1GR-FE Blown. Replace?

[derekdevasia]

Hey folks,

I've searched and there's not much information on it. I have a friend who has a 04 4runner with 236,000 miles. Just recently, their grandmother was driving the car and the water pump failed, not knowing any better, she continued driving it. Eventually the engine overheated after this and the engine is a goner. Just clicks. The mechanics told them it would be 4500 for a new engine and about 6500 total dollars worth of work to get it fixed up. MY question is, if I was to buy this 4runner from them, I have a v8 4runner, would it even be worth it to fix her up? I'd be getting it for 500 dollars which I believe is a steal, even for just a parts car. However, I've been looking online for 1GR-FE engines and they are for some reason way overpriced over say a used 2UZ-FE engine. Anyone know a good reputable place to get these engines used? I have two friends who are master tech's that would gladly help me, just wondering if anyone has had experience with replacing a 1GR-FE engine in their 4runner. I would not want to sell it, I would just give it to my younger sister to use as her first car. The car is in perfect shape otherwise, no accidents and all highway miles. Tranny fluid has been changed and dealership records. Just never got the water pump changed. Which lead to it's death. Let me know what you all think.

 

[fdbyrne]

If there was nothing wrong with it but the engine I'd hop on it in a heartbeat for $500. I've seen completely rebuilt 1GR-FE's on eBay (OEM parts used with perfect of 100% positive feedback and reviews) for about $2500 shipped. An independent shop should be able to make the swap easily enough.

 

[CookieRoe]

For $500, I'd jump on it too. Search member theJosh, he rebuilt his 1GRFE and ran into issue. You HAVE TO MAKE sure you get your year 4R. In other words, you can't get a 2008 GRFE for it. It has to be a 2004. Just throwing that out there.

I ALMOST picked up a 1991 (or 92, can't remember) 4Runner V6 SR5 for $500 in the poconos several months back. I was willing to bet that the motor was blown, but my friend and I know someone who would've done it for crazy cheap. Anyway, got sold when my friend went back for it a few hours later after he saw it and contacted me. UUrghhhh.

 

[fdbyrne]

That's a good point about compatibility. I don't think that you have to get the exact same year that you already have (2004 to 2004) in this case, but there is a range of compatibility. Not any 4.0 will work. I believe that 2003 - 2005 V6's were the same but I very well might be wrong.

 

[V8Man]

I would buy it today for $500. Since the car is not needed as a daily driver time is on your side. I would pull the engine, break it down and see if it is worth rebuilding. If it is, go that route because you now know the engine. If you go the route of swapping from a wrecked truck you know nothing about what you’re getting. Maybe the previous owner never changed any fluids.
The other option, besides buying new one, is a buying a rebuilt short block. For a truck with 236k on the clock that may be the way to go.

 

[CookieRoe]

Cam Position Sensors not compatible........

That's a good point about compatibility. I don't think that you have to get the exact same year that you already have (2004 to 2004) in this case, but there is a range of compatibility. Not any 4.0 will work. I believe that 2003 - 2005 V6's were the same but I very well might be wrong.

1) http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-g...oner-warped-head-long-block-4.html#post424241

2) http://www.toyota-4runner.org/probl...d-v6-engine-4th-gen-4runner-6.html#post226351

Cool threads for information. Sucks what they went through, but yeah. Getting the exact year 4Runner would GREATLY reduce any issues.

 

[Gumps_runner]

I purchased a replacement motor for 04 V6 runner. It was approximately 3 years ago. It was supposedly a motor from a vehicle in Japan with low milage under 50K. I believe I was shipped the motor from a company in Texas. I would have to dig through my record to find out who the motor came from. So far so good, the motor was a clean specimen and have put approximately 60k miles on it since the replacement. I had a local mechanic do the swap and I was in it for about $5200. out the door with all the replacement parts that should be done while the motor was out. let me know if you want me to look up the company I got the Motor from. good luck.

 

[NuclearN8]

buy it for $500!

Take it home and figure out the motor, break it down and learn something with your friends help... you can likely rebuild it by installing a new head gasket and decking the heads along with getting a new WP... and be into it for less than 2K total if you don't have to pay for labor outside some cases of beer (hey, you said they were your friends ...

If the engine rebuild doesn't work out, you can easily sell the parts for more than $500, then call a junkyard and they'll pay you another $500 for the scrap metal (and come tow it away).

this is really a no brainer if you have the room to store it while you figure out exactly what's wrong with it.

 

[derekdevasia]

I think i'm pretty much decided then. I'm gonna go ahead and buy it, meanwhile I have plenty of time to see what I want to do with it. I do wanna but a replacement motor instead of rebuilding it, So i'll keep looking at prices for low mileage motors from the same year 4runner. I appreciate all of you chiming in.

 

[wrestler157]

If you don't want it I'll buy it lol

 

[jmh139]

I just (2 months or so ago) replace the v6 in my 2004. You can buy an engine from an 03 or 04 only (I used a 03 and it fit exactly with no issues). It was really not that hard to do as long as you have the right tools. AND get the factory service manuals, do not try to do it with a Haynes or any other manual. I found my engine on car-part.com and had it shipped to me for right at $2000. As you noticed, if it was a v8 it would cost 1/2 of that.

