prospectator
New member
Are you saying you can't rebuild a Toyota?
My family has owned a machine shop, rebuilding engines for 50+ years. They rebuild Toyota's with very little issue.
head gasket repair leads to piston through head
- Thread starter theresa4586
- Start date
Are you saying you can't rebuild a Toyota?
My family has owned a machine shop, rebuilding engines for 50+ years. They rebuild Toyota's with very little issue.
Brian757
New member
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the great him
Elite Member
sarcasm is a wonderful tool... it can fix anything, even a broken toyota motor
Brian757
New member
Nelsonmd
New member
I didn't even post in this thread. What's your problem? Why don't you just post in the off topic topic forum what a big meany I am and how butt-hurt you are about what I said in that other thread, and just let all your feelings out. Then come back here and make some big boy posts that actually help people out.
OP, was there any warning, like some noise it didn't make before, or anything like that? I'd think that even if a bearing got starved of oil you would start to hear something before it just fails and throws a rod.
Brian757
New member
What?! What the **** is YOUR problem? I linked your name to that picture because I found the "Facepalm" image with Captain Picard and I remembered your avatar, so I linked your name. Absolutely NOTHING to do with anything that has apparently happened before. I have no clue what the hell your even talking about. I don't go to "Off-Topic" and talk shit about you. i do go to "Off-Topic" and talk about retards, but never talk about people in particular, so do you think your a retard? A little insecure there Nelson?! Holy shit buddy. Did you forget to take your Prozac today?
What is wrong with T4R lately? I feel like I am talking to people who cannot take a single joke. I cant stray from literal speaking with most of you. I have always heard "Common sense is not so common," but holy crap people. You guys have to know when to either ignore what I say, or not mis-interpret my posts. Because it only makes you look stupid.
My original post in this thread, if you read through it, would be obvious that I'm making fun of nissanh's post about how working on Toyota engines is a waste of time. You apparently follow my posts, so you would know that I love my 4Runner, do engine work, and would do anything to keep the life of my truck going. I think towards the OP, that the machining was done incorrectly.
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Nelsonmd
New member
Fine, you know what, if you really just meant that as a quotation of a funny picture I posted, then I apologize, I misunderstood your point. Forgive me for being painted by our last interaction. Remember that sarcasm doesn't transfer so clearly over text.
And I don't follow any posts here much at all anymore, but I do get a notification from the forum when I get mentioned (to be honest, I don't know how that works, but I just know that I get e-mails from the forum periodically...). I only say that to clarify that I am not forum stalking you to mouth off. Again, if this really was a misunderstanding, then I apologize. We all have our bad days...
theresa4586
New member
Hi guys.
thanks for all the input. I don't know if there was a lot of noise before it blew, I do know that my 19 year old daughter was driving it on 270 and I would guess was going 70 or higher)... it was fixed on the 31st of Jan and the engine blew on the 14th. Probably the second or third time it had been driven since we picked it up. You are right I should have gone to a Toyota shop for a major repair like that. I have used my saab guys for years (they used to only do SAABs). anyway, here are the emails on what was originally fixed and the email about what then broke again if they help. I was planning on asking them to refund the labor.....
==========
Sure, tomorrow afternoon will be fine. The only unanticipated item we replaced on the Toyota was the radiator...we had to remove it to access the main crankshaft bolt as part of the headgasket/timing belt job, and it was frozen in place, so we had to cut/break it out of the car and thus replace it. It appears to be the original but I am not certain of that. We also replaced the upper and lower radiator hoses preventively at that time.
The grand total with tax is $2864.23.
===============
Hi Theresa,
We believe we have identified the issue (exhaust cam timing) and we are attempting to correct it this afternoon. I will update again later today, hopefully with the news that it is ready to go.
====================
Well...we finished, but the truck does not run right and the check engine light is flashing at us. We don't know if it is something in the cam timing or an ignition issue, but we obviously need to identify and correct this issue before you can have it back. I am sorry for the additional delays but we will make it right.
======================
We are going back together with your truck, but we are waiting on a new tensioner for the timing belt. The kit I ordered did not come with a new tensioner. The local dealer is delivering one this afternoon, but it has not arrived yet. Assuming this part does arrive at some point this afternoon, we should be able to wrap it up tomorrow.
Thanks again for your patience.
======================
Hi Theresa,
Just wanted to update you on the truck...we didn't get to start working on it until this morning, but it is going well so far. He is not too far from pulling the heads off, should happen this afternoon. Barring any complications or need to send the head(s) off to the machine shop, I still think it could be done by tomorrow evening or Saturday morning.
We found the middle cylinder on the passenger side to be completely full of coolant!
