*** V6 Head Gasket Action Request ***

[The Yin]

Add me to the list?

After having my truck randomly overheating last week, I started looking into the cause and I just took it to the dealer for a quick check and they report it Failed the Block Test and there is indication of a HG leak.

I've been hearing the "waterfall" sound for almost a year, but have not had any other issues.

It currently drives fine, but i don't know how fast it will be burning off coolant.

Does anyone have suggestion on a shop in the San Diego, CA area that I can take my truck to? Anyone in SD have their HG replaced?


P.S. Don't have all the details on me, but Truck is 2005 V6, just over 120K miles.

Update with info:
Year: 2005
Production Date: 03/05
4x2
Mileage of failure: 120K (when checked and failed Block Test - I've heard the "waterfall" at start up for almost a year, 10K miles ago)
Cylinder # that leaked: Don't know yet
11th digit of VIN: 8
EIN: will check and update

 

[YetiX]

After having my truck randomly overheating last week, I started looking into the cause and I just took it to the dealer for a quick check and they report it Failed the Block Test and there is indication of a HG leak.

I've been hearing the "waterfall" sound for almost a year, but have not had any other issues.

It currently drives fine, but i don't know how fast it will be burning off coolant.

Does anyone have suggestion on a shop in the San Diego, CA area that I can take my truck to? Anyone in SD have their HG replaced?


P.S. Don't have all the details on me, but Truck is 2005 V6, just over 120K miles.

My friend is the head mechanic at Ray Frey Auto Center off Convoy near the 52. He did mine about a year ago. Ask for Miles. (858) 278-7077

 

[UURunner]

Still waiting for mine to go. I got my water pump replaced because it was leaking (pink gunk at the weep hole from what I could see, so somewhere inside there it was leaking) and my coolant accessory tank has stayed stable for 1 month. I'm coming up on 150,000. Strangely with the water pump replaced and a new belt I am now starting to notice that it can 'idle rough' but I'm not sure if the belt / water pump would do that.

 

[metramm]

Still waiting for mine to go. I got my water pump replaced because it was leaking (pink gunk at the weep hole from what I could see, so somewhere inside there it was leaking) and my coolant accessory tank has stayed stable for 1 month. I'm coming up on 150,000. Strangely with the water pump replaced and a new belt I am now starting to notice that it can 'idle rough' but I'm not sure if the belt / water pump would do that.

UURunner,

Can you tell us the specs of your truck?
Year, 4x4 or 4x2, past history if you have it?

thanks.

 

[Wolfgang1649]

04 Head Gasket Question

I am new to the Forum and want to get some input to help make a decision. My 04 Runner (4.0 6) started showing signs of a blown head gasket a couple weeks ago, including the #6 misfire code (check engine light has since cleared but TRAC/VSC still flashing-I know those have to be manually cleared). Rough idle for a few seconds after start every now and then, gurgling, and a light smell of coolant right after start up.

A long time mechanic I talked with today believes I am getting a slow coolant leak after shutdown and once the cylinder clears all is well (my coolant level has dropped only a couple ounces for the past week with about 350 miles driving).

He thinks it may be possible to get another 20-30,000 miles; I already have 204,000 on it. Is that a realistic estimate? I am trying to decide between running her until bust, getting the replacement done (I'm taking bids now) or cutting her loose and getting into a newer Runner. Any suggestions?

 

[ray k]

I am new to the Forum and want to get some input to help make a decision. My 04 Runner (4.0 6) started showing signs of a blown head gasket a couple weeks ago, including the #6 misfire code (check engine light has since cleared but TRAC/VSC still flashing-I know those have to be manually cleared). Rough idle for a few seconds after start every now and then, gurgling, and a light smell of coolant right after start up.

A long time mechanic I talked with today believes I am getting a slow coolant leak after shutdown and once the cylinder clears all is well (my coolant level has dropped only a couple ounces for the past week with about 350 miles driving).

He thinks it may be possible to get another 20-30,000 miles; I already have 204,000 on it. Is that a realistic estimate? I am trying to decide between running her until bust, getting the replacement done (I'm taking bids now) or cutting her loose and getting into a newer Runner. Any suggestions?

I would personally not keep driving it like this. I would either get it fixed as soon as I have the money or get rid of it now while it's still worth something.

 

[Mabeldog]

I would personally not keep driving it like this. I would either get it fixed as soon as I have the money or get rid of it now while it's still worth something.

My 05 v6 threw a code for #4 misfire about 4 most ago. Replaced plugs at inspection a few months ago but now throwing the code fairly often. 178k is where I'm at. Swapped #4 coil with #6 and prayed for a #6 misfire. Unfortunately it stayed with #4. Last hope is for an injector problem but is that really ever the case in this scenario? Resigned to it being a head gasket. Probably overpaid for the truck a year ago because it was in such good shape, so now I'm going to throw more money at it and hope for the best. Anyone know of a mechanic they would recommend in the Harrisburg PA area? Any way I can search for fellow members from my area? I'm down to Toy Tech in Grantville or Don's performance in Harrisburg. Anyone have the head gasket done at either of these places? Sorry if I should have posted elsewhere. Been a lurker for about a year and just started posting today.

