Tools to work on 2003 camry

[iconman]

Hello guys my 2003 Camry Xle is around 68,000 miles and beside going to dealer for oil changes I have not done anything else to maintain it. Can you help me list the tools for the following operations: Oil change, Intake air filter change, coolant/antifreeze drain, spark plug change and wheels lug nut removal. Thanks

[MrSo0h0o]

Oil change: ratchet set
Air filter change: ratchet set
Coolant/Antifreeze change: not sure
spark plug change: special spark plug tool to set the distance, ratchet set
lug nut removal: tire iron and jack in your trunk

[Dna_splice]

the oil pan screw is a 14
and you will need
this
to remove the oil filter just get a new filter and bring it to autozone and buy the right remover
mine was6$. it attaches to a 3/8ths ratchet.
also get an oil pan. and place alot of news paper around it.
my garage floor has a brown mark. b/c of my laziness haha
i just used my jack to lift up my front passenger side
to remove the nut and filter.
wear some cheep latex gloves if you can. i ddnt. and i used about 1/2 a roll of papper towels..


the screw on the sparkplug boot i wana say is a 10. but i forgot haha
and you will need the spark plug adapter for a ratchet and an extender to reach down in the motor.

i have not done a coolant/anitfreeze change yet. so not sure on those.
if anything look in your manual. im sure Njerald will give you some stern advice on that.

as for the lugnuts, i suggest getting torque wrench, its not needed, but makes it easy
and you know what torque you are setting your lugs at. so they wont fly out of the freeway......
i suggest a 3/8ths bit, b/c i got the 1/2" bit and its hard to find attachments haha. so sad.


god speed!

[MrSo0h0o]

thanks for all the details Dna_splice, i just responded quickly

[LoudCamry]

to change the coolant, look under your radiator there should be a screw plug, unplug it and the coolant will drain, just do a drain and refill. no need to flush.

[darksparkz]

A good Husky or craftsmen set in Metric should include a good set of sockets. Some might include spark plug ones also. Then pick up a good heavy duty jack with a torque wrench, and your set.

[Dna_splice]

yeh. ive been using my stock jack
and what a bitch it is...
.... slow and have you use alot of effort...

[touringcamry]

For most work 8, 10, 12, 14, 17, 19, and 21mm tools will suffice. Ideally you have sockets as well as wrenches. Also you should have some flat head and #1, 2, and 3 Philips screwdrivers as well as various pliers.

For coolant, you use pliers to turn the petcock at the bottom of the radiator to open it. To drain the block I think it's a 12 or 14mm. To remove the thermostat housing I think it's 8 or 10mm.

[iconman]

Thank guys i will probably go check out Sear tomorrow or something but what is the size of the ratchet you recommend because don't they have them in different sizes like 1/2, 3/8 and 1/4?

[Dna_splice]

i would say get 3/8th's
the 1/4th is for the tiny bits.

and the 1/2 is just big haha
i have that one

[iconman]

I went out to Sears and bought a 3/8" 27 metric set sockets and ratchet and a 3/8" 20-225lbf torque wrench.

What is the point of the deep vs standard on the sockets?

So now do I need some combo wrenches? Can't the ratchet with the many sockets take over the role of the wrenches.

So I torque the lug nut to specification but could I use the torque wrench for lug nut removal or do I need a different tool? Car did not came with the lug nut wrench.

[Tobeit]

...I am sorry, but if you need to ask what basic tools you need to work on your car, you probably should let professionals do it.

[MrSo0h0o]

Originally Posted by Tobeit

...I am sorry, but if you need to ask what basic tools you need to work on your car, you probably should let professionals do it.

Easy there cowboy, we all started at the same point. None of us were born with the knowledge of how to change your own oil or what a ratchet is.

[Dna_splice]

Originally Posted by iconman

I went out to Sears and bought a 3/8" 27 metric set sockets and ratchet and a 3/8" 20-225lbf torque wrench.

What is the point of the deep vs standard on the sockets?

So now do I need some combo wrenches? Can't the ratchet with the many sockets take over the role of the wrenches.

So I torque the lug nut to specification but could I use the torque wrench for lug nut removal or do I need a different tool? Car did not came with the lug nut wrench.

Nah u dnt really need the combo set
Google some info on deep socket it will explain
And yes u can remove ur lugnuts with the torque wrench
When u put them on set it to 80lbs.
I broke my torque wrench last nightt trying to take out my
Uncles wheel. The impact gun @ the tire shop
Had it to like over 9000!!!

[Tobeit]

Originally Posted by MrSo0h0o

Easy there cowboy, we all started at the same point. None of us were born with the knowledge of how to change your own oil or what a ratchet is.

...absolutely correct, but I think we did not need an entire thread just to find out what ratchet/wrench fits a screw....I am really not bashing but think some people simply do not have the "touch" for handyman work and they could cause more damage. I have two sons - one can figure out anything mechanical, the other started explaining to me what black holes are - at the age of 8. Get my point of view?