Just a thought = SE's seem to be fairly rare. I've been to at least four different dealerships at least 10-12 times since mid March and I've yet to see a single SE - 4 or 6cyl. I've also yet to see one on the road either. My guess is they sell within days, maybe hours of hitting the lot. I'm hoping this will change since the SE is the model I eventually hope to acquire. Anyway, good luck with your search!
I ordered a car at Longo Toyota back in March and they gave me a build date of July 10th (this past Monday), around when should I expect it to be here? One week, two weeks +? Thanks
Is there anyway to make the name of song appear on the screen? I know it shows only partial and by hilding the "Text" button you can get the other half. I wanted to make the entire name of the song to scroll across the screen. Any tips? Thanks
Call the dealer & ask them. I ordered my SE in March and it had a build date of "week of June 5th". I took delivery on June 14th (but live in OH - close to Georgetown). The dealer should have an idea of typical lag between build and "on the ground" dates.
Hi Annie, I see there was an incident in Kumamoto tuesday involving a problem that happened in 2004. Would you care to give us more info on the subject.
Ok... I've had my loaded black SE V6 for about 3 months now and love it. However, I had to post my only peeve about this car. The fairly thick sunvisors are "set" within indentations in the ceiling of the cabin and are a pain in the *** to pull down unless you have sharp talons for hands. Anyone agree? I'm thinking of affixing a piece of cloth or something to the driver's side visor that i can just yank on to pull it down. I imagine I'll scratch the cloth eventually with my own fingernails in time.
i paid about 500 dollars over invoice for my 07 Camry SE about 3 months ago. This was approximately $26,500. I definitely shopped around to get that price... only two dealers agreed to anything anywhere near that price. Try sending e-mails to all the dealers and ask to pay near invoice.
Have a V6SE (ordered in March, delivered in June). Black w/ charcoal leather package (pkg incl heated seats), NAV, Moonroof pkg, stability/traction, XM, and floormats. Price w/ destination charge was $27,840 + $125 doc fees. MSRP was $31,103.
OK, after 3 months I hit 5000 miles.. So the Maint. Req Light came on and I knew it was time for my oil change, well I did (Non Dealer) but can't get that light off. How do I do it?
Well install day was today for my new amp and new front speakers.
I am shocked in all of my searches on every message board I could find, I must be the first person to have tried this b/c it was a DISASTER.
First the installer disconnected the amp under the seat (I have the JBL non-Nav system). We unplugged the amp from the system and for grins turned the car on. I could not turn the volume anymore. Obviously no sound would come out b/c the amp was not hooked up, but when I turned the volume knob the numbers would not go up and down on the deck.
Revelation #1: The amp is tied to the deck w/ bi-directional info traveling between the head unit and the amp. So we CANNOT disconnect the amp.
Side point: The JBL amp is a piece of junk and anyone who thinks it is really 8 channel 440W or anything resembling that is crazy. The thing was tiny and weighed about 2 pounds. I bought a 4 channel JL Audio amp that is 3x bigger and probably 4x heavier and from my experience in home equipment weight matters in an amp.
So we decided to install a line converter (basically a device that takes an amplified or speaker level input and turns it back down to a signal level input for an amp), keep the existing amp, and install the new amp under the drivers seat. Just for those wondering, this would mean the head unit would send a signal (turns out to be digital - more on that later) to the factory JBL amp to be amplified then I would send that signal to the line converter to be 'reduced' to a signal to send to a real amp and then on to the speakers - not very elegant to say the least.
Revelation #2: After a few minute of running wire and now trying to install the new amp under the driver seat - removing seat, running wires under the center console, etc, a new problem was realized. The signal out of the JBL amp is already crossed over i.e. the input to the front door speakers is only low frequency. So we would not be getting a full range signal to amplify to send to my new speakers.
So some more pondering occurred. Then we went on a hope that maybe the signal from the head unit to the JBL amp could be used directly. The installer thought it was a digital signal, but we tried to check anyway. We hooked up a meter to it and it did not appear to be Analog so no dice.
So we hooked up everything like it was minus a lot of wires now have splices.
Next step - Order a Audio Control LC8. It is a device that takes speaker level inputs and converts to signal (like a line converter) but also does signal summing which solves the crossover output issue.
Hopefully good news next week.
Moral of the story - Toyota is doing everything in its power to make this difficult.
I guess you changed your own oil or the person who changed your oil did not reset the message. I believe you just use the instrument needle and find the percent of oil left and hold the button as if you are trying to reset your trip meter. That's how it is for the accord so I'm just guessing since my camry is not here yet. Try that and let me know if that's the answer.
"I am shocked in all of my searches on every message board I could find, I must be the first person to have tried this b/c it was a DISASTER."
I think most Camry buyers, given the demographic, just don't care to undertake what you're doing. I think the JBL is great in this car, if you don't that's cool, but it doesn't make the rest of us "crazy".
I just took a new TCH with the new JBL for a long, long drive using an MP3 as the source and I have to agree the sound was the best I've ever heard in an auto.
Now I have't driven the best for any length of time so my perspective is skewed and I admit that. However given the demographic of who the likely buyers of a Camry ( or Accord or Sonata or Altima ) are the sound is beyond any I have ever heard in miles and miles of driving these.
i left my jbl amp in itsmore than enough toprovide sound for interior...i the sub amp i addedreally provided the lows i wanted...used a sealed box.i amreally pleasedin how it sounds...alot crisper with better lows and mids
1. You can get some electrical schematics from Tundra solutions that show there are 3 inputs to the amplifier : TX-, TX+ and MUTE. It is a digital link called the AVC-LAN. Disconnecting it causes a Diagnostic Trouble Code to be stored in the head unit.
2. This amplifier uses high-frequency switching techniques to re-build audio-band analog signals for the speakers. This is the same technique used in most home theater amplifiers with 5+ channels. It wastes almost no power (little need to cool the amplifer) and usually sounds acceptably good (less than 0.1% THD) but not audiophile quality level. Switching amplifiers are also light, but that does not directly imply that they are cheap (though they may be).
3. Please note that speakers are the main cause for poor sound, not amplifiers.
4. There are no crossovers in such systems : A Digital Signal Processor shapes the signals, similar to a band equalizer for each channel. Aside from the specialized low frequency outputs (4) and rear tweeter outputs, I suspect that the equalizer is not too flat for the so-called full-range speakers under the windshield, in order to compensate for their shortcomings.
5. Jose explained quite clearly that he used the full-range signals from the front speakers to supply the new tweeters in the front doors.
Yes, such systems are a way to keep customers bound to JBL, but they also simplify amplifier cooling, reduce amplifier and wiring weight, improve fuel economy and reduce costs.
Gilesmtl, Some great info and you are obviously more informed than I was when I began this project. I am just surprised that no one else had run into the pitfalls in this system compared to every other car stereo system
Replacing speakers and amps has always been a pretty simple project, but that is now no longer true. At least according to every installer I talked to, no one was aware of these issues on a Toyota, so I think this is the first year they have done this.
I don't consider myself an audiophile by any stretch. Beyond adding a CD changer I have been happy w/ the factory system in a Nissan Maxima, Jeep Grand, and a Yukon.
On to your points: 1. I guess this is confirming that the signal from the head unit is digital and not a normal analog pre-amp signal. I don't believe this is normally done.
2. I think you are referring to digital amps. I don't think most home systems are digital but I know there are a few units available.
3. I agree, the main thing I wanted was a better front speaker system. I wanted a true full range speaker in the front b/c the woofer only in the door and the 2.5" was not acceptable. So like Jose who put in a full range 6x9, I was putting a full range component type 6.5", but I thought while we are screwing around for the install go ahead and replace the amp b/c like speakers the factory amps are usually cheap too.
4. I was surprised that there were no knobs or crossover buttons or anything on the amp. I guess w/ the LC8 device we are going to be able to sum the signal of the woofer and the 'full-range' dash, hopefully this will be a good true full range signal. This may be my biggest concern after your comments.
5. Before this process I would not have considered this b/c I would have assumed there would be too much load on one pair of channels on the amp to have the new speaker on the same channel as the front dash, but I now don't know.
In the old days there were class "A" and "B" amplifiers.
Class "A" are 35% or less efficient. Class "B" (push-pull) are less than 65% efficient.
When you see home theater amplifiers rated at 100W per channel that never get hot, you can bet they use special tricks, like multi-rail supplies and switching and/or digital techniques.
My 1974 class "B" Dynaco has a distorsion level of 0.005%, while Sony's STDRE565 (out of memory) has 0.05%.
Keep us posted - I'd like to improve my Camry's sound too.
Hey guys.There is a review posted just yesterday about the camry that is very bad.I couldn't believe how the writer could give this car such a bad review.I think the car is great.Its hard to believe that anyone would give this car a bad review considering the fact that it is expected to be the best selling car for the tenth time straight and win 1st place among other cars in its class.The article is very biased and unfair because it consitently says so many negative remarks about the car.You can check it for yourself and tell me what you think. http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=1826
Hey, it's supposed to be the truth after all! I guess a lot of posters here would agree, what with all the real and (IMO) perceived problems they've been having with the car.
But I do agree this review goes over the top, plus the writer didn't even get his facts straight, like his comment about buying extra airbags. Uh, all airbags, side curtain, side, and driver knee, are standard.
Regarding the styling, well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
You can check it for yourself and tell me what you think.
I think the review is spot on.
From a review of the various automotive boards, it is becoming patently obvious that quality issues are emerging in both the Toyota and Lexus lines. The brands' present market standing is based on the quality of years gone by. As was the case with Mercedes, it will take a few years for the reality of the diminishing quality now extant to come to market realization and when it does sales will inevitably be impacted.
I have an 07 Camry SE with black interior with no leather. I'm wondering is there any products that prevents the doors from getting scuffed up. I'm careful with my side, but the passenger's door has several light marks which are very noticeable.
Hi!!....I know you guys will break this down for me...In your opinions, is the XLE worth the extra money, or is the LE with a C package the way to go....I'm from Canada...so can't get leather with the LE...but with what I have available to put as a down payment, and with my trade in....an XLE over 60 months @ 5.9% payments would be $543 per month...The LE same down payment,same trade, again 60 months @ 5.9% payments would be $361...over 60 months thats a difference of $10,920...your thoughts? Thanks
I'm not sure what the C package is (so some items may be included that I don't know about), but is this worth the extra $10K to you? * Reclining rear seats (no fold down then, just pass through) * Plasmacluster air purifier * Leather seats, steering wheel, shift knob * JBL 440 Watt stereo (with bluetooth and 6CD) * Dual auto climate * Yellow wood trim * Auto dimming mirror * Heated outside mirrors * Moonroof * Rims instead of wheel covers * Fog lights * Rear seat vents
I think only you can answer that for yourself. I didn't want leather or yellow wood, so I went with a loaded LE instead. I don't miss most of the features that the XLE has (we have an 05 XLE too).
Save your money. As a Canadian who has poured over the specs in minutea, the best deal to me is the LE V-6 without the C package. You keep the fold down rear seat. Leather is hot in the summer and bloody cold in our winters. Buy yourself with the thousands you save a set of 18" aftermarket rims and summer rubber, all the while keeping the steel rims for winter with winter rubber. Steel rims don't lose air pressure like alloy rims do. Although Toyota lists alloys as standard equipment in specs and lists the alloys in the C package as an option. Are they different wheels? You also get the V-6 without the electronic nannies VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) and VDIM (Vehicle Dynamics Intergrated Management), which to me means more money for vehicle maintainance and they won't let you have any fun with your 276 hp. Power seats suck big time especially if your spouse is quite a bit shorter than yourself. I don't know how many times I have been stuck in the rain waiting for my Bonnevilles seat to gradually meander its way back to allow me in. In my Tracker, pull the bar, seats back, I'm in. Okay you don't get some nifty gadgets like the outside temp in the mirror and a nav system, but how often would you use them. Yes their is some nice trim pieces but you can order some nice trim pieces through Toyota in accessories. Power sunroofs are prone to leaking when their seals get old and dried out. You can't just buy a seal, no no, you have to buy the entire sunroof. Price that little part at Toyota. Also with money you save, go out and get a killer audio system. This way you buy a nice car and have a lot of fun buying other things to make it nicer without spending as much as you would of if you had bought a XLE. Also, you probaly will not pass another Camry like it.
Went into preferences and it says the Canadian flag is picked, but is not displayed with my post. Have flags been dumped in the sea of polictical correctivness?
Complaints department? Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, slay me, you really slay me, LOL. Next your going to tell me there is a suggestion box. back atcha. Good one.
Does anyone know where the oil filter is on a '07 SE V6. I wouldn't think this would be a difficult thing, but I haven't been able to find it. Do you have to take any covers off to locate? Please help.
For the 6cyl, it's an internal element, that fits up inside an assembly (the oil filter cap) that is part of the engine. Look on the bottom, front side of engine bottom, by the crank pulley.
Thanks. One more question. I went to my local Toyota dealer and the oil filter he sold me was the external screw on type. I just looked at the applications listed for the #90915-YZZG1 oil filter he sold me and the 3.5L V6 (2GR-FE) is not listed. Do you know the correct filter #?
Thank you so much for the great site. I have been waiting years for automobile manufactures to develop such sites where you can see all of the features of the car in action. Every automobile manufacturer should have such sites available for all of their cars.
BTW, just curious, on the '07 Camry Nav system, can you change the voice between male and female? I didn't see any mention of this option on the site or in the online manual.
I checked out a '07 CE with manual tranny, and really liked it. One thing I forgot to check was how easy it was to change the oil and filter. Would I need to put it on ramps? I can fit under a Corolla to change oil without ramps, if that helps.
I drove a '07 CE with a manual transmission (this has to be rare!) I liked it, but the shifter felt like it was too far to the right. I am sure I would get used to it, and it did not cause me any problems, but I was just wondering if any others had similar opinions?
Comments
I see there was an incident in Kumamoto tuesday involving a problem that happened in 2004. Would you care to give us more info on the subject.
-torn8o
Thank You,
John
I am shocked in all of my searches on every message board I could find, I must be the first person to have tried this b/c it was a DISASTER.
First the installer disconnected the amp under the seat (I have the JBL non-Nav system). We unplugged the amp from the system and for grins turned the car on. I could not turn the volume anymore. Obviously no sound would come out b/c the amp was not hooked up, but when I turned the volume knob the numbers would not go up and down on the deck.
Revelation #1: The amp is tied to the deck w/ bi-directional info traveling between the head unit and the amp. So we CANNOT disconnect the amp.
Side point: The JBL amp is a piece of junk and anyone who thinks it is really 8 channel 440W or anything resembling that is crazy. The thing was tiny and weighed about 2 pounds. I bought a 4 channel JL Audio amp that is 3x bigger and probably 4x heavier and from my experience in home equipment weight matters in an amp.
So we decided to install a line converter (basically a device that takes an amplified or speaker level input and turns it back down to a signal level input for an amp), keep the existing amp, and install the new amp under the drivers seat. Just for those wondering, this would mean the head unit would send a signal (turns out to be digital - more on that later) to the factory JBL amp to be amplified then I would send that signal to the line converter to be 'reduced' to a signal to send to a real amp and then on to the speakers - not very elegant to say the least.
Revelation #2: After a few minute of running wire and now trying to install the new amp under the driver seat - removing seat, running wires under the center console, etc, a new problem was realized. The signal out of the JBL amp is already crossed over i.e. the input to the front door speakers is only low frequency. So we would not be getting a full range signal to amplify to send to my new speakers.
So some more pondering occurred. Then we went on a hope that maybe the signal from the head unit to the JBL amp could be used directly. The installer thought it was a digital signal, but we tried to check anyway. We hooked up a meter to it and it did not appear to be Analog so no dice.
So we hooked up everything like it was minus a lot of wires now have splices.
Next step - Order a Audio Control LC8. It is a device that takes speaker level inputs and converts to signal (like a line converter) but also does signal summing which solves the crossover output issue.
Hopefully good news next week.
Moral of the story - Toyota is doing everything in its power to make this difficult.
I think most Camry buyers, given the demographic, just don't care to undertake what you're doing. I think the JBL is great in this car, if you don't that's cool, but it doesn't make the rest of us "crazy".
~alpha
Now I have't driven the best for any length of time so my perspective is skewed and I admit that. However given the demographic of who the likely buyers of a Camry ( or Accord or Sonata or Altima ) are the sound is beyond any I have ever heard in miles and miles of driving these.
2. This amplifier uses high-frequency switching techniques to re-build audio-band analog signals for the speakers. This is the same technique used in most home theater amplifiers with 5+ channels. It wastes almost no power (little need to cool the amplifer) and usually sounds acceptably good (less than 0.1% THD) but not audiophile quality level. Switching amplifiers are also light, but that does not directly imply that they are cheap (though they may be).
3. Please note that speakers are the main cause for poor sound, not amplifiers.
4. There are no crossovers in such systems : A Digital Signal Processor shapes the signals, similar to a band equalizer for each channel. Aside from the specialized low frequency outputs (4) and rear tweeter outputs, I suspect that the equalizer is not too flat for the so-called full-range speakers under the windshield, in order to compensate for their shortcomings.
5. Jose explained quite clearly that he used the full-range signals from the front speakers to supply the new tweeters in the front doors.
Yes, such systems are a way to keep customers bound to JBL, but they also simplify amplifier cooling, reduce amplifier and wiring weight, improve fuel economy and reduce costs.
Some great info and you are obviously more informed than I was when I began this project. I am just surprised that no one else had run into the pitfalls in this system compared to every other car stereo system
Replacing speakers and amps has always been a pretty simple project, but that is now no longer true. At least according to every installer I talked to, no one was aware of these issues on a Toyota, so I think this is the first year they have done this.
I don't consider myself an audiophile by any stretch. Beyond adding a CD changer I have been happy w/ the factory system in a Nissan Maxima, Jeep Grand, and a Yukon.
On to your points:
1. I guess this is confirming that the signal from the head unit is digital and not a normal analog pre-amp signal. I don't believe this is normally done.
2. I think you are referring to digital amps. I don't think most home systems are digital but I know there are a few units available.
3. I agree, the main thing I wanted was a better front speaker system. I wanted a true full range speaker in the front b/c the woofer only in the door and the 2.5" was not acceptable. So like Jose who put in a full range 6x9, I was putting a full range component type 6.5", but I thought while we are screwing around for the install go ahead and replace the amp b/c like speakers the factory amps are usually cheap too.
4. I was surprised that there were no knobs or crossover buttons or anything on the amp. I guess w/ the LC8 device we are going to be able to sum the signal of the woofer and the 'full-range' dash, hopefully this will be a good true full range signal. This may be my biggest concern after your comments.
5. Before this process I would not have considered this b/c I would have assumed there would be too much load on one pair of channels on the amp to have the new speaker on the same channel as the front dash, but I now don't know.
Class "A" are 35% or less efficient. Class "B" (push-pull) are less than 65% efficient.
When you see home theater amplifiers rated at 100W per channel that never get hot, you can bet they use special tricks, like multi-rail supplies and switching and/or digital techniques.
My 1974 class "B" Dynaco has a distorsion level of 0.005%, while Sony's STDRE565 (out of memory) has 0.05%.
Keep us posted - I'd like to improve my Camry's sound too.
But I do agree this review goes over the top, plus the writer didn't even get his facts straight, like his comment about buying extra airbags. Uh, all airbags, side curtain, side, and driver knee, are standard.
Regarding the styling, well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
I think the review is spot on.
From a review of the various automotive boards, it is becoming patently obvious that quality issues are emerging in both the Toyota and Lexus lines. The brands' present market standing is based on the quality of years gone by. As was the case with Mercedes, it will take a few years for the reality of the diminishing quality now extant to come to market realization and when it does sales will inevitably be impacted.
Thanks
* Reclining rear seats (no fold down then, just pass through)
* Plasmacluster air purifier
* Leather seats, steering wheel, shift knob
* JBL 440 Watt stereo (with bluetooth and 6CD)
* Dual auto climate
* Yellow wood trim
* Auto dimming mirror
* Heated outside mirrors
* Moonroof
* Rims instead of wheel covers
* Fog lights
* Rear seat vents
I think only you can answer that for yourself. I didn't want leather or yellow wood, so I went with a loaded LE instead. I don't miss most of the features that the XLE has (we have an 05 XLE too).
You keep the fold down rear seat. Leather is hot in the summer and bloody cold in our winters.
Buy yourself with the thousands you save a set of 18" aftermarket rims and summer rubber, all the while keeping the steel rims for winter with winter rubber. Steel rims don't lose air pressure like alloy rims do. Although Toyota lists alloys as standard equipment in specs and lists the alloys in the C package as an option. Are they different wheels?
You also get the V-6 without the electronic nannies VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) and VDIM (Vehicle Dynamics Intergrated Management), which to me means more money for vehicle maintainance and they won't let you have any fun with your 276 hp.
Power seats suck big time especially if your spouse is quite a bit shorter than yourself. I don't know how many times I have been stuck in the rain waiting for my Bonnevilles seat to gradually meander its way back to allow me in. In my Tracker, pull the bar, seats back, I'm in.
Okay you don't get some nifty gadgets like the outside temp in the mirror and a nav system, but how often would you use them. Yes their is some nice trim pieces but you can order some nice trim pieces through Toyota in accessories.
Power sunroofs are prone to leaking when their seals get old and dried out. You can't just buy a seal, no no, you have to buy the entire sunroof. Price that little part at Toyota. Also with money you save, go out and get a killer audio system.
This way you buy a nice car and have a lot of fun buying other things to make it nicer without spending as much as you would of if you had bought a XLE. Also, you probaly will not pass another Camry like it.
Here's the complaint department
The 4 cyl is the more typical external filter.
You can access the same thing online at:
Toyota i-Guide
BTW, just curious, on the '07 Camry Nav system, can you change the voice between male and female? I didn't see any mention of this option on the site or in the online manual.