Engine shut off while driving - cranks but wont start

Hello, my name is JT and I'm new to the forum. I just purchased an 07 Tacoma with a 4 liter V6 (200k miles). While driving home from purchase at 60 mph, the engine cut off (luckily I was able to pull off the road!). The engine cranks freely but it won't start. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Does your check engine light come on with the key on?

 

Yes, the check engine light comes on when I turn the key. When I purchased it, the check engine light was on and there were 3 codes:
P0116 and P0117 (engine coolant temp sensor)
P0301 (cylinder 1 misfire).
The truck still was drivable, but developed a miss once moving.
My goal was to drive it home and work on it - I was about 3 miles from home when the engine cut off while driving.

 

That's kind of concerning, it didn't overheat did it?
Have you checked the coolant?

 

Yes, I checked the coolant and it was ok.

 

Well that's good, often when I see the P0117 code on Toyota's it set because of an overheat not a bad sensor.

Do you have a scan tool that can read live data?
If so bring up RPM and verify you have a reading around 150-200 RPM while cranking.

 

I just took a closer look at the radiator and noticed that the stem where the overflow bottle connects to the radiator is snapped off! The bottle contains coolant, but its not connected to the radiator. I removed the radiator cap and cant see any coolant at the top of the radiator, so it's probably pretty low. I hope I didn't kill the engine- it still cranks.

 

That's not good, crank it over with the cap off and see if it's huffing smoke/steam out of the radiator. If it is it's probably toast, if it's not maybe it's ok.

 

I'll fill the radiator with water and the crank the motor - if I see bubbles then I know it's toast.

 

Hopefully that's not the case but with the codes and symptoms I'm concerned it may be.

If not we can troubleshoot this further.

 

Sounds good. Thanks.

 

Well, my worst fears are confirmed - I filled the radiator with water left the cap off. When I turned the key, water erupted out of the opening - blown head gasket I assume?

 

Almost certainly but I'd be more concerned about the head/deck being warped, aluminum engines don't handle overheating very well at all.

The heads can be milled a tiny bit but you have to compensate the removed material by using a custom headgasket to make up for the amount taken off or you will likely get timing codes.

If the deck of the block is out of spec there's not really anything that can be done with it.

 

Thanks. I've 1already started looking for a replacement engine. If anyone has a used 4.0 1GRFE engine (5th digit U) in the northern VA area, please contact me.

 

Try here for engines.
https://www.hollanderparts.com/used...git,-1grfe-engine,-6-cylinder),-exc.-x-runner

 

I would have a few questions for the person you bought it from..

 

it sounds like he went into it knowing about the codes displaying, so the engine having issues might have already been accounted for in the agreed-upon sale price.

 

That's correct - it was super-cheap for a reason!