The comment about the interior is spot on. I was in the car business for 18 years and I found that if the interior was in great shape the rest of the car was usually maintained as well. Personally, as a gear head, I always kept the mechanicals up but didn't worry so much about the interior, so it was counter-intuitive for me.
Your a Gem.I'm lucky to have a friend that runs his own mechanic shop that has the same great moral character as yourself.Its usually about a 3 week waiting list to get in.
Solid advice right there. My dad is a retired mechanic and says you are spot on. He would get cars in the shop all the time where people would buy without getting them checked out. Interior trashed is definitely a big red flag.
Even if you are a mechanic or an advanced DIY, it's still not a bad idea to have another set of eyes inspect a vehicle before purchase. Different eyes and experiences see different things even when looking at the same thing... if that makes any sense.
Yes! Great advice! Happened to me. Bought an 86 camry as is at a toyota dealership, looked great/really fooled me, thought it was injectors & engine was blown & needed replaced. Never thought they wouldn't TELL me. At the time, didnt know my local garage who specializes in toyotas.. Makn payments, plus price of engine installed. Learned my lesson for sure!
It's my guess that this car is not showing the correct odometer reading. By the looks of the poor condition of the interior, worn pulleys, and the general untidyness of the engine bay, it's my guess that this was a taxi with considerably more mileage than shown.
AMD, I wanted to assure you, the Society For The Prevention of Cruelty to Avalons has been alerted!! For the record, was this car pulled out of Lake Michigan or the Chicago River? There is a very important lesson to be learned here, never buy a used Avalon from anyone under the age of 80!😉 But seriously, pay for a thorough inspection and repair estimate from a competent mechanic BEFORE you buy a used car.
This is a prime example why the owner shop have had a professional look this vehicle over before buying . Having retired from the industry I commend you on your thoroughness . I would highly recommend that owners only take their vehicles to shops that can do the full service of all mechanicals with out the shop needing to out source any repairs or services like alignments. The shop that looked this vehicle over was not very thorough in their vehicle assessment. No excuse for missing the leaky steering hose , water pump bearing , or the radiator . Parts that are leaky or worn don't get better with time they only get worse . You are correct with giving the customer the choice to replace the radiator now instead of later with the nature of the pump replacement. Let them decide . This vehicle has had a hard life and was not cared for properly . Most of the time the outward appearance and the interior really do let us know how the mechanical workers are also . It's very unusual to find a vehicle that the appearance was overlooked while the mechanical services were performed in a timely manner. This vehicle definitely shows a lack of pride of ownership .
This video was really a delight and great teaching since I also own a 2011 Limited Avalon. I got it 3 years ago when it had 127,090 miles on it. I put on like 40,000 miles already. It was and still is in pristine conditions. My mechanic always thinks I’m paranoid because I always address anything the minute I take notice of it and sometimes it’s just something I forgot in my trunk rolling around and making noises 😂😂. Thank you very much for your insights. I know more about Toyotas today then I did before knowing you.
My 2011 Limited came from my dealer without those rubber/plastic plugs installed. When I asked the dealer about them they said that they didn't need to be installed. I live in Florida so maybe it's a regional thing. I still have the plastic packages with the plugs in them unopened 10 years later. My seats don't look anything like the ones shown here but I take care of them and my car has just over 85,000 miles on it. Thanks for the high quality video.
Buying a high milage car is always a risk. But with the missing engine cover, visible leaks and the torn up interior it was pretty clear this was going to need at lot of work.
Regarding that squeaking noise, which sometimes comes from the alternator, I had the same issue with my 2009 RX350 with this same 2GR-FE engine. It happened at about 110,000 mi. Sounds like crickets chirping, especially at idle. And it gets a bit louder over time. The sound goes away under load. So, if you replaced your pulleys AND your water pump is good, then that squeak is from the alternator pulley.
@@MC-mh2ju I feel bad for the owner of this Avalon. This car is ratted out mechanically and aesthetically. It should have been parted out. If you fixed every issue it would cost more than $12k. For $25k you can buy a lower mileage car that’s been taken car of. Someone drove it hard over potholed roads and did minimal maintenance.
@@user-ct1lf3hf1v I like to see you say that when you're on your knees before God some day. He can say whatever he wants ..go be butt hurt somewhere else.
I hope we get that water pump video lol coming from a 2GR-FE owner. Your knowledge is priceless, thank you for everything you've been teaching me/us. We are geniuses because of you lol
Fantastic diagnostic video, again! I'd feel so stressed if I were the owner, but at least it is a good warning and this car can be the subject of more excellent repair videos.
@@JudeFunk37 I'm pretty sure they all come with the 3.5 V6. My 2007 Avalon has that motor too. I have 279,000 Miles and it's super quiet, has a lot of power still. I maintain it the best I can
Hi Ahmed from an Australian living in Seoul, South Korea (KIA owner of course LOL). You would have to be the best presenter on UA-cam. Your delivery style is perfect. Calm, honest and extremely knowledgeable. I am hooked on your channel and I'm not even a car nut. Who needs Netflix when we can all enjoy your work? Well done on your new workshop and good luck with everything you do in life. An amazing man with an equally amazing back story. Good on you!
This car was trashed bad. I have a 2011 Avalon Limited, excellent car, reliable and comfortable. 128k, zero issues ever. I do proactive maintenance and keep it clean clean. Plan on keeping it till I pass it to my kid as they get older.
