89 V6 problems - acceleration, overheating, DIY stuff

[Cochese23]

OK, so I just bought an 89 Camry LE V6 (not sure which family engine this is), and I read through about 6 months of posts, and I couldn't find what I'm looking for. Got a few questions for you experts.
1) What is LE?

The car overheats. It has 1 fan (I bought the 2nd today and haven't installed it). When I put my foot on the gas, it doesn't go that fast until 1500 to 2500 RPMs (it hits 3500 RPM at 70 MPH). For this reason, I hesitate to turn left at a light. I got a new air filter and installed that myself. I didn't notice any change. I bought 6 of the $4 spark plugs and a new dist. cap with rotor with the intention of doing a tune up, BUT, this car is possibly the most difficult thing to work on!!! (compared to a Saturn, Neon or Jeep).

2)Will Mr. Chilton or Mr. Haynes be able to help me?

3)Where the HECK is the PCV valve?

4)Is it worth it to change the plugs and cap myself because it seems like I need to remove a lot of "stuff" in order to get to these pieces. I'm not a mechanic and I don't want to break anything expensive.

5)What do you think the acceleration problem might be?

6)Did I get ripped off by paying $750 for this knowing that the auto locks/windows all work, it's got a nice CD player WITH an alarm, and ALL FOUR hub caps? Oh, and according to the experts at Pep Boys, I need to get all 4 rotors machined and new front calipers and pads.

7)I'm thinking I want 8mm plug wires, so where can I find them, and will it really matter if I have them?

Thanks to everyone. You guys are champions.

[Toyrolla]

1. LE = Luxury Edition. You got the model with all the goodies.

The car tends to overheat when 1 fan is down. Happened to my V6 on a trip from NY to Missouri. Once I replaced the fan, it was fine.

2. I've used the Haynes manual. You can find a used Toyota factory manual on Ebay for a reasonable price. I paid $12.00 for mine.

3. On the V6 engine (2VZ-FE), the PCV Valve is located on the rear valve cover, towards the back.

4. Changing the plugs and wires for the first time will be difficult. The good thing is that once you've done it, you never forget to do it. It's suggested that you lift off the intake in order to access the rear 3. I managed to change them without having to do that, but it is time consuming. If you plan on attempting it, may I suggest you get yourself some "u-joint" socket adapters to help compensate for the lack of clearance. The key is to take your time and do one at a time. If you are pressed for time, then you should take it to a mechanic.

5. Might need a tune-up, might be a misfire; not sure. A tuneup should resolve the problem.

6. $750 for a running V6 LE? I think you got yourself a very good deal. Once the maintenance issues get worked out, you will automatically make your money back in 2 months of driving. Regarding the advice at Pep Boys, you'd be better off getting new rotors and pads and doing it yourself. If the car stops when you press the brake, then the calipers are obviously working. You might want to see if it pulls on one side. Ultimately you should check them yourself. If you never changed brakes before, make it your business to learn. You will save quite an amount of money when you do it yourself. On my 89 V6, I've only had to replace 1 rear caliper. To play it safe, I replace both rear calipers. Paid off in the long run.

7. Toyota has a tune-up kit for the 2VZ-FE (forgot the part number though). The kit I got from my friend (a former Toyota mechanic) contains (6) red 9mm Sumitomo wires, Toyota platinum plugs, and the Dist cap & rotor. It was a bit pricey, but Toyota quality exceeds anything you would find at a Pep Boys or other retail auto store.

check for OEM Toyota parts at http://www.toyotaandlexusparts.com
If not, you can get 8mm NGK wires.

Good luck with the car.

[Cochese23]

Brilliant! Thanks for the info. Now to more important things, how do I get that neat stuff at the bottom of my posts?

[Toyrolla]

Originally Posted by Cochese23

Brilliant! Thanks for the info. Now to more important things, how do I get that neat stuff at the bottom of my posts?

If the tuneup parts are no longer available as a kit, you can just check out the site I posted for the individual components. If you prefer to get the NGK wires, you can try NOPI (www.nopi.com) or Cyberauto (www.cyberauto.com).

Good luck...