2004 Limited Edition 4Runner 4X4 - Head Gasket

[nossliw]

I'm not going to be a dick, but the truth behind recalls on safety based issue is deaths/incidences per 1000. Don’t believe me, go do a little digging. Manufacturers usually only recall parts related to safety, and you will be hard pressed to get them to cover anything related to mechanical malfunction or excessive wear item. They will simply redesign the part and discontinue the faulty component, then replace with the redesign when it fails. To say 100k is an acceptable lifespan for a head gasket with modern technology, is a pretty piss poor fatigue and design basis for any manufacturer. Keep in mind that the majority of the big names are now designing vehicles so they can only be serviceable at the dealer. Quote me on that in 10 years and let’s see where we are.

Sounds like you have a diesel background as well. I run a business specializing in repair/performance, and one off truck design/diesel motor builds. The only motor that I have ever seen with a failed head gasket near 100k were the 6.0s. Eff they were blowing head gaskets with less than 50 miles on them. I blew a head gasket on my friends truck the day he bought it. This issue however was recalled by FORD because of the insufficient torque spec on the head bolts. Every GM, DODGE, FORD diesel motor I have ever worked on typically had OE head gaskets from the factory… and yes a lot of those motors pushed well past 300k before needing one (usually due to another component failure or lack of maintenance) . I have over 560k miles on a bone stock 7.3 with the original head gaskets. Had a 12v 5.9 in here last week with 739k on the OE upper and lower set. I rarely touch a head gasket unless we are studding a motor, for 60+psi in manifold pressure.

Anyways… I’ll get off my soap box. The point I’m making is this issue occurred on a low mileage engine in my opinion… Toyota’s response to my relative I fixed this motor for is “You need a new Engine”. Yeah GFY Toyota. I despise dealerships with a passion, simply due to their lack of due diligence and lust for a quick buck. Is TOYOTA going to fix the problem....hell no, go enjoy 3-5k for a head gasket job at your local stealership!

 

[nossliw]

2005, sport edition v6, 231k miles and I'm having problems with cylinder 4 misfires. Truck runs like a champ otherwise. Only getting rough cold starts every once in a while. My mechanic checked for hydrocarbons in the radiator. Got a low reading, but they are present.

My sisters had the same results when I tested it... I'm willing to bet you are in the same boat.

 

[gray_es300]

I've been reading for a while, but how common is this on 2003s? Everything I've read has seemed like it was like 90% 2004s and the remaining 10% 2005 with no real pattern regarding miles or maintanence

 

[miller507]

I've been reading for a while, but how common is this on 2003s? Everything I've read has seemed like it was like 90% 2004s and the remaining 10% 2005 with no real pattern regarding miles or maintanence

I'm on the same boat. Mines an 03 limited and so far no HG issues at 282,000km which is around 175,000 miles i think.

But sometimes I lose sleep over it.
Like a bomb waiting to explode[emoji37]

 

[czastrow]

mine fell victim at 176k. 05 sport. same symptoms and same problem in the same place. Add me to the list.

 

[Nako]

Add me as well, 148k 04 Sport.

 

[scrapmetal]

Mine was diagnosed yesterday. Good leakdown #'s, good coolant system pressure, but it failed a combustion gas leak test. '04 Limited 161k miles.

 

[mountainsky]

My cylinder 6 head gasket just went at 149k. '04 SR5

I called Toyota and filed a case: #1507292494

What have others been paying for the repair lately? I'm in the Denver area and the first quote I have is $3700.

 

[M1911]

Ouch.

 

[iBison]

My son and I did mine a few weeks ago. He's a tech and did the hard/important stuff. It wasn't that hard, but it takes a long time. Mine was down a couple weeks or so with the machine shop, ordering wrong bearings, etc. Maybe you can find a friend that would help for a smaller fee. If not look at independent shops. I bought the engine overhaul gasket kit, water pump, thermostat, new pulley bearings, one injector, new plugs, oil, antifreeze some bolts to replace some intake studs, new exhaust studs (NOT Toyota). I also bought felpro head bolts from rockauto, the last one we put in was bent. I sent that one and the old ones back. I was just under $900 with parts and $230 at the machine shop to have the heads checked pressure tested and milled and put new valve seals in. Bought the gaskets on ebay water pump, head bolts, thermostat from rockauto.

Pro tip, measure clearances on your valves first so you can get new lifters/shims if needed and minimize valve noise.

 

[Geri O]

There are others in this thread saying they had HG problems on other years but there do seem to have been a lot of 2004's. Maybe it's because they're 8 years old at this point and other years will soon follow - who knows. Against that logic, though, I'm not sure I've ever seen a 2003 reported. Someone should create a spreadsheet. Maybe if I get bored some day.