MINE HAS 65K RIGHT NOW. BOUGHT IT FROM AN OLD LADY AT A GREAT PRICE 4 YEARS AGO. SHE KEPT UP WITH MAINTENANCE RELIGIOUSLY AND SO DO I. RUNS AND LOOKS GREAT 👍
For the tension pulley I took only the pulley off the tensioner still attached. Took the number stamped on the bearing it self. Knocked the bearing out of the pulley brought it to advance auto,matched them up and bingo. Tapped the new one in $15
Nailed it, the first thing that stood out was the faded hood and the interior as a red flag. Even though it's a 2011, I've seen much older Avalons that looked far better than this one.. It's been my experience as well that cars that look like this, almost always have been poorly maintained and when something needs repaired, it's done with the absolute cheapest poor quality part by the cheapest and not so competent repair facility. Forgive me if I missed it, but how many miles are on that car?
I am with you car care nut, I would’ve stayed away from this car in the first place but when the person looking has no mechanical knowledge sometimes they make mistakes this could be costly money pit! Big thumbs up!
@@wholeNwon The missing engine cover would have been enough for me to say to seller thank you I think I’ve seen enough! you can see the lack of maintenance everywhere slipshod work! This owner has found a trusted mechanic so she won’t get ripped off anymore!
@@wholeNwon I have to dealerships and they would not Let you have someone give you a 2nd opinion. They say, their mechanics looked it over and it is ok. You can forget it on some secondary lots. I have had bad experiences on getting someone to look a car over, from the car lot owners.
@@bwest-yq3uc these are challenging times to buy a vehicle That’s for sure not everybody can afford a new average car now is $30+ thousand dollars!!!!!
I must be OCD...I keep my wife's RAV 4 and my New Tundra near spotless. I have never seen an interior like this in any of my vehicles. I degrease the engine bay once a year, old changes and other maintenance to the letter and in some cases I go beyond recommended. I always buy brand new. I do not want somebody else's headaches. BTW...when you had the engine running, I guessed a bad bearing on a pulley. I am surprised the water pump is not leaking already thru the weep hole. I have to say, you are super honest and super reasonable about the order of care for a vehicle. The world needs more mechanics like you. I bet with your honesty, you never run out of repeat customers.👍🤘🇨🇦
It breaks my heart to see a beautiful Avalon so terribly mistreated. Normally, they're such wonderful vehicles! The Avalon was one of my very favourite cars when I was younger; I nearly went and bought one before I ended up settling on a Honda Accord.
My 08 TRD had a bad idler pully and while it didnt make noise it made the car run terrible. Once it started making noise i changed the lower idler pulley or tensioner and the car started running like new.
AMD please always consider these kind of videos as I feel those of us that watch these more technical channels tend to own a bit older cars anyway, and any tips and tricks you can give us would be like gold and would make us so very grateful. And God bless you brother for everything you've done on your channel to make life better for your viewers. BTW despite having the new Toyota part, studs, nuts, & gaskets sitting in my garage to replace it, I still haven't tackled that rear exhaust manifold on my '99 Camry IMZ as I've been too big of a chicken to get started on it despite just recently doing the timing belt job myself (belt, waterpump, pulleys, cam/crank seals)! Exhaust work always makes me feel queasy!😰😅
Hi, once you remove the old parts by unbolting or cutting them, it really is not that intimidating. I think that what you done previously is more challenging than this, so just do it!
Happened across your channel by accident. Watched a bunch of your videos. Very impressive knowledge base you have, and this video was spot on. I wish you lived near me! When you said , what you can see will highly reflect what you cant see, very insightful!
I've found on some similar sprung loaded tensioners on non Toyota products I've worked on in the past, the pulley wheel on the tensioner was basically the same as one of the idler wheels & could easily be replaced by ordering an extra idler wheel.
That car looks like one that would come off a used car lot in our Paterson or Newark area (that's what a used 2009 GX470 or an older SC 300 looked like from that area when I was looking a few years ago). I draw the line as soon as I see discolored soiled seats that were cut with a knife or some type of duct tape on the seat. Hopefully it works out!
I lived in Paterson for two months in April 1967 before we moved into our house in Pompton Plains. Even beck then, we were advised not to go out after dark.
I would love to watch the repairs get done on this vehicle AMD is very Thorough and knowledgeable wish we could have him in every Toyota dealership. 👍👍👍
That's a great year for the Avalon too, shame the previous owner was incompetent or simply did not care. I'd love to find a nice 2011-2015 Avalon, I'd buy it instantly
I worked at a shop and I swear we did every smaller shops and some same sized shops alignments. Reach out it isn't hard to get a special alignment price B2B for your shops. Also TCCN look into a hand held Gimbel there are some that are under 100 on amazon and will make it easier to film with no shake.
I want to send my cars to you that my customers need a second opinion PPI… because you’re down to earth. It’s a used car no I’m not rebuilding it. Yes some tiny oil spots.. yes some surface rust we’re in the northeast. Damn man you’re the most level headed pre purchase mechanic I would send u all my PPI’s and gladly fix any discoveries.
New sub here, you're VERY smart and honest. I really enjoyed your 5000 mile oil change suggestion video featuring the engine with the seized bottom rings due to 10,000 mile oil changes. That car certainly had a hard life internally and externally and didn't see much mechanical care, even at a good price why go through all the problems of finding a good mechanic like yourself, i am sure you gained a new customer though.
Thank you someone finally said it I’m tired of people saying it’s a Toyota it’s a Honda they last. Yes only if you take care of the maintenance there’s a perception these cars are bulletproof and they can have the same problems as many other vehicles
That's the risk with buying a used Toyota. Many buy them because they heard they're reliable which in their mind translates to low maintenance which harms reliability in the long run.