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[Mabeldog]

Mind if I ask what you paid and was it as "simple" as just swapping out the old gasket with a new one? No machining involved?

New to this forum and new to Toyota ownership. I recently purchased privately a 2005 4Runner with 158,000 on it, single owner in the town I live. Everything about it seems great, especially for being a new england vehicle all these years. I even spoke to the local mechanic who has worked on this for the previous owner, and he says she always cared for the vehicle.

After digging deeper into the thing, I noticed an exhaust smell in the coolant overflow. I came on here and in a matter of minutes found all these problems. I plugged in my OBD, and of course I found P0306 pending. Misfire in cylinder 6. I talked to a mechanic on the phone, and he says I need to swap the coil etc to see if the code moves, and don't jump to conclusions. That makes me trust him more, since hes not trying to jump on the opportunity to take the huge job. He said hes willing to do the work if need be, and the estimated price, at least over the phone, was great.

Its not losing coolant or overheating or anything like that, which has me thinking I may have caught the issue relatively early. I thought about letting it ride for a while until I actually threw a code, but also don't want to risk creating further issues. Based on my reading here, it seems like there's no chance I get lucky, and a blown head gasket is clearly the issue.

I can't believe how common this issue is. Has Toyota not addressed this because the vehicles are older now? Yet, they replaced everyone's dashboards?!?

Good luck to everyone going through this, it's not a cheap or quick fix. Thought I would share my experience since it seems to be relatively common...

Lineman8

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[8024thGen]

2006 Head Gasket

2006
4x4
161,000 at time of repair
Passenger side

I brought my car in for state inspection and found out that the passenger head gasket had been gone for some time. I noticed it was draining the coolant reservoir months earlier, but the head gasket didn't cross my mind so it was bad for at least a couple of months!! It was about a 22 hour job and one of the worst/hardest jobs my mechanic has ever done.

 

[Mabeldog]

2006
4x4
161,000 at time of repair
Passenger side

I brought my car in for state inspection and found out that the passenger head gasket had been gone for some time. I noticed it was draining the coolant reservoir months earlier, but the head gasket didn't cross my mind so it was bad for at least a couple of months!! It was about a 22 hour job and one of the worst/hardest jobs my mechanic has ever done.

I assume they replaced both sides and not just the passenger side? Hoping 22 hours what I'll be looking at and for doing both sides. Mine is parked in the shop parking lot waiting to get looked at. Mine is driverside, assuming the information is correct that I got here and cylinder 4 is middle driverside.

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[metramm]

8024,

Can you tell us if you know what the coolant system history has been (if you know). Yours would be one of the few 2006’s with a failed gasket.

I’m trying to determine if there is a corelation on coolant system flushes and head gasket failure.

Also, can you provide the date your 4runner was built? That can be found on the drivers side door panel. It would greatly help out this thread.

Thanks much!

 

[TNcaveman]

My co-worker has 159K on his '04 and just did his. Was a 4th cylinder misfire thing too. Mine was changed out at 178K 3.5 years ago and was a cylinder 6 misfire code.

I'm pushing 280K now and wondering if this is truly fixed. No problems yet.
The head gasket part number was a new number per the parts guy at Toyota. Without reading all these posts, anyone have two go bad?

Stephen

My 05 v6 threw a code for #4 misfire about 4 most ago. Replaced plugs at inspection a few months ago but now throwing the code fairly often. 178k is where I'm at. Swapped #4 coil with #6 and prayed for a #6 misfire. Unfortunately it stayed with #4. Last hope is for an injector problem but is that really ever the case in this scenario? Resigned to it being a head gasket. Probably overpaid for the truck a year ago because it was in such good shape, so now I'm going to throw more money at it and hope for the best. Anyone know of a mechanic they would recommend in the Harrisburg PA area? Any way I can search for fellow members from my area? I'm down to Toy Tech in Grantville or Don's performance in Harrisburg. Anyone have the head gasket done at either of these places? Sorry if I should have posted elsewhere. Been a lurker for about a year and just started posting today.

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[YetiX]

My co-worker has 159K on his '04 and just did his. Was a 4th cylinder misfire thing too. Mine was changed out at 178K 3.5 years ago and was a cylinder 6 misfire code.

I'm pushing 280K now and wondering if this is truly fixed. No problems yet.
The head gasket part number was a new number per the parts guy at Toyota. Without reading all these posts, anyone have two go bad?

Stephen

I've not heard of anyone having a failure with the new head gaskets.

The leak is between 4 and 6 cylinders, luck of the draw which way it works its way out. I don't know if mine was 4 or 6 because it never threw a code.

 

[Lineman8]

Mind if I ask what you paid and was it as "simple" as just swapping out the old gasket with a new one? No machining involved?

