Recent content by head_always_up

Just happened to notice this now... My 4Runner had about 208, 400 miles when the job got done. The mechanic said he has seen many higher mileage 3.4L engines not needing adjustment. At least the feeler gauges with the angle...?

With a lot of my recent parts going in at the 180k to 210k range, the originals lasted awhile. So many original parts still kickin. Surely at 300k I'll have some comments about some of the choices I made, but virtually all of the important stuff was OEM. But on the 4Runner, I did go with the...

And the results are in... I decided to pay to have the 5VZ Valve Cover Job done by my mechanic and have him check the clearances. My logic was the same as started for the most part, which was that I am so busy I will pay to have the more time consuming valve cover job done (5VZ) and do the...

Oh no, now I'm hearing this? If I read this thread too much I won't trust anything anymore. I've been using Gates parts forever (where applicable) and Denso where applicable, in many cases. Some other brands here and there of course. Napa, Raybestos, etc. I'm better off not worrying about...

Fair enough. Only meant to imply that perhaps you had not come across a bunch of negative Monroe info on this thread at the time, or that might have overridden the recommendation you received. Never meany to indicate you hadn't done research.

25 years ago people weren't spending so much time on the Internet writing about this shit. Back then I bought some Monroe's and had no issues. I never really thought about it again and never complained. I don't like to spend too much time dinking around shopping and doing online research...

On the V6 the valve cover needs to get done. It's leaking, which is what started this, and I made the appointment with my mechanic in case I needed it and wanted him to tack on the clearances to the valve cover job. Then I started thinking I should do this myself even though I don't have much...

The mechanic I have lined up who would do this job, if I don't, already said the same thing. Which is that in his experience the V6 rarely needed much. If I did it myself, I would consider your idea quoted above. I don't know when either of these vehicles last had the adjustment, if ever...

Don't I know it. The best mechanics still don't do your own vehicle justice a lot of the time. And what about replacing the A/C Compressor for a customer and not addressing an obvious leak in the line? Then later offering to fix it for you for more money and another round of opening the...

I think mileage will vary. Evidence here is anecdotal, as some people will complain of short life and go out of their way to post it on forums like this one. Others go a really long time with cheaper shocks and you don't hear from them here so you don't know how successful they were. Nobody...

I own both the 3RZ and the 5VZ. I am competent at many tasks with my vehicles, but in my life I work a full-time job, have a kid, 3 dogs, am selling my house, and a number of other things. Time is precious. The valve job looks fairly easy on the 3RZ 2.7L. I am willing to spend my valuable...

Everybody always looking for the cheaper solution. I learned from experience, just buy the one that is available in a reasonable amount of time and reasonably cheap, and get the job done. Don't fret over 30-50 bucks. But when it matters, pay more. Don't fight to find a cheaper price. Like...

Don't Be Stupid I am amazed at how some young kids make a decision because of a single post, or two maybe. Kids basically means people under 30. Don't get defensive, most of you don't reach adulthood until about 35-45. Yeah, it's tough to hear. The older you get the more you realize it's...

Old Post But New Encouragement... If you replace the IAC and the issue doesn't resolve immediately, then consider other problems. Yes, I know this is old, but I just dealt with this. My IAC replacement made the high idle go down immediately. Cleaning it earlier did help temporarily. Things...

On my '97 SR5 the stains and issues are more toward the front of the vehicle, engine side of the sunroof. These sunroofs. Still trying to figure out what the issue is, which lead me here, which will lead me to some of the links posted above.