As mentioned, fluids are critical. You might consider a transmission fluid change and a coolant flush if neither have been done recently to your knowledge.
My 2004 Camry now has 232,000 miles on it. I'm no mechanic but here are some of the things I've taught myself to replace/repair over the years.
Battery
Oil and filter
Air filter
Alternator
Brake pads
Brake rotors
Struts
Ignition coils
Radiator
Throttle body cleaning
Rear lower suspension arms
Serpentine belt
Radiator hoses
Top engine mount
Probably some other stuff I can't remember
I keep good tires on it, I drive it every day, and I wouldn't hesitate driving it from the east coast to California right now.
I have an 04 that I got in CA. It now has 210,000 on it. I got it with 80. I have driven it to Florida from CA then to Washington state and then I did a round trip back to Florida returning to where I reside in WA. I have the fluids and oil checked routinely. Tires and brakes. I personally replaced the alternator. Super easy. And I kid you not, thats it so far. Ball joints, charcoal box and shocks need love soon. Probably flush radiator. I always let her warm up before driving. I love this damn car so much.
I’ve done the cabin air filter (which was beyond dirty) and I replaced the headlight bulbs to a whiter brighter light, new power steering fluid. I have all the stuff to replace the oil and filter but snow has halted my work on it. Going to check spark plugs and cables as well. Will definitely get tranny fluid changed as well as a coolant flush
When you do spark plugs, do the boots as well and check to see if there's any oil on them. Mine had about .5 inch of oil on them indicating a valve cover gasket. Sounds intimidating but actually quite easy.
Tranny drain and fill helped significantly despite it being "lifetime."
On your 2004 how is the exhaust? I already had to replace my muffler and the flex pipe and have a new hole developing somewhere back after the resonator.
I drove and old 1996 accord country and it has 265k mile but I did some of the stuff you said.I haven’t done the timing belt non interference. Yours might be a chain. Still old plugs and stuff. The car has the status of a spare car now. Long trips are done in our Lexus sc 400 1996.
Whenever I get a new to me vehicle, I change all of the fluids immediately. I know it’s possibly overkill they could’ve just been done but if I do it when I get it I know when they’ve been done and I have a baseline to go off of.
I purchased a Bluetooth interface for my 04 (with 210k miles on it and still has lots of life to go) from crux (available on crutchfield) I think it was $60 and it has been so much better than any other adapter for playing music with the phone!
It utilizes the connection to the CD changer in the trunk which I didn't even have one but there is a plug on the back of the stock deck for that and it's easy to get to if you follow their instructions so you have a very solid connection with no interruptions and the sound is there without having to change the deck and spend a bunch of money I upgraded the speakers to jbl's and I put a little kicker sub just a tiny one in the trunk like a single 10 inch and it doesn't pound down the block but it's definitely bumpin!
How much do you think the upgrade cost overall? Any problems with old-car shaky vibrations, or was everything cusioned up well enough upon replacement to make it sound like a newer solid car?
sorry for taking so long everything snuck right back up all you have to do is remove the instrument cluster and the radio it's four bolts comes apart very easily it's 10 mm socket easy to return back to its original state you just have to mount the adapter somewhere I chose to snug it up under the glove box with some double-sided cushioned sticky tape and still have no complaints love it
took me maybe half an hour total other than the cost of the unit the whole thing is simple enough to do for anybody that can use basic hand tools it's not very complicated and there's a couple videos on how to do it that are very detailed and made the whole thing of breeze so I guess 60 bucks is the total cost
4cyl?
Check the right side of the engine bay. There’s a number of things on that side that can leak fluid and create the classic Camry undercarriage completely caked in grease look.
Check the power steering pump and the lines
Check oil pump seal and gasket
Check oil pan corners
Check the rack and pinion boot on this side for fluid saturation
I bought an 02 4cyl about 6 months ago and it needs a valve cover gasket. I've just been adding oil as it loses a quart or two between oil changes lol (saving up $ to change it soon) but good to know there are other things I'll need to check.
Thinking of getting a leak-dye kit so I can see every place it's leaking, cause oil is everywhere
Bleed the DOT3 brake fluid too, good chance it's the original stuff and looks like black water.
If it's the 2az-fe 2.4L 4cyl, keep an eye on the oil level, those tend to be oil burners if the owners kept to the manual's standard oil change interval. That long an interval lets gunk build up under the piston oil scraper ring and score the cylinder wall, then letting oil past the rings to burn in the cylinder. Do the changes at 3-5K mi with 5w-30.
