Blown Head Gasket 3L V6 Recall information

[rustyrazor]

Here's the short version of the story. I blew the headgasket this past weekend. The 3L V6 is notorious for this problem. Toyota did a recall in 1998 and there is no deadline for when the work can be done. They will only do the recall once so if it was done in 1998 and you blow another head gasket it isn't covered the second time. I brought my VIN to Toyota and they checked it in their system and found that the head gasket recall was never done on my 4runner. They're doing the job for free.

I researched most of the info on another site. Here's the gist of the recall.

Quote:
3VZ

 

[Steve8v92]

You are lucky

 

[psychotron]

does the headgasket recall extend to Canada?

I can't find any info on this. and toyota is telling me there is no recall for this.

 

[rustyrazor]

I'm Canadian, so yes.

See my previous post to see the years and models that apply.

Here's another good site for info.

http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forums/4runner/32512-4runner-head-gasket-recall-4/

Here's what you need to do. Take the VIN number to the toyota dealer. Go to the service desk or it may be called parts/service. Don't talk to any of the car salesmen because they wouldn't know about it.

Give the service guy your VIN number and ask them to check if there are any outstanding recalls. Mine had two. One was for the headgasket the other for a steering arm.

If they still don't seem to know what you are talking about go to another dealership. If your city only has one dealer than tell them to call Toyota Canada with your VIN number. My dealership told me that the code for the head gasket was "802". I've also read on other sites that call it "3VZ

 

[psychotron]

sorry about that i didnt even look at where your from.

thats good news though thanks.

 

[rustyrazor]

Head Gasket Done

The work has been done. They replaced the head gasket for free.

I also had them replace the timing belt while the engine was torn mostly apart. The only beef I have is that they charged $70 for the timing belt when I could have bought one for $20 from Rock Auto. (Feel free to tell me how much better the Toyota parts are. Maybe It'll make me feel better.)

Two issues that still need to be resolved. The temperature gauge doesn't work and the 4wd doesn't engage.

I think they may not have connected the Temperature Sensor and the vaccuum lines that engage the 4wd.

 

[90tr4]

will they replace it even if its not blown i figure if they do it 4 free i should have it done before i sell my car cause i dont want to be with out when i need it

 

[buckz6319]

Toyota Head Gasket recall campaign

I have a copy of the Toyota SSC from Toyota with vin numbers and phone numbers
If you would like a copy then p.m. me with your email address and I'll be more than happy to send it to you
It has 31 pages to the SSC
Dwayne :bigok:

 

[rustyrazor]

As for getting the head gasket done before selling it, I would wait on that. Maybe the person buying it would like it better knowing that they have a get out of jail free card.

I'm not entirely sure that the replacement headgasket will last forever either. Part of the problem is that the engine block is iron and the head is aluminum. Two different metals with two different co-efficients of thermal expansion, meaning the metals expand and contract at different rates and it's hard on the gasket.

Maybe someone around here has blown another headgasket on a 4runner that was replaced in '98. It would be interesting to know.

The toyota dealer fixed my 4wd system. They said that moisture got into the vaccum line. They failed at fixing the temperature sending gauge switch so I bought one from a parts store and told them to put it in.

 

[watchhound]

:awais:
When they do the gaskets they just scrape off the old ones and put in the new ones. No milling whatsoever. My second set went about a year later and all they said was 'your engine must have over-heated'

Heads up

 

[fishrod]

Nice, thanks for the info, im gonna call my dealership tomorrow!!

Does it matter that Im now in Canada but the 4runner was originally sold in the US?

Hope not.

 

[fishrod]

Well I called but the work was already completed back in 2000 along with the steering relay rod recall in 2005.

Ah well, was worth a phone call I suppose.

 

[Getsum]

I went to another forum and got the number for Toyota, call 1-800-331-4331 option 4. Just give them all your vehicle info and they'll tell you if the recalls were completed and when they were done. Hope this helps.

 

[andyk5]

So basically, you can take the vehicle to the dealer with a blown head gasket and they will fix it if the recall has not been performed on the vehicle right? IF there are no problems right now, it doesn't make any sense to take it and get it replaced i assume?

Oh an I need my timing belt and one of my valve cover gaskets to be redone, is it common for a dealership to not to charge labor since everything is off for the head gasket job anyways? My truck has 135k miles on it by the way.

 

[Getsum]

So basically, you can take the vehicle to the dealer with a blown head gasket and they will fix it if the recall has not been performed on the vehicle right? IF there are no problems right now, it doesn't make any sense to take it and get it replaced i assume?

Oh an I need my timing belt and one of my valve cover gaskets to be redone, is it common for a dealership to not to charge labor since everything is off for the head gasket job anyways? My truck has 135k miles on it by the way.

Oh, I imagine they're going to try and make some money on the deal...they don't call them stealerships for nothing! I would try though, ya never know. Good Luck!

 

[rustyrazor]

Adding on more work.

As for getting them to do extra work. I had them replace the timing belt which cost me $70 so yes they do charge for the extra work.

If you are getting the free head gasket then make sure to negotiate the price for labor. Make sure that you settle the cost before they do the work.

I'm also very specific in telling them that I will only pay for the work that I want done and not to fix anything else unless I agree to it before hand.

 

[andyk5]

As for getting them to do extra work. I had them replace the timing belt which cost me $70 so yes they do charge for the extra work.

If you are getting the free head gasket then make sure to negotiate the price for labor. Make sure that you settle the cost before they do the work.

I'm also very specific in telling them that I will only pay for the work that I want done and not to fix anything else unless I agree to it before hand.

Oh i thought the $70 was for the part not the labor. And yes I worked for dealerships before on the sales side and I am well aware of how bad things are. Trust me in reality, the parts and service is much much much worse than sales.
At least in sales they act like they somewhat like you, in service they treat you like you know nothing, if you know better do it yourself and unless you are planning on doing a major service or a customer pay transmission replacement stop wasting my time.

Parts and Service has 2 books one for warranty work one for customer pay. Customer pay jobs are ridiculously more profitable than warranty ones and they have a limit on how much in warranty repair they can send per month. If they are close to that limit or over it, and it is like the 25th of the month, you can forget about them being easy or nice about any warranty repair you ask for. They will do everything in their power to convince you that there is nothing wrong/you are hallucinating there is no noise coming off your tranny, the black slippery substance that is spraying off your heads is the motor letting off steam and it is normal etc.... You think i am exaggerating but i have seen stuff like that happen and have the service guys laugh about it among themselves on a daily basis. Also calling the customer an idiot in the process.

 

[Savage]

Question: What if you've had an engine swap? I bet that would void any free replacement even if the vin wasn't registered as repaired already...I'm gonna call George at my local Teryota place and ask. I'll let ya'll know what he says...

 

[lynnvanhooser]

I have a copy of the Toyota SSC from Toyota with vin numbers and phone numbers
If you would like a copy then p.m. me with your email address and I'll be more than happy to send it to you
It has 31 pages to the SSC
Dwayne :bigok:

I have a 1997 4 runner limited with the following Vin #.
Could you please send me the information on recall?

Vin JT3HN87RXV711869. Has blown head gasket.

Lynn Van Hooser
[email protected]

 

[varvel16]

copy of the Toyota SSC from Toyota

BTW Today's date is 4/7/2013
Please yes, would you send me a copy of that Toyota SSC with the vin #s and phone #s
My email [email protected]
thank you in advance