Noteworthy typo in Camry owner's manual

[eflw1029]

Head's up everyone!
I just got back from the non toyota service center where I normally have service other than the dealer. Having just purchased a V6 2007 Camry LE a little more than a week ago I've been busy setting up my new ride as I would normally like. One of the changes was to quickly retire the donut spare replacing it with a genuine Toyota 16 inch alloy wheel. I scored a identical alloy wheel on ebay and brought the rim to the service center. Found out the spare does NOT (I repeat does NOT!) have a tpms sensor in the donut spare. As a result I just purchased a Falken 16inch V-rated tire & low profile tire stem to install on the ebay alloy rim. The owners manual clearly states all five tires (4 on the vehicle and the donut spare have tpms sensors)...WRONG! We verified by calling the toyota dealer and they validated the donuts do NOT have tpms sensors. Huge typo as advertised in owners manual.
My suggestion is lose the donut and if you have alloys on your ride try and scrounge up at minimum a full sized spare even if you can only get a steel wheel. Ebay has a boatload of 16 steel wheels some selling as cheaply as $15 but shipping typically brings it up to $50. I lucked out by getting my matching toyota alloy for $80 plus $20 shipping. Total cost being $206 for a full sized spare with matching alloy wheel. Why pay $200+ for a full sized spare you say?....I do a lot of business miles some of which are overnight stays in many different states on the east coast. Downside of a donut being life is limited to 2k miles and you have to keep the speed below 60mph. At least with a full sized spare I can leave it installed until such time when I can leisurely fix the flat which can be as long as a month or more.

My Assenmacher oil filter cap wrench is still on backorder from Tool Golpher via Amazon. Waited over 12 days, called Tool Golpher directly and they reversed shipping charges so if and when I finally get it total costs will be $12. FYI, the tpms sensors cost $130 from Toyota but none of the dealerships stock the item. Ebay has quite a few but you purchase "as is". Definitely limited life on tpms sensors...lithium batteries typically last 10 years more or less provided your tire place doesn't break them when you purchase replacement tires.

[Yazovets]

But will a full-sized tire fit under the trunk mat?

Particularly if you have 17" wheels like on the SE version. Can one fit a 17-incher under there.

I am very happy to report that Canadian Camrys don't have that Tire-pressure sensor bullshit. No need to worry when changing tires. That thing is more pain than gain as I understand from various American owners' complaints.

[eflw1029]

I couldn't agree with you more but from all the reading I've done by 2008 this will be a mndatory requirment for every vehicle manufactured in the United States. I reside in NYC and I'm still trying to find out if my car will fail inspection if the tpms indicator light is lit on the dash...per chance does anyone know?

As for a full sized 16inch wheel fitting in the trunk...yes, it will fit with the following stipulations:

• You have to kit the full sized spare with the nice side down versus lug nut side facing up on the donut.
• the securing threaded rod has to be used up-side down with only a few threads biting into the trunk floor pan otherwise with the normal way the threaded road is simply too short to catch on the threaded portion on the trunk pan.
• finally, you have to lean on cover (sort of like bow the cardboard cover so you can get a bit with the remaining threaded cap.

Since I don't have 17 inch wheel I cannot verify it they will fit into the well so I will defer that to other readers who have 17-inch wheels for a Camry SE. I'm still debating whether or not to trash the toyota jack and go with a bottle type hydraulic jack. Downside being, it will rattle around in the trunk or worse case a nice pump type 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 ton sydraulic variety will eat up precious trunk space. Keep in mind I am coming off a '99 Ford Crown Victoria which has the biggest trunk known to man!

[njerald]

Originally Posted by eflw1029

Head's up everyone!

Found out the spare does NOT (I repeat does NOT!) have a tpms sensor in the donut spare. The owners manual clearly states all five tires (4 on the vehicle and the donut spare have tpms sensors)...WRONG! Huge typo as advertised in owners manual.

Typo? WTF???

My manual (in English) states in 2 places on page 175 that the compact spare does NOT have a TPMS device!

This has been discussed in this forum a number of times before. The last time was a long time ago - like last week!

