4th Gen head gaskets

[1st_runner]

Hey All,

I've got a 2004 T4R V6 4X4 with 119K miles. I've always done the scheduled maintenance at the scheduled times. Does it seem a little early for both head gaskets to have to be replaced?

Lee

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Hey All,

I've got a 2004 T4R V6 4X4 with 119K miles. I've always done the scheduled maintenance at the scheduled times. Does it seem a little early for both head gaskets to have to be replaced?

Lee

It does sound early and if you're in need of headgaskets you're in a very small minority. The 4.0 in the T4R doesn't have many/any known issues.


:cheers:

 

[1st_runner]

According to my dealer it does. This all started 2 weeks ago Monday, when I started it to go to work, it shook and kind of sputtered. I turned it off and started it again and all was fine. When I started it to go home from work, it did the samething. After turning it off and starting it again, it shook & sputtered and the Check Engine and VSC TRAC/OFF lights came on. I took it to the dealer and they found a bad ignition coil and spark plugs. They replaced the ignition coil and did a full tune up and that cleared the lights. After driving it a few days everything was fine until that Friday. I started it, it shook and sputtered but it quickly went away. Saturday morning the dash lights came on again. On my way back to the dealer, the lights went out. Last Monday I took it back in to the dealer and the did a fuel injection flush and said that should clear it. Tuesday morning when I started it, it shook and sputtered and the Check Engine and VSC lights came on again. They replaced a bad fuel injector. The coil and injector were both for cylinder 6. I got it back this past Saturday and Sunday all of the problems were back. I'm now told it needs both head gakets. They did a water test on them and there's air coming out. The first 2 repairs cost a total of $1100 and now this is going to cost $4000!!!!! I bought this 5 years ago thinking I'd have a dependeble truck.

Lee

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Wow, that sucks! I would get an estimate elsewhere. You are way out of warranty and there are many very good 'specialty' shops. I'd find a shop that focuses on Toyota and let them have a look and give you a quote. The T4R is a high tech vehicle, it is not quantum physics. Any good shop can handle the job.

With 117k and all that disassembly I'd make sure they check the valve lash also and adjust as necessary when they re-assemble.


:cheers:

 

[peter78]

It does sound early and if you're in need of headgaskets you're in a very small minority. The 4.0 in the T4R doesn't have many/any known issues.


:cheers:

This is the first I have heard of it, but don't forget this is a new engine in 2003. It is the first all aluminum block truck engine that Toyota did.

Chris is right about getting another shop to look at it, Toyota dealers are going to be super high.

It sure does suck, I hope this is not going to be a big problem with the 4.0 V6's.

 

[Neil]

I have about 101k on my gold 04 4runner and have not had any of these same issues. My humble opinion is to take it to someone other then the dealer because they haven't fixed the problem very well so far. I will let everyone know if I run into any problems with my v6 over the next year to see if there is a trend. Good luck.

 

[1st_runner]

After calling the Toyota Customer Complaint Dept to complain about this, I heard back from the dealer. They said they're willing to knock off the $1100 worth of work and to pay for the new parts needed, bringing my out of pocket total to $2379. I guess I bought a Runner with a P.O.S. engine in it. An engine, in the span of 2 weeks, needing $5100 worth of work. I feel like I bought a Dodge.

Lee

 

[KB084RUNNER]

I'm now told it needs both head gakets. They did a water test on them and there's air coming out.

Take it to a shop where they will do a compression leak down test on all 6 cylinders before you spend another dime. It is VERY unusual for 2 head gaskets to simultaneously go bad. I think you are getting hosed by this dealer and they misdiagnosed the other work. Don't tell them anything until you check the compression.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Take it to a shop where they will do a compression leak down test on all 6 cylinders before you spend another dime. It is VERY unusual for 2 head gaskets to simultaneously go bad. I think you are getting hosed by this dealer and they misdiagnosed the other work. Don't tell them anything until you check the compression.