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Still working on quotes. Seems alot of mechanics don't even want to touch this job. The only quote I was able to get so far was around $2500 and they are over an hour drive from me. Others won't get back to me or it's a straight up no, we don't want the work. I will be replacing both while the engine is stripped. All other gaskets need to be replaced during a job like this as well, since they aren't reusable, I believe. Not sure about the machining yet. I will update after I find someone more local with a hopefully reasonable price. I now have a permanent code and the rough idle seems to last longer in the mornings. Need to let it warm up longer than before to get rid of the shake.

 

[Mabeldog]

Still working on quotes. Seems alot of mechanics don't even want to touch this job. The only quote I was able to get so far was around $2500 and they are over an hour drive from me. Others won't get back to me or it's a straight up no, we don't want the work. I will be replacing both while the engine is stripped. All other gaskets need to be replaced during a job like this as well, since they aren't reusable, I believe. Not sure about the machining yet. I will update after I find someone more local with a hopefully reasonable price. I now have a permanent code and the rough idle seems to last longer in the mornings. Need to let it warm up longer than before to get rid of the shake.

I'm running into the same thing, sort of. I dropped mine at a reputable mechanic but only a two man team. He pressurized and scoped it and found coolant in #4. He then said he was very busy and probably couldn't get to it for another week and a half to two. He only charged me $30 to confirm, so that was nice of him, but I had already narrowed it down to that problem so it wasn't as though he was starting from scratch.

I called another recommended shop and they said they could get to it much sooner. I dropped it there and the next day was excited to hear back so fast, but the mechanic only called to say they couldn't find a leak. Started asking about if it happens more when it's raining etc.

Explained that I don't want it to be a head gasket and would love it to be a coil but everything, including my other mechanic points towards a head gasket. He said he was going to pull the spark plugs and coil and inspect closely and get back to me smh! That was Friday morning and I didn't hear back. I got the sense he was praying for it to be something else. He probably doesn't want to have to be the guy saddled with this big job either. The frustrating part is that, when I dropped it off, I specifically said that I confirmed it's the head gasket and asked for a price range. The guy said "sure no problem, I'll check it out and give you a call with some prices". First I hear from them is his mechanic trying to diagnose it as a bad coil or spark plug.

It sucks that I suspected something around $3k and had finally came to terms with it. I never expected the hardest part to be actually getting it done.

Considered trading it in but the truck is tip top otherwise. Hoping to finally hear some good news on Monday but I'm not overly optimistic. At this point, if someone told me they could do it for $2500 and start right away but were an hour away I would probably race out there and drop it off now and worry about how to get home later, haha!

Btw- The first guy I had it with said he replaced a head gasket on an 06 3 years ago and it was $3,500 but the guy got all the extras. Water pump, thermostat, hoses etc, I think. He said he still takes it to him and it's going strong 3 years later. For what it's worth.

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[Mabeldog]

Btw- The first guy I had it with said he replaced a head gasket on an 06 3 years ago and it was $3,500 but the guy got all the extras. Water pump, thermostat, hoses etc, I think. He said he still takes it to him and it's going strong 3 years later. For what it's worth.

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Just an update to my recent post. I happened to call the dealership where the truck had been serviced for years before I purchased it to find out when they did the water pump so I could be prepared to answer whether or not I wanted it done. They told me it was done in 2014. Then I asked just for curiosity sake, how much they charged for head gasket replacement and much to my surprise they said it was 2084 one side $2600 to do both! I never ever expected the dealership to be anywhere near the realm of reasonable.

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[JMZ400]

2006 with 209k miles. Build date of 03/2006.

Never overheated and no codes. Just noticed the rough idle upon start up a few times last week but none since. I have heard the gurgling sounds occasionally since I bought it with 114k miles 6 years ago. I have noticed a drop in coolant overflow level in the last week as well.

I'm sure I'm hit, so I'm looking for a recommend shop in the Ocala FL area.

Thanks!

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[AuSeeker]

2006 with 209k miles. Build date of 03/2006.

Never overheated and no codes. Just noticed the rough idle upon start up a few times last week but none since. I have heard the gurgling sounds occasionally since I bought it with 114k miles 6 years ago. I have noticed a drop in coolant overflow level in the last week as well.

I'm sure I'm hit, so I'm looking for a recommend shop in the Ocala FL area.

Thanks!

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Not many with the build date your's has or later have had head gasket issues, have you checked for coolant leaks, the bottom corners of the radiator, side tanks seams, around the thermostat housing, waterpump, all hoses, etc.?

 

[JMZ400]

This truck is bone dry everywhere. Plus I had the stumble a few times last week. I'm dropping it off to an independent shop (40year Master Toyota tech) tomorrow for some diagnostics. We'll see what happens.

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[AuSeeker]

This truck is bone dry everywhere. Plus I had the stumble a few times last week. I'm dropping it off to an independent shop (40year Master Toyota tech) tomorrow for some diagnostics. We'll see what happens.

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Many and usually most of the time these leaks will not show themselves as "wet" leaks but instead you will see pink crystallization deposits the worst the leak the more of a deposit you will see.

Anyway good luck, I hope the outcome is good when you take it in to be tested/looked at.