cbradley
Adventurer
Disappointing, but not unexpected I suppose. Let's keep our eyes out for what they end up doing.
Repair advice? Blown head gasket on 4th Gen 4Runner?
- Thread starter cbradley
- Start date
Disappointing, but not unexpected I suppose. Let's keep our eyes out for what they end up doing.
2004 4 Runner HeadGasket
Same problem with misfire on cyl 6. Troubleshot the heck out of it and confirmed it when I moved the coil pack off 6 to 5, took the cap off radiator and saw bubbles. Took to dealer and told them my troubleshooting and that it was HG. This is where it gets interesting..... So they look at it next morning, do a block check and turn the code off. They call and say not a HG and they are looking into what it is. I asked if they pressurized coolant, compression checked #6, swapped injectors. They said it couldn't be the fuel injectors. I still told them HG. So they drive it around some more and light comes on and idles rough so they say "Must be HG". Unbelievable, they wanted 2400.00 of which 400.00 was gasket kit and 17hrs labor at 100/hr. So I call another shop and they wanted 300.00 for gasket kit and 20hrs labor and were only 200.00 cheaper. Long story short I went with the dealer but felt they did a terrible job troubleshooting and went with my investigation. I'm going in tomorrow to look at the heads once they pull them off and see if the gasket looks like the ones posted. Lots of money, but got 2 kids and have no time to deal with this.
Same problem with misfire on cyl 6. Troubleshot the heck out of it and confirmed it when I moved the coil pack off 6 to 5, took the cap off radiator and saw bubbles. Took to dealer and told them my troubleshooting and that it was HG. This is where it gets interesting..... So they look at it next morning, do a block check and turn the code off. They call and say not a HG and they are looking into what it is. I asked if they pressurized coolant, compression checked #6, swapped injectors. They said it couldn't be the fuel injectors. I still told them HG. So they drive it around some more and light comes on and idles rough so they say "Must be HG". Unbelievable, they wanted 2400.00 of which 400.00 was gasket kit and 17hrs labor at 100/hr. So I call another shop and they wanted 300.00 for gasket kit and 20hrs labor and were only 200.00 cheaper. Long story short I went with the dealer but felt they did a terrible job troubleshooting and went with my investigation. I'm going in tomorrow to look at the heads once they pull them off and see if the gasket looks like the ones posted. Lots of money, but got 2 kids and have no time to deal with this.
Found this thread via Google. My 4Runner with a 1GR-FE is starting to exhibit these symptoms. It started a week ago. I drove it about 20 miles, let it sit for about 20 minutes and then when I went to restart it it started to shudder like it was missing. It started running fine after a few seconds, so down the road I went (2 miles, 5 minutes). Parked it for about 90 minutes, started it up and it did the same thing. This time the CEL came on and all the VSC/traction control dummy lights illuminated. Wonderful.
Got it home and pulled the code. P0306 - misfire, cylinder 6. Reset the code, and put in new plugs (5 & 6 were a little darker than all the rest). All was OK until this morning. Started it up, and had a shudder for 5 seconds. Drove 10 miles, let it sit for 2 hours. When I started it up, it did it again. Argh. No CEL.
On to the next set of tests, I guess.
This is a 2005 with 88,500 miles. I bought it brand new, have maintained it very well, and have never abused it. Fun fun fun...
Got it home and pulled the code. P0306 - misfire, cylinder 6. Reset the code, and put in new plugs (5 & 6 were a little darker than all the rest). All was OK until this morning. Started it up, and had a shudder for 5 seconds. Drove 10 miles, let it sit for 2 hours. When I started it up, it did it again. Argh. No CEL.
On to the next set of tests, I guess.
This is a 2005 with 88,500 miles. I bought it brand new, have maintained it very well, and have never abused it. Fun fun fun...
keezer37
Explorer
For the longest time the heater gurgled and nothing more. Then I noticed the bubbles in the coolant reservoir about a year ago. I suppose the bubbles were always there, I just didn't know to look for them.
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Look for bubbles after driving and the truck is thoroughly warmed. It can only mean one thing, compression gases being pushed through from the cylinder to the cooling system. Nothing else matters.
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I wasn't overheating and loosing very little coolant so I let it be. Then a couple weeks ago, I had to add coolant three times in one week so, time to go under the wrench.
