Recent content by EvergreenPearl

Not arguing for any particular option, just looking for info. As I see it, options are: 1. Denso - $100+ and seems to last, but eventually breaks at the pipe and leaves you stranded. (or am I reading previous posts wrong?) 2. Aftermarket brand X - $30 and will develop a slow leak after a...

Totally get that perspective. Isn't it the plastic Denso one that is breaking at the pipe, though? Maybe I'm reading other posts wrong? Anybody got a non-plastic option that they can give a medium- or long-term review of?

Looking at my Rockauto order history...looks like I ordered a Four Seasons almost exactly 3 years ago, just a few months after I got the 4runner. I feel like I got another one at some point but I could be making that up. Getting three years out of a plastic part that gets yanked around a bit...

Any long term-review on using this metal valve? I'm not wanting to pay $100+ for an OEM plastic one that could break but getting sick of having to replace a leaky $15-20 non-OEM one every year or two.

Tool available After sitting on the parts for a few months I finally got this done. Huge difference in the play of the drivers side CV axle. Steering feels more responsive at slow speeds, and maybe less vibration around 50-60mph. Anybody need the ECGS bearing removal tool? Let me know.

Thanks all for your help with this. I ended up taking it to my trusted independent mechanic. He got it started by squirting some oil into the cylinders, cleaning off the (1 day old) spark plugs, and then firing it up. Not sure why or how that made such a difference, but not complaining. It was...

No dice with the starting fluid. That probably means no spark, right? I pulled the spark plugs and they were soaked, dirty, and reaked of gas. I had my wife crank it with the plugs out and more stuff (probably gas) came out. Stuck a camera into the Spark plug tubes and the nice layer of carbon...

I'm already pretty much done with the re-teardown anyway, so that's the plan next time I can get to it in a couple days. I took a look at my neighbors 3rd Gen and you guys were right that the random bolt was a goose chase. It looks like an installation feature. He had just an empty bolt hole...

Good thoughts. Thanks guys, keep em coming and I'll dig back into it in the next couple days. I'm hopeful to not have to dig all the way down to that cam shaft again but I will if I have to. Devbot, the plastic piece went down into a big hole at the drivers side front below and in front of the...

True for sure. Unless I missed some key electrical connection or or fuel connection. The valve cover job itself was actually really smooth and kinda fun.

Yes on the FSM directions for the cam shaft. Lined up the single dot (driver side), torqued bolts in order, used the little retainer bolt, etc. After reinstall, when turning the camshaft with a wrench everything seemed normal. This seems like a logical place for a screw up but I think I got...

And here's the bolt itself, while on the disassembled lower plenum. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Here's the area where that lonely brass bolt is... Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

OK, I'm at my wits end with this and need HELP. Just finished a valve cover gasket job and now have a crank no start situation. First, the big screwup: Despite many warnings from mtbtim and others, I broke off a piece of the plastic "wire protector" and dropped it down into my engine on the...

Thanks for this thread. Dug into VCG job tonight and noticed lots of crystalized coolant in that valley, drivers side, mostly towards the front, just like yours. I was thinking head gasket until I saw this thread. Hopefully my issue is the same as yours and not worse. Will take another...