i just bought a 93 v6 5speed dlx with 140k miles. I took it straight to a shop to do the timing belt, water pump, and valve cover gaskets. what would be your top things to replace to make it reliable and efficient.

thanks

 

Assuming the HG's were done, and done right...

OEM cap, button, plugs and wires and you won't have to touch that thing again for another 140k...


You could change the tranny oil too...

 

pcv, clean the tb, coolant change, check diff fluid, t case oil, check the brakes, hmmmm, thats all i can think of.

 

any way to tell if the head gasket was done, and if it wasn't should i have it done or just wait for it to go.

the reason i think it was done is that the timing belt was changed on the truck at 41k, unless the origional owner was paranoid, i just dont understand why it was done so early unless someone was in thier for some other major surgery

also, i checked my trans fluid and xfer case fluid and there was too much fluid in the xfer case. i just dont understand how you get to much fluid in that thing unless there is a seal gone inbetween the trans and xfer

how bout the o2 sensor??

 

fuel filter!

 

3.4 swap, . Read the FSM and follow the mileage guidelines, and ASSume nothing was never done. And DIY, you will know your vehicle and take pride knowing it was done right. There is plenty of help on this site.

 

Not really any way to tell, just wait till one goes the change them both. they may never blow, my old runner has 271,000 on the original head gaskets. Probley the only one in the world!

You will get mixed opinions on the 02 sensors, some say only if the check engine light is on, others say change it every 50,000 miles because it gets dirty, but not enough for the computer to throw a code.

 

Yeppers... Take the VIN to the dealer and see what kind of service history you can get...

Note that any services would have been done BY Toyota... "Joe's Shade tree" won't show up...

But there's a high probability the head gaskets are on it.

Doesn't mean they weren't done, but you will find out if Toyota did them, and when.

 

Let me get this straight...


You're telling a guy, with a 140k mile V6, that runs... To swap it for a 3.4?

It behooves me as to why...

 

check compression when you have plugs out, you should have checked valves with a feeler gauge before installing new valve cover gaskets... keep the 3.slow til it dies!!! then 3.4

 

look into headers. Have valves adjusted, new valve cover then and have injectors professionally cleaned. Check the plugs and tune up parts. If it needs a tune up then ngk/ denso plugs, ngk or sumitomo plug wires, cap, rotor, pcv, fuel filter. I'd say replace the o2's. Check vin at dealer for steering relay rod and head gasket recal. Drain and fill the transmission, transfer case and front rear diffs/ clean diff breathers. Go through and check the suspension (ball joints) and u joints for play. Make sure u joints and ball joints are greased. Check condition of the accesory belts. Check condition of coolant hoses. Buy a coolant tester and make sure you've got a proper mix of coolant. Check your front and rear breaks. Basically since its new to you, and you have no history on it. Look over the truck very carefully and make a list on whats bad and what questionable. Then you'll know what needs to be replaced now, soon, and later.

 

first pull a plug or two one from each side of the engine and look for build up on them and if there is excessive build up then replace them for a better spark and then look at the wires and if they seem old and worn down then replace those as well. ( believe me i know working on a 3VZE is a PITA) but you can do it..then unscrew the distributor cap and look for any discoloration. Replace if needed..All of those will maximize your performance without costing much..I recommend NGK G power plugs and NGK wires thats what i used and I bought some blue wires from NGK and they look Awesome.

hope it was helpful.

 

Big fan of OEM on toyota ignition systems. Spend a lot of time taking off the Canadian Tire/NAPA wires, plugs that were supposed to be the best thing since man discovered woman, etc because it started running bad and missing. wow, toy parts and the toy runs smooth ...

Best thing to do, IMO, start fresh with all fluids as mentioned: Oil, coolant, front diff, Tcase, Rear Diff that way you know when they were done and you can keep up on the maintenance schedule. If the brake fluid's heavily disoloured, get it flushed (often overlooked). have your brakes and all Ujoints checked.

Go to the nearest dealer or phone them. Give them your VIN and ask to check for any outstanding recalls. In canada, there are 3 and one includes those pesky headgaskets people've mentioned and recommended checking. Mighst've been able to have saved yourself some labour had you taken it to a dealer for the tbelt, water pump, etc if your headgaskets are actually leaking. (They won't do the headgasket recall without the headgaskets leaking or if it's already been done, btw)

 

this may be a stupid question, but it's a good thing that this is the newb section. if my head gasket was leaking and they DID do the recal on it....does it cost me anything??

 

Big X2 if you have the money. The 3.4 is a big improvement on the 3.0.

 

yes and No. toyota covers the cost of machining if it needs it, the cost of the headgaskets and the attending seals. If a head is cracked, if a block is damaged, toyota will repair/replace as required under warranty should that be needed.

If, however, the tech is taking apart say your exhaust and finds the manifold cracked, or a stud on a manifold breaks, toyota does not cover the incidentals. Hoses crack and break from age? shifting your egr causes it to screw up? connectors or wires break from age? Not toyota's problem and you pay for those damages. want the tech to adjust the valves? You pay labour on that, even though the cover's off and the head's on the bench (although that may also vary from dealer to dealer depending on the mood of the service manager and the amount of competition they have for your money).

Keep in mind as well, your head gaskets need to be leaking. The campaign is also a one time deal. If they leak again, you pay, not toyota. Had them replaced aftermarket? Too bad, so sad. It's the original, factory headgaskets only.