Belt Pulleys and Tune Up

[Maritimer]

It appears the vibration issues I've been experiencing are coming from my engine somehow, and I highly suspect it is bearings in the pulley mounts or something with the pulleys themselves. It may be the fan, the mount, or further inside the mount (is there the water pump in there?).

I'm sure a tune up of the engine wouldn't hurt for good measure.

How pricy can bearings and such get for those pulleys? And, what are the tune up things that should be done (some places are happy to check the battery connections and call that a tune up). Not interested on DIY as I'm way too busy to devote an afternoon or even an hour. At least at the garage I can do work while I'm waiting.

 

[LittleCaesar]

I'd start with something as simple as new plugs and wires, and go from there.

When bearings go, it is either heard or suddenly felt (seizes).

 

[Maritimer]

Cool. I'll give that a go, and see how things progress from there. I was at Toyota today, and yet again they said nothing is abnormal. It's definitely not normal if normal was how it ran before last summer. I don't want to throw money at it, but I don't want to leave it this way, either, since it feels annoying on my feet and hands. I thought of pulleys because I had the fan off last summer when I was changing the belts, and figure there's the chance I frigged something up.

 

[badattitude]

Can you get a second opinion? Is there another shop or dealer you can visit ti get their opinion?

 

[Maritimer]

I'll probably go back to my favorite shop sometime now that he is probably back up to speed after having surgery before Christmas. He thought it was the transmission mount over the summer, but that didn't change things.

Toyota said it was feathering, but it does it at rest, as well. The muffler place I went to get a new exhaust system done (on an emergency basis, basically) wanted to replace all the body mounts to fix it (costing $1000) which I'll pass on, especially since the exhaust was $2200. Not going to jack the price for parts I don't need.

I was hoping the exhaust would've changed it because the muffler was really shot, but I guess not. Now it's still there. It really feels like one of those back massage things, but not so violent. I especially feel it touching the top of the engine or the power steering fluid reservoir. Just a fast vibration, no variation. Same feel as that which comes up the 4WD stick or the gas pedal or the steering wheel.

 

[Mellow77]

The muffler place I went to get a new exhaust system done (on an emergency basis, basically) wanted to replace all the body mounts to fix it (costing $1000) which I'll pass on, especially since the exhaust was $2200. Not going to jack the price for parts I don't need.

Holy H*LL; what kind of exhaust did you get???

 

[HCurphy]

Holy H*LL; what kind of exhaust did you get???

thats what I was thinking...damn
I'm guessing new cats were included in that?

 

[PitbullRescuer]

$2200 for an exhaust system? Please fill us in a little better. That's crazy expensive.

 

[Kung]

That exhaust had better include a free 4Runner for $2200.

(Edit to add: UNLESS you bought an all-new exhaust system INCLUDING OEM cats. I could possibly see the price then, considering the horror stories I've heard about cat prices for the 3G 4Runners.)

 

[TheDurk]

One thing you should rule out ASAP is a loose crank bolt. Look carefully for any canting of the harmonic balancer. If that bolt is loose, it will eventually let go destroying the harmonic balancer ($$$) and possibly the end of the crank shaft (means a new engine is the cheaper fix). I hope it's not, but I would not waste time ruling it out.

If you get in there, re-torque to 217 ft-lbs.

Several threads on here by people who have had this happen.

 

[Maritimer]

The exhaust first. Canada sucks: front cat, 495.99; rear cat, 489.54; muffler, 278.40; tail pipe, 159.80; gaskets, 45.00; O2 sen gasket, 30.00; labor, 455.00; tax, 256.61; shop supplies, 15.00. I know--it ****ing kills me. Toyota wanted $2400, tax not included, just for parts.

I'm going to take the belts off and check my pulleys and fan assembly for a DIY check, and then I'm going to check the spark plugs. I'm highly suspicious I got degreaser or crap in one of the pulley axles, or got the wrong kind of grease worked into one. Spark plugs is the next thing--I'll check one for signs of gunk given that I Seafoamed over the summer. Have to check the MAF sensor for gunk, just in case.

I'll look at that ASAP, TheDurk. Thanks for the suggestion.