad wreck in my 1998 Toyota camry And messed up the front end abit body shop wants 2100 to fix it and just don't have it so I need to do it my self and I need a good manual and want to know if anyone could give me one...I really need to get her fixed...I'm in college and have a job need my car

If I could upload photos I would

Nervous · 08-31-2010, 12:35 PM

camrystuff.com

kelley5795 · 08-31-2010, 12:49 PM

Okay thanks so much but would you know how long it would take me to get the RADIATOR UPPER SUPPORT off and a new one on?because most of the damage was done to the radiator support

***LynchburgCSI*** · 08-31-2010, 02:24 PM

It just depends on how twisted up things are. I'd set aside a good weekend to mess with everything.

grandpapa · 08-31-2010, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kelley5795

Okay thanks so much but would you know how long it would take me to get the RADIATOR UPPER SUPPORT off and a new one on?because most of the damage was done to the radiator support

Post some pictures and you will get more reply since it will help us figure out what you need to do. good luck

kelley5795 · 08-31-2010, 02:53 PM

How do i upload a photo? when i go to the reply part I don't see a place so I can upload a photo

Nervous · 08-31-2010, 02:58 PM

How to post pictures

kelley5795 · 08-31-2010, 03:05 PM

Oh okay..I knew that haha

Could i take out the RADIATOR and try to put a chain around it and try to pull it out with a tree or come along just to get me by for now...because I really need my car

***fenixus*** · 08-31-2010, 03:33 PM

hmmm, i think the $2,100 shop quoted you with is a fair price for fixing that kind of damage ...

bumper, bumper reinforcements, condenser (and possibly a/c piping too), radiator, rad fan shrouds, the hood, headlights (probably clips broken off) ... it all adds up

what did you hit by the way ? insurance coverage ? did the air bags blew out ? if air bags blew then every insurance company can claim a total loss on it (if covered of course).

kelley5795 · 08-31-2010, 03:48 PM

I guess soo....I was going 15MPH on the freeway the guy in front of me slammed on his brakes leaving me no time to react...He had a tow hitch thats what done all this...The air bags did not go off and the AC still works. 1 fan still works. no water leaking still drives...and I did not have Full-Cov

But don't have that kind of money right now so I wanted to see if I could fix it fast my self till I can save the money......so I asked you people

***fenixus*** · 08-31-2010, 05:44 PM

i see. that sucks man. i wouldn't drive it though, the upper radiator hose is restricted severely by additional bends (rad is closer now), so there might be poor coolant flow (e.g. engine can get hotter than usual).

when i had similar situation (no condenser/radiator damage, but i had fender and headlamp broken), you might try talking to the body shop and ask them what they can fix without replacing, e.g. most likely hood can be straightened, headlamps might be saved if not scratched.

i doubt you will be able to fix it yourself as that metal "body frame" holding rad must be straightened out first before other repairs can be done.
besides fact that a/c works and no coolant leak occurs means you were very lucky, but still both condenser and rad must be replaced as they are bent and will not fit the car once the mentioned "metal frame" gets straightened out.

try contacting a few shops, tell them upfront that this repair is not covered by insurance and you will be paying out of pocket. they can cut corners here and there and do the work cheaper. it won't be beautiful like new, but will look not bad.
if you lucky they might be able to temporarily insert current condenser and radiator back into fixed metal bars, so the system works, however they will charge you for gas/fluid evacuation and refill regardless (as those need to be removed for repairs).

I ended up having the bumper and hood fixed and repainted where needed, only fender and headlight needed to be replaced with new parts.
of course shop cut corners (i wanted it cheapest as possible), so i have a missing bumper reinforcement extension on driver side now and had a scratched grille (which i replaced later) and passenger headlamp was not replaced (missing 1 mounting arm, had to zip tie it).

so ... negotiate with this or other shops and ask how much ...

kelley5795 · 08-31-2010, 07:54 PM

I have them got it down from 3000 to 2100 but if i can get a come along and get the support bar back in place i can put in a new RADIATOR and fans and go on my way

mr.nitro · 08-31-2010, 08:28 PM

ok this is not a pro solution, but I would tie it to a tree and back up, have someone watch you as you do it so you know how much to pull.

its going to need a lot of work. raidiator, bumper,hood,grill, maybe more. that $2100 is a steal.

once you pull the support back the hood will not latch correctly unless you straiten the hood out as well, thats may be next to imposible, so it will have to be replaced. junk yard might help.

***LynchburgCSI*** · 08-31-2010, 08:47 PM

Remember that there's car-part.com as well as junk yards.

kelley5795 · 08-31-2010, 09:18 PM

Yes because I don't really have the money and the hood is already off so...I don't really care about the hood..... Ill just tie it on when it rains ect the Eng would cool better without it anyways..I just need to put it back out so I can put a new radiatorand fans in..what about a bodyjack? but what if i have already taken out the radiator could i start the car without it long anuf to pull it back in to place or should i put the radiator back on then do it?