=====================
and here was the email from when the piston threw a rod....
========================================
Hi Theresa,
I have been speaking with Jay about your 4Runner. What an unfortunate turn of events. I looked into the value of these vehicles and was quite surprised that even at 16 years old and 200,000+ miles, this truck seems to be worth a fair amount. Obviously you have put a lot of money into it between the headgasket job we just did and the transmission you did before that.
We concluded that we would be comfortable with offering to install an engine assembly with the parts (including the engine itself) at cost, plus book labor and tax. I looked into options and found a couple:
A used engine, with 100,000 miles and a 1 year/12,000 mile warranty, would be about $4,800 installed plus tax.
A remanufactured engine, which would include new headgaskets, and carries a 3 year/unlimited mileage warranty including no-fault first repair, would be about $6,500 installed plus tax.
We would certainly transfer your new timing belt, tensioner, water pump, and anything else we could from the old engine. We cannot transfer the headgaskets themselves to the used engine.
If we order either of these engines today, we would receive it early next week. The replacement itself would take several days most likely.
Please let me know how you'd like to proceed.
thanks for all the input. I don't know if there was a lot of noise before it blew, I do know that my 19 year old daughter was driving it on 270 and I would guess was going 70 or higher)... it was fixed on the 31st of Jan and the engine blew on the 14th. Probably the second or third time it had been driven since we picked it up. You are right I should have gone to a Toyota shop for a major repair like that. I have used my saab guys for years (they used to only do SAABs). anyway, here are the emails on what was originally fixed and the email about what then broke again if they help. I was planning on asking them to refund the labor.....
==========
Sure, tomorrow afternoon will be fine. The only unanticipated item we replaced on the Toyota was the radiator...we had to remove it to access the main crankshaft bolt as part of the headgasket/timing belt job, and it was frozen in place, so we had to cut/break it out of the car and thus replace it. It appears to be the original but I am not certain of that. We also replaced the upper and lower radiator hoses preventively at that time.
The grand total with tax is $2864.23.
===============
Hi Theresa,
We believe we have identified the issue (exhaust cam timing) and we are attempting to correct it this afternoon. I will update again later today, hopefully with the news that it is ready to go.
====================
Well...we finished, but the truck does not run right and the check engine light is flashing at us. We don't know if it is something in the cam timing or an ignition issue, but we obviously need to identify and correct this issue before you can have it back. I am sorry for the additional delays but we will make it right.
======================
We are going back together with your truck, but we are waiting on a new tensioner for the timing belt. The kit I ordered did not come with a new tensioner. The local dealer is delivering one this afternoon, but it has not arrived yet. Assuming this part does arrive at some point this afternoon, we should be able to wrap it up tomorrow.
Thanks again for your patience.
======================
Hi Theresa,
Just wanted to update you on the truck...we didn't get to start working on it until this morning, but it is going well so far. He is not too far from pulling the heads off, should happen this afternoon. Barring any complications or need to send the head(s) off to the machine shop, I still think it could be done by tomorrow evening or Saturday morning.
We found the middle cylinder on the passenger side to be completely full of coolant!
=====================
and here was the email from when the piston threw a rod....
========================================
Hi Theresa,
I have been speaking with Jay about your 4Runner. What an unfortunate turn of events. I looked into the value of these vehicles and was quite surprised that even at 16 years old and 200,000+ miles, this truck seems to be worth a fair amount. Obviously you have put a lot of money into it between the headgasket job we just did and the transmission you did before that.
We concluded that we would be comfortable with offering to install an engine assembly with the parts (including the engine itself) at cost, plus book labor and tax. I looked into options and found a couple:
A used engine, with 100,000 miles and a 1 year/12,000 mile warranty, would be about $4,800 installed plus tax.
A remanufactured engine, which would include new headgaskets, and carries a 3 year/unlimited mileage warranty including no-fault first repair, would be about $6,500 installed plus tax.
We would certainly transfer your new timing belt, tensioner, water pump, and anything else we could from the old engine. We cannot transfer the headgaskets themselves to the used engine.
If we order either of these engines today, we would receive it early next week. The replacement itself would take several days most likely.
Please let me know how you'd like to proceed.
the great him
Elite Member
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PitbullRescuer
New member
That's way too much to put an engine in it. Labor shouldn't run more than about $500 to do an engine swap.
theresa4586
New member
forgot to add
I didn't have them replace the engine. I called my brother who after berating me for 20 minutes for taking it to my SAAB guys as opposed to his Toyota guy, called them for me and I had it towed over there ...
they replaced the engine for 2500.00. Geez. I have 3 young drivers (17-22) and kids I am trying to put through college so we have all cars with over 100K miles so I don't have carry collision. to add insult to injury, my 17 year old was not able to drive the 4 runner skiing because the engine had broken for the second time, thus he drove my husbands BMW, went up over the curb and took out the oil pan and the wheel so badly that it's totalled. At least he was okay, that's the important thing. But with going out and buying another old toyota avalon to replace the bmw and sinking almost 5500 into the 4 runner I am out 10K in car repairs in under a month. what a start to 2013.
