2004 Limited Edition 4Runner 4X4 - Head Gasket

[Baba Booey]

If you choose to rebuild your motor expect between 1 and 2 thousand dollars. Both heads need to be resurfaced and cleaned - $500+, gaskets for the top end 100-400 dollars depending on who you buy off of, and the actual labor to be performed which isn't that bad on this motor since the engine is so easy to access. Also be ready to recharge the a/c incase they unhook it.

The biggest dilemma is that the repair seems to be costing everyone around $3,000. That's a lot of money for a seven year old vehicle with 120k miles.

I recently had to replace a leaking radiator, new CV boots and new sway bar bushings. I'm wondering if I am better off cutting my losses and moving on or dropping an additional $3k and hoping that nothing else major happens for the next few years....

Edited to add:
I'd probably have an added expense of a rental car for at least a few days. I would use an indie mechanic, and he doesn't provide rentals.

 

[lunchindabox]

hello....I am new here (just bought an 04 4runner v8) but not new to forums or toyotas.

I have had 3 Tacoma's with the v6 4.0L---
an 05 with 143k
an 06 with 202k
an 07 with 70k

NO head gasket issues. And on TacomaWorld.com I don't ever remember reading of head gasket issues.

So, isn't it the same motor?

 

[jimithing]

hello....I am new here (just bought an 04 4runner v8) but not new to forums or toyotas.

I have had 3 Tacoma's with the v6 4.0L---
an 05 with 143k
an 06 with 202k
an 07 with 70k

NO head gasket issues. And on TacomaWorld.com I don't ever remember reading of head gasket issues.

So, isn't it the same motor?

It is the same engine. Here's a list of all the vehicles that have it:

Toyota GR engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I dunno how much of this thread you read but it's hard to believe some of these posters. This site has a troll that creates new aliases and posts about head gasket failures. I have no doubt that some of these are legit, I just think everyone needs to pump the brakes a little when saying there's a huge flaw with the engine.

Who really knows the service history of these ones with failures...it could be that it's some combination of poor maintenance and/or overheating that caused their head gaskets to fail.

 

[z4r]

...
I dunno how much of this thread you read but it's hard to believe some of these posters. This site has a troll that creates new aliases and posts about head gasket failures. I have no doubt that some of these are legit, I just think everyone needs to pump the brakes a little when saying there's a huge flaw with the engine.
...

Not sure why you would dismiss HG problems reported. I read thru the whole thread (once discovered mine was inflicted), and only see them validated.

Obviously more v6 out there without having HG problems, but the incident rate is higher than expected.

Saw some posts claiming HG problem at ~120k is expected or OK, wonder why people need to defend it that way. It's quite pathetic in my book.

 

[jimithing]

Not sure why you would dismiss HG problems reported. I read thru the whole thread (once discovered mine was inflicted), and only see them validated.

Obviously more v6 out there without having HG problems, but the incident rate is higher than expected.

Saw some posts claiming HG problem at ~120k is expected or OK, wonder why people need to defend it that way. It's quite pathetic in my book.

Head gasket failures at 120k are not okay obviously. What's pathetic is the troll on this site who has been banned multiple times for this crap (among other things). If you have read through this whole thread and the other HG threads you'd see there are plenty of others who are equally skeptical.

The majority of HG failures reported in this thread and others have been from posters who are not active in this online community. They post a few times and then there's a HG failure post and then we never hear from them again. So whether you think it's warranted or not it's suspicious given the history with this troll.

Tell me why you think there are plenty of reported failures on this website but few, if any, reports on the FJ or Taco forums?

 

[z4r]

...
Tell me why you think there are plenty of reported failures on this website but few, if any, reports on the FJ or Taco forums?

I don't frequent FJ or Taco forums, but if you do some simple search, plenty discussions (though I have to admit I haven't read them all) came up:

Do this in google.com:
site:tacomaworld.com 1gr-fe head gasket

you can try other variations on this (on other sites too). A general search shows this topic on varied sites.

Anyway, why would anyone try to pump up HG problems? Would it be advantageous for any 'fanboy' who defends it, since it'll be cheaper to buy 4runners? Or you think the ones that pumps up HG problems trying to get a better deal (thus depressing 'fanboy' resale value)?

It boggles mind.

