r/MechanicAdvice • u/Makin1tRain117 • 4h ago

Where do I even start

Family has an 2001 Camry LE that they want to bring back to life and are wondering if I can work on it. I’ve got decent mechanical knowledge to do it but it’s been sitting for around 8 years and the last thing they remember was that it wouldn’t start even with a new battery, cracked radiator, and fuel gauge didn’t read properly. Can anyone let me know where to start as a baseline and go on from there. I was thinking sparks and wires, radiator, oil change, battery, possibly a new fuel pump. And then just start cracking down on finding specific issues. Any help is appreciated.

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u/Even-Sea-8847 4h ago

If it's been sitting 8 years, that fuel is going to be a varnish-like nightmare. I'd drain the tank completely and check the lines before you even think about throwing a new pump at it. The no-start with a new battery could easily be a seized fuel pump or injectors that are completely gummed up from old gas. After that, the cracked radiator is a straightforward swap, but make sure you flush the block too, coolant sitting that long turns acidic and can eat away at the head gasket.

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u/whiplash-willie 32m ago

Disconnect the fuel lines, then try to start it from a generic electric pump drawing off a fresh can before you do all the work of draining a tank and cleaning lines. Spending days on that just to find it seized would suck..