U guys are funny!😂🤣 But true! We've ALL gone thru that. Hell, I was like "a kid in a candy store" payn my $1 to get into U PULL wreckers & finding what I needed. (An alternator for $20 when they cost several hundreds!) 😁 Thot I died & went to heaven!
Repalced a water pump, tensioner pully only and alternator on a 2005 Avalon XL. The alternator has a clutch on the pully which makes that squeaking noise. Other than that just undid the passenger side engine mount and torque strut and lifted the engine with a floor jack so the water pump pulle will clear the chassis. Took about 2-1/2 hours.
Hi AMD! Had someone TAKEN proper care of the Avalon, it would be WORTH the investment. (could GET another 100-200,000 miles MORE). Be nice to see more videos on older Toyotas. Ppl are suffering, can't afford new cars, & are punished BECAUSE they cant afford things. This ALSO shows ppl what happens if u DON'T maintain vehicles. Sometimes they can't afford at the moment, but DO ASAP. U are a GREAT human being master tech & a breath of fresh air.
I like your comment about what you can see will reflect on what you can't see. If the owner took care of the interior, he/she will likely have taken care of the rest of the car (i.e. proper maintenance was done). Thank you for your channel. I am about to purchase a used car for the first time (likely a 2016-2018 Rav 4) and the knowledge that sources like you provide is very valuable for me. Unfortunately many used car dealers (in Ontario where I live) won't let me take the vehicle to an independent mechanic to inspect before buying. I will have to rely on my own inspection.
Absolutely. My policy on some work is, if I am going to replace a part and there are other parts that show their age then replace them. I replaced a radiator on a Camry, might as well do the thermostat and hoses for example. Why do the job twice. Now, tell me how to take or pull a heater core out of a 2003 Camry that is stuck so bad it feels like it's been JB welded in 25 years ago. 😂. 1 hour job is turning into a nightmare 😂. Life of a DIY.
I don't know about the rear brackets. If they are anything like the Lexus GS, they are impossible to get apart. I tried, then I gave them to a shop (just the calipers) and they gave up. I got new rear calipers from Lexus for $100 as side. I service them once a year now with good grease.
With a car that’s obviously been beaten, I’d first want to look at the engine oil level and condition, the air filter element, and get a sample of the transmission fluid to see it’s condition. If the cooling system has been as neglected as this one, its transmission and engine internals aren’t likely to be better.
What I film in the video is not the whole inspection otherwise I’d be a 2 hour video. Transmission is good. Fluid is questionable if it’s been replaced but at this point I wouldn’t want to recommend replacement. Engine oil is clean.
I swear, I am so pleased with my LS430. '02 and tho there are issues with the paint (chips, etc) thing still looks better than 99% of "newer" cars out there.
“A couple days wrenching on the car and breaking things.” 😂 Sounds about right! Thank you for the video though man! I have a Toyota Avalon 2006, and through this video, I learned what to watch out for. Que Dios lo bendiga también. Y gracias por su videos!
It is always always worth getting a pre-purchase inspection on a used car. If the dealer or private seller doesn't want you to, walk away. My dad told me the first time he was buying a car after coming to Minneapolis from India in the late 1970s, he was not familiar with how the winters are so harsh on vehicles here. He was looking at a newish Accord and externally it looked to be in good shape, but he had enough sense to know that he should get it checked out. The seller was annoyed, saying he couldn't wait and it may sell to someone else. My dad said "so be it, there are other cars for sale" and the guy relented. He took it to a Honda dealership in town and the mechanic told him that the body was severely rusted, but recently painted over and also showed my dad the blue smoke coming out of the tailpipe which meant the engine was burning a fair bit of oil. The mechanic said "walk away from this car" and he did. He told us this story many times and when my older brother and I got our first cars we made sure to take it to our family mechanic to get a look over before we handed over any money.
To find a gentleman mechanic that has half the thorough knowledge and integrity . We can dream can’t we ? Needle in a haystack . But those seats , teenage hand me down ? Neglect to soft a word . Quality seat covers a must here .
I found an '02 Avalon for my kids first car. Salvaged and reconstructed. Original owner owned an auto body shop, hit a deer, rebuilt it for his grand kids to drive. I bought it from the last of his grand kids. 165k miles. Frankenstein looking patchwork of body parts, but mechanically perfect, meticulously maintained, and well worth the $1500 he paid for it. Now he's blabbling about a Dodge Charger, but he still loves his Avalon and keeping it for his daily.
You're supposed to get it inspected *BEFORE* you buy. I guess it's possible the buyer actually had it inspected, and the inspector was just lousy. Hope the buyer didn't pay too much, at least.
I am in the UK and currently looking at Toyota Avensis for next car. Currently have a Honda that has been very reliable and cheap to run with no issues. Love this channel.
I've been a toyota guy for years and recently found and have watched most of your vids. Thanks for all you do car care nut your an awesome guy and a great mechanic!!!!!
I totally agree. If the owner doesn't have time to take care of the interior, he probably doesn't have time to maintain the car. The seats is a big giveaway right there.
Wow, an example of a car that looks a lot older than it’s actual age. Looks like previous driver had things in his back pockets that ate up those seats. Nice slip covers could be a good option for the seats. With some TLC, this car could last a good while more!!
I am ready to buy my own tire mounting and balancer machine rather than to allow the thieves around me to mess my wheels and tires up again while charging me a ridicules price per tire. F-that!.
Also, the power steering leak looks relatively small. I would top off the fluid and see how long it takes to drop down. You might just have to add a few ounce twice a year so not worth fixing.
