Seeking advice on ailing 2001 4Runner

[neilorman]

Hi,
We started to smell coolant inside my 2001 4Runner, which has less than 80 K miles, so I took it to the dealership. They tell me that the head gasket is leaking coolant and that it's leaked into the sixth cylinder, and messed up the engine. They gave us two options - 1) a complete engine overhaul/rebuild for $9200, or 2) install a used engine with 108 K miles they found in a junkyard for $3800. While I research this I'm still driving the car, and it hasn't had any major problems, and the temperature gauge isn't reading hot or anything. Right now we're trying to find a place to get a second opinion, because this car has never had a problem and like I said it only has 80 K miles on it.
Anyway, I have three questions on this and I'd of course welcome any general feedback too:
1) Does what the dealership told me, in terms of the two options above, sound reasonable?
2) If it is true can I still get any value for the car, to put toward a purchase of another car?
3) Can anyone recommend a good mechanic in the Maryland/Washington DC metro area, in order to get a second opinion and potentially to get the repair work done, if the cost isn't prohibitive for a 2001 car? I'd love to keep my car if I can.
Thanks a lot for any feedback,
Neil

 

[ridefast]

Although this has never happened to me and i know coolant can harm the inside of an engine. I would pull the head gasket off replace it with a new one and drive the toyota like its meant to be driven. You will want to verify the head isnt warped.

What did they say was messed up in the engine?

Ill bet there are great toyota mechanics there that can help ya out. Consider a second opinion.

 

[Stick Figure]

a new engine from Toyota is only $3000 if you want to see what used ones actually sell for in your area Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market will let you search the local salvage yards to see what is out there. I don't know labor time off the top of my head, but I would run pretty far away from that dealer.

 

[downpour11]

^^^ yup that's a good link. You can find a used 5vz for $1000-1500 with ~100k or less.

 

[agloukhoff]

Pull your spark plugs and take a look at them.

Do you smell coolant on the EXHAUST? You really shouldn't be smelling it inside the car...unless your heater core is leaking.

The prices that they gave you are insane. The labor to replace the engine is about $1200 at $80/h - including a timing belt and WP job. A used engine is about $1300.

What did they do to identify that the HG is shot?

Edit: If the tone of my post is unclear: They're scamming you.

 

[downpour11]

If you have an automatic, now would be a good time to consider a manual tranny swap too if you want a stick. Used manual trannys can be had for ~$500.

 

[jrm]

If you messed up the engine

i dont think it'd be drivable. Did the stealership look for a error code or conduct a compression check? to come to their conclusion? Isay replace the head gasket full it with coolant and drive the piss outta it.

 

[fourwd1]

If the too much coolant gets into the oil and it's driven too much, you can end up trashing the crank bearings.
So before you do anything check your oil for signs of coolant.
It'll kinda look like a brown milkshake.
Then check the plugs as someone suggested.
What does the exhaust look and smell like?

Don't jump into throwing money at the dealers, they'll rip you off.