Stiff clutch on a 2005 Camry SE

shutterbug

I'm looking at this used car and the clutch is SO stiff, almost like a racing clutch.  I thought this would be a very abnormal condition for a family car like Camry (even SE).  Other than that the clutch is working fine, no gear grind, no slip, nothing.

Any fellow LYK know anything about this car or common Toyota clutch problems?

Also another question...can a dealership (Regency) sell me a car with tempered odometer?  cuz the car doesn't feel like it has such low km.  What if I check the VIN in carproof and found that the odometer has be tempered?

字典仔

the first thing i read on mitchell on demand is:

remove engine with transaxle assy; guess it's quite similiar to the 03 Camry we had replaced the engine, it will be much easier to drop the whole thing and do it on the ground...lol

shutterbug

Oh really?  what makes the new Camry so difficult that needed 14 hours?!?!

If that's the case, I won't even consider that Camry even the salesman can give me a "good" deal...well, the guy hasn't gotten back to me yet.  I guess his manager won't lower the price for me...LOL

[ 本帖最後由 shutterbug 於 2008-9-19 13:42 編輯 ]

字典仔

oh working at a dealership is different some time, tech gets to remember what exact tools needed to be used (even tho we can remember most of those more popular one); they will probably encounter the same issue earlier than us (such like something is not willing to come off etc)...

i have seen a "korean brand" dealership having so much fun with a mazda, cuz the tech is only used to their own brand when other makes come in, he becomes clueless...

book time to do 98-01 camry's clutch job is only 6.8 hours, getting done in around 6 hours makes sense....

shutterbug

Hm...6 hours is for the 98-01 gen Camrys...I don't know about newer ones.  I used to work at a Toyota dealership and the techs did it in around 6 hours...of course the book charged more than that la...I guess working on just one make of cars is much more efficient.

字典仔

well that's for 4 cylinder and clutch work hour is not available for a 04/05 Camry V6....u better show me how to do that in about 6 hours, i would like to learn

most FWD cars like civic / integra / echo etc usually from 4.5 to 6.5 hours and it's actually quite ridiculous and i am shocked when i see the hour in mitchell on demand...it was saying "inc r&i engine and transmission" lol...

shutterbug

OMG...13.8 hours for clutch???  What a rip off!!!   That's V6 or 4 cycl?  Even for V6, it can be done in about 6 hours.  Let me phone the dealerships for price before I actually buy one of these...LOL

字典仔

the stupid accelerator pedal position sensor was only .5 for labor, but $6xx for parts!

yet when it breaks u have no choice, car is not going anywhere

i know the starter contact is easy to do on toyota's (at least for most of them, but it's not fun when u have a GS400 and the intake manifold has to come off, etc)...

how often does honda have to change? or subaru? or mazda? or nissan? or any other major make ~ to change their starter contacts? overall like u said it's not a big problem but it's somewhat a very stupid design ~ high maintenance lol....

the steering rack was leaking for that 04 sienna, at 72k, passed the 3 years 60k and dealer says it was not under warranty....

according to mitchell on demand, to do camry's clutch is 13.8 hours; assume most place do it between $60 to $120, u will be looking at $800 to $1800 labor (cuz $120 would be dealership, shop supplies, taxes on the top)...that's not including parts or machine flywheel

let me know if u have picked up one of those, i would like to see what makes it so hard lol

shutterbug

BTW, how much does it cost these days to replace a Camry clutch?

shutterbug

What stupid gas pedal sensor is 700???  Why?  The part is expensive or it's labour intensive?

I've replaced tons of Toyota starters myself too.  Most of the time it's just the copper contacts in the solenoid got worn out and they cost 10 bucks for parts, pretty simple to change too.  I don't consider this to be a fault but definitely a stupid design.

I heard of sludge problems in their V6 between 98-02 but that's OK I'm not looking at a V6.  What's the problem with the steering rack?  Leaking or what?

I looked at a 04 and a 05.  The 05 is made in Japan but the 04 is not!?!