Bought '09 Camry 9/14 Should I look under the hood

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andyd

andyd

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Marshfield , MA
Every weekend, I'm busy with other stuff. Frankly not that interested. It is a freaken four cylinder transport appliance, not a "car" as I have known them since I bought my first one when I was 11. Shortly after leaving the dealer, the check engine light came on. No big deal, back to a BMW, or a loaner. Drive away and the the light would shine. All very amicably handled by my dear wife. This went on for a few weeks. The final fix was something, head removal and valve train parts. Then replace the water pump , just 'cuz. If it were a normal customer, doing a trade up and needing transport. It could have gotten ugly. The salesman was your typical used car mover with a nut to make. I didn't like his jive hale fellow well met line from the get go. Besides I was coming back from 40 mile drive to look at virtually the same car, a bit older, with a few more miles. For the amount we had budgeted. 100$ detail would have taken the wholesale auction process dust off it. I was exasperated and didn't like the salesman. The fastest way out of the the outing was to just buy the stupid thing for more money than I was prepared to spend. The up side is that it is air bagged to a fare thee well and rigged for baby seats for the grandsons.It just isn't a car
grin2.gif
 
What the car needs are wheels from the 6, a strut brace, KYB or other struts (when you need them, and the 6 cylinder size brakes.
Try "Toyota Nation" for a lot of helpful hints. Most folks hang on to their Camrys a long time although perhaps not for the 300K I have. One for sale at an early age and low miles was probably a lease or otherwise thrashed.
Is a Camry a BMW, no, can you mantain it for less than BMW prices...yes. BTW I ride a BMW bike, so don't put me on the BMW hater list.
 
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Huh? Had a hard time following. It sounds like there was a mechanical problem with your wife's car, it went to the shop, needed a lot of work, and then she dumped it for a 2009 Camry.

I'd pop the hood and make sure all the fluids are present and accounted for. It might be a "transportation appliance", but it sure is inconvenient when the appliance breaks with screaming toddlers in the backseat.

Lastly, it might be "just a Camry", but those things in V6 guise with some sticky tires can run with some very expensive sports cars with a good driver behind the wheel. I see it every year at Watkins Glen when the Camry pace cars slow down to let the "sports cars" they're escorting on paced laps catch up!
 
Originally Posted By: sciphi
Huh? Had a hard time following. It sounds like there was a mechanical problem with your wife's car, it went to the shop, needed a lot of work, and then she dumped it for a 2009 Camry.

I'd pop the hood and make sure all the fluids are present and accounted for. It might be a "transportation appliance", but it sure is inconvenient when the appliance breaks with screaming toddlers in the backseat.

Lastly, it might be "just a Camry", but those things in V6 guise with some sticky tires can run with some very expensive sports cars with a good driver behind the wheel. I see it every year at Watkins Glen when the Camry pace cars slow down to let the "sports cars" they're escorting on paced laps catch up!
Little known secret. 265 hp in a "family sedan" of that size. Biggest problem is getting the power to the ground.
smile.gif
 
Originally Posted By: andyd
Every weekend, I'm busy with other stuff. Frankly not that interested. It is a freaken four cylinder transport appliance, not a "car" as I have known them since I bought my first one when I was 11. Shortly after leaving the dealer, the check engine light came on. No big deal, back to a BMW, or a loaner. Drive away and the the light would shine. All very amicably handled by my dear wife. This went on for a few weeks. The final fix was something, head removal and valve train parts. Then replace the water pump , just 'cuz. If it were a normal customer, doing a trade up and needing transport. It could have gotten ugly. The salesman was your typical used car mover with a nut to make. I didn't like his jive hale fellow well met line from the get go. Besides I was coming back from 40 mile drive to look at virtually the same car, a bit older, with a few more miles. For the amount we had budgeted. 100$ detail would have taken the wholesale auction process dust off it. I was exasperated and didn't like the salesman. The fastest way out of the the outing was to just buy the stupid thing for more money than I was prepared to spend. The up side is that it is air bagged to a fare thee well and rigged for baby seats for the grandsons.It just isn't a car
grin2.gif



is there an ending to this story or are you just filling internet bytes.
 
Originally Posted By: cptbarkey
Originally Posted By: andyd
Every weekend, I'm busy with other stuff. Frankly not that interested. It is a freaken four cylinder transport appliance, not a "car" as I have known them since I bought my first one when I was 11. Shortly after leaving the dealer, the check engine light came on. No big deal, back to a BMW, or a loaner. Drive away and the the light would shine. All very amicably handled by my dear wife. This went on for a few weeks. The final fix was something, head removal and valve train parts. Then replace the water pump , just 'cuz. If it were a normal customer, doing a trade up and needing transport. It could have gotten ugly. The salesman was your typical used car mover with a nut to make. I didn't like his jive hale fellow well met line from the get go. Besides I was coming back from 40 mile drive to look at virtually the same car, a bit older, with a few more miles. For the amount we had budgeted. 100$ detail would have taken the wholesale auction process dust off it. I was exasperated and didn't like the salesman. The fastest way out of the the outing was to just buy the stupid thing for more money than I was prepared to spend. The up side is that it is air bagged to a fare thee well and rigged for baby seats for the grandsons.It just isn't a car
grin2.gif



is there an ending to this story or are you just filling internet bytes.


I was exasperated following the post. Is this the beginnings of a RAP song?
 
Every time you drive the Camry just think you could be driving my 4 cylinder Highlander and your opinion of the handling will improve dramatically.

Seriously, though, were the mechanical problems with the BMW or the new Camry? Seems odd to remove the head for valvetrain parts, the AR series engine it's pretty much all right there. If the water pump was replaced and the head removed are you sure it didn't overheat?
 
Asking should I look under the hood and calling it a transport appliance reminds me of stories of people who run their engine low on oil. They then blame the manufacturer because a new car shouldn't burn oil and we shouldn't be inconvenienced to have to check it.
 
I'am glad I am not the only one baffled by the OP

Could the OP give us a translation, in English?
 
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