What to do with 2003 that needs a new engine?

[Digital Man]

My son was backing up on a dirt road in our 2003 4Runner SR5 and his rear tire went up on a small dirt hill. He claims he was going slow, but somehow this managed to tip the 4Runner over on the drivers side. A friend with a winch helped us get it tipped back upright but it wouldn't start so we towed it to our mechanic. We were shocked to find out that the engine was ruined by this. What my mechanic thinks happened was that the engine kept running for a short time while it was on its side. The oil got through the pistons and was on top of the pistons. When the piston was pushed up by the running engine, the oil couldn't compress so the hydrolic pressure created damaged the engine. When they took the spark plugs out oil shot out of the holes. When they try to crank the engine it starts turning and then stops so they think the damage is preventing it from turning a full revolution. There is some body damage on the passenger side, but it's not that big of a deal.

Our insurance company screwed up our insurance so they neglected to add Collision when we told them to add full coverage. We're fighting with them, but with no proof what we asked for we have been unsuccessful in getting them to cover it so far.

So we have no idea what we should do. Our mechanic says they could re-build the engine for $5-6k, buy a used one for 7k or a new one for 9k. These prices include all labor and everything. They said the 4Runner engine isn't easy to work on. Kelly Blue Book says the value selling to a private party is $3,928-$6,059 but that doesn't take into account it needs a new engine and has some body damage. It only has about 150k miles on it, so we should have been able to drive it for a long time.

Does anyone know how we would figure out what a 4Runner that needs a new engine is worth? We're having a hard time spending more for a new engine than the car is worth, so we're wondering how much it would be worth for someone that could put a new engine in it themselves or part it out.

What would you do in this rather unfortunate situation? We live in Colorado Springs, CO.

Thanks.

 

[blackoutt]

Used v8 on ebay, $1800. Learning experience for your son on swapping an engine to clean up his mess, priceless.

But in all seriousness, prices sound high, might just be your regional labor rates? I just had a buddy hydrolock his GX470 and insurance paid $5k to a local shop to swap in a used engine ($2300) plus labor for swap, cleaning and lubing a bunch of accessories, and swapping all fluids due to water ingress.

If it were $7k to fix I'd consider it a lost cause and sell it as is. Lesson learned.

 

[hinmo24t]

thats a tough one, sorry.

hopefully the insurance steps in for you.

otherwise, id suggest looking for a used 4r for around 6k with similar mileage.
i was just in the market and the ones with 150k + mileage can be had for $5-$7k. or you could have them rebuild the engine if you can get the quote for 5k flat - i assume theres some misc. body damage from the roll so i factored that into just looking for a new one. btw you could sell yours for about a grand possibly and knock that off your new ones price.

good luck.

 

[T4R2014]

A used engine for 7k? Tell that mechanic to screw off. A V8 can be found for a grand and a V6 has no reason to be more expensive. Labor is not worth another 6k on top. You'd think a mechanic knows what lube is but this just sounds like he's trying to pipe you hard.

 

[WhiteBoomer04]

My sons '96 blew the head gasket recently. I spent weeks looking in to alternatives. The vehicle itself is in good conditoon but the cost of putting ina new engine (and the time and labor of me doing it, plus my garage is tiny) just didnt make it sensible to invest my/hios time and money.\

We hunted around and found a 2004 4R for $3300 in nice condition with a second motor that had 179,000 on it.

Now we still have to make the hard decision of what to do with the '96.

If I had space, we would probably part it out. Is that an option for you?

Alternatively, we may just offer it for sale for $1000 and let someone else who has the opportunity, to swap the engine out themselves.

Good luck. I feel your pain!

 

[Spktyr]

My sons '96 blew the head gasket recently. I spent weeks looking in to alternatives. The vehicle itself is in good conditoon but the cost of putting ina new engine (and the time and labor of me doing it, plus my garage is tiny) just didnt make it sensible to invest my/hios time and money.\

We hunted around and found a 2004 4R for $3300 in nice condition with a second motor that had 179,000 on it.

Now we still have to make the hard decision of what to do with the '96.

If I had space, we would probably part it out. Is that an option for you?

Alternatively, we may just offer it for sale for $1000 and let someone else who has the opportunity, to swap the engine out themselves.

Good luck. I feel your pain!

I see you're in Southern Cali - have you looked into getting a used JDM engine swapped into it? There are many JDM engine distributors in SoCall that will sell you the engine for less than $1K and often offer installation services for $600-1000.

 

[0verland]

Look for a V8 or swap in a Diesel! I would check out some other mechanics and get quotes. Seems a bit high IMO.

Good luck with the project.

 

[Whammy]

Digital Man, I live in Denver, and it is likely my '03 4R is going to be totaled by insurance. It has the V8 with 127k. I have all of the service records. Not sure where the vehicle goes once it is totaled out.

 

[kingofthehill]

You could get another used 4runner and part our your current one or even use it as a parts vehicle the the replacement.

Digital Man, I live in Denver, and it is likely my '03 4R is going to be totaled by insurance. It has the V8 with 127k. I have all of the service records. Not sure where the vehicle goes once it is totaled out.

Typically auctioned off. Some get rebuilt with a salvage title but most end up at a junk yard where they are parted out. You can buy it back from the insurance company though. My brothers truck was totaled. It had a recent engine rebuild and transmission rebuild. The insurance company offered $7000 and told us we could keep it for just over $1000. So we ended up keeping it and the payout was just under $6000.

 

[cloud]

Part it out. Ill buy a passenger front door for a fair price.

Front sway bar end links would be nice.
I could probably use spare LCA'S.
If the interior is grey ill take a couple interior panels.

CVJ will buy your CV axles and probably your steering rack if they're original.

Got floormats? Mine have been used in lieu of maxtrax a time two.
I'd love to have that knapkin holder thing for under the center console lid.


How's the carpet? Mines pretty trashed.

Wait, is it black?

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk

 

[duffdog]

I'm guessing this was a v8 motor? In that case the mechanic is right about the labor. When mine blew up I got multiple quotes from multiple shops for $8000+ just for the labor to remove the v8, rebuild it and put it back in. I decided to do the whole thing myself in my backyard, it took me a month but I did the whole thing for $2000 including all parts. It was not easy and if I didn't have a hacked copy of techstream I could not have done it. Anyone who says its easy to rebuild the v8 in a 4runner after it has exploded has simply not done it or not done it correctly.

I have done it, its not easy but can be done.

 

[Digital Man]

It currently has a V6 in it. It's the tan color. I haven't done much car work myself, so I think an engine swap might be beyond my abilities. We just have a 2 car garage and our other 2 cars go there, so I probably don't want to tie up one of the spots with the 4Runner while I try to figure out how to swap an engine myself. I don't think I want to go through the hassle of parting it out myself either. Note the prices from our mechanic were for the engine as well as the labor. I didn't ask for a brake down, but got the impression the labor was a big part of it.

I've been thinking of getting a second opinion. Does anyone know of a shop in Colorado Springs, CO that might do an engine swap for cheaper?

Besides Craigslist, any idea where I would go to find someone that might want to buy the whole thing with the bad engine and do with it as they please?

Thanks for the replies.