96 3rd gen with 320,000 miles, when to pull the plug?

[shootmymime]

So my family bought this car new in 96, maintenance records are up to date and everything is sound. that is up until last weekend.


my dad was driving on the highway 70 mph going hunting when he host power and the motor shut off and would not restart. towed to my old work. today they checked it out.

Broken flywheel center from the crank. its also due for a TB / WP and fluids. Price to fix $2,200. YIKES!

so is it worth putting the money in and keep driving it? when will the next part give? it has less than 500 miles on brand new Michelin tires ($1000) all around.

resale value on a broken truck is just about nothing. my parents are not in the position for a part out at the moment nor to have a vehicle being parted out sitting in the driveway. mom would hate the curb appeal of it...

So what are your thoughts?

 

[Justin727]

So my family bought this car new in 96, maintenance records are up to date and everything is sound. that is up until last weekend.


my dad was driving on the highway 70 mph going hunting when he host power and the motor shut off and would not restart. towed to my old work. today they checked it out.

Broken flywheel center from the crank. its also due for a TB / WP and fluids. Price to fix $2,200. YIKES!

so is it worth putting the money in and keep driving it? when will the next part give? it has less than 500 miles on brand new Michelin tires ($1000) all around.

resale value on a broken truck is just about nothing. my parents are not in the position for a part out at the moment nor to have a vehicle being parted out sitting in the driveway. mom would hate the curb appeal of it...

So what are your thoughts?

It is 2200 to do it all. Fix the Fly wheel and do the TB/WP?

If they've truly maintained it all this time and other then this issue it drove and functioned as it should then I do not see the problem investing 2200 into it. If they're in no position to get anything newer at the moment.

 

[02SE]

so is it worth putting the money in and keep driving it? when will the next part give? it has less than 500 miles on brand new Michelin tires ($1000) all around.

So what are your thoughts?

1. Only your family can decide that.
2. It's anybodies guess
3. Sell the tires?

I would fix it myself if it were mine. Your old work certainly isn't cutting them a deal. A competent Mechanic with the tools and experience, could fix everything listed in about half a work day.

 

[squabeggz]

Fix it and go for 400K+

 

[JayRolla]

Buy an OEM flywheel, pull the trans and install. Wont cost much at all. This is a known problem over 250k miles. Its not really hard at all if you have done some mechanic work before. Just takes awhile the first time.

 

[mxer]

It's not just the cost of the repair that you have to take into account it's the cost of alternative replacement which will be way more than 2200 and you won't have the complete maintenance history like you do on this.

 

[shootmymime]

Buy an OEM flywheel, pull the trans and install. Wont cost much at all. This is a known problem over 250k miles. Its not really hard at all if you have done some mechanic work before. Just takes awhile the first time.

yes that is certainly an option, but being a 96 with so many miles rust is slowly becoming a problem for the rocker panels and other areas.

Fix it and go for 400K+

thanks foe the input.

1. Only your family can decide that.
2. It's anybodies guess
3. Sell the tires?

I would fix it myself if it were mine. Your old work certainly isn't cutting them a deal. A competent Mechanic with the tools and experience, could fix everything listed in about half a work day.

Yes i could do the work my self, i have the tools and it would take a couple weeks in my drive way on my own time but it could be done. just im 3,000 miles away.

It is 2200 to do it all. Fix the Fly wheel and do the TB/WP?
yes that price reflects everything done and back on the road with fresh update... The shop has quite a large over head that like a dealer

If they've truly maintained it all this time and other then this issue it drove and functioned as it should then I do not see the problem investing 2200 into it. If they're in no position to get anything newer at the moment.

they do not need another vehicle. dad was going to use it as a strictly hunting rig only but now his company traded out the company car to a 2015 explorer he would now use as a hunting vehicle with unlimited (person included) use.



Update: My dad called me and decided to tow it home and put it up on stands and preserve the wheels and tires. Come summer a part out would probably take place.

 

[LittleCaesar]

What is the condition of the engine, as well as the rest of the 4runner? If good or better, then keep it. If not, sell it for parts. 20 years on any vehicle is good, regardless of the manufacturer.

If fixing it have them replace the flywheel and install a new rear main while they are at it. You can do the TB and H20 pump yourself can't ya?

What then would your dad use for a hunting vehicle if it was sold?

 

[LittleCaesar]

What is the condition of the engine, as well as the rest of the 4runner? If good or better, then keep it. If not, sell it for parts. 20 years on any vehicle is good, regardless of the manufacturer.

If fixing it have them replace the flywheel and install a new rear main while they are at it. You can do the TB and H20 pump yourself can't ya?

What then would your dad use for a hunting vehicle if it was sold?

