Ask the Car People.SM


Older Camry Maintenance and Repair

727 messages,  Last post on Jan 29, 2013 at 5:40 PM

You are in the Toyota Camry Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Camry, Auto Repair

Messages Page 26 of 74

#246 of 727 Camry 1998 Low Oil Pressure Warning Light by lordm

Sep 14, 2008 (3:36 pm)

I have a toyota camry with 149K miles on it. I recently bought this car and have limited knowledge about it. Now when i keep the key in the ON position (just before cranking the engine) the following lights on the dashboard light up and stay
 
1. battery light
2. Low Oil Pressure Warning Light
3. Check engine light.
 
The ABS light is on for a few seconds and then goes off.
 
Now when I crank the engine only the check engine light is still on and the other two lights are off. Does this indicate problem with the oil pressure and battery? Also since the engine check light is on.. what is the likely reason for it?

#247 of 727 Re: Camry 1998 Low Oil Pressure Warning Light [lordm] by kiawah

Sep 14, 2008 (3:51 pm)

Replying to: lordm (Sep 14, 2008 3:36 pm)
Since you haven't started the engine, the low oil pressure and battery lights are normal.
 
You will need to find out why your check engine light is on. Go to an autoparts chain and have them read the error numbers from the computer for you. They'll normally do this free of charge.
 
Take those error codes, and write them down. You'll then search the internet with your model/make/yr, and let's see what the error messages are.

#248 of 727 toyota extended warranty by lordm

Sep 17, 2008 (8:56 pm)

My 1998 camry (149K) had the check engine light on. It shows the code PO446.. My mechanic said that it was a problem with the vent solenoid. He also said that the car may come under toyota's extended warranty for evaporative systems. I was wondering how to check if my car qualifies for this warranty.. and what could be other problems associated with PO446. Also the fuel economy lately has been very poor. Is this due to the same problem?

#249 of 727 Re: toyota extended warranty [lordm] by kiawah

Sep 17, 2008 (9:08 pm)

Replying to: lordm (Sep 17, 2008 8:56 pm)
Your owners manual or warranty manual should call out what is covered, and for how long.

#250 of 727 toyota extended warranty by camry002

Sep 18, 2008 (5:49 am)

Do you have a warranty with Toyota -- or a third party? When I purchased my car new and they gave me the option, I understood that it would be with Toyota. Wrong. Dealerships make more money on the non-Toyota warranties. So, whichever is your case, just contact the 'company' listed on your warranty form. If' it's a '98, you must have low mileage??? I think my extended warranty is 6 years or 72K miles -- so my warranty ended on my 2002 just this month. Good luck. It's to your advantage to have it taken in and have a record with the mechanic about this problem. Sometime if it goes a month or two over the ext. warranty, the warranty would be honored. J.

#251 of 727 96 Camry 4 banger overheating by timanole

Sep 19, 2008 (8:55 pm)

My wifes 96 Camry Le with the 2.2L engine is overheating. The original problem was the radiator. Overheated and engine shut down. Towed to mechanic and replaced radiator. Been back to the shop several times-still overheating. Have replaced radiator, relay switch, and thermostat. Now the radiator won't hold fluid-just disappears?? I notice smoke from the engine bay and it kinda smells like exhaust fumes near the radiator. Anyone have any ideas? He thinks it's a cracked head or block, but not the head gasket?? How can I tell if he's being truthful, cause now he wants to change the entire engine? What about the water pump-never changed and he never mentioned it? I don't want to put any more money into the car, if it is truly the block or head. What should I do?
 
Thanks
Tim

#252 of 727 Re: 96 Camry 4 banger overheating [timanole] by kiawah

Sep 19, 2008 (9:32 pm)

Replying to: timanole (Sep 19, 2008 8:55 pm)
If it's not leaking externally, then it's probably sucking the coolant into the intake manifold, turning it to steam, and sending it out your exhaust. You probably have white smoke (steam) coming out the exhaust.
 
Could be bad gasket, or something cracked....but you can't tell till you take it apart.
 
You don't say what kind of shape the vehicle is in other than this problem, but I wouldn't assume at all that you have to replace the engine.

#253 of 727 Re: 96 Camry 4 banger overheating [timanole] by rearwheeldrive

Sep 19, 2008 (9:34 pm)

Replying to: timanole (Sep 19, 2008 8:55 pm)
This is an example of an misdiagnose
 
The pump originally caused the engine to overheat. It also could have compromised the head gasket depending what you did when it overheated. He clearly missed the the problem.
 
The radiator has no moving parts so unless its leaking there is nothing wrong with it. A clogged radiator will overheat at highway speeds if your fluid is always leaking. A leak lets air in and then it rust shut not allowing water to past through
 
I would sue him for his incompetence. I would go to court and ask for compression readings in court. Why didnt he check to see if the fans come on when he changed the radiator. If the pump was good when it first overheated it would not overheat again A water pump slowly leaks water out the seal on its shaft, and can only be detected if you get under the car and look for a small trail of water coming from under the timing belt cover. If the overheat broke the pump too, he should have caught it then.He clearly missed the problem.
 
Get a compression test at a lube place and document it. A compression test gives you the condition of the engine.
 
When you get the compression results back it will show a clyinder with a 100PSI -125 PSI . It is a indicator of a leaking head gasket. The water is getting sucked out the exhaust while you drive, causing it to overheat every time your finish a 30- 40 mile trip. This should have been done on the first overheat. A car should not overheat again when you have the car in for the problem in the first place, He owes you a new engine if hes says its bad. Unless he can document the good compression readings on the original receipt.
 
Also the radiator will produce small air bubbles from the bad cylinder if you remove the cap and look inside. Do it while its warming up or your gonna get a face full of hot scolding water.Tell us what the results are.Good Luck!

#254 of 727 arm rests out of shape by madeinmsia

Sep 28, 2008 (8:33 am)

hi. i have a camry 1998 xle. the arm rests on the driver and passenger doors are out of shape. there is a gap around the window/door control unit. it looks ugly and i thought of replacing it. i don't think there's anyway to repair it because those arm rest are hard and i can't shape it back to its original. does anyone know where i can find this type of replacement? i tried to google "arm rest" for my car but nothing shows up. i'm not even sure what part is this called. thanks.

#255 of 727 Re: arm rests out of shape [madeinmsia] by kiawah

Sep 28, 2008 (11:08 am)

Replying to: madeinmsia (Sep 28, 2008 8:33 am)
look at a junk yard

Messages Page 26 of 74

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement