My daughter thought that the oil light meant it was time to change the oil in her 94 Camry so needless to say the car needs a new engine. I have a couple ?? on engine removal. I have talked to a couple different mechanic friends and have gotten conflicting stories. The one says to pull the axles and remove the engine through the top with the transmission attached. The other one says to unbolt the struts and crossmembers and remove the engine, transmission and axles from the bottom. What would be the easiest method? Also is there any other way to leave the wiring harness on the car other than removing the intake manifold?

Thanks in advance, Sean

 

What engine type V6 or 4 cylinder?

The axles need to come off regardless of method used.

Suggest with either method to leave the engine and trans bolted together for removal.

If going out the top you may need to tip the engine/trans for chassis clearance.

If going out from below the subframe needs to be removed first. Removing the engine from below requires raising the chassis high enough to clear the engine/trans from under the car. This can be a problem if you don't have a lift.

Unless you have some advantage such as a shop with a lift suggest taking the engine out from the top.

I would not remove the intake to save on wiring issues. Depending on the engine this can be difficult to remove with the engine still in the car.

Do suggest getting a good service manual with wiring info and engine component location, taking lots of photos and marking every wire, hose, etc. Label and plastic bag any bolts, nut, brackets, etc that your remove.

Assume this is an automatic car. If so before reconnecting the trans make sure the torque converter is correctly installed on the trans input shaft and oil pump. The converter needs to engage the trans oil pump with a groove and tang system. It has happened the converter is installed on the input shaft but the groove and tangs are not engaged. The result is the converter is now very slightly extended out from the trans housing. When trans is bolted up the engine, the converter is pushing into the oil pump housing damaging it.

The converter does not self prime. Don't drain it of fluid or refill it before installing.

If a 4 cylinder the fluid chamber for the differential is separate from the main trans chamber. The V6 trans should be combined but check for a filler plug on the diff anyway.

 

take it from me there are really only two ways to do this easy and without much headache. If it is 4 cyl pull the engine and trans out the top. if it is a 6 cyl drop it out the bottom. wire harness unplugs from the ECU and s pulled out the fire wall and comes out with the engine either way. also make sure that you can get the passenger half shaft out before you tear into anything else, the love to get stuck in that intermediate housing. I have done quite a few camry motors and could probably do it in my sleep now.
Feel free to ask any questions you need.

Toyota T-Ten Graduate
Dealership Experience

 

nice info TY email me at excaliber.1956@gmail.com i have a 2004 and something happened to the engine so am pulling it but ran into one issue so far i have the harness almost out of the way BUT one issue how to i deal with the fuse box area, or do i pull the harness out though the intake?

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hey there TreMonti23, name's Chance. recently had my counterbalance gear 'explode' in my 2002 Toyota Camry 2.4L 4 cylinder alongside my cam shaft bearing start making noise. Was wondering if you knew whether i should take the engine out from the bottom or the top, and in choosing that, if you may have a set of videos or anything to help me out with it.