my cheap camry failed inspection

[mpvue]

I kind of expected that it would. on the phone they just told me that the rear struts are bad, the WHOLE exhaust system, one motor mount, and the wiper switch (it only works on high speed...)
looking online it seems the front exhaust pipe can either be bolted to the cat, or one piece; I need to see which it is before I order it.
I'm determined to keep this car as cheap as possible, so I can't be paying shop parts prices, to say nothing of their labor costs!
I needed an oil change too, figured they can do it while its there, but they didn't want to, say it's leaking 'all over the place'. I'm not worried about that, how bad can it be if it doesn't leave a puddle?

hoping to get this all done for less than $500.

 

[abycat]

less than 500$ might be a little low for someone else to do it. And those struts might be 75-100 each. Around here at least. You might be able to do it yourself for less than 500$ Good luck.

 

[Dakota1820]

They failed you for a wiper switch? But it works on high? Lol sounds like they want to find every little thing wrong. And the struts though technically should be replaced a lot of shops will let that slide to. Fix the struts yourself its not hard. Switch is not hard get one from a junk yard cheap. And exhaust if its jot that bad get some exhaust putty and seal her up. That's the cheapest way to do it.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Are the struts leaking or do they not damp properly? If they are a bit weepy abut damp well Id just clean em up. My wifes rear strutrs were toast (leaking a lot) after 3 years on a 05 rav4 - though they still damped OK. Wiper speed? Really! I got nailed for a worn rear wiper blade that the gut said they HAD to replace ( for 20 bucks) even though it was an option on many vehicles.

 

[cwing6]

Good luck mpvue. Hope you can find the parts cheap. In VA, they will fail an exhaust if its been patched. Also, took my Accord for the annual "free" inspection at the Honda dealership. They failed it for worn bushings. In the state inspection manual, it mentions inspecting the bushings, but I couldn't interpret any metrics as to what is pass vs. what is fail. I took it to an independent shop and they couldn't even find the bushings the dealership failed it for. New sticker, on my way, though I did have to pay for a new inspection. Cheaper than the $75 for new "bushings" at the dealership.

 

[mpvue]

to clear things up, yes, I'm going to do the work myself. some good sellers on eBay have the parts for cheap.
I went to the PA DOT website, and for most things, if the car came with it, it HAS to be working as designed. I was going to fix the wiper switch anyway, it's really annoying to have only one speed.
the exhaust sounds terrible, and you can smell it in the car, so it really needs to be done.
I was expecting the tires to fail; I didn't measure them, but they looked too low.
PA is pretty tough on inspections, and I'd rather go to a good shop (I've used this guy near my job for awhile) than try to seek out the somewhat less-than-honest shop that 'might' pass it.

 

[exranger06]

Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
Are the struts leaking or do they not damp properly? If they are a bit weepy abut damp well Id just clean em up. My wifes rear strutrs were toast (leaking a lot) after 3 years on a 05 rav4 - though they still damped OK. Wiper speed? Really! I got nailed for a worn rear wiper blade that the gut said they HAD to replace ( for 20 bucks) even though it was an option on many vehicles.


If a vehicle came equipped with a safety feature from the factory, it MUST be installed and working properly. Period. This is the law in every state. It doesn't matter if other vehicles have it or not.

 

[lexus114]

Man, where the Heck did you take it to? Sounds like a Jeff`s automotive thing to me. Try the Valero down by the Palmer Park Mall, or the Getty (used to sell gas there) on William Penn Highway.

 

[Spector]

The struts on my 1992 CAMRY COST A BLOODY FORTUNE just for the parts (and not from a dealer) just expensive struts. Good luck on the $500 mark

 

[The_Jeff]

If you don't like spring comprssors junkyard struts may be for you! The labor is probably getting the package shelf off without busting it up too bad, you can take some shortcuts there if you don't care about appearances in your own car.

Check for voltage at your wiper motor; could be the motor that's bad; they have several contacts/ windings. If you turn off your hyper wipers do they return to park at the slower speed?

I flunked a guy in a F150 whose wipers wouldn't turn off. Wouldn't you know it, the inspection manual lists that as a problem. Someone took time to put pen to ink on that one.

Best part was he had a "trick" to get them to turn off, turning them off at exactly the right spot or something, as they were off when he parked it.

