Alright, this isin't an Accord question but I think it relates to all vehicles, and I decided to ask here because people on this forum are intelligent and don't spam like so many other boards... anyways enough praising you people ^_^

My friend just received a 91 Toyota Camry, 127,000 miles (Auto 1.6L). First I'll describe the condition of the car then the problems. The car was owned by his dad, then his dad crashed it (just a little bit, like a dent in the left fender and side door) and after that his dad bought a new car and the Camry has been sitting outside for around a year and a half.

So my friend has the car now, he did a tune up and an oil change. Well... here are the problems and there are lots .

-Whenever he tries to start the car, it dosen't always start from the first try and whenever it does start it turns over a few times then it gets going.

-The car picks up speed REALLY slow till 35 mph then it's okay, I know it's 1.6L but it shouldn't pick up speed this slow because it's just... SLOW.. he keeps people waiting behind him on stop lights .

-At 40-45 mph if he dosen't have the gas pedal all the way down the car vibrates pretty bad.

-Whenever he turns the car makes a mild-medium clicking noice in the left wheel (I'm guessing this has something to do with the accedent)

-I don't think he changed his timing belt yet, should he do that?

-When driving, and I tried to drive it also... it vibrates not as severe as on start up or at 40-45 mph but pretty noticible.

Ya.. I know that's allot of problems, most people would tell him to buy a new car, but he can't for at least another year so he needs this one to last for a while. Can all of you help him and me on how to fix these problems and what's causing them? My friend has around 1,800 dollars to fix this car up to a drivable state. PLEASE can you help us {if you need any additional information about the car to help fix the problems let me know}

Thanks in advance just for reading this post and if you can provide some information it will be even better!

 

Any chance you have taken any classes in economics? the term here is opportunity cost. Not worth your time. Wait for one of those 'guaranteed $2000 trade in' and buy a new car.

anyway - obviously something is fucked in the drivetrain.

1. change all the fluids... oil, p/s, brake(maybe not), tranny (definately)

2. get under the car (safely supported of course) and look for anything rubbing, bent, broken, etc. check out the everything. look for rubbing in the fenderwells, turn the rotors, calipers, hub, axles, cv boots, tranny housing, all the suspension arms, tie rods, sway bar (if applicable).

3. go to a junk yard and investigate what new tranny (and maybe engine) would be used.

4. go price out a Schwinn

 

sounds like a cv joint is going bad and possibly a motor mount.

 

Heh... economics . He would get a new car, but he will get a 98 Accord in about a year, when his mom buys a new car and he is going to get hers.
Thanks for your help greensleeper and burnin rubber, if anybody else feels to contribute, input is always welcome!

 

Sounds like CV boot to mee to

 

Your slow initial acceleration may mean that your timing is off. Tell the guy to invest in a repair manual. Sounds like it may be a good investment for him.

 

hard starting like that could be a starter motor going bad. you can usually hear them going bad, but of course you cant hear it over the internet

sluggish accel could be slipping tranny. check the tranny fluid for a burnt smell, brown color. change the fluid and filter if it has one and see if it improves.

vibration could be motor mount

clicking noise is a CV joint

Yes change the timing belt. right ******* now.

change all the fluids. all of them. it's not just oil that degrades over time, and sitting still for a year doesn't help any of them.

do a compression and leakdown test on the car. if the motor has good, even compression across all 4 cyls then the car may be "worth" fixing. if not, junk it. you friend will need to spends way more than 1800 to get it into shape unless he does all the work himself.




[Modified by jweller, 2:46 PM 8/19/2002]

 

Wow thanks for your help people, my friend and I are gonna start working on the car during the upcoming weekend... I will post some info on the progress later on and might ask for more help ^_^.

Again thanks allot people, I really appreciate it.