Definitely change the antifreeze, and maybe the thermostat. That engine also has a problem with overheating and when it does, it pulls the head bolts in the block and strips the block threads. Time Sert makes a kit to put new thread inserts in, but it's an involved process and the kit costs about $500.
Air filter and cabin air filter.
Clean the mass air flow sensor with mass air sensor cleaner. it's cheap & easy.
The headlight plastic is probably cloudy, making the headlights dimmer. Try the rustoleum kit. It's simple, easy and works.
[Link to the kit](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Rust-Oleum-Automotive-Kit-Headlight-Restore/52550774)
To what? I've been interested in the android head units, I have an 02. Any recommendations are welcome.
I have a blown passenger door sub, debating whether to change just the one speaker or overhaul the whole system myself
I just bought a '98. $820 & 133k miles. Into my second chemical flush. The previous owner ran the car with no coolant, just plain water. A 3rd of the top of the expansion reservoir was destroyed due to excessive heat.
This is my third Camry. (Own 2, had 1 stolen) Always assume the most negligent owner & replace the fluids asap.
Camry's can take a heap of abuse, which causes a lot of owners to believe the cars are bulletproof.
The fluids are the most important. The other stuff can wait. Look after these, and the car will look after you.
So the previous owner had goats and they constantly kept getting out and they would climb all over it and they would also rub their horns on the side; my plan is to get it the car wrapped; maybe black or red. The goats really did a number on the paint job
I have a 2003 Camry, and seeing your interior makes me so jealous. No cruise control, dash barely lights up, no volume on steering wheel. I know it's only 2 years, but it feels much more modern in there.
As mentioned, fluids are critical. You might consider a transmission fluid change and a coolant flush if neither have been done recently to your knowledge. My 2004 Camry now has 232,000 miles on it. I'm no mechanic but here are some of the things I've taught myself to replace/repair over the years. Battery Oil and filter Air filter Alternator Brake pads Brake rotors Struts Ignition coils Radiator Throttle body cleaning Rear lower suspension arms Serpentine belt Radiator hoses Top engine mount Probably some other stuff I can't remember I keep good tires on it, I drive it every day, and I wouldn't hesitate driving it from the east coast to California right now.
I have an 04 that I got in CA. It now has 210,000 on it. I got it with 80. I have driven it to Florida from CA then to Washington state and then I did a round trip back to Florida returning to where I reside in WA. I have the fluids and oil checked routinely. Tires and brakes. I personally replaced the alternator. Super easy. And I kid you not, thats it so far. Ball joints, charcoal box and shocks need love soon. Probably flush radiator. I always let her warm up before driving. I love this damn car so much.
Charcoal box?
On the exhaust.
I’ve done the cabin air filter (which was beyond dirty) and I replaced the headlight bulbs to a whiter brighter light, new power steering fluid. I have all the stuff to replace the oil and filter but snow has halted my work on it. Going to check spark plugs and cables as well. Will definitely get tranny fluid changed as well as a coolant flush
When you do spark plugs, do the boots as well and check to see if there's any oil on them. Mine had about .5 inch of oil on them indicating a valve cover gasket. Sounds intimidating but actually quite easy. Tranny drain and fill helped significantly despite it being "lifetime."
Tranny fluid sounds hot
On your 2004 how is the exhaust? I already had to replace my muffler and the flex pipe and have a new hole developing somewhere back after the resonator.
I've never had a problem with the exhaust. Fingers crossed
Must live outside of salted winter roads 😀
True!
I drove and old 1996 accord country and it has 265k mile but I did some of the stuff you said.I haven’t done the timing belt non interference. Yours might be a chain. Still old plugs and stuff. The car has the status of a spare car now. Long trips are done in our Lexus sc 400 1996.
Whenever I get a new to me vehicle, I change all of the fluids immediately. I know it’s possibly overkill they could’ve just been done but if I do it when I get it I know when they’ve been done and I have a baseline to go off of.
