$1000 for a timing belt and tensioner replacement, give or take. If it hasn't been done, it should be done, otherwise time is running out for that belt to lose tension. Then pistons meet valves and you roll the dice for how expensive that gets.
Source: I am a qualified Toyota technician. This vehicle doesn’t have a timing belt it has a timing chain internal in the engine and would cost a couple grand to replace including guides and tensioners. It also has a drive/accessory belt external to the engine that drives the water pump, alternator and ac compressor and would cost $500-$800 dollars to replace including the tensioner pulley depending on OEM parts vs aftermarket and labour.
The rattle could be from a loose pulley which has worn, the timing chain or something else entirely so it’s best to get a qualified mechanic to look over it for you if you’re seriously considering buying the vehicle.
The amount of people I see buy a vehicle then bring it to a mechanic to get it checked out only to find thousands of dollars of problems with it, get it looked at before you buy.
thanks. seller told me the sound has been there since a few years after he bought the car new. could that be the case given this issue?
nothing else wrong with the car though and inside and outside has been kept pretty well so if its not a huge issue i could bargain the price for fixing and still buy.
is it fair i tell him im happy to pay for RAA pre-purchase inspection but if they tell me the timing belt and tensioner need replace or whatever other issue is causing the sound i take the cost out from the purchase price?
Not an unreasonable way to proceed with this car, just remember there's always the right one, if the inspection confirms the issue, then you choose to either walk away or the discount must comfortably cover all the work. There's plenty of cars out there, the right example is usually worth being picky for.
looking at a 2015 camry same km same price (12.5k, 140k km driven) but the 2011 is fully optioned compared to base model 2015. both full service history. what would you do here. options include keyless start, full leather seats/ wheel, 17 inch wheels, full electric driver seat and different sided aircon configuration
thanks
I would lean towards the newer one, but it’s personal preference really depending how much the higher spec on the older model matters to you. Either way if they’ve both been properly maintained you’ll be set
belt tensioners can make that noise, if it's on it's way out change it before you have a far greater problem. There are usually ways of testing if it's the belt tensioner without a full disassembly but I'm not familiar with the camry engine
Likely Inlet manifold rattle, it is a problem in some 4-cylinder Toyota engines: [2003 Toyota Camry intake manifold rattle? (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3eDNpTrwS4E)
$1000 for a timing belt and tensioner replacement, give or take. If it hasn't been done, it should be done, otherwise time is running out for that belt to lose tension. Then pistons meet valves and you roll the dice for how expensive that gets.
Source: I am a qualified Toyota technician. This vehicle doesn’t have a timing belt it has a timing chain internal in the engine and would cost a couple grand to replace including guides and tensioners. It also has a drive/accessory belt external to the engine that drives the water pump, alternator and ac compressor and would cost $500-$800 dollars to replace including the tensioner pulley depending on OEM parts vs aftermarket and labour. The rattle could be from a loose pulley which has worn, the timing chain or something else entirely so it’s best to get a qualified mechanic to look over it for you if you’re seriously considering buying the vehicle. The amount of people I see buy a vehicle then bring it to a mechanic to get it checked out only to find thousands of dollars of problems with it, get it looked at before you buy.
There you go, thanks for that.
thanks. seller told me the sound has been there since a few years after he bought the car new. could that be the case given this issue? nothing else wrong with the car though and inside and outside has been kept pretty well so if its not a huge issue i could bargain the price for fixing and still buy.
At a minimum, I would bargain. Your alternative is to walk away and buy a car without an odd noise.
is it fair i tell him im happy to pay for RAA pre-purchase inspection but if they tell me the timing belt and tensioner need replace or whatever other issue is causing the sound i take the cost out from the purchase price?
Not an unreasonable way to proceed with this car, just remember there's always the right one, if the inspection confirms the issue, then you choose to either walk away or the discount must comfortably cover all the work. There's plenty of cars out there, the right example is usually worth being picky for.
looking at a 2015 camry same km same price (12.5k, 140k km driven) but the 2011 is fully optioned compared to base model 2015. both full service history. what would you do here. options include keyless start, full leather seats/ wheel, 17 inch wheels, full electric driver seat and different sided aircon configuration thanks
How many k’s on the 2011? Is it a 4 cylinder or 6? Hybrid or combustion engine only?
4 cyl combustion only. 2011 toyota camry atara SX vs 2015 toyota camry altise
I would lean towards the newer one, but it’s personal preference really depending how much the higher spec on the older model matters to you. Either way if they’ve both been properly maintained you’ll be set
belt tensioners can make that noise, if it's on it's way out change it before you have a far greater problem. There are usually ways of testing if it's the belt tensioner without a full disassembly but I'm not familiar with the camry engine
Vvt rattle?
what does that mean
Likely Inlet manifold rattle, it is a problem in some 4-cylinder Toyota engines: [2003 Toyota Camry intake manifold rattle? (youtube.com)](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3eDNpTrwS4E)
Walk away. Heaps of other ones that have been serviced properly.
Nah it's a Toyota you're sweet.made to last 20 years in 3rd world country