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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / General Car Topics / April 2006Advice on buying an 88 Camry, plse
I am thinking about buying a 4-cyl 1988 Camry DLX wagon with 197K miles. THe elderly widow lady has tried to sell it once before for $1000, but it didn't sell. Its up for bids again, I can probably buy it for $500 to $600. I think she just wants to get rid of it. I test-drove it---but not far, as the alternator is dead, and the battery was already down to 12 volts and dropping. It needs a new alternator. That will cost about $100 to replace myself. The AC does not work, you get blower only. I do not hear any click like the clutch is momentarily trying to engage. Seems like I could have heard the clutch if it had just lost its charge. If it is just a problem with the control ciricuit not getting power to the clutch, then I could fix it myself easily. ANything other than that would have to be done by a mechanic. It doesn't have any conversion sticker on it, so I assume it still had the old refrigerant---so will need to have conversion to new refrig. done. The body looks very good, no rust, and the interior is very clean, almost perfect-- except for torn spot on the drivers' seat-back. The oil looks like honey. trannny fine. The radiator is new. It has one bad tire on rear, I had to fill up and install the full-size spare (matching the other tires) to drive it. There is no smoke from the tail pipe. Does this sound like a car to grab up? Assuming it has had regular oil changes, how many more miles might I get out of the engine? If the compressor is shot, how much should I figure on spending to get the AC fixed up/converted? If it is OK, how much? I had a 91 until a week ago. Rust got it. The alternator died and still somebody bought and drove it home almost 150 miles. (The battery voltage is usually 12 volts. The alternator gives it 14 and a bit to charge it.) - The timing belt may be due - the interval is around 60,000 miles - Wiper fluid pump motor - easy to fix also. It's in front of the passenger side front wheel. - Electric controls for windows and locks usually go because of wires getting cut at the door. Compared to some other other cars, the engine is so well laid out for maintenance. Just about everything is up there staring you in the face. Check about changing the refrigerant. My car never had an air conditioner but when I tried to get one installed the quotes were $1500 to $2,000. >I am thinking about buying a 4-cyl 1988 Camry DLX wagon with 197K > miles. THe elderly widow lady has tried to sell it once before for [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > If the compressor is shot, how much should I figure on spending to get > the AC fixed up/converted? If it is OK, how much? I owned a 1988...bought it brand new in 1988. It ran fine but at one point coming home late at night from law school on a CA highway..I got it up to 103 mph and it over heated....ok....my bad....but after that, the enigne never ran the same. I took it everywhere and then could never get it to run smooth again. Don't know if that's a common problem, but if it's running rough...I'd think twice. Regards Tim www.tucsoncarevents.com >I am thinking about buying a 4-cyl 1988 Camry DLX wagon with 197K > miles. THe elderly widow lady has tried to sell it once before for [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > If the compressor is shot, how much should I figure on spending to get > the AC fixed up/converted? If it is OK, how much? |
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