This just keeps getting better and better!!! DAMN IT!!!

[nevanerviss]

OK... I STILL haven't identified the part on my car that is leaking oil... At this point, I'm not driving it, I'm riding my bike to work (CBR1000)... While my car is sitting in front of my house, some JACKASS hits it!!! Backed right into the damned left fender!!! Didn't take the paint off, but sure hit the hell out of it!!! I haven't looked at the damage other than the fender itself, which, from what I understand, I can get online for like $50 and have it painted to match the car...

Anyways, is there ANYONE in this forum in S.E. Michigan (I'm in Detroit) that knows about Toyatas that's willing to help me out here?? I love my Camry, but if I can't fix it, I'll have to shoot it!!!

I'll pay for your time and expertise, but I really need help here... As I said before, I'm a girl, and don't know too much about cars especially Toyotas, but I'm not afraid to get elbow deep in grease to learn...

Oh, yeah, sorry about the crappy pics, I have no other way to take pics besides my phone...

Please? Anyone?

[marc780]

Nevanerviss, I really feel for you lady... i'm in Calif unfortuantely - i'd try removing everything parts in the way of the leaker part so you can get at it and remove it. No point in half measures now but at least you have back up transpo - so thats good - !

[DAMON]

im in the area... about an hour away, but i really have no expertise... if you can borrow a digital camera i may be able to help but under the hood i probably know about as much as you sorry...

i think phatfantom is inour area as well, well see what he says

[thapranksta]

You can buy a digital camera from Wal-mart and return it when you are done. LOL. But remember for a last resort, you still have the dealer.

[nevanerviss]

I see you're in Ann Arbor... I work in Wayne, and in relation to Detroit, you are familiar with how far I have to travel EVERY DAY to get to work... For the most part, I could ride my bike and not worry SO much about this car, but Mother Nature hates me, and because of that, I NEED to have my car back...

I can/will change the stupid thing myself, if I can find out what the hell it is...

The thing is on the driver's side (back) of the engine, right below the distributor, and slightly toward the firewall... It looks like it's on the blobk, hell, it looks like it's on the transmission even...

[stuts]

Originally Posted by nevanerviss

OK... I STILL haven't identified the part on my car that is leaking oil... At this point, I'm not driving it, I'm riding my bike to work (CBR1000)... While my car is sitting in front of my house, some JACKASS hits it!!! Backed right into the damned left fender!!! Didn't take the paint off, but sure hit the hell out of it!!! I haven't looked at the damage other than the fender itself, which, from what I understand, I can get online for like $50 and have it painted to match the car...

Anyways, is there ANYONE in this forum in S.E. Michigan (I'm in Detroit) that knows about Toyatas that's willing to help me out here?? I love my Camry, but if I can't fix it, I'll have to shoot it!!!

I'll pay for your time and expertise, but I really need help here... As I said before, I'm a girl, and don't know too much about cars especially Toyotas, but I'm not afraid to get elbow deep in grease to learn...

Oh, yeah, sorry about the crappy pics, I have no other way to take pics besides my phone...

Please? Anyone?

Sorry to hear about everything that has gone with your car I am just curious why don’t you take it in to at Toyota dealership they can find the Oil leak and fix it and with the bumper that sucks but I would be more concerned about the Oil leak

[nevanerviss]

The closest STealership is 10 miles away, and if it's something that I can fix myself, I'd rather not get raped at the stealership, as it is, I spent $23 for the oil pressure switch at the stealer when Pep Boys had the same thing for $12... If it comes to that, though, I guess I'll have no choice but to take it there and bring extra lube 'cause I know I'm gonna get fucked repeatedly...

[thapranksta]

Originally Posted by nevanerviss

The closest STealership is 10 miles away, and if it's something that I can fix myself, I'd rather not get raped at the stealership, as it is, I spent $23 for the oil pressure switch at the stealer when Pep Boys had the same thing for $12... If it comes to that, though, I guess I'll have no choice but to take it there and bring extra lube 'cause I know I'm gonna get fucked repeatedly...

The dealership can also diagnose a problem for you without actually fixing it for you. I've taken advantage of that before. You can still fix it yourself after the "stealer" tells you what the problem is (without a fee in many situations). And who knows the part could be really cheap. It could be like the oil pressure switch which was a small part with only $11 difference.

On another note, I like that last line you typed. Its a classic.

