Another Blown Head Gasket

nated05

nated05

New member
My issue started a few months ago with a rough idle at startup. It lasted a few seconds then stopped and the engine ran fine. Then a few weeks later the rough idle lasted a bit longer and the check engine/vsc/atrac lights came on. So a quick diagnostics scan and it came back with the dreaded P0306 cyl. 6 misfire. I also noticed the engine coolant reservoir was pretty much empty.

The rough idle would come and go, some weeks it was fine, other weeks it happened every day. Then a few weeks ago I had the usual rough idle, but I started to notice misfiring while driving. I could feel the engine loose power for a second especially while accelerating. So I bit the bullet and took it to the dealer. $90.00 and two trips later they told me it is the 6cyl injector ($600 repair).

Well, after reading on this forum I decided to do my own diagnostics. I borrowed a comp. gauge from Autozone and did a compression test.

Should be: 145psi min - 185psi max, with a 15psi max diff. between cyl.

My results:
Cyl 1 = 160psi
Cyl 2 = 30psi
Cyl 3 = 170psi
Cyl 4 = 40psi
Cyl 5 = 160psi
Cyl 6 = 165psi

My conclusion, blown head gasket. Local shop and dealer quoted $3-3.5K for repair. I love my 4r and had no issues until this one, but I just didn't have $4k to spend on repairs.

So I traded it in at the dealer, they subtracted their cost for the 6cyl injector ($400) and new tires (70k miles on my Dest AT). I now have a new 2013 Camry SE.

Best of luck, and I hope no one else has this issue but i'm betting others will.

Nate
 
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Just remember you traded in something that you could probably fix yourself in a weekend for 5 years of car payments.

Parts wise your talking 200-400 dollars depending on how much you replace. To do it on the cheap you just change out any gaskets and don't replace any parts you don't have too (like water pump, t-stat, etc) and for the most part a 100-150 tool set has everything but the torque wrench to do the job. A 30 dollar Hanies manual will outline the job and keep you honest with instructions on how to do it. The most importantly reason to do it is the self sadisfaction of doing it yourself and saving a ton of cash while learning how to work on your own vehicle.. But that is just me.

That said it is a shame the dealer didn't catch it sooner. It's a shame all they did was diagnoise it with the computer and what I assumed they didn't do is check the spark plug (pulling it out should have revieled a discolored plug).
 
Has there been any head gasket failures on the later year 4runners? 2007-2009?

Seems like all the failures are pre 2006 years.

I know Toyota made a change in the head gasket. Someone posted on here that when they purchased a new head gasket from the Toyota dealer it was redesigned/updated. It would be nice to know when this head gasket parts update was during the production of the 4runner.
 
The task to do this job is not that easy. The entire front n top needs to come off at the point u have just about a block left in the truck.

I have an 06 and have the same problem. I am building mine up though.
 
I can do basic maint, but this repair was way beyond my comfort level. The local shop said it was at least 20hrs of labor. My 4r was right at 127,000 when I traded it in.
 
Bummer. 127k gets me worried... I'm creeping closer and closer. Seems like a lot of other guys had well over 150k when theirs went. Keeping my fingers crossed that I never have to deal with it, but I think I'd go the same way trade it in to a dealer.
 
Does it make sense to trade in a broken car to a dealer? I would guess that the dealer will hard core low ball you if they know you have a head gakset problem. Probably give you $3k for something that is worth $15k without a head gasket issue?

IF, they give you more for your broken trade in they will probably bump up the price on the new vehicle that you want to purchase to make you THINK you got a good deal.

To the OP, how much did the dealer give you for the trade?

If I were you, I wouldn't even tell them about the HG issue and just trade it in. You spent $600 or so for the injector, its their fault they misdiagnosed the issue so I would not feel bad at all not telling them about the issue! Lots of times dealers do not even test drive a vehicle when you do a trade.
 
kiwiyoda said:
I don't think the dealer knew about the HG, only the injector issue they had misdiagnosed. That my take of the OP.
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Okay, that's better than.

Most likely that vehicle will go to auction so it does not matter much if its injector issue or HG issue for the dealer.
 
Whitebeauty said:
The task to do this job is not that easy. The entire front n top needs to come off at the point u have just about a block left in the truck.