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t186587.html

[toyotechwv]

Originally Posted by eflw1029

Head's up everyone!
I just got back from the non toyota service center where I normally have service other than the dealer. Having just purchased a V6 2007 Camry LE a little more than a week ago I've been busy setting up my new ride as I would normally like. One of the changes was to quickly retire the donut spare replacing it with a genuine Toyota 16 inch alloy wheel. I scored a identical alloy wheel on ebay and brought the rim to the service center. Found out the spare does NOT (I repeat does NOT!) have a tpms sensor in the donut spare. As a result I just purchased a Falken 16inch V-rated tire & low profile tire stem to install on the ebay alloy rim. The owners manual clearly states all five tires (4 on the vehicle and the donut spare have tpms sensors)...WRONG! We verified by calling the toyota dealer and they validated the donuts do NOT have tpms sensors. Huge typo as advertised in owners manual.
My suggestion is lose the donut and if you have alloys on your ride try and scrounge up at minimum a full sized spare even if you can only get a steel wheel. Ebay has a boatload of 16 steel wheels some selling as cheaply as $15 but shipping typically brings it up to $50. I lucked out by getting my matching toyota alloy for $80 plus $20 shipping. Total cost being $206 for a full sized spare with matching alloy wheel. Why pay $200+ for a full sized spare you say?....I do a lot of business miles some of which are overnight stays in many different states on the east coast. Downside of a donut being life is limited to 2k miles and you have to keep the speed below 60mph. At least with a full sized spare I can leave it installed until such time when I can leisurely fix the flat which can be as long as a month or more.

My Assenmacher oil filter cap wrench is still on backorder from Tool Golpher via Amazon. Waited over 12 days, called Tool Golpher directly and they reversed shipping charges so if and when I finally get it total costs will be $12. FYI, the tpms sensors cost $130 from Toyota but none of the dealerships stock the item. Ebay has quite a few but you purchase "as is". Definitely limited life on tpms sensors...lithium batteries typically last 10 years more or less provided your tire place doesn't break them when you purchase replacement tires.

As stated on page 175 of your owner's manual: "The spare tire (except compact spare tire) is also equipped with the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter."

[eflw1029]

njerald-
I'll take your lead and refer to page 175!....While this is one of the best Toyota forums on the net lately many of the posts are from people who fail to pre-read their manual in it's entirety prior to posting questions. I've read the manual from cover to cover numerous time and each time I pickup something new that I probably mised on prior reads. For example, have you noticed many of the I4 owners have voiced concern on the 3rd to 4th gear "flare" which to my knowledge is inherent only on V6's. Another concern being there appears to be way too many posts on dash rattles and noises. I paid a little over $22k for my 2007 V6 Camry LE with just the alloy wheel option and my thoughts are what the heck do you want from a $20k car? I could understand if you dropped $50k but jeeze.....it's just basic transportation to me and hopefully it will be fairly reliable as advertised. Don't sweat the small stuff and worry about real issues like being left stranded on the road 3 o'clock in the morning hundreds of miles away from home.

Now that, you've gotten me started...anyone know how to take the V6 top engine cover off? Excuse me for my ignarance but being almost 60 years old and occasionally myopic, I cannot find any verbage in any of the Toyota manuals how to remove it.....duh!

[eflw1029]

toyotechwv vbmenu_register("postmenu_1725969", true); !
I didn't know you could purchase the 2007 toyota with full sized spare. I asked the dealer but he stated the vehicle only came with donuts which was why I went the ebay route.

[toyotechwv]

Originally Posted by eflw1029

njerald-
I'll take your lead and refer to page 175!....While this is one of the best Toyota forums on the net lately many of the posts are from people who fail to pre-read their manual in it's entirety prior to posting questions. I've read the manual from cover to cover numerous time and each time I pickup something new that I probably mised on prior reads. For example, have you noticed many of the I4 owners have voiced concern on the 3rd to 4th gear "flare" which to my knowledge is inherent only on V6's. Another concern being there appears to be way too many posts on dash rattles and noises. I paid a little over $22k for my 2007 V6 Camry LE with just the alloy wheel option and my thoughts are what the heck do you want from a $20k car? I could understand if you dropped $50k but jeeze.....it's just basic transportation to me and hopefully it will be fairly reliable as advertised. Don't sweat the small stuff and worry about real issues like being left stranded on the road 3 o'clock in the morning hundreds of miles away from home.

Now that, you've gotten me started...anyone know how to take the V6 top engine cover off? Excuse me for my ignarance but being almost 60 years old and occasionally myopic, I cannot find any verbage in any of the Toyota manuals how to remove it.....duh!

LOL...don't sweat it. Most people I deal with don't read any part of the owner's manual. And if my memory serves me, grab the forward most edge of the engine cover a pull up, pretty sure they're just clipped on. Haven't had to remove many of them, yet!

[raybear]

Originally Posted by eflw1029

njerald-

Now that, you've gotten me started...anyone know how to take the V6 top engine cover off? Excuse me for my ignarance but being almost 60 years old and occasionally myopic, I cannot find any verbage in any of the Toyota manuals how to remove it.....duh!

Just pull up on it. It's very easy to remove and replace.

[eflw1029]

Thanks raybear and toyotechwv!

[njerald]

I'm on 3 CAMRY forums and have not read posts about I4 3-4th gear flares.

V6, Yes.

Now this thread is really off topic..........