This thread was put together to assist potential car buyers/existing users to know what precautions they should take when using their car. The market analysis on Nairaland revealed that 2 to 5 Toyota Camry cars are sold almost every week on this website, which is the highest of all brands of cars available. Owners of Toyota Camry ranging from 2002 -2004 (Big Daddy) should share their experience in terms of performance, maintenance, spare parts, most especially the common problems we have noticed with this class of Toyota. Have you anything to share, use this thread to educate the Nairalanders.

I use a 2002 Camry Le,having being using it since it was bought brand new from USA in 2002.My experience is this, engine has been changed 2 times since it was bought,first time the radiator leaked after being punctured by a sharp object when it was driven through a pool of water,then it over heated and burnt the top cylinder,the engine of the camry is aluminium casted as one entity,no top or bottom side engine,so a new one had to be bought 2 years after it was bought at the cost of 610,000 Naira.After 3 years after i had bought it second hand as a nigerian used,due to the fact that the dash board was not working,i didn't notice that the oil pump had failed,so at top speed the engine casing busted and so i had to get another engine at 420,000 Naira,however after then,i have changed the dash board,changed the drive shaft,ball joints,4 shocks,4 stabilizer rods,engine bushings especially the top one one (have changed twice),i have changed the fan belt twice(very complicated procedure expecially for a novice in Toyota mechanical repair,because there is a spring to bar down,in other to replace the fan belt and in the right way too because the engine uses one fan belt for the power steering,ac compressor,engine wheel.).I service the car every 3,000miles with less than 6,000naira including workmanship.Every since i changed the engine the second time,i have not had any issues,i learnt to buy oil filter,break pads from USA because they are more efficient,too many fakes in nigeria,once i bought such a fake brake pad and in one 3 hour journey i made the brake pad completely wore out. It hasn't really had any electrical fault except for when the alternator failed in the 6th year of use,i changed it with an alternator from a Toyota land cruiser and never had any issues,have changed my battery twice(sometimes i wonder if what i buy as a dry cell battery in Nigeria is really a dry cell battery). The ac seems to not cool very well when you just enter it on a hot afternoon,but after driving for a few minutes it picks up.

I intend to buy another camry,this time a 2006 Toyota Camry V6 XLE because i not only see the car as economical in fuel or maintenance(for a journey from Ph to Enugu and then to Onitsha,same day,my full tank was reading 3/4-so fuel economy is very good),but a V6 will be less stress on the engine to avoid engine knock, for speedstars like me,it usually enters the red zone in the rev meter at 160km/hr.

Finally due to Nigerian roads you may need to get a panel beater to change all that lovely plastic covers under the engine to stronger plastic and screw them down firmly.This is my own experience i'm sure yours may be different,2002-2004 camry is worth having but needs constant servicing,once you notice any issue,deal with it immediately,my negligence to change my dash board caused me an engine,so beware!

sleek Reek, thank you very much for sharing your experience. We need more people to share their thought on this.

Just an advice,if you you change the heading to "Share your experiences owning a 2002-2004 Toyota Camry" i believe you will get more response.

Thanks Sleek Reek

GOD BLESS U MR SLEEK.just got a 2002 v6 camry wit 80k miles.for now i jus park it till i know more about it.will really love to speak to u further and more importanly i need some urgent specific advise .kindly send me a sms pon 08033043242 and i will call u back.thanks.

@Sleek,

Now you are getting me so scared ! I really love the car and i intend getting one.

Camry 2002 price now should be 1 million .... No more but could be less... Winks

I really need the car,Nigerian used because of my budget

I recently bought a Nigerian used Toyota Camry 2003.with 121k millage . I noticed it's dropping Engine oil and transmission oil under the Engine bay.. I also noticed it's also dropping water ... How do I go about this..? Oil sensor is blinking and check engine light sensor on my dashboard..
Apart from this the car drives well and it doesn't smoke

Macemy:
I recently bought a Nigerian used Toyota Camry 2003.with 121k millage . I noticed it's dropping Engine oil and transmission oil under the Engine bay.. I also noticed it's also dropping water ... How do I go about this..? Oil sensor is blinking and check engine light sensor on my dashboard..
Apart from this the car drives well and it doesn't smoke

that car is sensitive do not repair base on what people say. Go and run a scan on it there u will get to know the things that are bad.

deavicky:
that car is sensitive do not repair base on what people say. Go and run a scan on it there u will get to know the things that are bad.

I actually have an ODM2 Bluetooth auto scanner .. scan isn't showing anything serious

These are my scan results

I just scanned my car and the following fault code came up

Please Toyota big daddy users ..what is the best engine oil for Toyota Camry 2003 2Az_Fe Engine

Macemy:
Please Toyota big daddy users ..what is the best engine oil for Toyota Camry 2003 2Az_Fe Engine

5w 30 Mobil 1

Good thread. Can we have more experiences related here please, so that there will be no need creating a new thread.