Gravely_Man

I own a 1990 4-Runner (V6 & 4WD) that has 307,000 miles on it. I have owned this vehicle for 18 years. I brought the truck into the dealership after I determined a whining noise I was hearing was coming from behind the cover for the timing belt. I unhooked all of the other belts and the noise is still there at all speeds.

History on the truck: All of the timing belts have been done at a Toyota dealership but all other work on the truck has been done by me. I only have 25,824 mile since the last timing belt was done and now I am being told that both idlers for the timing belt are bad and the water pump is leaking. The water pump was replaced during the previous timing belt work. It was not leaking I just have the water pump replaced every other timing belt. I only have 84,320 miles on latest water pump.

Here are my concerns:
1) Should Toyota do anything for me to have the water pump fail with only 84,320 miles?
2) The latest dealership is also telling me that my head gaskets are leaking which I know to be true. The issue with this is that head gaskets were replaced 150,657 miles ago during the Toyota head gasket recall. Should heads be leaking now and should Toyota stand behind the previous work they did?
3) I was just informed of a recall that I never heard about for the AC expansion valve. Never got a call or card about this one and the truck has been to numerous Toyota dealers for timing belts since the recall was started. The service writer didn’t want me to do this as “if your AC stops working after this repair it is on you to fix.” This is after I was told they didn’t have any Freon nor anyone trained in how to charge the system.

I totally understand this is an extremely old vehicle with a lot of miles. I am not trying to get something for nothing. I just want to know if my concerns about Toyota not standing behind their parts (water pump) nor the work done previously to fix the head gasket problem is a valid issue.
Please don’t be bashful and let me know you thoughts or what I can do to resolve these issues.


Thank you,
Gravely_Man

hilandfrog

300K for truck, 150K for head gasket I'd call it good, may want to think of a full rebuild at this point.

Water pump, you own it.

Recall, if it works now don't let them touch it.

Have a good one.

Repo

waskillywabbit

iTrader: (-1)

1. After 84K miles? You're kidding right?

2. After 150K miles? See above.

3. It's a 21 year old truck with a bazillion miles. See above.

Be thankful it's lasted that long with a 3.turd motor and you haven't had to replace it.

Time to trade in.

:wabbit2:

spokane.yota.man

I wouldn't complain any about a vehicle lasting over 300k miles with only routine maintenance. Gaskets, waterpumps and such are routine maintenance. Once your car is out of the factory warranty your really on your own and shouldn't expect much more from the dealer. Unless the replacement parts have warranties you have no argument. An engine with that many miles is also going to wear out parts faster.

sb5walker

Hm, my impression was that Toyota specs replacement of the idlers in a timing belt replacement. I don't remember as it's been so many years since I've let a dealer touch my truck. Take a look at the service order from that job and see if they charged you for idlers. If so, then 26k is way too soon for an idler to go. In my experience, the upper idler lasts two changes of the belt (assuming Toyota parts). The lower USED to last two changes, but this last time my lower needed replacement after only one change (70k miles).

Water pump, I'm with you that 84k is a very short lifespan for an Aisin pump, and I'm with the other posters here that there is no way you can expect any kind of warranty on it. What antifreeze(s) have you used in the vehicle since the pump was last changed, and how often was AF changed?

Thank your lucky stars that you got 151k out of a set of replacement head gaskets - that's very good performance. At 307k miles I agree that you have reached the point where you'll need a complete rebuild very soon if not immediately, and if I were in your shoes I would be looking hard at the cost/benefit of THAT. I would probably thank the vehicle for it's remarkable service (more than 12 times around the equator!) and look for my next vehicle. But if the rest of the truck is in excellent shape you might consider some sort of engine replacement. I CERTAINLY would not even consider having a dealer do the work, unless you hate your money and want to get rid of as much of it as possible. Look into buying a rebuilt motor from a good rebuilder like Oregon Engine Rebuilders ($1600 for a 3VZE) that offers an excellent warranty, and get a few quotes from a few independent shops with good reps for doing the replacement.

pruney81

I would tend to agree with everything everyone else said. I don't know if I would go to the extreme of buying a rebuilt motor and putting it in though. Maybe you can just take it to an independent shop and get a new timing belt and all pulleys and a water pump and get another 100K out of it. Who knows.

Nevermind, I forgot that you said the head gaskets are leaking again, Get a new motor or a new truck which ever option suits you better.

MaK92-4RnR

You can find a list of information on your truck if you were to bring your VIN number into a teller. For example, I found a lot of history about my truck. I have a 92 4Runner and my AC expansion valve was done in 93, my head gasket recall was done in 97, and my steering rod recall was in 06. all done at steven creek toyota in the bay area.

xxxtreme22r

When they did the work, what was the warranty length on the jobs? I would think your invoices should state that. To me, that would be the determining factor on what I would do. Not just because you think such and such mileage is not enough and should be covered.

If you don't have a warranty in writing on any paper work, then your SOL, and I would blame yourself on that one for having work done on a vehicle with no written warranty.

25,824 miles seems like what maybe 1.5-2 years?

Gravely_Man

Thank you so much for all of the replies. Please keep them coming.

Gravely_Man

Robert m

iTrader: (2)

better sell it and go buy a new dodge
seriously, with 300k on the clock and the truck being old enough to vote, things are just worn out and need to be replaced.

survivorman97

iTrader: (1)

whats with the Dodge suggestion?

Sansocal

Dodges are cheap! duh. but not really once you factor in a new transmission after 60 k miles.

Blue 89 Runner

Nothing that hasn't already been said .

Robert m

iTrader: (2)

it was sarcasm, notice the ?

Gravely_Man

Thank you again to everyone who took the time to reply. I appears I have been doing something right to get that many miles out of the truck. I thought I should have gotten more mileage out of the last water pump and head gasket but I now understand I have been lucky.

To answer some of the questions, yes I have been doing regular changing of the coolant and no the truck has never over heated. This is my daily driver! How many miles are average for the V6 prior to a serious overhaul? Am I in the you got alot of life out of that truck club?


Thank you,
Gravely_Man

pruney81

I think 300K miles for a 3.0 is pretty darn good. But, paying to get the head gaskets and timing belt and water pump replaced again might be a little more money than I'd want to put into a truck that has 300K on everything else.

If you could find someone to do all that work for you on the cheap then I'd go for it, but there is no way I could justify paying the dealer then hoping to get maybe another 50K or so out of it....

survivorman97

iTrader: (1)

[QUOTE=Robert m;51656797]it was sarcasm, notice the ?[/QUOTE

thank goodness!!! (I should really read slower...)

99blackSE

iTrader: (1)

She's served you well man...either time to retire her peacfully in the backyard or pony up and breathe some new life into her.

Swimmerboy2112

iTrader: (2)

Personally i'd rebuild the engine, rebuilds aren't that hard if you take your time and are sure to label all the vacuum lines and such.

peow130

Actually engine rebuilds are relatively difficult for a novice mechanic. And the OP seems like the kind of person who would rather have someone do it for him. Could be a lack of tools necessary, could be a time factor, could be age.
Us young'ns have it easier because we caN work on a vehicle for 8 hours and not be tired.. not so much for old guys.