help please-

[MY1STRUNNER]

hi everyone,

I WENT TODAY TO SEE A 94 TFR TODAY. 150K. GUY SAID ONLY PROBLEM HE KNOWS OF IS SHES LEAKS OIL USUALLY WHEN SITTING. UNDERSIDE HAD A GOOD AMOUNT OF OIL SPREAD ABOUT... I NEED TO BE HONEST, I DONT MUCH ABOUT MEHANICS. IS THIS A MAJOR PROBLEM. DO I STAY AWAY. ALSO SAID NEED FRONT BRAKE CALIBERS SOON..

WHEN I LOOK AT THE ENGINE I NOTICED THE WHEEL ON THE LEFT SIDE OF ENGINE HOLDING THE BELT WAS WOBBLY....

YES IM MECHANICALLY CHALLENGED LOL

INPUT PLEASE THANKS GUYS

 

[SjamesT4R]

Not big problems.. Just make sure you check the oil weekly or monthly depending on how much oils leaking.. brakes are an easy job maybe you could ind someone on craigslist to fix them for you for like $80 or something.. beats paying $200+ @ brakes plus.. ask the owner if its the valve covers that are leaking or the oil pan.. if oil pan no big deal just check oil.. if its the valve covers your going to need someone to change the gasket for you or tighten up the bolts for you.. just remember one thing.. simplest job could cost alot in labor on those trucks.. but 150k miles on these are very good.. if hes the first owner ask him if he had the head gaskets replaced because there was a recall on those.. how much he asking for it anyway?

 

[MY1STRUNNER]

THANKS MAN. i feel pretty stupid, cause i dont know mechanics at all.. he acted as if he knows nothing about mechanics either.... said he owned for just 8 months.... got him through the winter. and has now upgraded.

heres a quick rundown again

149,116 miles
3.0 liter v6
4 wheel drive
Power windows
Power door locks
Power sunroof,
AC
New tires,
New battery
New exhaust
New shocks
New O2 sensor
Timing belt replaced at 80,220 miles
Alpine am/fm/cd player
Alarm/remote start

wants $$$3000----- what you guys say????
i was worried about the amount of oil i saw spread about underneith.

if gaskets are shot..... how much to do at a shop?

 

[triton77]

I just replaced the head gaskets on my 88, which looked similar to that one (I.e. Oil spewn about). My cost was $350 for the entire engine gasket set. If you are doing it yourself, pay the extra to get the entire kit as you'll have the engine apart anyways.

If you take it to the shop, I'd call and ask. This is a huge job an can be over $2000 (depending on where). Call a local mechanic and ask.

Best option: do it yourself I you can, or pay a friend in beer.

 

[SjamesT4R]

Your head gasket prob doesnt need to be replaced im just saying that was a recall if it hasnt been replaced yet it could go ou on you.. I believe theres a way to find out to see if your vehicle had the recall and if it was fixed, maybe someone else can answer that but call a few places around your area to get prices on oil pan gasket being replaced on ur vehicle and a seperate quote for the valve cover gaskets.. look around the motor to see if theres any fresh oil around the alluminum piece on top btw thats called the plenum.. ill see if I can get a pick for you

 

[SjamesT4R]

Cirecled part is the drivers side valve cover and the arrow points under the plenum where the passanger side valve cover would be..

 

[SjamesT4R]

Ok so i just thought about this.. ask the owner if you can take it to a mechanic to have it inspected before purchasing it.. you can take it to pepboys if theres one in your area and they chage I think 20-30 bucks just for a quick visual inspection.. If I was you I would def do that.. give him something in collateral.. or have a mechanic friend come check it out for you.. I have oil caked all over my truck right now aswell but I knew it was from my valve covers so i replaced it.. part cost me less than $20..

 

[MY1STRUNNER]

thanks so much for your help man. i told him i would stop back tommorow. with a buddy that has a little more mehanic knowledge.

see if we can figure out whats causing this oil leak.

 

[SjamesT4R]

Cool great idea.. your welcome and good luck

 

[SUBTEGRAL]

What's A 94 TFR? ... kidding.

My 3.0 V6 head gasket job alone COST was:

Full gasket set = $207
Head stretch bolts = $60
Machine Shop = $178
Exhaust manifold bolts = $10
Labor, 11 hrs = $495 (cheapest rate in town)

TOTAL = $950

 

[Camokid84]

You can go to any toyota dealership and they can run your vin as see if your head gaskets were done per recall campaign. If they were not done, from my understanding, they will do it under warrenty. Something to look into. But I have the same problem with oil on my T4R and it was just the valve cover gaskets. Make sure you know the problem before you start throwing parts at it lol

 

[SUBTEGRAL]

Worn head gaskets are easy to identify: massive amounts of white smoke begin blowing from your tailpipe and you'll begin to over-heat. Not fun.
STOP DRIVING IMMEDIATELY

The more you know ...

 

[Hyde802]

Not all blown headgaskets blow white smoke. But if its just oil leaking out, I bet it is the valve cover.

OP: Did you go back and look at it again yet?

 

[KidVermicious]

I wouldn't pay three grand for a truck with an oil leak, bad brakes, and a loose pulley on the front. I'd be nervous paying one grand, because what else is wrong with it that you didn't see?

If you really want this truck, have the owner take it to a mechanic you trust, get a rundown of exactly what's wrong with it and an estimate of the repair bill, and then negotiate from there.

 

[Clone of the Mean]

you don't have to be a rocket scientist to work on these vehicles. I'm no mechanic but I replaced the VC gaskets myself. Basically, if you can take it apart you can get it back together. It make take a few attempts.....
I did a write up on the job I did and I read a few others before I started. I was told the labor I saved myself was about $600. Parts were less than $20.

I'd offer $2500 with the oil leak.....

 

[myfirst4r]

You don't even have to take the car to a Toyota dealer to check the recall. Just go to the Toyota website. At the bottom of the main screen on the site it says "For Owners" scroll over that and up to "Toyota Owners". Then on the next page, at about the same spot as the last button, it says "Owner Toolbox". Just scroll over it, click "VIN recall lookup" and enter the VIN.


Did this after I bought my 95 4R a week ago.

Hope This helps.

 

[SjamesT4R]

you don't have to be a rocket scientist to work on these vehicles. I'm no mechanic but I replaced the VC gaskets myself. Basically, if you can take it apart you can get it back together. It make take a few attempts.....
I did a write up on the job I did and I read a few others before I started. I was told the labor I saved myself was about $600. Parts were less than $20.

I'd offer $2500 with the oil leak.....

I would def offer less than asking price also.. and like Clone said its not rocket science.. just make sure you mark hoses from where they came from and dont mix up your bolts.. there is a specific torqe for the valve pan cover but you can always rent tools from auto parts stores which is cool that way you dont have to spend $50 on a torqe wrench. you will need a 12mm socket 14mm socket flat head & phillips screw driver and plyers and a rag.. BAM!