2001 tacoma

Hello, I came on this thread for some much needed tacoma advice. So I own a 2001 tacoma 4cyld pre runner xcab, I purchased it in 2004 so I've been the owner for almost 20 years. It currently has 250,000 miles on it, and besides the normal oil change and spark plugs replacement I haven't done any other service on it. Well now it has issues, mind you guy I am Not a car guy that works on cars and don't know mechanic work. So when I took in the truck to get looked at the mechanic said I have a cracked head that needs work. The best I can describe what the truck feels like when running is major shaking and feels like it will turn off but hasn't yet. I attached a estimate showing the work that needs to be done. I need advice if it's worth getting done to have the truck running for a few more years or let it go. I only use it for work commute of less than 50 miles daily. Any and all advice is welcomed.

 

Doesn’t look too crazy of a quote and If I’m reading it right he’s using oem parts

 

Cheaper than buying another vehicle. I'd guess the repairs would give you another 100,000 miles. Worth it!

 

Totally agree with @Cloud99. The days of $1000 or even $2000 used cars that are ready to be used as a daily driver are long gone. You're looking at $2600 to get this truck all sorted. The same truck that seems to have been damn good to you for nearly 20 years with nothing more than spark plugs and oil changes having been done. This one's a no brainer.

Even if you choose to then sell the truck soon, you'll get all this money back out of it by selling it in good mechanical condition for a decent price versus selling it with a cracked head for thousands less.

 

I'm in SLC and that quote for my truck from 3 different shops was anywhere from $3,500 to $4,000 and they were weeks-months out.... So it seems fair to me, with that being said I would be prepared to drop another $850 on a new cylinder head. 250k seems to be a sweet spot for the valve inlets to have a crack requiring replacement.

 

Thats actually good prices.....that is if you get oem parts on the critical ones...


Agreed with above.....these heads are notorious for getting cracks between the valves...

so that's most likely the cause.

Buying a reman head....may be buying problems....
repairing these.... they just crack somewhere else...


See at the 13min mark.....

Engine Head Gasket / Cracked Head Repair (Toyota 3.4L V6 5VZ-FE ) - Part 4 - YouTube

 

Appreciate the feedback. Makes me feel more confident to get the work done. Mechanic said he recommended the work only because it's a tacoma. Any other model wouldn't recommended.

 

Its really important not to let these engines overheat..

the heads cant take it........egr and coolant system should be reg maint

 

Quote cost seems reasonable to me. After having work on your valves like this keep in mind it is a good idea to have your valves checked/tightened after another 30k mi. or so.

 

Technically they get tighter over time and need to get loosened (with a thinner shim) to get back in spec. But yeah totally agree that OP may want to consider adding a few maintenance items (certainly to include valve adjustments) if he wants to really get his money's worth out of these repairs. I'd bet a slew of his current valves are too tight and very well may have contributed to the cracked head.

 

I don't see a fix for a cracked head in there... I see a head gasket job. That said, on the cheaper end of quotes I've seen on here

 

On the bottom line item on the right hand side it says machine cylinder head for $345. Not sure if this mechanic thinks a machine shop can repair the crack in the head for that price? Seems just removing that charge and adding ~$800 for a remanned head might be a better move.

 

Maybe I'm ignorant, but machining a head isn't a fix for a crack. I would agree: get a new head

 

Yeah agreed, mine tightened a lot after valve work around 190k. More meant to make sure the adjustment nuts are tight lol

My replacement reman'd head for a crack at 190k burned a valve at 255k

 

Toyota 2.7 L4L Remanufactured Cylinder Head - 8/99-9/04 2/3RZFE - Powertrain Products

 

I’d probably find a shop that specializes in head work and get their opinion. Good 3rz remans are hard to source and the market seems to be flooded with shitty ones. If the oem one can be saved I think it’s worth it.

reworking and machining my head was $427. Fixing a crack would probably be extra, but I don’t think it is a uncommon repair.