5th & 6th Generation (2002-2006 & 2007-2011)Toyota Camry Discussion for years: 2002-2006 & 2007-2011
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I am the third owner of a 2003 Camry LE. It was a Hurst rental and I bought it from an individual. It had 100 K at purchase but I was not concerned so much about this with a Toyota. I did a brake job at 130 K and found the emergency brake pads were gone so I suspect some heavy drifting in it's history. If so, it has been pretty well absed. It has 180 K on it now and has recently developed a pretty substantial top end rattle. I am checking all my options and am considering a new crate motor. It has the 2.4 L. I'm wondering what other engines will bolt up, if any.
Last edited by Elefant; 10-29-2011 at 11:22 PM.
Reason: More information
I highly doubt it has to do with drifting. They e-brake pads wear out over time.. and being a rental car and 3rd owner they have probably never been changed before.
It is hard to drift a FWD car to begin with. More so if it is a foot e-brake, which i believe the LE's came with.
could have been someone forgot it was on and didnt take it off for a while of a drive. i have seen people (my mother) do this with a foot parking brake.
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I have never tried drifting before so I can't talk from experience. I guess it could just as easily have been left on. The idiot light is pretty obvious though. irregardless, I am getting a really loud tapping at all rpms. it sounds like top end. Like stuck lifters or injectors. No smoke and it runs smooth. Ran a couple cans of BG through the fuel to clean it up. No change. I guess I will take it to a mechanic for diagnosis. 170 K seems too early for this kind of problem from a Toyota. My original question was, does anyone know if another year or size of Toyota engine will bolt up to this car?
i wouldnt even try to drift with a foot ebrake. thats not going to work out. people like my dad like to make sure the ebrake works so when he is coming to a redlight at low speeds he pulls the ebrake on his car. he does it like maybe once every 2 months or something. but i know one time i was in a rush and left the ebrake on for like half a block
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2004 Rav4 I4 FWD
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It has nothing to do with drifting lol.... It is just worn out...
As for the lifters tapping, that is due to lack of oil changes on a regular basis, or it ran low on oil a few times. The 2az engine has had issues with head gasket leaks, i would have that checked.
170k is average, but as you said it was a rental car, so it probably had the hell run out of it.
+1
If that is the worst that is happening now, then it's not too bad. Most cars I come across with high mileage (including mine over time) don't have a working emergency brake. They all wear out eventually, just like every other car part will.
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6 speed manual 2011 Camry SE
2012 Honda Accord Coupe---1995 Ford Mustang---1985 AMC Eagle
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+1
If that is the worst that is happening now, then it's not too bad. Most cars I come across with high mileage (including mine over time) don't have a working emergency brake. They all wear out eventually, just like every other car part will.
the best way (i think) to keep an e-brake working for years and years, is to use it every time we park. automatics, manuals, just use it. constant use will keep rust from building up on the cable. once rust builds on the cable, it will get stuck in its casing when you finally do want to use it.
i think the e-brake (for those of us that have automatics) becomes something we do not need. where the people with manuals use it all the time.
it's always going to be a matter of choice for some, a needed choice for others.
but as said, being a 2003 car, and now the 3rd owner, i too am sure someone forgot it was "on" and drove a bit...i know mine has a bell of some sort, when i drive with it on, and yeah..i have done that, so it does happen.
just get it fixed, so at least you have an "additional" braking component, should you ever need it...i think you'd hate to have a crash, and the lawyers ask you, "why didn't you use your e-brake"...
as for the top end rattling....that really can be just about anything. a set of testing should be done, maybe even a teardown. but if a crate motor is in your sights, then i'd go original engine size, as you may not wish to get involved with added parts like a bigger radiator and such to handle a bigger engine. maybe a bigger engine will bolt up to the tranny....but i'd rather personally not get too involved with the potential of a whole lotta headaches.
simple out, simple in..done deal.....
good luck, keep us posted.
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This is good advice guys. Any suggestions for a reliable crate engine builder? I think it's time for struts too. I put wheel bearings front rotors and pads on it at 100 K but didn't replace the e brake shoes at that time. Automatic in Kansas, I took the chance that I would never need it. I haven't yet
Last edited by Elefant; 10-31-2011 at 08:35 AM.
Reason: additional Information to add
This is good advice guys. Any suggestions for a reliable crate engine builder? I think it's time for struts too. I put wheel bearings front rotors and pads on it at 100 K but didn't replace the e brake shoes at that time. Automatic in Kansas, I took the chance that I would never need it. I haven't yet
This sounds a bit stupid but it works....the emergency brake on my Mustang doesn't work, it hasn't for years, because someone left it on when they parked it and didn't release it for well over a year. Anyway, according to the book it's a 5-6 hour job to replace it, so I just put bigger brakes on It will get fixed eventually, but for now I'm not worried (especially with the engine out of her now).
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6 speed manual 2011 Camry SE
2012 Honda Accord Coupe---1995 Ford Mustang---1985 AMC Eagle
Most cars I come across with high mileage (including mine over time) don't have a working emergency brake. They all wear out eventually, just like every other car part will.
yep! Mine hardly works anymore, and the dealer actually had the guts to fail my inspection because of it :weak:
it still worked last winter tho when I cruised down almost every road completely sideways
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2003 LE I suspect heavy drifting history
1995 Ford Mustang
2000 Nissan Maxima SE
2011 Toyota Camry SE
Emily
Automatic in Kansas, I took the chance that I would never need it. I haven't yet
It will get fixed eventually, but for now I'm not worried (especially with the engine out of her now).
2007 Dodge Caliber
"Silver Bullet"
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