Another timing chain cover leak

Just wanted to share a fun experience with my 3.5L 2wd Auto 3rd gen. Bought this used with about 27K miles on it back in December. I just hit 30k and decided to look everything over on the truck, oil change, check areas that need grease, etc. Well low and behold I found oil dripping off the bottom of the engine. I already have a love/hate relationship with the inanimate 3rd gen truck, and now this. Immediately went to dealer. Told them what I found, tech came out and looked at it for all of one second to say "get him a rental." The dealer has been awesome to work with and very helpful, so that has made this experience a little less sour.

On the other hand, I don't know what to think of this truck anymore. They are still working on it, been there since last week. Been driving a loaner and enjoying a vehicle that shifts normally (but that's another topic) I am waiting to get the truck back and look everything over and drive it before I pass final judgment. It worries me of some stories I have read about how much work is involved to fix said leak. Also the fact that this same leak has been around since roughly 2005 on the older brother 2GR-FE. Really? 13 years and the same leak can happen during assembly? I have a 67 mustang and all of its fancy high tech cork gaskets leak less than this truck, sorry that was a low blow...

Anywho, just figured I would pass this info along to current or future taco owners. Keep an eye on this area! If it leaks get it handled before your warranty is up. Hopefully your dealer will be as awesome as the one I am working with. Also, consider that toyota has not been able to fix this issue during assembly since 2005, that's pretty pathetic. It clearly doesn't happen to every vehicle, but it shouldn't happen to any. And if it does it should be an anomaly, not a common problem. That is just my opinion. I understand things happen in manufacturing, but problems like this should be solved and should not linger for 13 on similar engine platforms.

I've included a couple pictures for reference. Keep an eye around your power steering pump. This is where I noticed the leak. One pic is from under the truck (skid removed) the other is from the front wheel well with the rubber access cover moved.

I'll report back once I get the truck back. Hopefully they will supply a repair report letting me know what had to be done to fix the problem.

 

Unfortunately it is an anomaly. There have been no TSB's or recalls. I think yours is maybe the 3rd or 4th I have read about with the issue out of 20K trucks made a month. Good luck and it sounds like you have a good dealer!

 

+1 what hiPSI said. it sucks that it's happening to you, but I don't see that this is happening to a lot of people.

 

Better it happen now than out of warranty period. Sure does suck though. If you don’t care much for the truck then just get rid of it, not worth keeping it if you’re that unhappy. Honestly I’m not in love with mine. I plan to get rid of it an another year, maybe 18 months. Gotta do what makes you happy.

 

Would this leak cause any symptoms such as loss of power, odd shifting? Just curious. Having my replaced on a 16 Dclb sport 2wd

 

Just found out mine is leaking as well. Dealer wants 4k for the job. Um.. Nope. 120k on the truck. No idea how long it has been leaking. Looks like it may have started within the last 10k or so.

 

$4,000 dollars to fix a timing chain cover leak? How many labor hours?

 

I was going to start my own thread on this subject however most of these posts are rather new so I will add onto this one. Last weekend I was under my 2017 OR changing out the front and rear diff oil when I looked up into the engine bay and noticed the engine was very dirty compared to the rest of the truck. I was under the passenger side looking straight up a bit left of the tire. I thought oh no some idiot spilled oil on my engine. Never did I consider the engine would be leaking oil!! I mean come on!! SO much for the "Toyota Reliability". I did buy this truck used, certified pre owned, from a local Nissan dealer. The truck came with an aftermarket trailer brake controller. I figured the previous owner needed something bigger to tow with and traded this rig in for a Titan or Armada. I then got up off the ground and looked around through the top of the engine and there is no way anyone could have spilled oil down i that area. There would be no reason for it. So I jumped on TWS and did some searching. To my astonishment I am not alone in the leaking timing cover club. This all happened on a Saturday so come Monday I called my local Toyota dealer and they set me up for an appointment the next morning at 7am before I had to go onto work. This was Frontier Toyota in Valencia, CA. Jack was the guy who helped me out. While checking in he was grateful that I knew what the issue was and I also asked him to check the chirping high pressure fuel pump while they were at it and since the engine would be apart see about changing out the spark plugs. I made a point to ask them to clean the affected area, look into the chirping, and change the spark plugs. This all happened on Tuesday. It is now Thursday, the day I was told I could pick the truck up. Well they called this afternoon and said we could not fit the intake manifold back onto your truck and this will take more time. SHould be done tomorrow morning. We also can not replicate the chirping in the fuel pump (this is BS because I hear it in my cab everyday), they also said the spark plugs are good for 100000 mi and they look brand new, no need to spend money on something you do not need. Overall I am happy I guess with their service and I am happy with how quickly they fixed the issue. This was all under warranty. I was looking forward to getting a new set of MEthod 701 Bronze wheels installed today but it looks like that'll wait til tomorrow. It is all good, something to look forward to! I am not planning on getting rid of my truck, I absolutely love my 2017 Tacoma and I look forward to many years of reliable service. The thing is still a machine and it can still have problems and the fact that it is all being fixed at no cost to me (except time) is something I can live with. That covers it. If you have questions feel free to ask. I did not take any pics.

