never a dull moment - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

99ceCamry · 07-05-2005, 04:29 PM

to start off my father isn't very into cars or tools. i didn't like that about him and wanted to make sure i didn't end up like him.

first off, i attempted to install a front strut bar with nothing but vise grips and my father's limited ratchet collection. needless to say i got 5 out of the six nuts off. on the sixth nut i managed to sheer the nut down leaving 2mm of metal around the nut. got the nut off with a dremel while managing not to damage the threads and ordered a replacement nut. (which was put on with a friends ratchet set.) i sent the strut bar back and vowed never to touch my car again.

well for christmas this year i recieved a craftsman mechanics tool set and a haynes manual for my camry. having a renewed faith in my abilities, i noticed my thermostat was sticking open so i wanted to replace that and change the coolant myself.

to make an already long story short i was re-attaching the thermostat housing and broke one of the bolts...

what was that stud, as i learned from calling my dealership attatched to.

i'm thinking its going to have to be taken down to the dealership and fixed there. but in attempts to be optimistic i'm hoping its attatched to something that might already need replacing, like the water pump...please help me out.

i want to learn but don't know where to turn and guess its a good thing that Toyota makes such awesome vehicles.

skewe · 07-05-2005, 04:32 PM

u need a good set of tools.
i strip quite a few bolts, etc due to wrong tools.

CamryPunk · 07-05-2005, 04:32 PM

yeah, I've done a TON of things myself and the good way to learn is to do it yoruself. Of course, I don't have much time as I did when I was a teen, but you'll know a pesron that does their own install if they're missing nuts, bolts and screws in their cars. haahaha.

99ceCamry · 07-05-2005, 05:07 PM

new information...i put the old coolant back into the radiator and restarted the engine. (old coolant was used since i planned on taking it to toyota and have them fix it.)

installed is a thermostat which looked a bit different than the one from the factory but i installed it anyway, because you'd like to be able to trust your dealership.

it still took a long time for the car to heat up but when it did the coolant started boiling out of the top of the radiator, the top radiator hose was very hot but the heater was blowing cold air. once the engine cools down i plan on draining the radiator again and installing the old thermostat.

please advise and if any additional information is needed just let me know

skewe · 07-05-2005, 05:28 PM

you might want to replace the gasket.
to prevent any future leaks, etc due to old gasket failing

99ceCamry · 07-05-2005, 05:31 PM

new thermostat and gasket were installed, thanks for the advice in addition to any additional

Lord_Anarchy · 07-05-2005, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamryPunk

yeah, I've done a TON of things myself and the good way to learn is to do it yoruself. Of course, I don't have much time as I did when I was a teen, but you'll know a pesron that does their own install if they're missing nuts, bolts and screws in their cars. haahaha.

LOL!!! Guilty

Yeah, you need to invest in a proper set of tools my friend. I was tired of just paying other people for simple stuff like brakes and what not. Once I finally got my car, I figured that I'd learn to do as much as I could. Quick learning + the Gen 3 Service manual.... I'm a bad-ass... Here's the golden rule though. TRY to make sure you got all the right tools because it'll make it sooo much easier... and.. TRUST IN TOYOTANATION. They helped me in a couple of fiascos.

Ranger X · 07-05-2005, 05:58 PM

If you broke one of the studs, try to get it out. I did this recently when cleaning out my ACIS module. If you can get it out, just take it up to lowe's (or similar) and ask somebody for help. Just say that you need a bolt with the same thread size. That way, you can just hacksaw off the head and use it as a stud.