97 runner overheated bad..sell?

B

Bishard

New member
I've got a 97 4x4 2.7L 5 spd 4runner. I fell asleep at a rest stop with the A/C on for about an hour and a half. I woke and noticed the heat gauge was pointing straight up (past the red as far as it would go). The hood was too hot to touch and I heard boiling. Absent minded me tried starting the truck again about five minutes later and it sounded like a dying ford escort. I waited a half hour and it started fine and ran great. Got back on 95 and it got me home (500 more miles). 10,000 miles later the truck runs like it never happened but I've got concerns about internal damage that may have occurred from such a long spell of high temps. Is the 4cyl 3RZ really just that bulletproof? Or would parting ways with her and finding another runner be a good call?

Thanks
 
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Bishard said:
I fell asleep at a rest stop...
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Dude, you sound sketchy...:pimp:

You should check everything out, like replace all your coolant and engine oil, check your thermostat. If you heard boiling that is good, because it means that it never ran dry. The boiling coolant will still cool the engine, though obviously it will be at a higher temperature than it should be.

Check your oil for coolant. If there isn't any, then your head gasket is probably ok (at least for now).

I wouldn't say sell it and get a new one, unless you are going to fully disclose why you are selling it.
 
I broke my rear heater lines on my 98 (4 cyl) on the top of a mountain in the middle of the summer. I filled it up with the 2 liters of water I had but essentially had to drive 5 kms down a mountain with no coolant and the truck overheating constantly.

I then drove 400 kms, stopping every 15 minutes to fill up the coolant (or when the temp gauge started rising, whatever happened first)

When I arrived home I bypassed the rear heater, flushed the coolant (I had to fill it up with dirty puddle water more than once), refilled it with regular coolant.

After that, I drove it trouble free for the next 2 years when I sold it.

I was VERY impressed with the 2.7 after that, I'd bet that you'll be fine.

You probably want to investigate why you overheated though, you should be able to idle all day long without worrying about overheating.
 
So let me make sure I understand, it overheated 10,000 miles ago, it's been fine ever since but now you think you should sell it because it overheated? If it really did happen 10,000 miles ago, why the concern now?
 
Overheating

I had been concerned ever since it happened. My college graduation $ has given me an opportunity to purchase another truck. The overheating only happens on the beach in the summer, when idling or in traffic for prolonged periods...Having the A/C on seems to exacerbate the issue.
 
Bishard said:
I had been concerned ever since it happened. My college graduation $ has given me an opportunity to purchase another truck. The overheating only happens on the beach in the summer, when idling or in traffic for prolonged periods...Having the A/C on seems to exacerbate the issue.
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Huh, I didn't even catch that you have driven it 10k since then...

Don't worry about it. You should however figure out why it is overheating on the beach or in traffic, it should be able to keep itself cool. Have you replaced the water pump and thermostat since overheating it? I hope you have at least replaced the coolant since then.
 
if its overheating at stops its most likely to do with your fan. you probably have a bad fan clutch. With the car off try spinning the fan by hand a few times. it should not want to spin freely.
 
Bishard said:
I had been concerned ever since it happened. My college graduation $ has given me an opportunity to purchase another truck. The overheating only happens on the beach in the summer, when idling or in traffic for prolonged periods...Having the A/C on seems to exacerbate the issue.
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??? So then it hasn't been okay, it's continuing to overheat. I thunk we would all be happy to give you advice and to help you get it figured out but you need to give us the whole story.

Have you flushed the cooling system since the overheat? There very well may be a fan clutch issue as stated too. Have you tried turning the heat on when it gets hot to try to get it to cool down?
 
It's totally broken. I wouldn't drive it. I'd sell it to me for really cheap and go get a new truck. This has nothing to do with the fact that I've wanted a 2.7 4x4 5 speed for a really long time but can't find them. Nothing at all. Trust me. :)
 
Richard808 said:
if its overheating at stops its most likely to do with your fan. you probably have a bad fan clutch. With the car off try spinning the fan by hand a few times. it should not want to spin freely.
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I totally agree with the diagnosis but not the rest. The spin test won't tell you anything. I replaced my fan clutch two summers ago and I had both the old, bad one and the new, good one on my work bench. The resistance to spinning was the same. Here is a good article on how to test them. It was written for Beemers, but it applies perfectly to ours.

how to test a visco fan clutch - Pelican Parts Technical BBS
 
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Well overheating at stops, normally means the fan is gone (or something electrical not telling it to come on) or the thermostat is stuck open. thermostat is no big deal and is cheep, the fan on the other hand. I have had many that look like there working fine and bench test fine, but you can stop the spinning blades with your hand (don't ever do this!!!)......... I totally forgot where I was going with this.......
 
pcleary1210 said:
It's totally broken. I wouldn't drive it. I'd sell it to me for really cheap and go get a new truck. This has nothing to do with the fact that I've wanted a 2.7 4x4 5 speed for a really long time but can't find them. Nothing at all. Trust me. :)
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X2, beat me to it
 
Thanks for all the advice. Yes I've had it flushed and changed oil. I'm going to replace stat and fan clutch and see if that helps. I reckon I'm gonna hold on to her. To rare of a truck. Thx yall
 
Glad you are keeping her, sure it will be fine. So are 5speed 4cly more rare/sought after then v6 5speeds?
 
masphx said:
Glad you are keeping her, sure it will be fine. So are 5speed 4cly more rare/sought after then v6 5speeds?
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No its the 8cyl 5 speed that eludes us.......:lookout:


I think any 5 speed is desireable I had a 97 5sp loved it but love my locker and (auto) freehand to pimp slap whining passengers when crawling. Don't need to wait for a shift point to reach out and spread some 5finger love to forehead....:biggrin2:
 
it could also be a failing water pump or slipping belt can also cause this symptom.

how to check the fan

With the engine stopped and cold, look for obvious damage to the fan or belt. If no problem found, spin the fan by hand and note the resistence. Now, warm the engine fully, and shut it off. Spin the fan again and if it is not much more difficult to spin, replace the fan clutch.

aka when the engine is hot the fan should be hard to spin


also check the fluid level---and i hope ur not running only water and that u do have a thermostate in there
 
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