 

The truck was repaired under the Toyota 5yr.-60k powertrain warranty or certified preowned Nissan dealer pick up the tab?

 

Is this a common third gen problem or to a specific year?

 

Had a 2016 with whopping 16.5k and all city miles with a leak. Was pretty sad to notice it. Saw stains on my side of the garage. I was still under warranty so I printed some pics and showed them and immediately had a loaner from that dealership thankfully. A 2020 tacoma, I feel like they did this to me on purpose. They fixed the seal and I didn't even get back in the damn thing and traded it in. Unfortunately (or fortunately, we'll see) I traded it for 2020 Tacoma - which so far drives a million times better, how my 2016 should have been. Not experiencing the vibration in the pedal and its shifting smoothly, doesn't go nuts in cruise, and doesn't feel like the transmission is falling out when I come to a stop. Yet. 0% and good trade in was hard to pass I guess.

Hoping this is just a fool me once shame on Toyota. No twice please.

 

2nd gen problem also.
You would have thought they would have been on this by now. Zzzzzzzz
It's only been a decade.


https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/timing-cover-leaking.562585/

 

On a side note I've driven 2020's that don't drive as good as my 16 does. I had the trans flash done. Fox suspension upgrade. Same truck dude. Nothing's hardly changed but color selections, leather seat, and your wallet. Wouldn't trade mine in at this point at all. If you know of some major parts, engines, transmissions, etc. they traded out give us a hint.

 

Why did you get another Tacoma? I like my truck, but the little things are starting to bug me. None of it is a deal breaker, but stuff like my 3rd break light leaking and I’m out of warranty sucks. If I found out my timing chain was leaking, I would probably be done with the truck at that point.

 

You didn't drive my 2016, so you don't know. I'm not here to argue and my finances are mine, and they're fine. You do you man.

Garage only fits a midsize and I like Tacoma looks the best. 0% and I don't owe that much. I needed to move to a double cab regardless. Coworker has gone through 2 Colorados and both have had terrible shakes/shuddering. Not huge on the Ranger and Nissan hasn't updated Frontier in forever. Ridgeline looks like a van. All manufacturers have problems unfortunately. Time will tell.

 

Toyota covered it under the power train warranty

 

loL i was thinking the same thing writing that god damn that's long. pull up a chair and i'll tell ya another.

 

They usually pull the engine from the truck so there would definitely be a good bit of labor hours for sure.

 

I’m sorry, but this isn’t an issue since 2005. This been an issue since the 80” I’ve owned Supras from 84 to 92, AE86 from 84 to 87, Starlet 81, Corona 81 and ALL of them suffered from same issue. One thing in common with all of them including the Tacoma, is that they are freaking TANKS! After several fixes here and there they eventually continued to leak again. Boy but they never left me stranded, I kept up with the normal maintenance and most of them surpass the 200k easy. With all their little quirks here/there they stood faithful and strong with me. That’s why I continue to buy them!

 

Guess I better check this out before I hit the 60k mark.
Dang.