I didn't have them replace the engine. I called my brother who after berating me for 20 minutes for taking it to my SAAB guys as opposed to his Toyota guy, called them for me and I had it towed over there ...
they replaced the engine for 2500.00. Geez. I have 3 young drivers (17-22) and kids I am trying to put through college so we have all cars with over 100K miles so I don't have carry collision. to add insult to injury, my 17 year old was not able to drive the 4 runner skiing because the engine had broken for the second time, thus he drove my husbands BMW, went up over the curb and took out the oil pan and the wheel so badly that it's totalled. At least he was okay, that's the important thing. But with going out and buying another old toyota avalon to replace the bmw and sinking almost 5500 into the 4 runner I am out 10K in car repairs in under a month. what a start to 2013.
Brian757
New member
Your good bro. Yeah, I didnt mean anything other than referring to you on here as "Captain Picard," for your avatar. I thought you were going to think it was funny. I dont hold grudges either. Once Im done arguing with someone, it dies in that thread. I also dont have a good memory of who i argue with or what their names are.
[MENTION=49487]theresa4586[/MENTION]: My "Like" was supposed to be a "Dislike." Im sorry to hear about all these troubles! It seems like if one thing doesn't go wrong, something else will. And I hope you get your labor $$$ back. Good luck!
The scary thing is that some of us actually choose to invest that much money into our vehicle when there's nothing wrong with it. The only way to cope with the spending is to know the money is well spent. These trucks live forever.
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BrianSD_42
New member
The OP Theressa clearly screwed up here by her reluctance to ask a friend, SO or family member about what to do.
You are not a cars person and that is fine but know when to ask for help.
So many mechanics assume that a female doesn't know anything about cars. There are plenty of women who do know about cars but at least recognize that most shops will have prejudged you and will try to swindle you.
It could be as simple as masking over the fact that they do not know very much about rebuilding Toyotas. A few of The right questions would be 1) how many Toyotas have you rebuilt in the last 3 months, 2) the last year, 3) How many of this exact engine model?
It sucks and I think you should take the Saab shop to court but in the future please ask someone, even here on the forum.
You are not a cars person and that is fine but know when to ask for help.
So many mechanics assume that a female doesn't know anything about cars. There are plenty of women who do know about cars but at least recognize that most shops will have prejudged you and will try to swindle you.
It could be as simple as masking over the fact that they do not know very much about rebuilding Toyotas. A few of The right questions would be 1) how many Toyotas have you rebuilt in the last 3 months, 2) the last year, 3) How many of this exact engine model?
It sucks and I think you should take the Saab shop to court but in the future please ask someone, even here on the forum.
prospectator
New member
This is [MENTION=56021]Nelsonmd[/MENTION]'s reaction...
Yeah, I missed your sarcasm.
But, THANKS for the post! Your superfluous Toyota knowledge is an invaluable asset to this community. What would we do without your useful insight?
DeathCougar
New member
Maybe if someone was working out of their home garage.
But show me the reputable shop that only charges $500 to do an engine install, especially a V6 and especially in the rust belt. Granted $4500 is high, but consider that these engines cost $1000-$2000 for a GOOD engine from a REPUTABLE yard that offers and backs their warranty, plus you will have extras that need replaced as is the same on any engine.
Any shop that charges $500 or less is losing money.
Brian757
New member
Yeah, I missed your sarcasm.
But, THANKS for the post! Your superfluous Toyota knowledge is an invaluable asset to this community. What would we do without your useful insight?
I was actually insulted you thought I worked at "Dale's Mufflers and Firearms." Thank you for the sign, I needed that. And your welcome for all the knowledge. I'm glad someone finally noticed all of my hard work.
The way I would look at it would be that a reputable place would charge 8-12 hours of work and about $90-$120 an hour, so between $700-$1500.
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PitbullRescuer
New member
I was talking labor. Not the whole job. And after all the money she spent there, they should do it as an hourly job for her.
Considering she got the job done for $2,500 I'm probably not real far off the mark either. Much closer than what her other quotes were.
DeathCougar
New member
I was talking Labor only as well. I am very interested in what shop would charge $500 or less to install a 5VZ-FE
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