I have a technical question.... My local tire shop gives a free front and alignment when you get tires installed. My wife has a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe that still has the factory alignment and only 40,000 miles on the clock, and it needs tires. The problem I have with the free alignment is they typically undo the factory alignment (that's usually set to a c-hair of toe in or out) and they give it a 0° total toe adjustment. Since the tires are new, the ride smoothness is renewed and the vehicle will usually track pretty darn straight for a few months. But then, because they undid the factory alignment, the vehicle will become very darty to steer even on the crown of a straight highway. Not sure if it's under or oversteer. This causes you to make countless micro steering corrections, at least on the cars that I've owned, and since I'm 61, I've finally seen this enough to put 2 & 2 together. The 0º toe adjustment also ends up making the tires wear oddly at the end of their life. I'm not saying this is always the case, but it just happens to me every time and I can't help but notice it. Does anyone know if I'm full of shit? And yes, I have asked them to do factory toe adjustment and they always say they only set tow to 0. Their tire deals are too good to pass up and you have to get their alignment to get the company warranty, which I'm sure they never honor.
Their alignment machine should have the factory specs as a target. If they don't have your 2019 'Fe in there, I'm guessing they might be using an older or similar model as a reference - or just plain guessing by using 0 degrees as a "that'll do" target.
Love watching ur videos. Just bought a brand new Camry and love it. Would like to see u diagnose and repair a vehicle to see how it runs after. Wish there were more mechanics like u.
This puppy was abused and driven hard with total lack of respect for a nice car. My 2011 Camry literally puts this one to shame. Hard to believe if I didn't see this video
I live in FL and the paint on Avalons hold up very well.. provided you wash and wax it every once in a blue moon or better once or twice a year and it looks almost new.. unless this person got an awesome deal.. they got robbed... even the leather is horrible.. I have an 08 and a 14
I’m not there but I’m curious. Why can’t you put a mechanic’s stethoscope on the alternator? I don’t know about Toyota pulleys. But on other manufacturers, I’ve sometimes pressed the bearing out of the pulley and replaced just that. The problem with doing that on the tensioner… Depending on mileage and age, you’re putting a lot of faith on the spring inside of it. 🤣
TCCN,thanks for another great video. I think this is a former Uber X that reached its 10-year limit. Car was high quality when new. Could be worth investment to get it right. Depends on cost. A 4-cylinder Camry might be more cost-effective option for basic transportation.
Yeah the mover cars live a hard life the worst part about all of it is probably what the undercarriage looks like coming from her area that use the salt on the roads, honestly dropping 30 grand plus for a brand new car almost makes you want to move somewhere warm you around because you just know you’re practically destroying your investment and it would last so much longer.
The comment about the interior is spot on. I was in the car business for 18 years and I found that if the interior was in great shape the rest of the car was usually maintained as well. Personally, as a gear head, I always kept the mechanicals up but didn't worry so much about the interior, so it was counter-intuitive for me.
You’re not only a good mechanic and a man of character, you’re also good at video and commentary. Always good content because I’m a curious person.
Your a Gem.I'm lucky to have a friend that runs his own mechanic shop that has the same great moral character as yourself.Its usually about a 3 week waiting list to get in.
Solid advice right there. My dad is a retired mechanic and says you are spot on. He would get cars in the shop all the time where people would buy without getting them checked out. Interior trashed is definitely a big red flag.
Even if you are a mechanic or an advanced DIY, it's still not a bad idea to have another set of eyes inspect a vehicle before purchase. Different eyes and experiences see different things even when looking at the same thing... if that makes any sense.
Agreed.
Yes! Great advice! Happened to me. Bought an 86 camry as is at a toyota dealership, looked great/really fooled me, thought it was injectors & engine was blown & needed replaced. Never thought they wouldn't TELL me. At the time, didnt know my local garage who specializes in toyotas.. Makn payments, plus price of engine installed. Learned my lesson for sure!
That car has been abused. It’s got a lot of new parts but if I were buying it, I certainly wouldn’t pay a lot for it
Doctors and others do it all the time. New set of eyes always have other opinions that may help.
I've learned the importance of a PPI (Pre-Purchase Inspections) and told a friend to have one before she bought her car!
It's my guess that this car is not showing the correct odometer reading. By the looks of the poor condition of the interior, worn pulleys, and the general untidyness of the engine bay, it's my guess that this was a taxi with considerably more mileage than shown.
AMD, I wanted to assure you, the Society For The Prevention of Cruelty to Avalons has been alerted!! For the record, was this car pulled out of Lake Michigan or the Chicago River? There is a very important lesson to be learned here, never buy a used Avalon from anyone under the age of 80!😉 But seriously, pay for a thorough inspection and repair estimate from a competent mechanic BEFORE you buy a used car.
This is a prime example why the owner shop have had a professional look this vehicle over before buying . Having retired from the industry I commend you on your thoroughness .
I would highly recommend that owners only take their vehicles to shops that can do the full service of all mechanicals with out the shop needing to out source any repairs or services like alignments.
The shop that looked this vehicle over was not very thorough in their vehicle assessment. No excuse for missing the leaky steering hose , water pump bearing , or the radiator .
Parts that are leaky or worn don't get better with time they only get worse . You are correct with giving the customer the choice to replace the radiator now instead of later with the nature of the pump replacement. Let them decide .
This vehicle has had a hard life and was not cared for properly . Most of the time the outward appearance and the interior really do let us know how the mechanical workers are also . It's very unusual to find a vehicle that the appearance was overlooked while the mechanical services were performed in a timely manner. This vehicle definitely shows a lack of pride of ownership .
