Ozsomeness
New member
How many cam plugs are on a 95 tacoma, 3.4 l? Are there 1 on the rear and one in the front? And also, are there 2 half moons on each side?
3.4 Valve Cover Gasket Replacement (part#s n pics)
- Thread starter Jon
- Start date
mtbtim
Elite Member
There's one cam plug on the back of each head. And you are correct, there are two half moons on each head. One on the front and one on the rear of each head. You can reuse the half moons. Just be careful pulling them out. Clean off the old sealant and reseal them with some FIPG or RTV.
Brand new to the forum. Just bought my kid a clean 2000 4Runner Limited 2WD and I'm about to handle the valve cover gasket job. Looks pretty straightforward with the exception of brittle harness chunks falling into the heads and the access to the bolts near the firewall.
I have a question about something unrelated to the VC gaskets but I haven't hit my 15 post minimum before I can start a thread. It relates to the steering rack. In my other kid's 2000 PreRunner there was an updated steering rack guide that significantly tightened up the steering and a discussion regarding this upgrade can be found here:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/70884-how-replace-steering-rack-guide-pictures.html
Is there a similar issue regarding the 2000 4Runner? I could not find any discussion of it using the search function and couldn't post a thread about it due to being a newbie here.
I have a question about something unrelated to the VC gaskets but I haven't hit my 15 post minimum before I can start a thread. It relates to the steering rack. In my other kid's 2000 PreRunner there was an updated steering rack guide that significantly tightened up the steering and a discussion regarding this upgrade can be found here:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/70884-how-replace-steering-rack-guide-pictures.html
Is there a similar issue regarding the 2000 4Runner? I could not find any discussion of it using the search function and couldn't post a thread about it due to being a newbie here.
octanejunkie
Elite Member
Welcome to the forum [MENTION=207787]rzgkane[/MENTION]
[MENTION=120071]mtbtim[/MENTION] has videos of both procedures, VCB and steering rack guides, on his youtube channel, search youtube for Timmy Toyota and you should find them all
Thank you! I will look up Tim the Toolman on YouTube.
I assume this rack update does apply to the 4Runner, then? Steering on this vehicle is still pretty tight but I like tinkering and that $20 would be well spent.
octanejunkie
Elite Member
Check this thread http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/82033-3rd-gen-4runner-buyers-guide.html specifically post #7
There is a chance that I'm legally if not actually blind but I don't see anything related to the rack guide in Post # 7.
octanejunkie
Elite Member
You're right! But there are probably better uses for your time and money than the steering rack guide on a new to you 4runner. I'd focus on lower ball joints, radiator, plugs and wires, belts, hoses, suspension bushings, brakes, etc.
No offense or duplicity intended if you've already addressed some or all of the PM mentioned.
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The radiator threads have me scared shitless. The last thing I need is a strawberry shake. I might do the radiator and valve cover gaskets at the same time.
firemanj92
New member
FWIW, I have a rack guide bushing for sale in the classifieds. It does improve steering, and takes about 5-10mins to do. If the rack has a large raised bolt on the driver's side facing to the rear of truck, it's an old roller guide. The newer racks 01+ have a recessed cap.
-J
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/sale-...d-gen-rack-guide-spring-cover-$80-norcal.html
octanejunkie
Elite Member
Lower Ball Joints are scarier because someone's life may be at stake, but yes on the radiator.
Check camelback toyota parts for $120 OEM radiator :thumb:
Just bought the radiator. No way I could live with myself if I got strawberry shaked for the sake of a $125 OEM radiator. From what I can tell, these things only last about 150K anyway, even if they don't intermix.
Sorry to keep posting stuff irrelevant to the original topic but I gotta get to 15!
octanejunkie
Elite Member
You don't need to start your own threads, every question you have has already been answered five hundred times over, lol
Look at Brian's sticky on the top of this forum as to how to search and you will probably find everything you need and can reply in those existing threads
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
Look at Brian's sticky on the top of this forum as to how to search and you will probably find everything you need and can reply in those existing threads
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
Buy some mtal tape that is used on dryer ducts to wrap the brittle plastic wiring harness. Got that great tip fro tim. I would not bother cleaning and reusing the half moons. Just put new ones in.
That said, even if the passenger side was not lealing I would do both sides. VC gaskets are easy once you get to the VC's. Why pull all the crap off 2x ? Parts are cheap too.
Might as well put i new plugs too!
Reading all the pages will only benefit you.
That said, even if the passenger side was not lealing I would do both sides. VC gaskets are easy once you get to the VC's. Why pull all the crap off 2x ? Parts are cheap too.
Might as well put i new plugs too!
Reading all the pages will only benefit you.
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You’ll also need the spark plug hole gaskets and the cam plug unless you reuse it.
First of all, great write up and thank you!
VCGs are the next large item on my list of things to fix on my 99 with 250K.
The drivers side cover is cracked (right around the forward most bolt by the filler cap), so I will obviously be replacing it.
My questions then are these: in the collective opinion of the forum, what is the likely hood I will find more cracks in the passenger side once the intake/throttle body/plenum are out of the way?
Is this crack indicative of a larger/different problem?
My desire to do it "right" the first time makes me inclined to just replace both, but that is also some 200 odd dollars that could ultimately go into the steering rack that I so badly need.
Thanks in advance for any and all replies, I've been lurking around here since I purchased my runner back in September, and am consistently impressed with the amount and quality of information that is available here.
VCGs are the next large item on my list of things to fix on my 99 with 250K.
The drivers side cover is cracked (right around the forward most bolt by the filler cap), so I will obviously be replacing it.
My questions then are these: in the collective opinion of the forum, what is the likely hood I will find more cracks in the passenger side once the intake/throttle body/plenum are out of the way?
Is this crack indicative of a larger/different problem?
My desire to do it "right" the first time makes me inclined to just replace both, but that is also some 200 odd dollars that could ultimately go into the steering rack that I so badly need.
Thanks in advance for any and all replies, I've been lurking around here since I purchased my runner back in September, and am consistently impressed with the amount and quality of information that is available here.
The valve cover itself is actually cracked? If the crack is emanating from the bolt - then the first question I'd ask is if the valve bolt is overtorqued. If you can get a socket in there, make sure that bolt is coming out OK and nothing is damaged or stripped.
You don't want to get it all the way disassembled and realize that you have a broken valve cover bolt or stuck bolt.
When I did my gaskets my bolts were surprisingly loose.
I can't honestly think of any other reason why the valve cover would be cracked, other than over-torque, so I'd check as many bolts as you can and see how tight they are. Passenger side is easier to get to than the driver's side once you have the air intake tube off, which is a 5 minute job. You should be able to spot any cracks pretty easily when you do that. But I don't think you'll see any.
I'd go ahead and just order one replacement cover and not worry about the other one.
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