I have a 2004 4runner. It sometimes shakes when I first start the car (maybe once or twice a week for the past four weeks). The check engine light turned on once after it shook. The check engine, VSC Trac, and VSC Off lights turned on the last time it shook, while it was shaking. In addition, I've been hearing the sound of water flowing when I first start the car (even when it doesn't shake). Any ideas what could be the problem?
Car Shakes When Starts
- Thread starter Estlund
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macgyver_ga
New member
if it's throwing a misfire code specifically cylinder 6, you probably have the dreaded headgasket failure.
Vetteman15
New member
I had the same symptoms when my head gasket leaked. I have a 2004 sport and had the head gasket go at 164k miles.
Cornelius
New member
Yup, hate to ruin your day but sound most likely like a head gasket failure. Cylinder 6 is by far the most common, but it could be anywhere. The stuttering is from small amounts of coolant being sucked into the cylinder overnight and being burned off when you start the car the next morning. A mechanic can do a few tests to make sure, but odds are you're screwed (like so many of us with the 4.0).
The sound of water is because you now have a little bit of air in your cooling system, which tends to accumulate around the heater core and can make those "fish bowl" noises in the dash when you start the car, turn sharply, or come to a stop.
Get it fixed, obviously, but you can buy yourself some time if need be: In my '99 Tacoma and my current 4Runner, I've run a radiator/cooling system sealer that bought me some time before repairing. After putting that stuff in the radiator, the problem completely stopped for over 2 years in my Tacoma. And I've got about 3 months of success in my 4Runner so far... Best of luck!
The sound of water is because you now have a little bit of air in your cooling system, which tends to accumulate around the heater core and can make those "fish bowl" noises in the dash when you start the car, turn sharply, or come to a stop.
Get it fixed, obviously, but you can buy yourself some time if need be: In my '99 Tacoma and my current 4Runner, I've run a radiator/cooling system sealer that bought me some time before repairing. After putting that stuff in the radiator, the problem completely stopped for over 2 years in my Tacoma. And I've got about 3 months of success in my 4Runner so far... Best of luck!
Thanks for the replies. I had toyota run diagnostics and they didn't see any history. My car hasn't stuttered for at least a week now, but the check engine light was on for a few seconds the last time it shook. The technician said he doesn't have a reason to believe it's the head gasket.
macgyver_ga
New member
Have them run an extended leak down test on it. Sometimes the leak is so small that it may take over a day before you would see a pressue drop. It usually only leaks when the engine is cold, once it warms up, the metal expands and seals the leak.
earthrealm
Senior Member
hook up a scan tool to the truck and tell us the codes...
"Its not a Head gasket" is the common misdiagnosis. Sometimes mechanics will suggest new plugs and coil packs. Historically it gets worse as time goes by. Be patient and see how it goes over the next few months. You may have gotten lucky, but monitor the cold starting stumbles, this is when it is most noticeable. You may even want to add a scan guage or ultra guage to monitor the coolant temps. Once the gasket is compromised around cylinder six (6) you just don't know when it might go.
Search and review a few of the v6 head gasket threads and see if any of the symptoms sound familiar.
preacher35
New member
Hey, I'm curious. How much, ballpark, are we talking to have the HG replaced? I do not have said problem, YET. However, owning the 4.0, I want to be prepared for what probably awaits me.
hearno
Senior Member
An easy $2k and I've seen some report almost $4k depending on what it needed and what extras they had done while they were in there.
preacher35
New member
Thanks [MENTION=97032]hearno[/MENTION]. That's good to know. I can, begrudgingly, handle a $2k bill. $4k, not so much.
was it a HG?
First time on this site. Took my 4Runner to a few mechanics and told me to get a tune up and then told me to change car batter, but its still not working. Been investing into the upkeep since my 4Runner has been good to me and can't afford a car payment.
I am having the exact same symptoms (water swish noise, trembling when it starts and TRAC light on ...). Was wondering what the results were?
My 4Runner is a 2004 and V6.
First time on this site. Took my 4Runner to a few mechanics and told me to get a tune up and then told me to change car batter, but its still not working. Been investing into the upkeep since my 4Runner has been good to me and can't afford a car payment.
I am having the exact same symptoms (water swish noise, trembling when it starts and TRAC light on ...). Was wondering what the results were?
My 4Runner is a 2004 and V6.
FWIW, I had in our 2007 4Runner a cold start stumble (only first 1-2 seconds), that turns out was not related to the head gasket, but instead somehow fuel injection related. I put in a treatment of high quality fuel injector cleaner and a full tank of gas. Within a few weeks the problem cleared entirely and has not returned. FYI 0 I used Redline SL-1 Fuel system cleaner, but I think BG44 or Chevron Techron are also very good.
