Thrown Rod? Big Trouble

I drove my daughter to school in my '06 Tacoma on Thursday morning, got out and dropped her off as usual. Got back in and started the truck - oil spewed everywhere, oil light went on immediately. Had to get a tow 35 miles back to dealership. Inspection under hood showed oil sprayed everywhere - a huge mess.

Truck has now been in the shop since Thursday; dealer service called and said they had to charge me $600 plus tax just to determine the problem, and I'm waiting for the diagnosis, but serviceman on the phone was already pricing used engines for me because he said there's a hole blown in the "top cap" of the motor. He wouldn't say for sure but said there's a possible thrown rod, and this truck only has 128,000 miles on it, and I changed oil religiously.

I bought this Tacoma used in '08 - a "Certified Used Vehicle", and it's been nothing but trouble.

*Three weeks after purchase on first oil change, they told me I needed all new air filters. When I pointed out that the certification said all filters were supposed to be new on purchase, they relented and gave me free replacements.

** Four months later, we had to evacuate for a hurricane threat. On the road, the battery died. Had to have it towed and battery replaced at my own expense. I called Warranty Roadside Assistance for help, and turned out that Slidell Toyota never even put my name in the system - they had no record of me having the assistance program, which I payed a lot for.

Man at Pensacola Toyota told me the battery was the stock factory battery and died of old age, but when I bought the truck Slidell Toyota assured me the battery was brand new. I complained to the manager back in Slidell, and he said they wouldn't pay for the replacement or tow. When I told him what the guy in Pensacola said, he told me "He was just trying to sell you something." When I told him this was a Certified Used Vehicle, he said "You should have known the risks of buying a used truck."

***The blower motor resistor is shot and the fan runs when it feels like it and shuts off by itself.


Now, this truck has only 128,000 miles on it, did all scheduled tune-ups etc., and it's possibly thrown a rod, and the guy is telling me I may have to get a new (used) engine at a cost of over $6000 plus labor and tax, and also have to pay to clean the inside, replace the blower motor resistor, and pay for all new belts and hoses soaked by oil.

Guys, what can I do? I can't afford what he is telling me I'll have to pay. My warranty (which was useless anyway) is now expired (over 100,000 miles).
I'm pretty steamed about this one. Hard to believe this truck, which they all told me I could easily get 250,000 miles out of, is ready for the scrap heap, and I still owe $10,000 on the loan.

Suggestions, anything, please.

 

ahh thats a tough one, sorry to hear it man! try to find a totaled tacoma and do an engine swap yourself to save some money?

 

Wow! sorry to hear about that man. Sounds like a great time for a diesel swap write up

 

OK, they just called. They said what happened is a rock or some debris got wedged between the pulley and front engine plate - when it dislodged it actually blew a hole inward on the motor.
Inside the motor is OK, they even found the piece of debris which proves it was blown inward. Repairs est $2900 plus tax. Do you think this sounds plausible?

 

You can get used motor for $3k... What parts are they replacing?

 

He said the "front plate" was punctured and so they have to replace that along w crank seals and rings, plus new belts and hoses.

 

What are they going to do for $2900? Are they going to try to weld the engine block? I'm not an expert, but it sounds like you have a pretty shady dealership you are working with. I'm going to keep an eye on this thread, I've never heard of what you are sayin. Maybe I'll learn something. Best of luck with the truck, and sorry you are having trouble with it, especially right now. I hope the dealer isn't trying to make a bundle on people who have other things to worry about.

 

+1 I would personally want to see the damage...

 

I asked what caused it and he repeatedly said they don't know. His best guess was something got wedged between the pulley and front plate of engine and when it broke free it shot a hole through the front plate. He says there's no thrown rod and the inside of the engine is fine, except they found the piece of metal from where the hole was blown in.

 

He says they have to replace this front plate; cranks seals and rings, new belt, clean engine outside.

 

I doubt HIGHLY doubt that! The "object" would have to be traveling at very high rate of speed to cause that! I have swapped several motors and seen many aluminum blocks in person. Even though aluminum is the crappiest metal ever, it shouldn't crumble when rock hits it...

 

Believe me, I looked at the engine and could not see the hole or source of where oil was spewing from. It took them (so they say) more than a day to find the hole. And they maintain they have no confirmed cause - just that some thing blew a hole inward on the front plate and not outward like a thrown rod would do.

 

So the hole is in Timing chain cover. $2900 is little too high for that. How are your skills you think you could manage the change ?

 

maybe i missed it, but, is the truck at the dealership that has caused you all of these issues? if so, gtfo of there as quickly as possible and go somewhere else.

secondly, did you call toyota corporate the first or second time they screwed you when you bought the truck, so there is a record of you complaining about them? just curious...

 

Yes, it's the timing chain cover. I could not do it myself - have no exp in welding, (I change the oil and battery etc.) and he said the cover is large and expensive, but it can't be repaired, has to be totally replaced.

 

Internet says cost of timing chain cover is only $8.

 

Yo dont need to weld, front cover is less the $700 if even thats the problem. Additional seals are probably next $100. Total $800 and you keeping $2100 in the pocket.
Also the problem could be one of the peeping holes covers that got loose and fall off.

Replacement is tedious work but it can be done.

 

I will take 1 million those

Timing cover price
http://www.trademotion.com/partloca...040&callout=23&catalogid=1&displayCatalogid=0

 

OK, so there's the real cost - $678. Now that seems more like it but doesn't justify $2300 in labor. A second dealership said they might be trying to charge me a higher labor rate (for a timing chain job) rather than the normal rate, so I am on phone w service manager and trying to get a better explanation of the cause, itemized list, and cost of labor, etc. He's supposed to call back in a bit.

 

Keep in mind that they said timing chain itself is undamaged; inside engine is fine - no thrown rod or broken parts.