 

[helo-mech]

Well, it looks like I have been bit by the head gasket bug. I'm not going to say it is related to a bad design of a head gasket or an engine design issue. At the same time, I am not going to just assume that it is due to the 201k miles currently on the 4Runner. I can sit here and talk myself into the fact that with that many miles, I should expect it. At the same time I can sit here and talk myself into feeling that it should last longer.

To cover the basics, 2004 V6 4x4 Sport with all major service done at dealer. I bought it with high miles knowing that it was little bit of a gamble. I got all the regular symptoms, rough idle at start-up, followed by the CEL, VSC Trac, VSC Off and a P0306 code about 6 months ago. Swapped the #6 and #4 coil, cleared the codes and went along with things. No codes for 6 months.

Two days ago I got the flashing CEL, VSC Trac, VSC Off lights and a very rough idle under load. Took to a buddy of mine at a major Toyota dealership and it had the P0306 code and misfire in #6. No overheating and no smoke. Got it home and I have since done the following:

Checked Oil - Looks clean
Checked coolant - Pink and full in radiator and overflow
Block Test - No hydrocarbons found / Liquid stayed blue
Checked Block Test Liquid - Wanted make sure the tester wasn't bad / 2 pulls aft of the muffler = yellow liquid
Swapped coils around - No joy / P0306 / Cleared code
Replaced #6 plug - a little better when cold / warm = rough idle and misfire w/ load / P0306 / Cleared code
Cleaned MAF Sensor - seemed better
Ran Sea Foam through intake via Ventilation Valve hose - Got the smoke / let heat soak / ran for 10 minutes pretty aggressively / seemed to run pretty well / got home and got the rough idle again followed by a P0306
Moved plugs around while at temp - P0306

Tried to do a compression test but the Loan a Tool I got wouldn't work. I'm going to look for a better tool tomorrow. Also going to borescope the cylinder.


I will test the injector once I get in there just to make sure I don't have an issue there. Maybe I'll get lucky as I start the tear down and find the injector bad, but with the symptoms I am not holding my breath.

Pretty mad at myself cause I bought this one with the purpose of not being out in the garage wrenching all the time. In the end I got blinded by the price and my lack of patience when it came to finding what I wanted.

 

[Greydog]

Or those of you quoted $3k-$4k, was that just to do one bank/side of the engines gasket replacement, or both heads gaskets?

Tx !

 

[Calimander]

My bill of 3 k was to do both sides but was without additional items like head planing. Or resurfacing.---Dave

 

[MT-4RUNNER]

I would think the best way for a 4runner recall to ever happen is to go public with it nationally through Press such as television and newspaper. If the US could bash a foreign name such as Toyota to help the domestic car sales of GM ("Government Motors") here in the US they would.

Then to cover there a$s and to act all willing to help, corporate Toyota would finally issue a recall and refund those who have had a head gasket repair, or those with faulty head gaskets that will go!

That's just my $0.02....

I say a large group of you should email editors of USA Today and other large News groups.

 

[Greydog]

My bill of 3 k was to do both sides but was without additional items like head planing. Or resurfacing.---Dave

Thanks Dave, that was my suspicion

I may also be heading down HG road, losing coolant and rough idle, no codes yet, 160k miles, V6, 2007 SR5 4R.

I've had many other vehicles which required HG replacement, so this is not news, but a bummer for sure. Based on the pics I've seen its a big job. I was hoping to get 200k before HG replacement but what can you do.

On the cost side, its lose/win situation vs having the V8 engine. If you expect a 200,000 mile service life, the V8 cost $7,700 more in fuel (3mpg diff @$3.50/gal) and timing belt jobs (2x$800). So, you're winning with the V6, even net of the HG job.

In any event, if we keep reporting to Toyota, perhaps there will be some partial reimbursement in the future.

 

[rattlesnake]

Just read though this thread because I'm considering the 4th gen. Did Toyota ever fix this issue? If they have a new gasket kit when did they start installing the new gaskets straight from the factory?

