simpsons721

My runner died going up the mountains in colorado today

all i wanna know is does it sound like my head gaskets are blown

what i can say is i was driving and my car stalled out
tried to start it and it just sounded like it was getting no gas
(wouldnt turn over)
There was a burnt smell like something was overheating also

i really dont want to hear my HGs are blown i replaced them 3-4 years ago

give me your honest opinion

if you need more info reply with what you need to know

right now the runner is at a stealership just because it may have to be traded in, its been through a lot. They will diagnose it tommorow

Tubbyfatty

Need more info.

you say it wont turn over as in crank? Was the temp gauge in the red? Was there any smoke?

abecedarian

timing belt?

simpsons721

yes the engine does not crank

temp gauge was normal - but ive been meaning to replace this for a year becuase the radiator does usually feel hot, so gauge may be broke but it reads in the middle

and no smoke anywhere- which i did feel good about

simpsons721

hopefully timing be;t

what are symptoms of blown head gasket

tc

Mine would get vapor lock type symptoms - would die on the pass, let it sit for a little while and it would start right up.

Turned out to be a heat-soaked ignitor.

Tubbyfatty

On top of smoke coming out of the exhaust, chocolate milk like oil, coolent is brown from oil. um...yea.

simpsons721

thanks for the input tc

simpsons721

coolant is still green

also i did have a pretty bad power steering leak, could it have screwed up something

tc

If the headgasket blew enough to stop running, there would be other symptoms - dramatic overheating, smoke, etc.

Timing belt would do what you describe.

Hope for you it's the ignitor!

simpsons721

tc up in longmont thank you

i know when my hg was bad last time there was dramatic overheating signs

and i have never replaced my timing belt since getting the runner with 80,000 on it

tc

Did it get weak, sputter, come back, sputter, die
(if so, ignitor)
or

just flat out quit like right NOW?
(if so, timing belt)

simpsons721

flat out quitted

it was exactly like when i ran out of gas driving down a hill and then the enigine wasnt running, my battery light came on and my brakes pretty much werent working

simpsons721

any other opinions?

874runnersr5

pull the codes?

nv4runner

The 3.0 is a non-interference engine, so a broken timing belt would result in the engine cranking over real easy. The burnt smell might have been your starter if you tried to crank it and it wouldn't turn.

ScottyC

iTrader: (1)

Could have been timing belt.

What makes me wonder is the burnt smell. Was it an electrical burnt smell? If so, it could have been a short that basically fried an alternator wire or ignition wire. Were you getting power to the normal spots?

simpsons721

toyota diagnosed it today and fixed it, part cost 1.07 an efi fuse
but diagnostic ran it to 100 bucks

also they said i need to replace the following because im sure this stuff is past due for a repair

valve cover gaskets, idler arm, power steering pump reseal, timing belts and drive belts

im gonna handle all that other junk 1 day maybe soon maybe not

my whip is 2wd i live in colorado and want to be in snow with 4wd so im not in a hurry

kinda feel dumb about the fuse but ive had bad experience breaking down when it was my HGs blown before

but i have had a lot of good experiences with my 2wd runner chugin to the mountains

how urgent should i fix some of that stuff alot of it looks pita

Tubbyfatty

you can do everything by yourself.

As far as easy, the belts and idler are easy. The idler is 3 bolts (i think 17mm) and a joint and its out.

The belts are a pain but its easy, i still need to do mine but im lazy and dont drive.

And its timing belt, not belts haha. It probably have toyota do that. Its not hard, it just takes some time.

Are your valve covers leaking? if not, i dont see why they need to replace em.

simpsons721

valve cover is leaking

and what i meant by belts it the 3 drive belts are worn down
but i also was talking about my timing belt

i do sound dumb when talking about my runner because im pretty big noob but i have learned a lot from all my time reading this great site