2002 Camry Four Automatic: Flush or Spil & Fill? [Toyota Camry]

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From: Leftie on 19 Sep 2009 08:51

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...

From: camryguy89 on 20 Sep 2009 00:03

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.

From: Leftie on 20 Sep 2009 05:42

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.

I
I'm actually pretty familiar with your car - same drivetrain as our '95,
essentially. Do you have ABS? Our non-ABS Camry doesn't have an
especially low or soft pedal, but what you wrote is still somewhat
reassuring. Thanks.

I'm pretty sure the "new" car has a timing chain. I wanted to know
about water pump life.

From: mred on 20 Sep 2009 09:17

On Sep 19, 8:51 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...

I own a 2002 camry four.

When I bought it at 95,000 kilometers (about 54,000 miles.)I changed
the oil with synthetic M1, 5w30 , the tranny fluid and antifreeze with
5 year antifreeze

The only problem I had with it after owning it for six months was the
A/C system.

Theres a double tube that is used in the A/C sytem and its not an
after mrket device. I had to buy it from Toyota at their price and
have it installed for a tun of about $800.00 Canadian.

I also had the vacuum swith on the charcoal cansister defect and it
was replaced for about $126.00 Canadian,

Other than that ? I change the oil and rotate the tires twice a year
(they were new after purchase)and align the wheels once a year in the
spring after winter and with the spring oil change .

I change my M1 at around 5000 miles (8000k)

Apart from the A/C system this I consider just normal maintenence.

I now have over 150,000k1s on it and it runs fine .

I also use Lucas fuel additive every tankful.I use this in ALL my
infernal combustion engines around the house and my bike as well.

Never had a fuel related.problem and the car just passed the E-test
here in ontario with flying colors.
Ed

From: mred on 20 Sep 2009 09:18

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