4mymalamute
New member
Well, the 4runner had a big hiccup the past two days. In a quick story here it goes….took it in a few months back for a valve adjustment and they (Toyota dealership) noticed the idle cam spring was un-sprung…thus causing the rig to sound like a diesel! So, they fixed it, or so I thought. So, this week I finally got time off work and I took the beast back, explaining how it smells of burning oil and I can see it dripping off the valve cover on driver side down to exhaust etc. They check it out and come to find out, they said that the driver side was NEVER done, not to mention the driver side idle cam is un-sprung as well!! EERRRRRRRRR!!! So, at this point I just say fix it please, I need my car back (only car) and I am about to take family on a long trip so I can’t afford to have it take a crap on me. Well, picked up the car, sounds perfect, runs like a champ, etc. I start it up yesterday and drive it around on some errands, and holy crap, NO HEAT!! Brrrrrrr. Im like WTF and call dealer and take it back…they go through it and replace the heater valve on fire wall (valve that controls the heat coming in to cab)…still not working….. then, the mechanic shoots this laser temp gun at the radiator (im standing there watching all of this) and he is in awe that the top of the radiator is 166 yet the bottom is 88 degrees! I’m like wtf how that is possible and how the car is NEVER even heated up past the reg running temp all these months! I have him replace thermostat and when he takes it out, it’s covered in rust! NOT just a little but TONS of it! Weird thing is that the coolant and overflow tank all looked perfectly clean up to this point! At this point I have him just drain entire system…funny the drain on the bottom of the radiator is off but not a drop comes out…its completely clogged! Anyway, he gets it all drained and then filled back up and low and behold, the radiator is clogged and WONT let coolant (very little that is) pass through it. Again, the car has ran like a champ, NEVER heated up etc and I have driven it 10k miles since I got it a few months back. STRANGE to say the least! So, I am stranded and just said screw it, put in a new radiator (I would normally do all this myself BUT I am kinda stuck with where my rig is at and TIME)…so, hopefully its going to be done today. From a simple valve cover gasket leak to an expensive cooling system overhaul and valve adjustment I am now sporting a massive credit card bill! AWESOME time of the year!! Woo Hoo! Actually though, putting all smart%#* aside, I am GLAD this all took place here by my home and NOT on the road with my family next week. Also, the 4runner should be good to go now for a while I hope!!
Moral of this story……FLUSH your radiator, even if you THINK its clean from previous owners words. Oh and NEVER assume work has been completed on your truck IF you take it to someone without visually looking and inspecting it (if possible).
Rant off. Now, time to take the beast out in the mud this weekend! Woo Hoo!! Cheers!
PS...funny but I picked up my spidertrack spacers just hours before all of this happened on the rig...so the highlight is, when I get the rig home, I get to FINALLY put the spacers on! :wow:
Moral of this story……FLUSH your radiator, even if you THINK its clean from previous owners words. Oh and NEVER assume work has been completed on your truck IF you take it to someone without visually looking and inspecting it (if possible).
Rant off. Now, time to take the beast out in the mud this weekend! Woo Hoo!! Cheers!
PS...funny but I picked up my spidertrack spacers just hours before all of this happened on the rig...so the highlight is, when I get the rig home, I get to FINALLY put the spacers on! :wow:
