I have searched but i need a quick answer. My parents found a very clean 4runner 94? and they took it to our mech and had it checked out. They found low compression on the #3 cyl. 40psi. They believe that its a burn valve. Would a new set of heads fix the problem? I am going to look at it in the morning and get the vin # and check with toyota about the HG recall. Any info would be great. The shop quoted 1500 to fix it. That the going rate? I found a set of reman. heads for 540 complete.... better option? Thanks YTers!!!

 

If the leak is from the valve, then good heads would fix it. Obviously you could replace the HG at the same time.

The job is a DIY task if you have some mechanical ability, a manual and your basic set of tools.

There may be other tests that can be perfomed to truly determine the source of the leak however before you go buying and tearing it apart.

Would be a shame if the problem is from something else and involves a more difficult repair. :cry:

 

They said that was the issue. I even called to ask a few questions. Its a clean 4runner and it would be great if new heads is all it needs

 

How does it run? did you drive it?

 

my father drove it. Said there was a mis and some hesitation. I believe that it had a rough idle.

 

i'm gettin ready to go thru the same thing,same cyl.gonna tear it down & replace the valves,pistons & bearings.good luck

 

OK I had the same problem with mine, and it was the #3 cyl, exhust valve, This is what I was told from the shop. I had the heads redone, and it had the same miss when I got it back. LONG STORY. anyway, I took it to a different shop because I lost trust in the 1st shop. The new shop replaced an injector, and my problems were over. He found the injector on # 3 cyl. to be bad. OK I must say that maby this did rune the #3 exhust valve, but I will never no this. I guess what I'm trying to say is that if there is a way to check the injectors, I would do so. Also is ther ticking noise at all. Just for the record, an bad injector can sound just like a bad valve.

What is the price they are asking for this runner?

 

its a friend of my fathers... he wanted 2500 before they found what the problem was. I figure he will take less now. My mom drives a total of 5 miles a day and this (if fixed) would be a great car for her. She wants something bigger than her xcab 2wd. I know her plan is to get a 4runner so she can haul her grandchildren around..... she can get the 4runner but she has to wait on the others....lol

 

but it wouldn't cause low compression,antoher thought is a valve adjustment.might but ya some time to save money for parts,mine lasted 1500 miles from low compression valve adj back to low compression burnt valve.i was gonna sell it when running good.15 yr old son wanted to keep it-now we've gotta redo the ole eng.what the heck,it'll be experience for him

 

If it is clean in and out, and you have to get the heads redone, and new head G. at the same time. it dosn't sound like a bad deal to me. I paid 3500 for mine, but the rig is like new in and out. After running it for about 3 mounts, I had the same problem that the rig you are looking at has. OK I put 2K into it, New Heads, Valve Job, Timing Belt, Water pump, All new hoses, wires and plugs, and 4 new injectors, and it runs now like a new rig. The only reason I did a new Timing Belt and water pump is because it was easy being it was opened anyway. So if you have to put 1500.- 2K into it, I think you will come out ahead. And now with the problem found, you clame you can get it for less then 2500. But I would make sure the rig is very clean as you say it is. I'm very happy I did it to mine. I love this rig, and would not trad it for anything.

 

I just did a head gasket/head resurface/valve job on my '95 V6, and it went better than I expected. See my thread on some other things you might want to consider doing. But, before you go gung ho, follow the steps on this section of the FSM: http://personal.utulsa.edu/~nathan-b...66compress.pdf
Putting oil in the cylinder will tell you if the piston rings are bad (oil helps), or it it really is the valve (oil won't help).

If you're willing to put the time in, and have the one special tool to remove the camshaft gears, you could have it done in a couple of days. Then you could use the money you saved to upgrade!

 

When my '91 did this it was pitting of the cylinder walls and required a full rebuild...


...which turned into a freekin nightmare from hell where I got severely screwed by a company called (get this) DOA. Their name pretty well described my experience. It was near $10,000 and a year's downtime before it was running again.


Swap before you rebuild the 3.turd

 

If you have seen my post i have some of the same issues. Number 6 had 40 lbs, and 3 didn't affect the idle but the rest did. What a mess huh?