VIN location 95 4runner

[voiddweller]

Are there VINs on the actual engine itself, like on the block? This runner I bought has different door VIN, window VIN, firewall VIN. I'm curious if the engine has been replaced or not. Toyota dealer says according to the firewall VIN, the vehicle has been head gasket recall repaired already, but it's parted together by a bunch of different runners.. With a head gasket leak on the back drivers side I'm wondering if it really was fixed on this engine, vs the firewall VIN.. Make sense?

What is the best head gasket kit recommended that I can buy for this job, and where? If Toyota won't do it because of recall rejection I plan on just paying labor and getting the kit myself..

 

[KidVermicious]

I've never seen a vin on a 22RE, and there isn't one on my 3RZ either. I think you're out of luck.

 

[voiddweller]

Any suggestions on the best head gasket kits, kid?

 

[KidVermicious]

If you're doing it yourself, order from engnbldr. If you're paying to have it done, let the mechanic order the parts. If you bring him parts you'll probably piss him off, and then if the job fails he'll blame the parts you brought him and you'll be screwed.

Lots of mechanics like to mark up their parts for no reason other than that they can, but you're paying the guy one way or another, so nut up and get out the pocketbook. Or learn to turn a wrench yourself.

 

[voiddweller]

I can turn a wrench, it's just intimidating to do a head gasket for me. Plus raising a 13 month old cuts my time down drastically. Guess I'll just let my mechanic order the parts and charge me inflated prices

 

[voiddweller]

It's taken me 3 days to do this pinion seal, during nap times .. Can't imagine how long the head gasket would take lol

 

[voiddweller]

If you're doing it yourself, order from engnbldr. If you're paying to have it done, let the mechanic order the parts. If you bring him parts you'll probably piss him off, and then if the job fails he'll blame the parts you brought him and you'll be screwed.

Lots of mechanics like to mark up their parts for no reason other than that they can, but you're paying the guy one way or another, so nut up and get out the pocketbook. Or learn to turn a wrench yourself.

Just bit the bullet and dropped it off at the mechanic. Hopefully all goes well. I told them to do the water pump, timing belt, knock sensor, and all that other mess while they have it apart.. Might as well if I am paying for the labor.. They said they'd be sending the heads off to be checked for warpage, machined and stuff.. hopefully if everything checks out I'll have it back in a few days.. It was funny, the younger mechanic who does all the heavy work for the owner (my Dad's old friend from high school) didn't look too enthusiastic. When I inquired about it, he said the last head gasket on an old toyota he did ran up a much larger bill because of other broken bits during the teardown that were discovered. We are in Florida so things rust and get nasty here.. Hopefully my job won't go the same route..

Thanks for the advice, Kevin!

 

[crazy gringo]

I take offence at that remark ,not all shops mark up there prices . I didn`t . if you do good work and charge a fair price you don`t need to rape someone on parts and labor because your to busy with repeat customers. if you trust your guy then have him do it . if your not sure or don`t have someone you always go to then call around an check prices. that`s just my opinion

 

[KidVermicious]

I take offence at that remark ,not all shops mark up there prices . I didn`t . if you do good work and charge a fair price you don`t need to rape someone on parts and labor because your to busy with repeat customers. if you trust your guy then have him do it . if your not sure or don`t have someone you always go to then call around an check prices. that`s just my opinion

There was a thread a month or so ago where I got tagteamed by a couple of "professional" mechanics who insisted that there was nothing wrong with padding the parts bill, that they'd starve if they didn't, and "everybody" did it. I told them there were still honest mechanics like you out there, they didn't want to hear it.

 

[crazy gringo]

Thanks kid, those so called "professional " mechanics are the ones that give independant shops a bad name. those are the ones that you most likely have to take and have there work redone which sucks.