 

[LeakySeals]

Take care of a Toyota, it takes take care of you..go on the cheap..skip the maintenance..Toyotas make you pay big as the problems build up..Stay away from cheap Chinese knockoff Toyota parts on eBay. OEM or a known manufacturer only. Not only are Chinese knockoffs dangerous they are inferior and contribute to additional problems. You can also order parts online from several places including toyotapartseast.com, villagetoyotaparts.com, rockauto, dealerdirectparts.com. A half hour of research can find many distributors that sell "real" toyota parts.

The Gabriel readymount complete strut is the best way to go for a Toyota. Monroe is too soft. Because its the whole assy you can do it without taking your head off compressing the spring. Put in just the strut and be left with old [censored] hardware and mounts, you'll find soon enough it ends up costing you more in labor.

Good luck..

 

[oggb]

Struts - buy the struts yourself, and take the whole assembly out of the car and to a local independent shop and have them swap the strut itself out. Or junkyard struts. That's a great idea if the price is right.

Motor mounts aren't USUALLY a huge pain - you just need to have something to either jack the engine up or a hoist to raise it up.

Exhaust - what specifically did they fail it for? If it has a few leaks see if you can get a shop to weld them.

 

[edwardh1]

many many states have junked vehicle inspections

 

[LeakySeals]

Originally Posted By: mpvue
I kind of expected that it would. on the phone they just told me that the rear struts are bad, the WHOLE exhaust system, one motor mount, and the wiper switch (it only works on high speed...)
looking online it seems the front exhaust pipe can either be bolted to the cat, or one piece; I need to see which it is before I order it.
I'm determined to keep this car as cheap as possible, so I can't be paying shop parts prices, to say nothing of their labor costs!
I needed an oil change too, figured they can do it while its there, but they didn't want to, say it's leaking 'all over the place'. I'm not worried about that, how bad can it be if it doesn't leave a puddle?

hoping to get this all done for less than $500.


The Camry and Corolla in my signature are auction beaters left for dead. I'm stuck driving cars like this because of divorce. Have 2 of them in case 1 fails me. I have learned about being cheap, then there's too cheap with a Toyota and they break down. Both run pretty good now with minimal money. Put out a list the Camry needs, will chip away at it.

 

[mpvue]

Originally Posted By: lexus114
Man, where the Heck did you take it to? Sounds like a Jeff`s automotive thing to me. Try the Valero down by the Palmer Park Mall, or the Getty (used to sell gas there) on William Penn Highway.

no, a little shop out by my job in Maxatawny on rt222, Hayle's Automotive. it's a good shop, and both inspections are $29.99 total.
I just finished ordering everything I needed, a used wiper switch assembly from eBay, most everything else from rockauto, except the exhaust from AMautoparts on eBay.


total cost: $477...

 

[MarkM66]

I'd be surprised if any of the exhaust actually unbolted anymore. I would think all the fasteners would be rusted apart.

 

[mpvue]

Originally Posted By: MarkM66
I'd be surprised if any of the exhaust actually unbolted anymore. I would think all the fasteners would be rusted apart.

yes, it looks to be that way. I'm going to hack it all off, and hope I can get new fasteners to work with the old converter.

 

[mpvue]

Originally Posted By: edwardh1
many many states have junked vehicle inspections

not PA unfortunately. too big a revenue stream; the local parking enforcement will actually ticket you if they find an expired sticker while you're parked!
it's confusing too w/ the emissions testing;I'm in one of the counties where its still required, but some don't, like they breathe different air a few miles down the road...

 

[LeakySeals]

Originally Posted By: edwardh1
many many states have junked vehicle inspections


What states are those? all the states I know have increased the difficulty of passing inspection in an attempt to push old cars and the poor people that drive them off the road, to be replaced by expensive tiny green cars al gore and rich celebrities allow us to drive.

 

[ron917]

Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
Originally Posted By: edwardh1
many many states have junked vehicle inspections


What states are those? all the states I know have increased the difficulty of passing inspection in an attempt to push old cars and the poor people that drive them off the road, to be replaced by expensive tiny green cars al gore and rich celebrities allow us to drive.


New Jersey, sort of...they stopped safety inspections, but kept emissions inspections. With an OBDII vehicle, they just plug it in to the computer and check the gas cap for proper seal.

You headlights can be burned out, tires bald, brakes worn out, ball joints busted and you pass. But if your gas cap doesn't seal 100% you fail.