2016 Tacoma Radiator Issue leads to engine Issue

This is where I have questions. I don't see how it could need a complete engine if there were no steam or smoking going on.

 

LS SWAP!!! Only reasonably course of action for 9000 dollars you could have an LS and t56 transmission

 

And that is where I said early on in this thread, if the engine is shot due to overheat, then there are some other underlying issues that need addressed.

 

Odds are there is nothing wrong with the engine. The dealership is covering their ass and wants to replace anything that could possible be damaged by the overheating of the engine. 9k is a pretty nice up sell. Thats the name of the game at the dealership. I know I worked as a Toyota dealer tech for a few years. We got 10% of what we up sold...

 

That's...pretty gross. How many old women and single moms did you guys "up sell"?

 

OP says “The hole is on the back of the radiator inside fan shroud.“. So the fan shot the goal? No way! Is there damage to the leading edges of the fan? Pinhole leaks can occur easily due to material blemishes, or maybe....

RATS did it!!!

 

Not many, Mostly just Canadians that didn't know what they were talking about.

 

Notwithstanding the whole warranty argument, it IS strange that the OP would have cooked his engine with nothing more than a strange sound or two and a "flickering" idiot light. I'm no mechanic, but there should have been major indications that something was seriously wrong. I mean, even if the coolant temp sensor was not immersed in coolant (and therefore give you a reading of what?), you'd think the oil temp would skyrocket, no? Yes oil temp is monitored in our trucks.

We don't have the whole picture, but the dealer seems to be trying to hose this guy. Time will tell.

 

Okay so Canadians...would drive all the way out to...I'm assuming you're in the US...for service. Hm, wow, interesting. You worked in a border town or what?

 

Hey now, YOU take that back

 

I know I damn well would lol

 

Why didn’t op smell coolant? I’ve had tiny leaks that I could easily smell. Maybe he didn’t notice it? No steam? Could the leak be so small you couldn’t notice it?
You have my sympathy but it sounds like you are gonna be responsible for whatever repairs are needed unless you can prove the sensors failed. It’s hard for me to believe the engine needs to be replaced.

 

Whatever you do don't take it to the place where this GF8er guy worked.

 

If the coolant temp sensor was not immersed in coolant, it would be reading air temp from the air voids, in which case would give a higher reading than the coolant itself. Therefore, lights and warnings should have been going crazy.

 

sarcasm is lost on you I guess.

 

Wow, you just think you are entitled to everything don’t you? It’s out of warranty by a lot, it’s not Toyota’s problem to pay for whatever damage has been done regardless of how it happened.

OP, get a new radiator and a second opinion on the engine diagnosis.

 

You obviously have expectations from companies that most of us don't. Sure, there are customer retention and satisfaction programs happening all day every day from Toyota. Buy several vehicles from the same dealer and have them do the service too. Thats when you will see them bend over backwards to help you out. Same with any company on any product. You buy one widget you get treated normal. Buy a million widgets a month and you get an entirely different level of treatment. It also matters how the customer treats the dealer. Always be nice.

 

He sounds like the guy that brought me his 4 wheeler that would not stay running. It had gas that was over a year old, he said the atv sat up for more than a year never cranked. I gave him the estimate for carb cleaning, drain and clean fuel system, and tune up. His reply was, I bought the extended warranty. I had to explain in detail why that would not be covered under warranty ,and he was still confused.