Check Your 3.5l Coolant Pipe!

Fascinating that this plastic pipe system failure keeps cropping up over multiple generations, even when it has been "fixed", sometimes under warranty by Toyota using a metal replacement part. My son went through this a few years ago on his 2005 2.7L: -Not- under warranty for big bucks out-of-pocket. The new rear by-pass pipe replacement is metal. Current mileage: 244k. He's hoping for 300k some day. Odds are good: no more coolant leaks and no oil consumption. Fingers crossed but it looks good.

Four generations later, here we go again with failing plastic cooling system pipes and fixtures.... And all basically to save the total weight equivalent of about two Ritz Crackers.

 

3rd way, according to the head of service at my local dealer and mentioned my Car Care Nut(on YT), is to lift the cab up, off the frame. That would involve evacuating the refrigerant and disconnecting the AC lines. It is the Toyota official way of repairing it which makes a lot of sense. It is DIY prohibitive unless you are EPA 609 certified and have the special equipment to work on R1234yf system.

 

Not on the 3.5's. plastic attached to a hot metal block with hot coolant in it is a recipe for disaster! On top of that a crappy little thin "O" ring instead of a gasket with RTV sealant on it

 

Adding another data point here.

2018 Tacoma. Built April 2018. 90k miles. Canadian truck.

I haven't noticed any substantial drop in my coolant levels (unless Toyota has been topping it off during my service visits?)

How much time do I have before I have to replace it? Will this pipe let go without warning?

 

Yes, I think all reports have been slow leakers. Coolant level will be the first indicator then the visual confirmation. No catastrophic failures to date as far as I know. 1.8 million of these made and they have not become the norm thankfully.

 

Thanks for this info. I have a trip planned for next week and if I can't get this fixed before Saturday, I won't sweat it.

My small oil look turned out to be RMS, so they're gonna have to pull the transmission to do that anyway.

 

Add me to the list. It's not just '16s and '17s, it just happened to my '21 at 34K. I noticed a small collant puddle underneath the trans on Friday night and got my endoscope out and sure enough, it's the bypass line. I bought a 100K/10 yr. factory VSA warranty from Wolverine Toyota a few years ago though (for $1360 IIRC). I think there's a different dealership that people go through now to get the best deal on these factory extended warranties, but I am SURE GLAD I bought it when I had the chance because my local dealer (Toyota of Redlands) approved the repair without any trouble at all. Gotta give them a shout out because they have been a great service dept. for years now, for both our 4runner and Tacoma.

You guys with '22s and '23s that are still within the regular factory 36K/3 yr. can still purchase a factory extended warranty from any dealership until your regular warranty runs out. I got mine from out of state because they were less than half the price the dealership I bought it from was "willing to do on it". I had to have my thermostat replaced under warranty about a year ago because it was stuck open and the truck wouldn't get up to temp unless I drove it for almost 30 min. So between that and the bypass line, this VSA saved me probably $3K+ so far, with 5 1/2 more years to go. Something to consider...

 

Did they let you know which way they were going to replace it? Transmission removal or intake manifold to access it.

 

Good question. @brian2sun And congrats on the coverage, and nice pic you got a good endoscope. Not a happy sight but glad you got the solution.

 

I had mine replaced via the intake manifold method. The entire job (parts and labor) was about $1600 CDN. Removing the intake manifold required new gaskets for the manifold, as well as for the high pressure fuel injection lines.

 

Cab off is the official repair method according to my service writer I spoke with.

 

I should be picking it up tonight and was planning to ask them how they did it. I'll report back.

 

They called to tell me they couldn't quite get it done before quittin' time tonight, but it'll be ready tomorrow. The tech said he removed the manifold to do it, but said he's done it both ways and neither one is much fun, haha.

 

Any day now I'm sure......

 

That would be nice.. Im looking every 5K miles when im under it changing oil.

Im at 88K Miles.

 

How do I apply please info would help sorry if your asked this already

 

There's an extended warranty thread on here with all the info. The person I bought mine through isn't doing them anymore, but last I heard a new person was (maybe a few, I dunno?). Either way, you can get one from any Toyota dealership, so you can shop around.

 

Well…..guess I’ll be shopping for the ext-warranty deal aswell, just to be on the safe side….