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2001 4Runner Gasket Issues
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
sbowling@vmware.com
Jul 25, 2008, 9:48 AM
Post #1 of 4
(1733 views)
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2001 4Runner Gasket Issues
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Problems with my 4runner. Had the 90k service done. Replaced plugs (6), water pump, timing belt etc. A couple of weeks later it ran rough and the check engine light came on. I took it back to the mechanic and they said the injector wires shorted and needed to be replaced. It ran fine for a few weeks, but then I almost ran out of gas and it immediately started running very rough and the check engine light came on. I took to the same mechanic and they scanned and said there was a misfire code P0300 and that one of the fuel injectors was clogged so they replaced it. They indicated when you get real low on gas, the engine may suck up sediment on the bottom of the tank which can clog injectors etc. I used Techron as they said the other injectors might go bad. Three weeks later, same problem, rough running, check engine light, same as the two times before. This time they scanned and another misfire code of P0300 so another injector was bad. They had to tear into the engine to get at it, expensive, and we agreed they would replace the other two injectors on that side at the same time since they had access to it and it seemed like the injectors had issues. Thought I would save money in the event the other 2 went out in the future. The bad injector seemed to have been fried from running hot.
Three days later, the exact issues came up again. This time they finally determined the head gaskets were bad. There was leaking of coolant which crystalized and then acted a s a sand blaster, damaging the plugs. Lots of carbon in the engine etc. The truck had not been running hot.
They said the timing belt was fine. They specifically checked. They said if it was a timing belt issue it would have been very sluggish. After calling numerous shops and Toyota, they determined it was a gasket leak that was between No. 1 and No. 3 which led to the coolant being in the engine which led to all of the carbon. They resurfaced the heads. The valves were OK so they don’t think the issues were caused by the timing belt. They did adjust the valves. They also replaced all of the plugs.
Seems like the initial 90k service may have led to all the problems since they were dealing with the water pump etc. Seems like they may have simply misdiagnosed the injector issue (spark plug wire issue?) twice, but that was about $1,200 worth of misdiagnoses. Odd that it ran rough immediately after almost running out of gas.
Seems like at best, they misdiagnosed the problems 2-3 times and at worst, their original work caused the issues. Common for a 2001 Toyota 4 Runner to have bad gaskets, injectors? Is there any way I can legitimately establish any of that? What do you think? Just a series of problems that all started right after the 90k service.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 25, 2008, 6:32 PM
Post #2 of 4
(1730 views)
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Re: 2001 4Runner Gasket Issues
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Hmmm? I'm baffled to find a common denominator for all this other than "luck of the draw" if you will.
Why was the water pump replaced? Was that bad or just preventative? That's the most common possible problem to all this if it is just one cause and it was allowing low coolant or even un-noticed overheating maybe with poor pumping ability?
Running low on fuel still shouldn't throw sediment that isn't there all the time anyway but would concentrate dirty fuel perhaps and clog a fuel filter more quickly.
Running low on fuel is hard on the fuel pump as the fuel moderates the running temp of the pump a bit. Perhaps it's not up to proper pressure - filter or pump?
The filter should still stop damaging dirt from making it to injectors which is why you have one.
I can feel your frustration but it seems each time something happened something was found that fixed it - right?
What else was on the list for the 90k service?
T
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dave284
Enthusiast
/ Moderator
Jul 25, 2008, 7:33 PM
Post #3 of 4
(1727 views)
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Re: 2001 4Runner Gasket Issues
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It seems to they should have done a little more testing than what they did....possible there was still some dirt in the lines,but the filter should have caught it, besides the injectors have small filters in them too. I agree with Tom on that....maybe the headgasket caused all the problems since overheating occurred and damaged the injectors...they can handle heat but only to a certain degree. a pressure test on the radiator and compression test might have made a difference in the beginning......just a thought.
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Jeff Norfolk
Enthusiast
Jul 27, 2008, 8:13 PM
Post #4 of 4
(1708 views)
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Re: 2001 4Runner Gasket Issues
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When they replaced the plugs in the leaking cylinders they should seen some signs of coolant leaks on the plugs. If infact it was there and the root cause of the injector failure. I also wonder why the water pump was replaced. Sounds like they did do repairs that solved your problem each time so it could be unfortunate luck. If the coolant leak in one or two cylinders caused the injector failure, why the failure in the other cylinders? Also with liquid leaking into the cylinders it should affect engine performance sooner than described after repair.
Jeff
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