Need help fast!!

Ok, so here's my situation: First, earlier this week drove to the gas station, the temp gauge started moving toward red. When I stopped my coolant was almost gone, filling the rad and the overflow took close to 3/4 of a bottle of 50/50 coolant. Drove it a little the next couple days, the coolant didn't obviously leak out, the level stayed the same, and no other symptoms so I thought things would be ok. Then, today, driving on the interstate from MA to VA, keeping speeds of 75-80. Drove no problems for about 3-4 hours, then suddenly something started "chirping" and I started losing power. No acceleration at all, I could maintain speed on a flat but no power going uphill. When I stopped and checked, coolant level was still normal, but I was down about a 1/4 quart of oil. The sound was almost like a slipping belt, a "chirping" sound that I couldn't pin point. It's in the shop my parents use, I have no tools with me and no idea what to expect. The check engine light came on while I was driving over to the shop, it flashed a couple times and then stayed on constant. The only other "weird" symptom was for a few minutes things went back to normal, the chirping went away and the power came back, but then the chirping came back and the power dipped immediately. Ideas??? I just want to know what to expect before the shop tells me something, I don't entirely trust mechanics I don't know.

 

Something's siezing up. Maybe the AC compressor or the water pump?

 

Run the OBDll on it. Its free at autozone and have them print out the code for you. Let us know what the mechanic tells you good luck. Oh yea and welcome to tacomaworld where all of your allowance money is going to be spent

 

Thanks for the welcome. I just found you guys, I just typed in "tacoma forums" into google to get some feedback into what this might be. The shop I took it to is actually open sundays, so they told me they'd call me when they diagnosed it. My wife and I are 500 miles from home, no tools or shop manual, so I'm kinda at the mercy of whatever the mechanic tells me. I just like to be informed before I have somebody I don't know tell me I need to give them a thousand dollars. If it's water pump replacement, what's a typical price I should expect? And would a failing water pump throw a check engine code right away? It took about an hour of driving before the check engine light came on. In an ideal world, I would have stopped driving it as soon as I started hearing the chirp, but the temp gauge stayed centered, right at 1/2, and I knew I had oil so I didn't get it towed.

 

Sounds like a water pump issue to me....you ARE losing coolant somewhere. Look around the pump and see if there is any evidence of leakage.....possibly a faulty thermostat causing the on again, off again readings.

 

+1 for the water pump. About 100 bones to get the new part for an '01 and another couple 100 for labor...I'm not sure how hard a pump replacement is on those.

 

Where at you at in the world? Maybe a local member can help out.

 

Right now I'm in Falls Church, VA. I appreciate the offer for local help, but we need to get this fixed in the next day or 2. Why can't these things ever break in the driveway?

 

I wish I could help. I wish you luck.

 

agreed on both statements.

 

Well, got the call from the mechanic. 2 different problems, he said neither one was related.
The coolant issue: the radiator is leaking, so they are going to replace rad, hoses, and thermostat. Complete flush of system and then refill.

The power loss issue: #3 coil misfired, so I was basically running on 3 cylinders. Have any of you ever had that happen? That's what caused my check engine light, I've never heard of that. The truck only has about 150,000 on it.

Total price: $960-970

I'm not getting gouged here, am I?

 

i was say.... that is a pretty fair price... but what do i know i am in CALI... that sux....sorry to hear that bro... welcome to TW.. btw and good luck!!!

 

Did he say why the rad was leaking? Did it deteriorate? Puncture? Reminder: AlWAYS USE DISTILLED WATER IN YOUR SYSTEM.

 

That does make sense now that he said that about the coil missfiring. It would definately cause a loss of power and even some over heating issues. If it were an old chevy you could get it replaced for less then $50. Oh times have changed.

Does anybody know how much one of those coils costs. If the parts are cheap and the labor is alot I have all of my tools and am in Colonial Heights near Richmond. I could give you a hand replacing it.

 

way to be there for a toyota owner!!!!!! love it!!!
TW to the rescue

 

Oops! Sorry about that I didnt realize Falls Church was a two hour drive north. I am just here temporary.

 

Most of his mechanic's expense is going to be related to the rad stuff. Bummer. But at 150K miles, shit happens.

 

I bet it is the price of the radiator they cant be cheap. In the old days I would say just break a couple of cigerettes or put some bars leak in it and call it good. With all of the new sensors and stuff they have on them now days I dont think you can do that any more.

 

Wow, thanks for all the replies! I think this is my new favorite truck forum. The mechanic didn't say exactly why/how the rad was leaking, he just said if the thermostat got stuck that could have caused a build-up of pressure. I'm wondering why it was chirping though, forgot to ask the guy that. I'm also wondering if I should replace the water pump, even though the mechanic said it was fine. When do y'all generally replace it? I haven't looked at the manual yet, but is it a fairly decent DIY job? If it's fixed enough to drive back to MA, I can probably change the water pump myself.