Customer is concerned about a few things 🤨. I would be concerned about everything 😬
This video was really a delight and great teaching since I also own a 2011 Limited Avalon. I got it 3 years ago when it had 127,090 miles on it. I put on like 40,000 miles already. It was and still is in pristine conditions. My mechanic always thinks I’m paranoid because I always address anything the minute I take notice of it and sometimes it’s just something I forgot in my trunk rolling around and making noises 😂😂. Thank you very much for your insights. I know more about Toyotas today then I did before knowing you.
My 2011 Limited came from my dealer without those rubber/plastic plugs installed. When I asked the dealer about them they said that they didn't need to be installed. I live in Florida so maybe it's a regional thing. I still have the plastic packages with the plugs in them unopened 10 years later. My seats don't look anything like the ones shown here but I take care of them and my car has just over 85,000 miles on it. Thanks for the high quality video.
Buying a high milage car is always a risk. But with the missing engine cover, visible leaks and the torn up interior it was pretty clear this was going to need at lot of work.
That interior alone would have made me walk away. Glad you mentioned that.
Regarding that squeaking noise, which sometimes comes from the alternator, I had the same issue with my 2009 RX350 with this same 2GR-FE engine. It happened at about 110,000 mi. Sounds like crickets chirping, especially at idle. And it gets a bit louder over time. The sound goes away under load. So, if you replaced your pulleys AND your water pump is good, then that squeak is from the alternator pulley.
It’s blatantly obvious this car wasn’t well cared for. I would never have bought it. Hope he got a killer deal on it. Love your videos.
Paid $12,000.
@@user-ct1lf3hf1v Why didn't you keep your beliefs to yourself?
@@chrisb6866 I don't believe in god, but the guy is just being friendly.
@@MC-mh2ju I feel bad for the owner of this Avalon. This car is ratted out mechanically and aesthetically. It should have been parted out. If you fixed every issue it would cost more than $12k. For $25k you can buy a lower mileage car that’s been taken car of. Someone drove it hard over potholed roads and did minimal maintenance.
@@user-ct1lf3hf1v I like to see you say that when you're on your knees before God some day. He can say whatever he wants ..go be butt hurt somewhere else.
23:24 100% agree. The destroyed interior means the previous owner did not care for that car. Definitely is a car I would NOT buy.
I hope we get that water pump video lol coming from a 2GR-FE owner. Your knowledge is priceless, thank you for everything you've been teaching me/us. We are geniuses because of you lol
Fantastic diagnostic video, again! I'd feel so stressed if I were the owner, but at least it is a good warning and this car can be the subject of more excellent repair videos.
Would love to see more videos of the repairs on this car.
I have a 2009 Avalon with 346,000 miles , cant wait to see you do the water pump Thanks for the Great videos.
What motor is in your avalon? I just purchased a 2020 avalon with the 3.5 V6. I'm blown away by Toyota.
@@JudeFunk37 I'm pretty sure they all come with the 3.5 V6. My 2007 Avalon has that motor too. I have 279,000 Miles and it's super quiet, has a lot of power still. I maintain it the best I can
Use an mechanic stethoscope it has a Long rod at the end and you can pinpoint where the noise comes from when you put it on or close to the bearing
rust is soo nasty, i love that in western australia we don't have to worry about rust unless u drive at the beach
Nice To Know We Have Someone In The Chicago Area ADM. And Your Camera Person 😎
Hi Ahmed from an Australian living in Seoul, South Korea (KIA owner of course LOL). You would have to be the best presenter on UA-cam. Your delivery style is perfect. Calm, honest and extremely knowledgeable. I am hooked on your channel and I'm not even a car nut. Who needs Netflix when we can all enjoy your work?
Well done on your new workshop and good luck with everything you do in life. An amazing man with an equally amazing back story. Good on you!
This car was trashed bad. I have a 2011 Avalon Limited, excellent car, reliable and comfortable. 128k, zero issues ever. I do proactive maintenance and keep it clean clean. Plan on keeping it till I pass it to my kid as they get older.
MINE HAS 65K RIGHT NOW. BOUGHT IT FROM AN OLD LADY AT A GREAT PRICE 4 YEARS AGO. SHE KEPT UP WITH MAINTENANCE RELIGIOUSLY AND SO DO I. RUNS AND LOOKS GREAT 👍
B
To me it looks like it was sitting outside for a while would explain dry seats sagging roof liner and burnt paint
I agree that the vehicle has seen years out of doors.
My guess is they had big dogs in the car. Seats torn up from claws and headliner chewed on.
For the tension pulley I took only the pulley off the tensioner still attached. Took the number stamped on the bearing it self. Knocked the bearing out of the pulley brought it to advance auto,matched them up and bingo. Tapped the new one in $15
Smart 👍
Nailed it, the first thing that stood out was the faded hood and the interior as a red flag. Even though it's a 2011, I've seen much older Avalons that looked far better than this one.. It's been my experience as well that cars that look like this, almost always have been poorly maintained and when something needs repaired, it's done with the absolute cheapest poor quality part by the cheapest and not so competent repair facility. Forgive me if I missed it, but how many miles are on that car?
177,610
@@rightlanehog3151 seems like 477,610 xD
I bet the odometer is clocked.
I have a 2011 Avalon in excellent condition. Just over 100k miles.
I love the info I've acquired about my car. I know what to look for...
I think he said 177k plus
I am with you car care nut, I would’ve stayed away from this car in the first place but when the person looking has no mechanical knowledge sometimes they make mistakes this could be costly money pit! Big thumbs up!