 

[savants]

same problem

Well my vehicle has been having the rough idle at start-up for the past 6 months on and off. Been through the same process like everyone else. Vsc, Trac off, check engine light. OBD II code P0306. Only have 96000 miles on the vehicle since I am the orignal owner. Did all the preventive maintenance myself. Only use the best items when I do all the pm because I use to believe it will prolong the life of the engine and transmission, 2 key essential parts to a car anything else is minor. I only use toyota super long life coolant and did a complete flush at 50, 000 miles. $26 a gallon. What it comes down to no matter what the skeptics say, its a cylinder head gasket design flaw and Toyota needs to own up to it. I too did call Toyota HQ and they told me no one else has complained of the issue I was having. I'm never buying another toyota. I'm probably going to dish out the $2000 for the fix. Please file formal complaints on the www.nhtsa.gov website. If we get enough complaints it might prompt a formal investigation.

 

[Greydog]

Hey Savants, that is a drag....can you comment on what year your Runner is?

 

[savants]

Hey Savants, that is a drag....can you comment on what year your Runner is?

2004 Limited 4x4, Sir.

 

[scottb]

Add me to the HG list

I have had rough idles issues for a few weeks now in the morning and the CEL has been on. I went to the mechanic and got the same P306 code and he checked my HG. He says it is so labor intensive and does not feel comfortable trying to fix it. Not sure what i'm going to do , it has almost 230k on it, not sure if it is even worth a 3-4k repair. I wish Toyota would acknowledge there is an issue here with this engine.

2004 4runner SR5

 

[BenSD]

I wasn't even aware of this thread, and started having some issues with my 04 V6 Sport. The heater wasn't putting out any heat until the engine hit about 2k RPM, and today while idling in park at a drive-up ATM, I glanced down and saw that the temp gauge was in the red.

I took it to the dealer so they could check it out. They ran a test, and found that the HG was faulty. I haven't had any rough starts yet, but I suspect I'm at the very early stages of this. I have 166k miles, and my truck has been very well maintained.

 

[lmcneese]

2004 2wd v6

Ok, so I have a 2004 4runner with many of the same issues. About a year ago, I started having rough starts, sometimes to the point of shaking. CEL/vsc trac, etc. I took it to a local mechanic who pulled the codes and it was the same as most of you have stated. Keep in mind, I am just a girl with a 4runner so I am sure I am not using all the right terminology. But he replaced one of the coil packs, spark plugs, and a couple of other things. It went away for a while and then a couple of months later started again. It was winter then, and I started noticing that the heater only worked when I was moving. Mechanic thought it was the heater coil, tore out the dash, and found that it was fine. I had also been noticing a weird sound under the dash, drivers side, that was like water rushing around. In the end, he just "bled the coolant lines" (???), and I replaced the gas cap. That was almost a year ago. Car has been running fine until the last couple of weeks. I was off work and not driving it as much, because I prefer to drive my daughters 2001 4runner that I just bought. It started with the rough start, water rushing sound, and heater issues again. Exactly the same as last time. He pulled the codes again, and it only shows catalytic converter (which I have known about for over a year as well). He bled the lines again and noticed a lot of bubbling in the coolant. He has come to the conclusion after all of that, that there is a cracked head gasket. Soooo, with 210,000 miles on it, and looking at 2500 to 3000 in total repair costs(including the cat. converter), I am trying to decide whether to just keep driving it and see what happens, trade it and have a new car note, or fix it. I love my car, and leaning towards the repairs. I figure it will get me another 75,000 miles or so once I fix everything. Who knows, I just thought I would tell my experience. I will still buy another 4runner. I have owned 4 of them now, and although this has been frustrating, I have driven it hard and it has been pretty good to me.

 

[BIGA1969]

Head Gasket

Well yet another Head gasket issue on my 1 owner for cared for mile 2005 4RUNNER V6. I guess I got lucky and noticed it at 150,000. Thanks Toyota!

 

[BIGA1969]

Head Gasket

Just FYI to anyone who has this issue with a Head Gasket, Don't bother with talking to Toyota like I did today, although they were nice to talk to, you might as well talk to a brick wall. They offered no help at all and the dealer wanted $2600.00 without replacing the water pump. I found one mechanic that is very reputable and I took it to him last night and this morning he took a bore scope and looked in all cylinders and sure enough, there was antifreeze in the number 6 cylinder while all others were dry. Oh he is doing the job for $2000.00 and replacing both gaskets as well as the water pump. He also pressure checked from the radiator and it went from 14 psi to 7 psi. I hope others are more fortunate than me.