1987 Camry overheating

[WalterK103]

Hi, all,

First, I've gotta admit I'm an automotive idiot. However, I figure if I could learn how to build a computer from the internet, I can learn how to do simple car repairs with enough help from people who have the patience to walk me through terms and techniques I don't really understand (LOL, it's great to be educated).

I have an '87 Camry wagon that SEEMS to overheat very rapidly, at least the temp gauge tends to hit the red zone within about a mile. Driving maybe five miles, it will fluctuate between too hot and normal. In the dead of summer, I turned on the heater, with it directed to the floor, and cold air came out the upper vents! The radiator is not boiling over, and I don't see any leaks in the hoses or radiator itself. When the car is running, the fans near the radiator are sometimes on, sometimes off.

Just guessing, I think the problem could be the thermostat. Possible? As a first step, I'm thinking of making a stab at replacing it. Question 1: Where is it located????? If I can find it and take it off, I'll take it to a parts store and get another one, along with any other stuff I might need. Please help. Any tips about what I might run into would be appreciated!

[aznxthuggie]

Originally Posted by WalterK103

Hi, all,

First, I've gotta admit I'm an automotive idiot. However, I figure if I could learn how to build a computer from the internet, I can learn how to do simple car repairs with enough help from people who have the patience to walk me through terms and techniques I don't really understand (LOL, it's great to be educated).

I have an '87 Camry wagon that SEEMS to overheat very rapidly, at least the temp gauge tends to hit the red zone within about a mile. Driving maybe five miles, it will fluctuate between too hot and normal. In the dead of summer, I turned on the heater, with it directed to the floor, and cold air came out the upper vents! The radiator is not boiling over, and I don't see any leaks in the hoses or radiator itself. When the car is running, the fans near the radiator are sometimes on, sometimes off.

Just guessing, I think the problem could be the thermostat. Possible? As a first step, I'm thinking of making a stab at replacing it. Question 1: Where is it located????? If I can find it and take it off, I'll take it to a parts store and get another one, along with any other stuff I might need. Please help. Any tips about what I might run into would be appreciated!

welll im sorry i can't help you with where it is.. etc.. but yes its the thermostat.. i had a mazda mpv.. it help overheating for some reason.. after we changed that.. it was ok but sorry i can't help more... and just to let ya know its not hard to build a pc =P

[WalterK103]

Computers are simple, cars are hard, .

[Brian R.]

When the car is cold, open the radiator cap and see if the level of coolant is all the way to the top. Then put the cap back on twisting it until it is in the same orientation as it was before you removed it.

Check your coolant in the plastic reservoir. Make sure it is at the full mark when hot. If not, add some 50:50 water:antifreeze until the reservoir stays full.

If this doesn't solve the problem, the next most likely thing is the thermostat. Buy a Haynes repair manual for your car and it will show you most everything you need to know.

[Daniel M. Dreifus]

Do yourself a favor and get the Toyota thermostat. Yes, there's a difference is quality.
On the Generation 3, there's also a "jiggle valve" than should be aligned with a mark (raised line) on the water inlet.

[bertmaster2000]

Originally Posted by WalterK103

Question 1: Where is it located????? If I can find it and take it off, I'll take it to a parts store and get another one, along with any other stuff I might need. Please help. Any tips about what I might run into would be appreciated!

1.) buy Chilton's repair manual, not Haynes.

2.) drain antifreeze from radiator using the drain cock located on the rear, center, bottom of the radiator.

follow the lower radiator hose from the radiator to the engine. Where the hose connects to the engine there is a "water neck" that houses the thermostat. two metric nuts (11mm?) hold the water neck onto the engine, remove them and the water neck will come right off. remove the old thermostat from the water neck, replace with new thermostat AND GASKET making sure to orient the new thermostat according to the "to radiator" stamped on one side of the new thermostat. reverse procedure to install. add 50:50 antifreeze til radiator is full.