This is my second 4th gen camry, the first one was a 97 LE U.S. version when i was living in CA. i really liked and really impressed with this car as a daily driver that i bought a funky, busted, road raged victim version of it now that i am in Asia. Thinking that i could bring it back to health with all the knowledge i got from my old camry back in the states and this forum.
here are the list of all the funkiness that i had to begin with fixin':
front left wheel knuckle was a Toyota Corona part (LOL).
mechanic who replaced knuckle with corona part busted the ABS sensor.
2 front wheel bearings are shot.
both ball joints are busted.
both tie rod ends are also shot.
couple of front control arm bushings are cracked.
sway bar bushings are almost chewed completely (LOL).
sway bar links are unexplainable.
both front shocks/struts assemblies are leaking and cracked bushings.
power steering assembly was leaking fluid.
rear sway bar bushings are shot as well.
strut support mount bushings were loose due to DIY cutout bushings from a tractor tire (BWAHAHA, very famous DIY bushings over here).
strut mounts were loose.
engine valve cover leaking.
although with ignition coils, distributor cap plug hole was leaking oil.
PCV valve broke in half and mechanic epoxied it to repair it and at the same time, blocked the shiaaaat out of it. (LOL)
oil pump cover gasket was leaking.
thermostat housing was cracked and leaking.
rear main seal leaking.
theres a lot more other stuff that is funky like very dull and also damaged paint job from poor body work, scratched windshield, dirty interior, missing interior clock, etc.
basically, when i bought it back in 2009, i drove it home by myself and i was thinking maybe that was how it felt like to drive a fukin Ford Model A back in the 1900s' i mean, this car was clanking and bangin' on smooth paved roads, lol. i had to call and and made sure i was not late on payment contributions to my life insurance on my first couple of miles of driving it. kidding aside, it.... we, made it home safely, was this car really that reliable or was i just lucky on that 30 mile trip through the freeway, hmmmm?!?
It had a 87,000mi odometer reading when i got it. i've been working on this car since 2009, i wish that i had photos to share with you guys but i've only got myself to work on this car during weekends. greasy hands and cameras doesn't play good together.
the only thing left now is the rear main seal replacement. i obviously cannot find a way to DIY it as i do not have a lift or necessary tools to do it. if i can get that fixed and get past the wet/rainy season, i can finally get a new paint job for it.....
...... i was thinking sparkling graphite.
driver side door handle was replaced, that is why it is white, lol
i also bought a set of 18" FOX R6 Racing Wheels for it.
Wood stereo trim panel was missing so i replaced it with a black trim. I installed a NAV/DVD/TV/RADIO/USB/SD/Bluetooth/Back-Up Camera/etc. all in one head unit, two headrest monitors connect to it too for the kids in the back. replaced all cabin/instrument lights with LED.
I used to have a pair of those oznium flex led strips for a DIY DRL but the driving teens in the neighborhood calls it ricey (whatever that means) and you can barely see it during the day (beats the purpose). So, since i really like to have that DRL look, i made my own....
Only thing is, i think i made mine too bright. I originally made a six led model and i usually come across some audi's and benz on the road and mine is really brighter that the a4 and q7's and a lot brighter than the e-class benz. so i took it out to modify my electronics, change a couple of resistors and added 3 more bulbs to bring down the brightness as the bulbs are connected in series. still a bit brighter than the original euro car models but i am really happy with it (dead tired soldering too maybe).
now the stupid kids around town are impressed too, wife likes it, i like it. i had to make exposure adjustments to my camera (underexpose) as to not drown the photo of the led brightness. still... the photo does not do the DRL enough justice.
Aux lights and foglights ON
Headlights ON
This Camry of mine drives and handles like a dream, now that i got fixed up.
i'll try to take photos and more angles on a bright sunny day and at night as well, kindof a monsoon here right now.
Crapmry
1999 Toyota Avalon
Linear Mode
