Stuck in Guatemala with my 4Runner

[Ryan Patrick]

Hello, My Girlfriend and I have driven our 99 4runner SR5, V6, Auto, down to Guatemala from Canada. It's been a long ride and we have had terrible luck with the truck. So far we've had to replace the radiator, the power steering rack, the transmission, and now I'm afraid I might need an engine job.

The problem I'm having is now whenever the car is at idol I hear a tapping noise. I also can notice it when I'm coasting down hill.

This started about 2 weeks ago, I had my oil changed to a thinker oil for the heat down here and added in some Lucas Oil treatment to the mix, no change.

The gas mileage hasn't changed, the power seems to be just as good as ever and there is no smoke or strange smells coming from the exhaust. it doesn't run hot and everything else seems to be normal but this noise has got me real worried. The noise happens cold and seems to get a little worse when we've been driving for a while.

A mechanic in Belize told me it could be a main bearing but then he changed his mind and said maybe it's the torque converter. When we had it up on the lift we could hear that the noise is coming from the area of the transmission that attaches right to the motor.

Does anyone have a clue what this could be? I'm struggling to find a straight answer down here in Central America. :wow2:

 

[Duhockey]

after your radiator blew did you change your tranny fluid??

 

[KokaneeRanger]

..........So far we've had to replace the radiator, the power steering rack, the transmission, ..........

Was the transmission you put in a rebuilt one?
Perhaps there could be a problem with it or the installation... ?

 

[Duhockey]

Was the transmission you put in a rebuilt one?
Perhaps there could be a problem with it or the installation... ?

yeah, it sounds like youve had to replace the transmission cuz you had the radiator pink milkshake your tranny...

one thing is leading to another here...

 

[Singtoe]

It might be a Cracked Flywheel.

 

[Mr. Leary]

yeah, it sounds like youve had to replace the transmission cuz you had the radiator pink milkshake your tranny...

one thing is leading to another here...

I would bet on this.

It might be a Cracked Flywheel.

But this is also a possability.

Easy to check the first, but at this point there may be too much damage.

 

[Ryan Patrick]

Thanks

Thanks for the insight,

The Tranny was a rebuild. It has a warranty but my mechanic isn't returning my emails. Go figure. The tranny was rebuilt after the radiator was replaced but the problem with was one bad solenoid that slowly cooked the tranny.

Has anyone got any experience with the fly wheel? is that a huge job?

I'm going into town now to see if the mechanic there can have a look. Hope he know's what he's doing.

Cheers!

 

[Ryan Patrick]

AND THE WINNER IS!!!

A cracked flywheel. Thank goodness we got it out and replaced when we did cause the crack was at least 270 deg around the hub. Sh almost came apart and I'm sure that would have been devastating.

So if anyone is ever in Guatemala near Lake Atitlan and need some work done go see Taller Super Jumbo (Taller means garage not tire) Hugo Orellana and his band of marry mechanicos are honest trust worthy and most of all CHEAP!

They had my 4runner for 3 days. 1.5 days waiting for the part and 1.5 days to make the change. the cost, $180US parts and labor. I've had it back now for a week and it survived a grueling drive back to camp and it didn't miss a beat.

Thanks to you all for the support.

Ryan

 

[Ryan Patrick]

AND THE WINNER IS!!!

A cracked flywheel. Thank goodness we got it out and replaced when we did cause the crack was at least 270 deg around the hub. Sh almost came apart and I'm sure that would have been devastating.

So if anyone is ever in Guatemala near Lake Atitlan and need some work done go see Taller Super Jumbo (Taller means garage not tire) Hugo Orellana and his band of marry mechanicos are honest trust worthy and most of all CHEAP! you can find them in Panajachel on the corner of Calle Del Frutal and Calle El Amate. Both streets are in the Lonely Planet map of the city. you can call Hugo at 7762-6207

They had my 4runner for 3 days. 1.5 days waiting for the part and 1.5 days to make the change. the cost, $180US parts and labor. I've had it back now for a week and it survived a grueling drive back to camp and it didn't miss a beat.

Thanks to you all for the support.

Ryan

 

[bike]

Wow I was cringing earlier at the though of what could have been a huge money drop. Glad to hear things worked out alright.

 

[Gerdo]

That is awesome that it was fairlly cheap to fix.

By the way. Only run the oil weight that is spec'd by the manufacturer. It needs to be thinner in newer vehicles to properly lubricate the tighter tolerance engines. Thicker oils will not lubricate better, they can actually starve parts from oil.

 

[the great him]

That is awesome that it was fairlly cheap to fix.

By the way. Only run the oil weight that is spec'd by the manufacturer. It needs to be thinner in newer vehicles to properly lubricate the tighter tolerance engines. Thicker oils will not lubricate better, they can actually starve parts from oil.

correctumoondo!

 

[Hepar]

Bien! Muey bien!