:iagree:

 

[Cornfed]

According to my dealer it does. This all started 2 weeks ago Monday, when I started it to go to work, it shook and kind of sputtered. I turned it off and started it again and all was fine. When I started it to go home from work, it did the samething. After turning it off and starting it again, it shook & sputtered and the Check Engine and VSC TRAC/OFF lights came on. I took it to the dealer and they found a bad ignition coil and spark plugs. They replaced the ignition coil and did a full tune up and that cleared the lights. After driving it a few days everything was fine until that Friday. I started it, it shook and sputtered but it quickly went away. Saturday morning the dash lights came on again. On my way back to the dealer, the lights went out. Last Monday I took it back in to the dealer and the did a fuel injection flush and said that should clear it. Tuesday morning when I started it, it shook and sputtered and the Check Engine and VSC lights came on again. They replaced a bad fuel injector. The coil and injector were both for cylinder 6. I got it back this past Saturday and Sunday all of the problems were back. I'm now told it needs both head gakets. They did a water test on them and there's air coming out. The first 2 repairs cost a total of $1100 and now this is going to cost $4000!!!!! I bought this 5 years ago thinking I'd have a dependeble truck.

Lee

Does it have oil or bubbles in the antifreeze? Steam coming from the exhaust? Antifreeze in the oil? If not, it sounds like you need a new mechanic.

 

[97hb]

Looks like the stealerships got you. Leak down test for head gaskets and comp test for rings. I have seen leakdown tests pass and still have a blown gasket though.

 

[SLED]

The fact that you've had your 4runner for a while, done scheduled maintenance, and the dealer has replaced the items you've mentioned, your engine trouble sounds very odd. I would normally assume the engine vibrating badly would be due to improper fuel delivery to the cylinders and/or fouled or shorting spark plugs, assuming the following other factors are in order:

- your timing hasn't changed (very unlikely with the V6 fixed timing chain)
- air flow is good (no dead rodent in your air filter box?)
- fuel delivery mechanicals are working fine (dealer already replaced some)

Could it be possible that you got bad fuel recently or someone (an enemy) dumped bad stuff in your tank? Otherwise, the remaining BIG culprit could be the electronic management system - of which I am definitely no expert, but the Toyota dealership's technicians should be!

If it turns out your gaskets are in fact leaking, my guess would be that's the result of the vibrations, not the cause.

Best of luck, I hope your situation works out without any more unforseen i$$ues.

 

[NCSCOTT]

Another thing you might do is take it to another Toyota Dealer. Don't tell them any of the history and let them diagnois the problem. Granted you would more than likely pay for an hour of shop time. Tell them not to repair/replace anything until they speak with you. Then you can cry foul if they want to try anything that was already done.

I would guess the dealer is following a flow chart of sorts. If X codes are present, and vehicle running rough, replace X part. If already replaced X part test/replace Y part Ect........

They might just be going straight down the line without much thought. Easy in easy out is what they are shooting for. The more vehicles they push through the shop in one day the more they get paid.

 

[wazzuFreddo]

Sounds like they are Easter egging the problem on your dime. I would take it to another shop.

Did they even check the fuel filter? Are the CAT and o2 sensors ok?

 

[colombo]

Oh, here is some of my infinite knowledge.
I know for sure (100%) if the head gasket is gone, car uses a lots of coolant, cause it gets into combustion chamber. Second, there must be white smoke coming out of exhaust pipe (your coolant).
If you do not observe any of those, your head gaskets are fine.

 

[tommyk]

headgasket problems 4.0

Seems like Toyota maybe going to have another recall added to their list. Anyone having problems with head gasket should get ahold of Toyota with a complaint!Make copies of all emails repair bills and send them to their corporate office, and send them often! You will not get anywhere not doing anything. Post your complaints on every site that you can because their are others out their that are not aware of it.Most of the ones I see that fail seem to be around cylinder#6.Some of the leaks are so small that they will cause other problems like catalytic converter problems!

 

[Robs08Runner]

Was the coolant ever changed?

 

[TRDCal]

FYI, this thread is 4 years old. As for a recall, never going to happen. It's not a safety issue and the HGs only go after the warrantly period. Plus the same 4.0 doesn't have issues in other platforms, there are Tacoma's with 300k miles no problems.

 

[BCfish]

I really think it has to do with the way the vehicle is used/driven. Cause with the amount 4.0l V6 out there in Toyota products I'm pretty sure there would be more than a few hundred cases out of the 10,000s that are out there

 

[kao]

FYI, this thread is 4 years old. As for a recall, never going to happen. It's not a safety issue and the HGs only go after the warrantly period. Plus the same 4.0 doesn't have issues in other platforms, there are Tacoma's with 300k miles no problems.

There are plenty issues with prado 120 1gr. So it is common issue.