But I'm always a bit leery of people who come on here and within their first 10 posts they're reporting a head gasket problem. Some of them may be legit but Clockwork/EskimoChaos/etc is bound to be behind some of them.

In this thread alone you have these people reporting a HG failure

TracyScram - 1 post
thebitz - 9 posts
2004 Headache - 1 post
cpayne - 142 posts
lifesaver71 - 11 posts
PWNSportEd - 7 posts
sierra ss - 8 posts
cah283 - 8 posts
Mama_B - 1 post
Jeff T - 363 posts - unconfirmed as of this moment
Gumps Runner - 1 post

Again, some are probably legit but I have no doubt that some of them are Clockwork/EskimoChaos/etc.

This is an amazing and pretty condescending post, IMO.

Yes, My first post here was about a head gasket issue. Guess what? Some folks are facing issues such as this and search the great and almighty internet and accompanying forums for answers and idea about their issues. To belittle those posts with "some of them may be legitimate" makes me want to close down my participation here and go elsewhere in hopes of finding adults that know how to make intelligent conversations (which is your issue with Clockwork, but NOT with me).

Our story: Girlfriend's 2004 4Runner V6 developed the #6-cylinder coolant leak issue. At 200, 600 miles. When the problem started showing itself, I came here, did some reading and a question, and we went to the local shops and the dealers and found out that the repairs (warped heads from over-heating, definitely her fault, coolant pouring into the cylinder, overheating from coolant loss, chain reaction kinda thing) would be worth more than the truck is worth, based on what we have been told locally. Not to mention that even with the repairs, she would have a truck with 200,600 miles and the original transmission, AC compressor, etc, etc.

So she is today, the proud owner of a 2011 4runner with the same engine, which I will be watching carefully, as I should have been doing with the 2004. That 2004 served her, us, and 3 grandkids for 11 years and we have no grudges whatsoever about what happened. We've been in the 2011 since last night and except for slightly pokey acceleration compared to the 2004, it's a great vehicle!

So, Jimi, take up your issue with the people that are causing you the angst. Not folks like us that just wanted a little insight on our issue from the otherwise really awesome participants around here willing to offer their time and experience with folks like me.

Otherwise, have a good day...

 

[fdbyrne]

I don't think that he meant any offense to people like yourself who came onto the forum to look for advice. I think that what he's saying is that you can't take all the new posts about head gasket failures at complete face value.

Let's say, for example, that somebody has a head gasket issue and goes to Toyota (either the dealer or corporate) for help in getting it fixed after the warranty is expired. If it's a truly isolated event and just plain bad luck, Toyota is under no obligation to help you and probably won't. If you could convince them that the problem was more widespread by creating a bunch of fake forum accounts and posting about head gasket problems, you would make Toyota think the problem was more widespread than it is which may lead them to fix your problem for you.

There will obviously be new members posting about head gasket issues and nobody want's to belittle your problem or make you feel unwelcome. We all just want to get a true feel for how wide spread the problem is and the longer and more active a member is in the forum the more likely that the problem is legitimate.

 

[Geri O]

$5800 is high, most get quotes in the 3500 range from dealers.

Shop it around to other dealers and good independents.

Perhaps get pricing comparisons, meet with the manager and ask them to eat the $1k you already spent.

It's a huge PIA but they seem to be on the very high end.

2004 4Runner with "that" V6 engine. 200,600 miles. Not a single problem until this. It started leaking coolant into #6 cylinder. G/F let it run out of coolant and overheat badly. Heads warped beyond repair

I know it's 18 months later, but I wish we could have found an engine that cheap. The dealer and 2 local shops quoted us between 8K-10K for a rebuilt engine and that was if they could find one.

And even at the better prices, it's still an 11-year-old truck with 200,600 miles on it. Still has original transmission, rear end and other original parts.

So she bought a 2011 4Runner last night. Awesome truck. We'll figure out something with the 2004, but at least we can drive it home (her house).

We have no regrets or judgements about what happened to the truck, except for letting it happen. It ran flawlessly for 11 years. And it was run through the wringer between her, us, and 3 grandkids.

She is hoping to get a little money from Craigslist for it, but I hope to find a local "good ol' boy" mechanic that may be able to get it going without an arm and leg. all that remains to be seen. But we have chosen our path with the trucks and although it's resulted in a new car payment, we are happy (and aware of being way more vigilant with her vehicle maintenance!)

 

[M1911]

A forum admin may be able to determine whether those are sock-puppet accounts, by checking IPs.

 

[Geri O]

I don't think that he meant any offense to people like yourself who came onto the forum to look for advice. I think that what he's saying is that you can't take all the new posts about head gasket failures at complete face value.

