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From: dsi1 on 21 Sep 2009 04:18
dsi1 wrote:
> camryguy89 wrote:
>> First off, 28 K isn't that much on a car like this. However, a
>> transmission drain and refill wouldn't hurt. I don't think you need to
>> have the brake fluid replaced. My Camry has over 200,000 kms on the
>> dial and since owning it, I've never changed the brake fluid and it
>> still drives and brakes fine. How low is the pedal? I find that it is
>> softer and lower then other makes and models. Maybe too low, but in my
>> Camry that is the norm. When we first got the car, my wife described
>> the brakes by saying, "I had to almost put the pedal to the floor,
>> just to stop the thing." She got used to it, so did I. Your Camry
>> might use a timing chain, or a timing belt. Mine has a belt, but I
>> have an older model (2000 LE 4-cyl.) I have read that the Camry engine
>> from 2003 up has a Chain, but ask your local dealer to verify that. If
>> it is a belt, Change it every 80,000-90,000 miles, if its a chain, its
>> probably good for 150,000-200,000 miles. Hope this was a help.
>
> What I do to test for a mushy pedal is to press down on the brakes
> several times to bleed-off the vacuum assist. The pedal will get
> progressively harder to push until it will will get very firm. If
> there's some mushyness, you could have some air in the brake lines.
>
> Apply pressure to the brakes for a minute - if it slowly goes towards
> the floor, you could have a leak in the lines or your seals in the slave
> or master cylinders could be leaking.

I forgot to say that the engine should not be running when you do this
test - silly me. :-)
From: Leftie on 21 Sep 2009 06:17
camryguy89 wrote:
> After reading that the car's odometer may have been tampered with, it
> would make me wonder what else has been touched or messed with.
> Honestly, in my opinion, I would leave it sitting where it is and
> forget about it. There is no reason to have to part with the odometer
> for any other reason than to mislead a buyer. I'd take my business
> elsewhere. And to clarify, my Camry is equipped with ABS. Sorry to
> neglect that in my previous response.
>


We are going to pass on it - as much because of the Poor side impact
rating for that year as because of the odometer, but hopefully the
latter will get our deposit back. It could have 50k miles on it and
still be on the original coolant and trans fluid. And brakes.

I repeat, folks: how in hell did Toyota fix that safety rating by
2003, without redesigning the car? A larger beam in the doors...?
From: Leftie on 21 Sep 2009 06:17
dsi1 wrote:
> dsi1 wrote:
>> camryguy89 wrote:
>>> First off, 28 K isn't that much on a car like this. However, a
>>> transmission drain and refill wouldn't hurt. I don't think you need to
>>> have the brake fluid replaced. My Camry has over 200,000 kms on the
>>> dial and since owning it, I've never changed the brake fluid and it
>>> still drives and brakes fine. How low is the pedal? I find that it is
>>> softer and lower then other makes and models. Maybe too low, but in my
>>> Camry that is the norm. When we first got the car, my wife described
>>> the brakes by saying, "I had to almost put the pedal to the floor,
>>> just to stop the thing." She got used to it, so did I. Your Camry
>>> might use a timing chain, or a timing belt. Mine has a belt, but I
>>> have an older model (2000 LE 4-cyl.) I have read that the Camry engine
>>> from 2003 up has a Chain, but ask your local dealer to verify that. If
>>> it is a belt, Change it every 80,000-90,000 miles, if its a chain, its
>>> probably good for 150,000-200,000 miles. Hope this was a help.
>>
>> What I do to test for a mushy pedal is to press down on the brakes
>> several times to bleed-off the vacuum assist. The pedal will get
>> progressively harder to push until it will will get very firm. If
>> there's some mushyness, you could have some air in the brake lines.
>>
>> Apply pressure to the brakes for a minute - if it slowly goes towards
>> the floor, you could have a leak in the lines or your seals in the
>> slave or master cylinders could be leaking.
>
> I forgot to say that the engine should not be running when you do this
> test - silly me. :-)


I'll keep that test in mind. Thanks.
From: john on 22 Sep 2009 00:28
Just drain/refill the ATF should be fine. Before you do, check ATF at
operating temperature to make sure it's in range. Then it's best to
measure what you drain out and then refill the same amount.

How's the brake when the engine is off? Do you feel braking action
start when pressing the pedal about 1"?

As far as brake fluid goes, yes you should change it. Brake fluid
slowly absorbs moisture from the air. So at least once every 2 years
should do it. Just like engine coolant, it also helps prevent
corrosion in the system too and you'll have the design boiling point
as originally specified instead of a lower one caused by moisture
absorption.

The only other thing I'd be concerned about is the engine cylinder
head bolt that can pop loose. This is because of a design or
metallurgical defect that the rear bolts by the firewall can pop loose
as the threads disintegrates. The coolant at first seeps, and then by
the time it leaks your engine is done for. But I think you're out of
the powertrain warranty by now. Usually happens 80-90K miles.


On Sep 19, 5:51 am, Leftie <N...(a)Thanks.net> wrote:
>     We are buying a very low mileage (28k) 2002 Camry that was owned by
> an elderly woman who drove it mainly once a week on errands. The car is
> in remarkable shape, but aside from oil changes and tire replacement, it
> has not received all the maintenance it should have gotten. It shifts
> perfectly, but the trans fluid is reddish brown. No burnt odor. So,
> should we go for a flush, or just a drain and fill now, and another in
> the Spring? I'm not up to working on it, so multiple drains and fills
> aren't really an option.
>
>     Should I also have the brake fluid replaced? It supposedly has ABS.
> The brakes work fine, but the pedal is a little soft and low. Is this
> normal for this model with ABS? We will have the coolant changed, but
> what about the water pump? This engine uses a timing chain, right?
>
>     It really ticks me off that people buy cars like this and then
> neglect them...

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