My original got hot and the person I got it from keep driving it until it popped the head gasket and killed the engine. It was just easier and less expensive for me to get an entire engine instead if rebuilding.

I think i'm pretty much decided then. I'm gonna go ahead and buy it, meanwhile I have plenty of time to see what I want to do with it. I do wanna but a replacement motor instead of rebuilding it, So i'll keep looking at prices for low mileage motors from the same year 4runner. I appreciate all of you chiming in.

 

[dphoss]

2006 V6 4runner needs new engine

Where's a good place to get an engine 2006 V6 4.0l 4runner? car-part.com? What about Jasper engines (saw some bad reviews online). My daughter was driving her 2006 4runner (2WD, believe 1GR-FE engine) on the highway and she saw the oil light come on, then pulled over, saw white smoke. She had it towed to a Toyota dealership and they said the engine is blown. It turns but no compression. It has coolant all over and they suspect water pump went. The car is in great body/interior shape. I will probably get it towed to another shop as the dealership is coming in at $7400 (salvage engine)-$9600 (new short block).
This is the first Toyota car we've owned and only for ~6 weeks...really bites.
I am working with the place I bought the car as they gave me 7500 miles warranty but the car is 1000 miles away (Colorado) from home (Texas) where the car was bought.

I appreciate any help from the Toyota owners.

 

[CookieRoe]

Where's a good place to get an engine 2006 V6 4.0l 4runner? car-part.com? What about Jasper engines (saw some bad reviews online). My daughter was driving her 2006 4runner (2WD, believe 1GR-FE engine) on the highway and she saw the oil light come on, then pulled over, saw white smoke. She had it towed to a Toyota dealership and they said the engine is blown. It turns but no compression. It has coolant all over and they suspect water pump went. The car is in great body/interior shape. I will probably get it towed to another shop as the dealership is coming in at $7400 (salvage engine)-$9600 (new short block).
This is the first Toyota car we've owned and only for ~6 weeks...really bites.
I am working with the place I bought the car as they gave me 7500 miles warranty but the car is 1000 miles away (Colorado) from home (Texas) where the car was bought.

I appreciate any help from the Toyota owners.

Sucks to hear, hope you get your issue resolved. However, in your cae it doesn't sound like an HG issue, sounds like you water pump went, engine overheated and damaged itself badly. These V6s don't like to be overheated (understatement of the century).

 

[dphoss]

Thanks CookieRoe. I haven't seen much on the forum for remanufactured engines or good places for a salvage engines.

 

[dphoss]

Where NOT to get a 1 GR-FE engine

Here is an update to my plight on getting a remanufactured engine.
I bought one from ES Engines. I would advise going somewhere else. DO NOT USE ES ENGINES.


The engine from ES engines arrived and the shop that put it in said it leaked coolant before they even started it up (they do a vacuum bleed of the coolant). It was leaking from the head gasket.

ES engines asked the shop to check the head bolts...those checked out, then they asked them to pull the engine and send it back...only issue is they won't pay for the labor to pull it out. So I may be out another $1900.

I guess I expect if I pay $3100 for an engine it wouldn't leak coolant and was pressure tested, etc. before shipping it to the install shop. I'm not sure there is anything the install shop (an engine shop) could have done to it.

And of course my $780 core charge was not refunded because my core was too badly damaged.
I would not recommend ES engines. I also think they also go by AAA_engines. Forget the 'great' warranty 3 yrs unlimited mileage.

This is my first Toyota and probably will be my last. I had a Nissan (236K miles) and a GMC YUKON still going at 210K miles. I may just have bad luck but hate getting screwed in the process.

I probably should have gone with LKQ and got a salvaged engine. This reman engine was about the same price and I didn't want my daughter to go through any more issues with her Toyota 4runner.

Are there may 2006-2010 4runners on the road?

 

[Sean K.]

Here is an update to my plight on getting a remanufactured engine.
I bought one from ES Engines. I would advise going somewhere else. DO NOT USE ES ENGINES.


The engine from ES engines arrived and the shop that put it in said it leaked coolant before they even started it up (they do a vacuum bleed of the coolant). It was leaking from the head gasket.

ES engines asked the shop to check the head bolts...those checked out, then they asked them to pull the engine and send it back...only issue is they won't pay for the labor to pull it out. So I may be out another $1900.

I guess I expect if I pay $3100 for an engine it wouldn't leak coolant and was pressure tested, etc. before shipping it to the install shop. I'm not sure there is anything the install shop (an engine shop) could have done to it.

And of course my $780 core charge was not refunded because my core was too badly damaged.
I would not recommend ES engines. I also think they also go by AAA_engines. Forget the 'great' warranty 3 yrs unlimited mileage.

This is my first Toyota and probably will be my last. I had a Nissan (236K miles) and a GMC YUKON still going at 210K miles. I may just have bad luck but hate getting screwed in the process.

I probably should have gone with LKQ and got a salvaged engine. This reman engine was about the same price and I didn't want my daughter to go through any more issues with her Toyota 4runner.

Are there may 2006-2010 4runners on the road?

Not sure it's fair to judge the quality of Toyotas by buying a used one. You have no frame of reference for how the vehicle was cared for before you purchased it.

As for 04-09 4Runners.....you can't swing a dead cat around here without hitting a 4th Gen. Same with 3rd and 5th Gens.