Any sensible buyer gets a good PPI before spending money.
@@wholeNwon yep, sadly most people are stupid though. You mix aggressive sales people with ignorant buyers and this is what happens.
@@wholeNwon The missing engine cover would have been enough for me to say to seller thank you I think I’ve seen enough! you can see the lack of maintenance everywhere slipshod work! This owner has found a trusted mechanic so she won’t get ripped off anymore!
@@wholeNwon I have to dealerships and they would not Let you have someone give you a 2nd opinion. They say, their mechanics looked it over and it is ok. You can forget it on some secondary lots. I have had bad experiences on getting someone to look a car over, from the car lot owners.
@@bwest-yq3uc these are challenging times to buy a vehicle That’s for sure not everybody can afford a new average car now is $30+ thousand dollars!!!!!
That's a good saying, "what can see will highly reflect what you can't see." That's wise.
I must be OCD...I keep my wife's RAV 4 and my New Tundra near spotless. I have never seen an interior like this in any of my vehicles. I degrease the engine bay once a year, old changes and other maintenance to the letter and in some cases I go beyond recommended. I always buy brand new. I do not want somebody else's headaches. BTW...when you had the engine running, I guessed a bad bearing on a pulley. I am surprised the water pump is not leaking already thru the weep hole. I have to say, you are super honest and super reasonable about the order of care for a vehicle. The world needs more mechanics like you. I bet with your honesty, you never run out of repeat customers.👍🤘🇨🇦
You are a better man than I. If It were brought to me, I would pass.
So sorry for buyer, but so happy I going to learn how to replace a Avalon water pump
It breaks my heart to see a beautiful Avalon so terribly mistreated. Normally, they're such wonderful vehicles! The Avalon was one of my very favourite cars when I was younger; I nearly went and bought one before I ended up settling on a Honda Accord.
good decision. honda accord is miles better than avalon.
She’s back in good hands. The new owner wants to fix it up and keep it for sometime.
@@lordjaashin it's "miles better" if you like less power, less luxury, and overall a smaller sedan, then sure, the accord is "miles better" lolz.
The timing belt/water pump/pulley changes on those Honda 3.5L are spendy routine maintenance. If the pulley goes, it takes the engine.
Avalon is a millimeter away from being a Lexus.
My 08 TRD had a bad idler pully and while it didnt make noise it made the car run terrible. Once it started making noise i changed the lower idler pulley or tensioner and the car started running like new.
I wish every mechanic was as conscientious as you, keep it up, I love the videos.
AMD please always consider these kind of videos as I feel those of us that watch these more technical channels tend to own a bit older cars anyway, and any tips and tricks you can give us would be like gold and would make us so very grateful. And God bless you brother for everything you've done on your channel to make life better for your viewers.
BTW despite having the new Toyota part, studs, nuts, & gaskets sitting in my garage to replace it, I still haven't tackled that rear exhaust manifold on my '99 Camry IMZ as I've been too big of a chicken to get started on it despite just recently doing the timing belt job myself (belt, waterpump, pulleys, cam/crank seals)! Exhaust work always makes me feel queasy!😰😅
Hi, once you remove the old parts by unbolting or cutting them, it really is not that intimidating. I think that what you done previously is more challenging than this, so just do it!
Happened across your channel by accident. Watched a bunch of your videos. Very impressive knowledge base you have, and this video was spot on. I wish you lived near me! When you said , what you can see will highly reflect what you cant see, very insightful!
I've found on some similar sprung loaded tensioners on non Toyota products I've worked on in the past, the pulley wheel on the tensioner was basically the same as one of the idler wheels & could easily be replaced by ordering an extra idler wheel.
That car looks like one that would come off a used car lot in our Paterson or Newark area (that's what a used 2009 GX470 or an older SC 300 looked like from that area when I was looking a few years ago). I draw the line as soon as I see discolored soiled seats that were cut with a knife or some type of duct tape on the seat. Hopefully it works out!
I lived in Paterson for two months in April 1967 before we moved into our house in Pompton Plains. Even beck then, we were advised not to go out after dark.
I would love to watch the repairs get done on this vehicle AMD is very Thorough and knowledgeable wish we could have him in every Toyota dealership. 👍👍👍
Thanks for more lessons on CAREFUL review of the state of a car. Was glad to hear the owner was NOT in upside down too.
Thank you for the education!
Glad we are subscribers! Extremely informative!
That's a great year for the Avalon too, shame the previous owner was incompetent or simply did not care. I'd love to find a nice 2011-2015 Avalon, I'd buy it instantly
You'll be looking a long time
I worked at a shop and I swear we did every smaller shops and some same sized shops alignments. Reach out it isn't hard to get a special alignment price B2B for your shops. Also TCCN look into a hand held Gimbel there are some that are under 100 on amazon and will make it easier to film with no shake.
I want to send my cars to you that my customers need a second opinion PPI… because you’re down to earth. It’s a used car no I’m not rebuilding it. Yes some tiny oil spots.. yes some surface rust we’re in the northeast. Damn man you’re the most level headed pre purchase mechanic I would send u all my PPI’s and gladly fix any discoveries.
New sub here, you're VERY smart and honest. I really enjoyed your 5000 mile oil change suggestion video featuring the engine with the seized bottom rings due to 10,000 mile oil changes.
That car certainly had a hard life internally and externally and didn't see much mechanical care, even at a good price why go through all the problems of finding a good mechanic like yourself, i am sure you gained a new customer though.