It's not something I should have waited on so long but it's hard to justify the cost when the truck is otherwise running fine. That said, I did dodge a bullet in that it didn't overheat on me. Waiting until it overheats could add significantly to the cost.
cbradley
Adventurer
If you are deterred by the V6 headgasket problem, you might consider the V8. It seems to be well regarded as bulletproof. If I remember correctly, it is the same 4.7L used in the Landcruisers for a number of years.
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Mine seems to act worse when the engine is warm. For example, if it sits overnight and we go to start it, it usually fires right up and not much, if at all, shuddering.
But, if we drive somewhere, let it sit for a few minutes and then start it, it will shudder worse. I would think that sitting for a long time would allow more coolant to leak into the cylinder(s), and it would run much more rough.
In any event, I took an oil sample for analysis and hopefully that will lend some clues. I also borrowed a leak down tester from a buddy. Still crossing my fingers, but not that optimistic, though.
But, if we drive somewhere, let it sit for a few minutes and then start it, it will shudder worse. I would think that sitting for a long time would allow more coolant to leak into the cylinder(s), and it would run much more rough.
In any event, I took an oil sample for analysis and hopefully that will lend some clues. I also borrowed a leak down tester from a buddy. Still crossing my fingers, but not that optimistic, though.
newmexico25
New member
I'm a newer member here but have one of the higher mileage 4runners on the toyota-4runner.org with 150,xxx on my 04 4x4 v6 and I haven't had any indication of these problems. You have to remember when you add both the 4runner and tacoma sales from 03 and 05 respectively your probably talking close to 250,000 vehicles each yr being sold. I would guess 75% of those sold are the v6's and we have heard of less then 10 of these incidents. I wouldn't sweat this too much unless we hear about 20-50 vehicles having this type of problem across all the different forums. Of course this is just my opinion.
Just fyi for anyone who would like to know I haven't had any problem with my 4runner other then a mold smell coming out of the ac system when the heater was on. They ran an antibacterial through it and took care of that problem. I just put on my 3rd set of brake pads and just turned the rotors for the first time at 150K. I have changed the plugs 4 times at 50k intervals. I just changed the coolant at 150K and that was 50k overdue. I've never changed the front, rear or transfer case fluid; nor the transmission fluid. Still on original battery, alternator, distributor and have never changed a light bulb anywhere on the truck. I take it to walmart to get the oil changed every 3-5k and get the cheapest oil change possible. I do change my air filter regularly but never replaced the in cab air filter and don't notice a difference.
We do a lot of highway driving but at least 3 times a week for the life of the vehicle we drive over rough forest service roads whether it is snowy, muddy or sunny to walk our dogs for an hour or 2. I've towed a few times a year and my heavyist tow was about
10k pounds when I towed a skid steer and trailer. Luckily it was only 30 miles. It has only been garaged out 20 times in the 7 yrs I've owned it.
I'm not telling you all this because I meant to abuse my 4runner but instead to say that I think it is the most overbuilt vehicle outside of a jeep rubicon. I am averaging over 20k miles per year since we bought it new and drive from albuquerque to colorado springs, co about once a month. I wouldn't hesitate to drive this vehicle anywhere in america at a moments notice. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding the 4runners.:sombrero:
cbradley
Adventurer
Pulled the heads tonight. Mine looks very similar to the one above...
Is that cylinder 6 on the left?
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keezer37
Explorer
If you're doing this yourself, make sure you beat up Toyota about it. It's the only way they will get behind it eventually...and when the bean counters tell them the public relations boost outweighs the cost of the ones left. I'm guessing 2015.
My last contact with them was yet another firm no. Aside from the mileage, they would not reimburse for costs when the work wasn't done by a Toyota dealership. Yeah. Right. It's not enough I have to pay to replace your faulty head gaskets, I have to pay you to replace your faulty head gaskets.
On a side note, don't forsake getting the heads checked for flatness. It's worth the couple hundred extra bucks given the tolerance for aluminum heads.
My last contact with them was yet another firm no. Aside from the mileage, they would not reimburse for costs when the work wasn't done by a Toyota dealership. Yeah. Right. It's not enough I have to pay to replace your faulty head gaskets, I have to pay you to replace your faulty head gaskets.
On a side note, don't forsake getting the heads checked for flatness. It's worth the couple hundred extra bucks given the tolerance for aluminum heads.