 

[shootmymime]

It's not just the cost of the repair that you have to take into account it's the cost of alternative replacement which will be way more than 2200 and you won't have the complete maintenance history like you do on this.

but also purchasing another 3rd gen would have considerably less miles and most likely not be a 96 it would not have the HG problems like 96s have.

What is the condition of the engine, as well as the rest of the 4runner? If good or better, then keep it. If not, sell it for parts. 20 years on any vehicle is good, regardless of the manufacturer.

If fixing it have them replace the flywheel and install a new rear main while they are at it. You can do the TB and H20 pump yourself can't ya?

What then would your dad use for a hunting vehicle if it was sold?

he would use his new 2015 explorer. they have no need for another vehicle now.

the engine is sound as well as the rest of the drive train.
the rest of the vehicle is in fair condition. the body has some slight rust, interior carped is good but has a few wear marks around driver area. it also has the wood grain trim that commonly fades and cracks int he sun. but cloth seats look brand new. as will the paint. and other random parts of the truck.

Im currently trying to get some pictures from the shop.

 

[Link12]

What exactly about the flywheel breaking from the crank would make the motor shut off?

 

[shootmymime]

What exactly about the flywheel breaking from the crank would make the motor shut off?

i had that same thought? i would not restart because there is no way to turn the crank now.

 

[Link12]

i had that same thought? i would not restart because there is no way to turn the crank now.

If it just died I would wander if something else happened also. I would pull a spark plug and turn the motor over by hand and see if it still had compression. Just a thought.

 

[BoostedRNR]

It sounds like it sheared the flexplate around where it bolts to the crank. They won't be able to start it as there's nothing for the starter to engage. I'm wondering if the noise I'm hearing on mine is a cracked flexplate waiting for this to happen.... Did he say there was any noise prior to it letting go? Mine sounds like the Chevy LS motors lifter noise when they first start up, but it's coming from down around the bell housing area. It's only at high idle around 1000-1200 rpm's

 

[JayRolla]

It sounds like it sheared the flexplate around where it bolts to the crank. They won't be able to start it as there's nothing for the starter to engage. I'm wondering if the noise I'm hearing on mine is a cracked flexplate waiting for this to happen.... Did he say there was any noise prior to it letting go? Mine sounds like the Chevy LS motors lifter noise when they first start up, but it's coming from down around the bell housing area. It's only at high idle around 1000-1200 rpm's

Yes that is what happened to his as he said thats what happened, LOL. And yes the sound comes from bell housing. Usually happens mainly at idle, will go away in neutral. Pull access cover and you can really tell if its a cracked flexplate.

To the OP, it would only take a day or two at most if you hit it hard. And even with mileage and rust think of it this way. If you do the work you have that vehicle for some time, bloody knuckles and a new flexplate. Its well worth it. Parting a vehicle out is like 1000 times harder than swapping the flexplate. NTM you could sell it after that for a few grand easy with the mileage.

 

[ajonesnv]

You could get a JDM motor for far less than 2200.00 and if you can do the work yourself end up having a 96 with less than 60,000 on the engine.

 

[BoostedRNR]

Yes that is what happened to his as he said thats what happened, LOL. And yes the sound comes from bell housing. Usually happens mainly at idle, will go away in neutral. Pull access cover and you can really tell if its a cracked flexplate.

To the OP, it would only take a day or two at most if you hit it hard. And even with mileage and rust think of it this way. If you do the work you have that vehicle for some time, bloody knuckles and a new flexplate. Its well worth it. Parting a vehicle out is like 1000 times harder than swapping the flexplate. NTM you could sell it after that for a few grand easy with the mileage.

Ah crap, I better climb under there and take a better look at things. I really don't think it would take that long to swap out. Disconnect all the linkage, drive lines, electrical, crossmember, and you could probably get away with just pulling the tranny back without dropping it to the ground

 

[shootmymime]

Ah crap, I better climb under there and take a better look at things. I really don't think it would take that long to swap out. Disconnect all the linkage, drive lines, electrical, crossmember, and you could probably get away with just pulling the tranny back without dropping it to the ground

yeah, im sure the drive lines, and xcase and tranny has to come out, just like doing a clutch. but yours does not include a timing belt and water pump.

 

[JayRolla]

yeah, im sure the drive lines, and xcase and tranny has to come out, just like doing a clutch. but yours does not include a timing belt and water pump.

His probably could use a TB and WP too. You dont have to do that because the shop said you should. At that mileage I would just do the flex plate. Run the TB till it breaks.

 

[shootmymime]

His probably could use a TB and WP too. You dont have to do that because the shop said you should. At that mileage I would just do the flex plate. Run the TB till it breaks.

for us this will be a hunting road trip vehicle. not much fun if the TB breaks in the middle of nowhere in KS.

the more i think about it, i should just toss a new motor in it and go from there.