[Lord_Anarchy]

Originally Posted by nevanerviss

The closest STealership is 10 miles away, and if it's something that I can fix myself, I'd rather not get raped at the stealership, as it is, I spent $23 for the oil pressure switch at the stealer when Pep Boys had the same thing for $12... If it comes to that, though, I guess I'll have no choice but to take it there and bring extra lube 'cause I know I'm gonna get fucked repeatedly...

Take some pics because that leak could really be from anything. What color is the fluid? (I know, "motor oil" but it could easily be really dark tranny fluid, OLDDDD Toyota coolant, or power steering fluid or even brake fluid leaking from the booster or master cylinder.

We can all help but without pics, it's gonna be a smidge hard I hope you do get to fix the Cam and I'm sorry you have awful drivers there too....

[stuts]

Originally Posted by nevanerviss

The closest STealership is 10 miles away, and if it's something that I can fix myself, I'd rather not get raped at the stealership, as it is, I spent $23 for the oil pressure switch at the stealer when Pep Boys had the same thing for $12... If it comes to that, though, I guess I'll have no choice but to take it there and bring extra lube 'cause I know I'm gonna get fucked repeatedly...

I understand the saving money who doesn’t like save money but that is all part of owning a car is the maintenance you have to take in to a count if it is worth wasting all of your time trying to figure this thing out you get what I’m sayin

[07i4]

Originally Posted by nevanerviss

OK... I STILL haven't identified the part on my car that is leaking oil... At this point, I'm not driving it, I'm riding my bike to work (CBR1000)... While my car is sitting in front of my house, some JACKASS hits it!!! Backed right into the damned left fender!!! Didn't take the paint off, but sure hit the hell out of it!!! I haven't looked at the damage other than the fender itself, which, from what I understand, I can get online for like $50 and have it painted to match the car...

Do you have uninsured motorist coverage?

[nevanerviss]

Originally Posted by 07i4

Do you have uninsured motorist coverage?

Yes, I do... I live in Detroit, it's as bad if not worse than New York... NO ONE has insurance here, but it'll cost less to fix it than my deductible, so skip it... Of course, I haven't really surveyed ALL the damage done to the car, so I can't say that for sure... I'm more concerned with this thing leaking on my car...

Originally Posted by LORD_ANARCHY

Take some pics because that leak could really be from anything. What color is the fluid? (I know, "motor oil" but it could easily be really dark tranny fluid, OLDDDD Toyota coolant, or power steering fluid or even brake fluid leaking from the booster or master cylinder.

We can all help but without pics, it's gonna be a smidge hard I hope you do get to fix the Cam and I'm sorry you have awful drivers there too....

Well, there are some pics in another thread I started, here, but they're not very good or clear, but maybe you can see something that the others couldn't... I just need to know what the thing IS so I can go to the stealer and get it...

Originally Posted by thapranksta

It could be like the oil pressure switch which was a small part with only $11 difference.

From what I understand, the oil pressure switch is on the side of the engine near the oil filter, and this thing is on the other side under the distributor...

Originally Posted by thapranksta

On another note, I like that last line you typed. Its a classic.

Well, thank you, I aim to please...

[ekim55121]

its your tranny thats leaking i went out to my car with my laptop and looked at your pictures and found what i could and where that stick is pointing is at a sensor on the tranny,











looks to be the speed sensor but i could be mistaken



i just stuck my camera down there to where it looks like the stick is pointing so yeah i doubt its a oil pressure sending switch but mabey the tranny position switch or the tranny fluid pressure switch is my best guess

[toyomoho]

What year of Camry? Automatic or manual transmission? I assume it is a 4 cylinder. How much fluid do you think has leaked out?

I enhanced your photos and looked at the area in question on the engine. Located in the area under the distributor is an EGR tube attach fitting and what looks like a screw type plug for an oil gallery. I do not see any oil fittings or oil sensors there. If you have a small mirror, try to look under the distributor at the head. What do you see? Did any one add anything to this car like an oil pressure gage?

Next to the distributor is a coolant manifold attached to the cylinder head. The coolant comes out of the head and goes to the radiator. This manifold also has sensors and other coolant hoses attached. One small coolant hose goes under the distributor to the intake manifold, there is also a heater hose here. If this fluid leak were coolant, either hose would be in the right location as shown in the photos. Other coolant hoses also run below the distributor such as for the oil cooler.

The oil pressure sensor is on the front corner of the head. It does have a direct angled line of site to the area under the distributor. I don’t see how a defective sensor could shoot oil in this direction, but stranger things have happened. As such, I just don’t see where engine oil could come from in the area you photographed in quantities that would be gushing out.