Thank you someone finally said it I’m tired of people saying it’s a Toyota it’s a Honda they last. Yes only if you take care of the maintenance there’s a perception these cars are bulletproof and they can have the same problems as many other vehicles
That's the risk with buying a used Toyota. Many buy them because they heard they're reliable which in their mind translates to low maintenance which harms reliability in the long run.
Wore out POS. Thanks.😊
Amazing, I have the same year Avalon with more miles and my interior is still like new.
I've a crack in my air filter cover as well (06 Avalon). Little bit of duct tape and over 100,000 miles later, still working great.
I told my neighbor that guys only need duct tape and WD-40 when doing emergency repairs.
@@02markcal a paperclip, a Hersey bar, mullet, and the backing of the Phoenix Foundation.
U guys are funny!😂🤣 But true! We've ALL gone thru that. Hell, I was like "a kid in a candy store" payn my $1 to get into U PULL wreckers & finding what I needed. (An alternator for $20 when they cost several hundreds!) 😁 Thot I died & went to heaven!
Silicone tape works great.
I'm really sorry for that car. It looking so abused. Thank you AMD and Mrs TCCN.
Repalced a water pump, tensioner pully only and alternator on a 2005 Avalon XL. The alternator has a clutch on the pully which makes that squeaking noise. Other than that just undid the passenger side engine mount and torque strut and lifted the engine with a floor jack so the water pump pulle will clear the chassis. Took about 2-1/2 hours.
Hi AMD! Had someone TAKEN proper care of the Avalon, it would be WORTH the investment. (could GET another 100-200,000 miles MORE). Be nice to see more videos on older Toyotas. Ppl are suffering, can't afford new cars, & are punished BECAUSE they cant afford things. This ALSO shows ppl what happens if u DON'T maintain vehicles. Sometimes they can't afford at the moment, but DO ASAP. U are a GREAT human being master tech & a breath of fresh air.
with the shortage of used cars out there, even cars without engines in them are going for $5,000 and up.
I like your comment about what you can see will reflect on what you can't see. If the owner took care of the interior, he/she will likely have taken care of the rest of the car (i.e. proper maintenance was done). Thank you for your channel. I am about to purchase a used car for the first time (likely a 2016-2018 Rav 4) and the knowledge that sources like you provide is very valuable for me. Unfortunately many used car dealers (in Ontario where I live) won't let me take the vehicle to an independent mechanic to inspect before buying. I will have to rely on my own inspection.
Absolutely. My policy on some work is, if I am going to replace a part and there are other parts that show their age then replace them. I replaced a radiator on a Camry, might as well do the thermostat and hoses for example. Why do the job twice. Now, tell me how to take or pull a heater core out of a 2003 Camry that is stuck so bad it feels like it's been JB welded in 25 years ago. 😂. 1 hour job is turning into a nightmare 😂. Life of a DIY.
When a oil filter is rusted you know that oil has not been changed...?????
I don't know about the rear brackets. If they are anything like the Lexus GS, they are impossible to get apart. I tried, then I gave them to a shop (just the calipers) and they gave up. I got new rear calipers from Lexus for $100 as side. I service them once a year now with good grease.
With a car that’s obviously been beaten, I’d first want to look at the engine oil level and condition, the air filter element, and get a sample of the transmission fluid to see it’s condition. If the cooling system has been as neglected as this one, its transmission and engine internals aren’t likely to be better.
I think you right, but I think he took it for test ride and eliminated these issues.
What I film in the video is not the whole inspection otherwise I’d be a 2 hour video. Transmission is good. Fluid is questionable if it’s been replaced but at this point I wouldn’t want to recommend replacement. Engine oil is clean.
A great video. You showed in detail what to look for when looking at older used cars.
Ahmed. Very good video. Good point. Pre-purchase inspection is essential but from a trusted shop.
I swear, I am so pleased with my LS430. '02 and tho there are issues with the paint (chips, etc) thing still looks better than 99% of "newer" cars out there.
Just got an 03 and replaced the timing belt water pump ect
This is a good channel.
“A couple days wrenching on the car and breaking things.” 😂
Sounds about right!
Thank you for the video though man! I have a Toyota Avalon 2006, and through this video, I learned what to watch out for. Que Dios lo bendiga también. Y gracias por su videos!
For a 2011 that is a lot of issues. and top of that the shocks looked like they were going to go soon too.
It is always always worth getting a pre-purchase inspection on a used car. If the dealer or private seller doesn't want you to, walk away.
My dad told me the first time he was buying a car after coming to Minneapolis from India in the late 1970s, he was not familiar with how the winters are so harsh on vehicles here. He was looking at a newish Accord and externally it looked to be in good shape, but he had enough sense to know that he should get it checked out. The seller was annoyed, saying he couldn't wait and it may sell to someone else. My dad said "so be it, there are other cars for sale" and the guy relented. He took it to a Honda dealership in town and the mechanic told him that the body was severely rusted, but recently painted over and also showed my dad the blue smoke coming out of the tailpipe which meant the engine was burning a fair bit of oil. The mechanic said "walk away from this car" and he did. He told us this story many times and when my older brother and I got our first cars we made sure to take it to our family mechanic to get a look over before we handed over any money.
Engine cover missing, one less place for mice to make a nest and destroy your wiring. Ask me how I know.
To find a gentleman mechanic that has half the thorough knowledge and integrity . We can dream can’t we ? Needle in a haystack . But those seats , teenage hand me down ? Neglect to soft a word . Quality seat covers a must here .
Always enjoy watching your vehicle assessments. This person is fortunate to have your services.