I have an 06 and have the same problem. I am building mine up though.
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It's hard for me to define what is easy or what is with in someones comfort level. My rule has always been that if it just requires basic hand tools and it's outlined in a service book it should be easy. About the only thing extra a HG job needs is a torque wrench for install.

Remember the shop is most likely charging you Flat Rate which means someone determine how long it takes to do the job on average and that is what they pay the mechanic. If the mechanic can do it in 8 hrs they still get paid 20 and you get charge 20. A friend of mine who is a Toyota mechanic can do a tundra frame swap in 12 hrs, flat rate is around 36hrs I believe.

I can pull a Subaru engine is 2hrs and do the install in about 4. My first time it took me 2 days but once I knew what I was doing it was a lot faster. Now the Subaru 2.5l engines had head gasket problems! :wow2:

Chmura remind me not to ever buy anything from you. It's one thing to not know there is a problem and sell/trade something in, it's another to be dishonest and try to decieve the next owner be it the dealership or private sale.

That said head gaskets should be a non replacement item IMO. They should be good for the life of the engine. A well taken care of engine should go 250K without needed a HG. My father put 240K on a Toyota Cressida and he even over heated it a few times due to a radiator leak, the HG never let go. It was retired due to rust but the driveline was always reliable.
 
the norm is dealers screwing us, so.................

chmura said:
If I were you, I wouldn't even tell them about the HG issue and just trade it in. You spent $600 or so for the injector, its their fault they misdiagnosed the issue so I would not feel bad at all not telling them about the issue! Lots of times dealers do not even test drive a vehicle when you do a trade.
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Yeah, dealer didn't correctly diagnose the problem so it's basically their fault. [MENTION=4217]nated05[/MENTION] did a good thing and avoided a costly repair and in all honestly got a good deal for his new ride (Imagine their faces when they realize it's HG issue, hahhaha).

Reminds me of when I traded in my 97 Grand Cherokee for the current t4r I have. I came in knowing the Jeep's tranny was starting to slip and act weird (red flags especially for that gen Jeep's GARBAGE transmission). Couple of days later I returned for a small issue and the service manager told me that a guy came in and traded in a very nice jeep (mine), but the tranny was shot ....... hahhahahha, I didn't say anything. He had no idea it was me.

Anyway sad to see him (or any t4r.org member leave) go, but every house's financial situation is different. I luckily have a mechanic friend who ALSO has connections so in case I ever hit the dread head gasket issue or transfer case leakage, seized rotors, etc, I'm good to go.

Good luck with your new camry Nate! :hatsoff: Those new camry's are nice!
 
kiwiyoda said:
I don't think the dealer knew about the HG, only the injector issue they had misdiagnosed. That my take of the OP.
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Yes, that was the case. I felt guilty at first, but if they had taken the time to do the comp. test they would have known themselves. Any normal person prob. would have wasted the $600 on the injector only to have the problem come right back. I would never even consider selling that car to a private party knowing about the HG issue.

Thanks cookieroe I like it so far. The feature I miss the most is probably the automatic climate control. I loved the set it and forget it option.
 
nated05 said:
Yes, that was the case. I felt guilty at first, but if they had taken the time to do the comp. test they would have known themselves. Any normal person prob. would have wasted the $600 on the injector only to have the problem come right back. I would never even consider selling that car to a private party knowing about the HG issue.

Thanks cookieroe I like it so far. The feature I miss the most is probably the automatic climate control. I loved the set it and forget it option.
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Don't feel guilty. Like I said in my previous post this vehicle will go to an auction and be auctioned out. Injector issue or HG issue, will get auctioned anyway and the person that buys this vehicle at the auction will deal with it.

Dealers around my area do not have the time to fix a vehicle that is traded in (even if it were just an injector). It goes straight on a car hauler to an auction.

Just curious why you did not purchase a 5th gen 4runner through that dealer? Lost faith in the 4runner or just wanted something practical and economical?
 
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chmura said:
Just curious why you did not purchase a 5th gen 4runner through that dealer? Lost faith in the 4runner or just wanted something practical and economical?
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I needed something more practical and cant really afford a huge car payment right now. I drive 50 miles/day so the 28mpg is nice.
 
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