Today was not my day......

[ryan7373]

Hey everybody... i'm relatively new to the board. So I thought today I would post something. I decided to take the opportunity to work on my camry during the holiday, like i'm sure most of you'll did. I had been stockpiling things for the car for weeks (spark plugs, ignition wires, strut-bar, other misc. tune-ups things) , and I finally said today was the day. So I got out my trusty Haynes manual and went to work this morning. Everything went straight to hell.... I decided to start with the fuel filter... the book made it sound easy enough, "just loosen the fastener at the bottom" that didn't work I tried everything... and i ended up rounding out two sides of the bolt and cutting my hands to shreds. So I said f*** it, i'll do something easy... so I installed the strut bar. that was a piece of cake, then i decided to change the spark plugs and ignition wires. After fiddling with the stubborn ignition wire boots for the longest I found out I couldn't pull them out with the strut bar on. I finally just gave up for the day and hope for the best tomorrow. I guess these things aren't always as easy as them seem... but I'm learning....slowly. :-? Anyways hope everyone had a great holiday vacation. Oh and I'd really appreciate any tips with the fuel filter.... I've got a 1998 Camry LE 5SFE.

Maybe tomorrow will be better....

[TRDragoon]

welcome to TN buddy!!...make sure you post your info on Me/Mine/Mods k?

yea Haynes manual or any other manual make things look easier....but they never are!!!!its all experience!
i'll give you credit for atleast atempting on your project by yourself! jus keep trying...
the worst thing i did on my car was wrecking a new CD deck when i was installing it ....the second one, i made sure what each wire goes to...and voila!!! long and painful way but its the effort (and the money) that counts! you gain extra experience for taking the long way!! enjoy your DIY!

[Warped]

Everyone makes mistakes...not everyone learns from them. :wink:

[Phi]

Ry, not the greatest first post, but I guess you're at the right spot for some help.

Those reference books are just that, "reference". Shamefully, I admit, I've never got grease under my own nails. I prefer to read up on things and let the "expert" do the dirty work.

I commend you for having the balls to get all up in it like that! Just be careful. The last thing you wanna do is start breaking things that could potentially cost you alot of money. Fixing your car isn't like playing with lego. There's alot of "tricks of the trade" that a book will never tell you about. So what make sure you know what you're getting yourself into before starting the job.

In the meantime, keep it up and maybe you figure out how to rebuild engines blindfolded in a few years

[REN69]

screw those manuals man.. they're too broad regarding a model's year. Like the one I had for my civic, it covered 84-87 civics i think, well the picture they show you is always the one for the model you DON'T have so you always end up lost one way or another. They're only good for reference really.

[TRDragoon]

Originally Posted by REN69

screw those manuals man.. They're only good for reference really.

its a good enuff reason to own one i rather have one instead of goin to my net and looking for info and printing it out...too much hassle....
if you're approaching on dis-assemblying somethin read it thru once, atleast it'll give you some idea on how to aproach it.