Let's say, for example, that somebody has a head gasket issue and goes to Toyota (either the dealer or corporate) for help in getting it fixed after the warranty is expired. If it's a truly isolated event and just plain bad luck, Toyota is under no obligation to help you and probably won't. If you could convince them that the problem was more widespread by creating a bunch of fake forum accounts and posting about head gasket problems, you would make Toyota think the problem was more widespread than it is which may lead them to fix your problem for you.

There will obviously be new members posting about head gasket issues and nobody want's to belittle your problem or make you feel unwelcome. We all just want to get a true feel for how wide spread the problem is and the longer and more active a member is in the forum the more likely that the problem is legitimate.

Of course, you are right, except that I'm a little taken aback that because my first post is about this issue, I might be taken as less than genuine. Okay, fine, I get the reasons, fair enough.

I had a 99 Ford F150 truck that ran for 300,00+ miles without any internal engine issues, but 3 transmissions, 2 fuel pumps, AC compressor, and injector issues later, I can't say it did any better than the 4Runner, which I've sung the praises of, even though we had the HG issues with it. No, we aren't running to Toyota wanting a free engine, I agree, that would be completely asinine. Now, had it happened at 100,000, we'd be miffed, no doubt. But the fact that she let the engine overheat pretty much nails shut any case that could be made.

As I said, she's happy when it's all said and done. And thanx for your interest and response. Take care....

 

[iBison]

So she is today, the proud owner of a 2011 4runner with the same engine, which I will be watching carefully, as I should have been doing with the 2004.

It appears they changed the head gasket sometime in 05 and later year vehicles have not been having this problem that I know of.

 

[CPA not a Mechanic]

Lordy be! It is simply amazing how all of a sudden these guys are coming here stating head gasket problems. I don't believe half of this crap. I am good friends with 2 lead techs at 2 local Atlanta dealers and neither one of them has seen this issue.
Another thing that chaps my ass is when guys claim that Toyota needs to issue a recall! Go study what a recall is and get back to us. If Toyota or ANY manufacture wanted to help it's customers if this is really a major issue would be to do a special service campaign. Does anybody remember the 2nd Gen 4R head gasket problem? They extended that repair for 150K and 6 or 8 years, can't remember exactly.
BTW. The customer pay labor time on a 2007 V6 HG is 15.7 hours for one side and 18.6 for both. The current part# is 1111531031 for the RT side. 1111631011 for the left side.

My local Toyo shop just told me yesterday that he and two other advisors (mechanics) have no idea of any widespread HG issue as seen in this thread. He went so far as to say that HG issues on these later models like mine are unheard of. Maybe in some late 90's models, but not these he said. He ran my VIN against all sorts of updates and recalls from Toto and found nothing he said.

He said I shouldn't have done the Blue Devil HG seal, and they are going to swap 4 & 6 coils to see if its the coil. Then start looking at the plugs and injectors. I'm a non-mechanic so I may be using incorrect terms.

So I'll call and mention the bore scope test.

 

[fdbyrne]

A lot of people report that the dealer tries swapping coils, plugs, and other things only to find out that it really was the head gasket. The charge for all of the try-this, try that on top of the eventual head gasket repair itself. I'm not saying that they are or aren't doing it on purpose to drive up the bill. Who really knows?

The bore scope is a good start, a leak down test would be good, and they could also check the coolant for the presence of exhaust gasses. Mine was diagnosed by checking the coolant for gasses. The leak down test would probably be the most definitive.

 

[Griff 05]

I realize this is an older thread, so hopefully I'll get lucky with some input:

I recently changed the spark plugs in my 05 v8, as well as my oil. I performed the sea foam system into the manifold, gas and oil. I drove the car a week and a half or so later and got the check engine light. Did a diagnostic, and the engine is misfiring in 7 and 8. I put new coil plugs on, still misfiring in 7 and 8. Switched plugs 5 and 7, still misfiring. Could this be a head gasket issue? Why would that occur just by changing my plugs at 76k miles? There were no issues prior to changing the plugs. I'm using Bosch iridium plugs. Thoughts?

 

[ry_034Runner]

I realize this is an older thread, so hopefully I'll get lucky with some input:



I recently changed the spark plugs in my 05 v8, as well as my oil. I performed the sea foam system into the manifold, gas and oil. I drove the car a week and a half or so later and got the check engine light. Did a diagnostic, and the engine is misfiring in 7 and 8. I put new coil plugs on, still misfiring in 7 and 8. Switched plugs 5 and 7, still misfiring. Could this be a head gasket issue? Why would that occur just by changing my plugs at 76k miles? There were no issues prior to changing the plugs. I'm using Bosch iridium plugs. Thoughts?

Next thing to do would be to check the spark plus wires and see if they are good. If those are good then check to see if those cylinders have moisture in them and go from there