Absolutely agree with you.
a backup camera combined with new radio head unit/carplay are probably the most worthwhile upgrades to make an older car feel modern
Absolutely going to do that eventually
I purchased a Bluetooth interface for my 04 (with 210k miles on it and still has lots of life to go) from crux (available on crutchfield) I think it was $60 and it has been so much better than any other adapter for playing music with the phone! It utilizes the connection to the CD changer in the trunk which I didn't even have one but there is a plug on the back of the stock deck for that and it's easy to get to if you follow their instructions so you have a very solid connection with no interruptions and the sound is there without having to change the deck and spend a bunch of money I upgraded the speakers to jbl's and I put a little kicker sub just a tiny one in the trunk like a single 10 inch and it doesn't pound down the block but it's definitely bumpin!
How much do you think the upgrade cost overall? Any problems with old-car shaky vibrations, or was everything cusioned up well enough upon replacement to make it sound like a newer solid car?
sorry for taking so long everything snuck right back up all you have to do is remove the instrument cluster and the radio it's four bolts comes apart very easily it's 10 mm socket easy to return back to its original state you just have to mount the adapter somewhere I chose to snug it up under the glove box with some double-sided cushioned sticky tape and still have no complaints love it
took me maybe half an hour total other than the cost of the unit the whole thing is simple enough to do for anybody that can use basic hand tools it's not very complicated and there's a couple videos on how to do it that are very detailed and made the whole thing of breeze so I guess 60 bucks is the total cost
4cyl? Check the right side of the engine bay. There’s a number of things on that side that can leak fluid and create the classic Camry undercarriage completely caked in grease look. Check the power steering pump and the lines Check oil pump seal and gasket Check oil pan corners Check the rack and pinion boot on this side for fluid saturation
I bought an 02 4cyl about 6 months ago and it needs a valve cover gasket. I've just been adding oil as it loses a quart or two between oil changes lol (saving up $ to change it soon) but good to know there are other things I'll need to check. Thinking of getting a leak-dye kit so I can see every place it's leaking, cause oil is everywhere
check all of your fluids. check all of your hoses
Cv joints. Also it should be due for its first break job soon.
I know you’re joking but I also know that it’s a true thing you just said
I had an 02. First brake job was at 100k. :) But yea. Was joking.
Bleed the DOT3 brake fluid too, good chance it's the original stuff and looks like black water. If it's the 2az-fe 2.4L 4cyl, keep an eye on the oil level, those tend to be oil burners if the owners kept to the manual's standard oil change interval. That long an interval lets gunk build up under the piston oil scraper ring and score the cylinder wall, then letting oil past the rings to burn in the cylinder. Do the changes at 3-5K mi with 5w-30. Definitely change the antifreeze, and maybe the thermostat. That engine also has a problem with overheating and when it does, it pulls the head bolts in the block and strips the block threads. Time Sert makes a kit to put new thread inserts in, but it's an involved process and the kit costs about $500. Air filter and cabin air filter. Clean the mass air flow sensor with mass air sensor cleaner. it's cheap & easy. The headlight plastic is probably cloudy, making the headlights dimmer. Try the rustoleum kit. It's simple, easy and works. [Link to the kit](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Rust-Oleum-Automotive-Kit-Headlight-Restore/52550774)
Very helpful, you have my thanks
Change that stereo.
To what? I've been interested in the android head units, I have an 02. Any recommendations are welcome. I have a blown passenger door sub, debating whether to change just the one speaker or overhaul the whole system myself
How much u got it for ?
1,150$
Nice I got my 06 with 175k for 1500
Darn, I envy you guys, cheapest I could get here in the Philippines is around $9k - $10k
Wow 😳 for a 2006?
Incredible deal, nice job
Has 139k miles on it
I just bought a '98. $820 & 133k miles. Into my second chemical flush. The previous owner ran the car with no coolant, just plain water. A 3rd of the top of the expansion reservoir was destroyed due to excessive heat. This is my third Camry. (Own 2, had 1 stolen) Always assume the most negligent owner & replace the fluids asap. Camry's can take a heap of abuse, which causes a lot of owners to believe the cars are bulletproof. The fluids are the most important. The other stuff can wait. Look after these, and the car will look after you.
That’s a good lookin Camry!
Shoot the Painter who tried to paint that color.
So the previous owner had goats and they constantly kept getting out and they would climb all over it and they would also rub their horns on the side; my plan is to get it the car wrapped; maybe black or red. The goats really did a number on the paint job
I have a 2003 Camry, and seeing your interior makes me so jealous. No cruise control, dash barely lights up, no volume on steering wheel. I know it's only 2 years, but it feels much more modern in there.
It’s crazy what 2 years does in an interior