Factory alarm acting weird + other ?'s

["HI"]

SORRY FOR THE LENGTHY POST!!!!


Background:

I pickup up a 03 Camry LE, 4 cyl.......64k miles about 2 weeks ago, got the car w/ 1 Toyota key and an alarm FOB that has 3 buttons on front, Lock, unlock, trunk and red panic button on the back of it.

The 1st owner leased from Toyota and returned, the 2nd owner purchased the vehicle from Toyota as a "used certified" from Toyota w/ 34k miles on it. At some point this owner lost the car, repo, and went to auction. I then purchased the vehicle from a private dealer, AS IS.

This past Friday i went to my local dealer, West Covina, and told them to check the brakes, came back with "the front brakes need to be replaced".......so went ahead and did the front brakes and was told "the rear brakes were adjusted".......The service adviser said the rear has drums and needed to be adjusted, ok.........Im NOT familiar w/ drum setups, is this true?


UPDATED ON 01/05/11

So while I was there, I got a spare key made, no immobilizer...........they just make a copy of my current key, went outside and would not open any doors, just start the car. So I go back inside and tell the guy, he says "thats weird"......so he cuts another key using my VIN......go back outside and its the same thing, key will not open doors, only start the car.

SO basically I CAN NOT open the doors by using a key, I have what I believe to be a factory alarm, there is a red light that blinks when I arm it using the remote near the lower left foot panel, and I did find the "valet" switch in the same area.

To test, I rolled down the driver window, arm the alarm stick my hand in and open the door, an alarm goes off, lights flashing, horn honking, until I hit unlock on the remote.

So here's the funny part.........when the alarm is armed, If I stick the key on the driver side door and turn, I can only turn the key toward the front of the car and the horn beeps once.....yet I can unlock the trunk......but when I do this, the alarm goes off!!!!

If I sit in the driver seat w/ no key in the ignition and lock/unlock the doors using the door switch, the alarm will activate and de-activate by using these switches.

If I put the key in the pass. side, it will not even turn.


could this be an alarm issue?



Also, Toyota did rec. some maintenance:

serpentine belt $169
Alignment $120
Fuel injection Throttle Body Service $140
Power steering service $140


I did read in the DIY sticky sections regarding some of these, I know the belt is def. next on the list....but what about the other items?



Also, I filled up the car, and got to about 390 miles b4 the gas light came on.....from what ive read, these cars have a 18 gallon tank, and 4 gal. from the time the low fuel light comes on......so does that mean we actually have a 14 gal. tank? Is that good milage ohn this car?




TIA.

[Donald E. George]

The 2004 Camry LE with the 4 has rear drum brakes. Did you receive the required maintenace log? Look in there to see what has been done to the car? Having the belt changed would be OK. The other items may or may not be necessary. I'd find an ASE certified independent shop and have them check to see if the items recommended by the dealer are required. The low fuel light function is about the same as on my 2004. I don't know enough about the alarm system to comment.

["HI"]

Originally Posted by Donald E. George

The 2004 Camry LE with the 4 has rear drum brakes. Did you receive the required maintenace log? Look in there to see what has been done to the car? Having the belt changed would be OK. The other items may or may not be necessary. I'd find an ASE certified independent shop and have them check to see if the items recommended by the dealer are required. The low fuel light function is about the same as on my 2004. I don't know enough about the alarm system to comment.

No maintenance log, BUT, the service advisor was able to look up my VIN and see what has been to the car, like mentioned above, all major services were complete at about 34k miles to become a "certified" used car from Toyota.

[Kycamrymaker]

Sounds as though ur door locks are faulty not the alarm. It will operate via the locks, turn to arm, or lock and hold the handle and close the door, but if ur unable to turn the key in the opposite direction you can't disarm the alarm with the key. Too, the truck has no passive feature, if it is armed and you open the trunk it will set it off, u have to use the fob to bypass this feature. Sounds as though a technician will be the best bet for you to get it right if the keys aren't working in the doors.

["HI"]

Originally Posted by Kycamrymaker

Sounds as though ur door locks are faulty not the alarm. It will operate via the locks, turn to arm, or lock and hold the handle and close the door, but if ur unable to turn the key in the opposite direction you can't disarm the alarm with the key. Too, the truck has no passive feature, if it is armed and you open the trunk it will set it off, u have to use the fob to bypass this feature. Sounds as though a technician will be the best bet for you to get it right if the keys aren't working in the doors.

Ok, so now the ultimate ?. do you think the locks were changed on the door(s)?

[Kycamrymaker]

If it turns one way but not the other its not likely. It wouldn't turn either way if they had been IMHO.

["HI"]

Originally Posted by Kycamrymaker

If it turns one way but not the other its not likely. It wouldn't turn either way if they had been IMHO.

hhhmmmmm, I know of a good locksmith, Im gonna swing by his shop to see what he says, thank you for the info!!!!!

Anybody got info on my MPG?

["HI"]

UPDATE:

So went to the locksmith yesterday, he tells me, "you have a bad key" at that time I tell him, "I went to Toyota and they used my VIN to cut a key"......he responds....."Almost all Toyota & GM delaer key cutters are crappy & old"


So he pops off my passenger side lock cylinder & about 10 minutes later, he says...."done"

He then hands me 2 new keys and tells me throw my current away, tells me it'll be $25 and i was on my merry way!!!!!!


SO, if anyone in the Los Angeles area needs a locksmith, I "HI"ghly recomend this guy....this was the 3rd time Ive used his service and he is mobile.



So now, yesterday I try to use the windshield wiper fluid spray, and its a no go. Check this morning and seems that the nozzles are plugged.

How can I remove those clips that hold in the hood liner w/ out fuggin them up?

[LE05]

Originally Posted by "HI"

The service adviser said the rear has drums and needed to be adjusted, ok.........Im NOT familiar w/ drum setups, is this true?

yes, the rear brakes will need to be adjusted every once in a while. They are supposed to automatically adjust, but sometimes it does not adjust it enough.

Originally Posted by "HI"

Also, I filled up the car, and got to about 390 miles b4 the gas light came on.....from what ive read, these cars have a 18 gallon tank, and 4 gal. from the time the low fuel light comes on......so does that mean we actually have a 14 gal. tank? Is that good milage ohn this car?

that's about what i get for my car as well, which is about average. no, that means we have an 18 gal. tank. you can continue to drive after the low fuel light comes on, but only so far. it's really a warning light, i've found that i can probably drive at least another 50 miles with that light on.

["HI"]

thanks for the info LEO5.


So, has anyone had thier washer nozzles, not spray out?