Dogs did that interior damage, this is not the used car to buy, excellent video, your diagnostic skills are brilliant!
I found an '02 Avalon for my kids first car. Salvaged and reconstructed. Original owner owned an auto body shop, hit a deer, rebuilt it for his grand kids to drive. I bought it from the last of his grand kids. 165k miles. Frankenstein looking patchwork of body parts, but mechanically perfect, meticulously maintained, and well worth the $1500 he paid for it. Now he's blabbling about a Dodge Charger, but he still loves his Avalon and keeping it for his daily.
It was very relieving to see the owner didn't get ripped off and knew they had a fixer upper
You're supposed to get it inspected *BEFORE* you buy.
I guess it's possible the buyer actually had it inspected, and the inspector was just lousy.
Hope the buyer didn't pay too much, at least.
Exactly!
Paid $12,000.
I am in the UK and currently looking at Toyota Avensis for next car. Currently have a Honda that has been very reliable and cheap to run with no issues. Love this channel.
I've been a toyota guy for years and recently found and have watched most of your vids. Thanks for all you do car care nut your an awesome guy and a great mechanic!!!!!
Tons of rust and dirt. My Avalon is spotless inside and out
I totally agree. If the owner doesn't have time to take care of the interior, he probably doesn't have time to maintain the car. The seats is a big giveaway right there.
Wow, an example of a car that looks a lot older than it’s actual age. Looks like previous driver had things in his back pockets that ate up those seats. Nice slip covers could be a good option for the seats. With some TLC, this car could last a good while more!!
It looks like the previous owner and their passengers wore pants made from 50 grit sandpaper.
I am ready to buy my own tire mounting and balancer machine rather than to allow the thieves around me to mess my wheels and tires up again while charging me a ridicules price per tire. F-that!.
That’s a great $1000.00 car right there!
Also, the power steering leak looks relatively small. I would top off the fluid and see how long it takes to drop down. You might just have to add a few ounce twice a year so not worth fixing.
Duct tape fixes all. Same trouble with air filter clips. Write the date you changed the filter on the tape.
I have a technical question.... My local tire shop gives a free front and alignment when you get tires installed. My wife has a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe that still has the factory alignment and only 40,000 miles on the clock, and it needs tires. The problem I have with the free alignment is they typically undo the factory alignment (that's usually set to a c-hair of toe in or out) and they give it a 0° total toe adjustment. Since the tires are new, the ride smoothness is renewed and the vehicle will usually track pretty darn straight for a few months. But then, because they undid the factory alignment, the vehicle will become very darty to steer even on the crown of a straight highway. Not sure if it's under or oversteer. This causes you to make countless micro steering corrections, at least on the cars that I've owned, and since I'm 61, I've finally seen this enough to put 2 & 2 together. The 0º toe adjustment also ends up making the tires wear oddly at the end of their life. I'm not saying this is always the case, but it just happens to me every time and I can't help but notice it. Does anyone know if I'm full of shit? And yes, I have asked them to do factory toe adjustment and they always say they only set tow to 0. Their tire deals are too good to pass up and you have to get their alignment to get the company warranty, which I'm sure they never honor.
Their alignment machine should have the factory specs as a target. If they don't have your 2019 'Fe in there, I'm guessing they might be using an older or similar model as a reference - or just plain guessing by using 0 degrees as a "that'll do" target.
I miss my Cressida….
AMD, have you been speaking English all of your life? Your vocabulary is really impressive and you are very easy to understand. 🍎Miss Crabtree
Love watching ur videos. Just bought a brand new Camry and love it. Would like to see u diagnose and repair a vehicle to see how it runs after. Wish there were more mechanics like u.
This car wasn’t cared for and was abused
He could get some great seat at the junk yard, they'll just need some TLC.
Great video. It helps me look for any issues on my Avalon. Keep up the fantastic tutorial videos, Sensei!!!
This puppy was abused and driven hard with total lack of respect for a nice car. My 2011 Camry literally puts this one to shame. Hard to believe if I didn't see this video
I agree with ya on the interior. The poor car has not had a good home with the previous owner.
This video shows why bringing a used vehicle to a mechanic before buying it is so important.
The key word is BEFORE. Ask me how I know.
The seats look like SOMEONE'S DOBERMEN was left in the car.
L o l that's what I was thinking
I live in FL and the paint on Avalons hold up very well.. provided you wash and wax it every once in a blue moon or better once or twice a year and it looks almost new.. unless this person got an awesome deal.. they got robbed... even the leather is horrible.. I have an 08 and a 14
Keep us posted on what you end up doing on this car thx Amd
By the way- I also enjoy your vids and would love to see you replace the water pump and whatever else you do to this car!
I’m not there but I’m curious. Why can’t you put a mechanic’s stethoscope on the alternator?
I don’t know about Toyota pulleys. But on other manufacturers, I’ve sometimes pressed the bearing out of the pulley and replaced just that. The problem with doing that on the tensioner…
Depending on mileage and age, you’re putting a lot of faith on the spring inside of it. 🤣
TCCN,thanks for another great video. I think this is a former Uber X that reached its 10-year limit. Car was high quality when new. Could be worth investment to get it right. Depends on cost. A 4-cylinder Camry might be more cost-effective option for basic transportation.
Yeah the mover cars live a hard life the worst part about all of it is probably what the undercarriage looks like coming from her area that use the salt on the roads, honestly dropping 30 grand plus for a brand new car almost makes you want to move somewhere warm you around because you just know you’re practically destroying your investment and it would last so much longer.
Ethics > Money. I wish all businesses followed this.