The head has a large semi-circular filler plug installed in it. This is forward of where the distributor installs, but these usually stays put.

Possible very bad head or valve cover gasket?

As previous posts state, the car has many types of fluids. The ones that can leak out in any quantity fast and under pressure are engine oil, power steering fluid, automatic transmission fluid if it has one (same fluid type as the power steering) and coolant fluid. All fluids have a distinct smell, texture and color.

I suggest you check each of these fluids reservoirs for quantity of fluid. If fluid is running out in large qualities, one of these reservoirs may be low. Also it will give you an idea of the fluids odor, texture and color. You can compare this with fluid with what is leaking out.

I think the owner’s manual should have something on checking fluids and reservoir location. TN has links to factory Toyota service manuals online. Perhaps if you took a look the service manual for your car, this would aid you in running down the problem.

With the engine cold!

Pull out the engine oil dipstick, clean off any oil and replace. Pull it out again and see where the oil is on the stick. Is it low, very low, can you see any oil at all? If oil is there, feel it, smell it, see the color. Engine oil is usually light brown and transparent. The oil will start to turn black in the engine as the engine miles add up.

Move on to the automatic transmission dipstick and do the same. This oil is red, but again will turn darker and black depending on when it was last changed, transmission condition, etc. Then check the power steering reservoir that has the same type oil. The location is in the engine compartment, passenger’s side, near the front shock absorber tower. This oil is again red but can also darken in color with use. It has a filler cap that can be removed having an attached dipstick.

Just to cover all the bases check the brake and window washer fluids. The brake fluid reservoir is located on the driver’s side, firewall, and engine compartment. Caution, this fluid is an irritant. Don’t get in on your hands, eyes or on the cars paint. The plastic tank has min and max fill lines on the side. This fluid is normally clear but tends to darken as it ages and picks up water.

Check out the window washer fluid reservoir and do the same. Passengers side, front of engine compartment. Note the quantity, and it characteristics. This is just soap, water, plus some type of alcohol. The color can be blue, red, whatever the manufacture fancies.

Now go to the coolant over flow reservor. Passenger’s side, forward of the shock absorber tower. Next to the power steering reservoir. This is another transparent plastic tank. Is there coolant it the tank? If so, pull out the plastic filler top, look in with a flashlight sees what it looks like. It always has a distinctive color, red, yellow, etc. Coolant is just water mixed with antifreeze. It feels like water, but not completely so.

Take a sample between your fingers to get the texture of it. Caution, most coolants have a sweet taste and as such small kids and animals are attracted to it and drink it. Most coolants are toxic to the kidneys.

If no coolant in this tank then you will need to take of the radiator cap. Caution, only do this when the engine is cold, as in overnight cold. Or hot water may be expelled! See if there is coolant here and how much. It should be just below the filler neck where cap goes.

With this done, compare the fluid that is leaking with the fluids you has just looked at. All these fluids have a distinctive feel and odor, some have a distinctive color. Are any of the reserviors you checked that are low on fluid?

As TN member Stuts stated, car maintenance is just part of car ownership. I understand you don’t want to pay the higher costs of third party repair shops. You do not need to go to a Toyota dealer; any competent mechanic can handle this job at a lower cost.

It can be extremely difficult to diagnosis a problem over the Internet

I do not think additional photos would help me. I see the area you are talking about (at least I think so, correct me if I am wrong). Is this fluid coming out of a hose, out of the engine block? If it were the oil pressure sensor, you should be able to determine this.

Try to follow the trail backwards of whatever fluid is coming out and see if you can find where it stops on the engine.

Post back with your finds.

[nevanerviss]

Originally Posted by ekim55121

its your tranny thats leaking i went out to my car with my laptop and looked at your pictures and found what i could and where that stick is pointing is at a sensor on the tranny,







i just stuck my camera down there to where it looks like the stick is pointing so yeah i doubt its a oil pressure sending switch but mabey the tranny position switch or the tranny fluid pressure switch is my best guess

THAT'S IT!!!! THAT'S the stupid thing that's been giving me grief ALL weekend!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Now, since I know what this thing is, I can get it fixed!!!

Only thing is: the fluid coming of there was black... Either the trans fluid is R-E-A-L-L-Y old, or it IS oil... MARRY ME ekim!!! My hero!!! But will the fluid dripping out of that thing make my car smoke the way it did? Also, I didn't notice any trans slippage when I drove the car, although it did feel like it took a while for the gears to change... By that I mean that it took a while for the gears to go from 1st to 2nd, etc...

NOW... How do I get it off of the car? Blasting caps?