Engine Failure at 40K, Multiple Repair Attemps

I'd put it in gear and tow it a few miles to really do some damage & get that new engine.

 

Here's what I got. I don't think I ever got much more via conversation, it's more of a 'we sent diagnostics to Toyota and this is what they said to do' kind of a thing

 

At this point they have every reason to fix it right no matter what happened. Take your rental car and let them call you after they know it’s fixed!

 

The troubling thing is how Toyota is approaching this. I'm a firm believer that once one valve drops, the rest aren't too far behind and yet they opt to reuse the ones that haven't failed. Toyota needs to step it up and just shit can the entire long block with this kind of damage.

It sort of makes me want to dump my own truck.

 

Ohhhhh.... the valve seat came loose and dropped into your #1 cylinder. So they ended up replacing the engine short block (the block, pistons, rods, crank, etc as a single unit). Along with 6(?) each intake and exhaust valves.

edit: oh... they did all the valves on one bank (side) of the engine. 2 intake and 2 exhaust valves for each of the 3 cylinders.

Considering the entire short block was replaced, that's some fairly major surgery... guessing the mechanic forgot a step which caused the 2nd failure. More than likely, the second failure was just human error. Hopefully they'll get it right the next time around.

 

That's the way I'm looking at it, I mean why go about 80%? Just swap out the entire engine and be done with it.

 

The 2013 Limited 4WD with 50k for miles at my local dealer is looking pretty tempting.

 

Minivan engine strikes again!

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2gr-fks-engine-failure.705778/

 

Have they diagnosed the current engine?
Something doesn’t sound right.

I noticed they didn’t have spark plugs, but did have “customer states - spark plugs,
I don’t know of any shop that wouldn’t replace the spark plugs after a situation like this.

Anyways, I’d like to see the current diag on the new engine.

 

maybe they should start , more revenue

 

Yeah they sold me on replacing the spark plugs with no labor cost while the work was being done. I haven't heard back from them yet on the most recent service issue, I'll keep ya posted.

 

Mechanical things break. My sister had one of those small, Cadillac SUV's (SRX or some such) with the 3.6 V6 that GM has likely built millions of. Had roughly 50K miles and running rough one day. She takes to dealer and they find the crankshaft had literally broken in 2 pieces. Immediately upon return from the shop she traded it for a Toyota Highlander.......go figure.....

 

What would concern me is why is this happening. On the Dodge and Jeep 4.7s the valve seats would drop if they got hot and on the same engine they'd spit rocker arms off if people did extended oil drain intervals. What's the root cause of 3.5 top end blowing up in such rare fashion? Maybe Toyota is trying best the 3.0 from thirty years ago

 

As the owner of a Toyota truck powered by a 3.0 which has eaten it’s share of head gaskets I make it a point to never park my Taco near it LOL!

 

They either sell parts and labor or a new truck. Win, win for them... not so much for us.

 

You never know. I recall there was an early valvetrain issue with the Tundra 5.7, that Toyota promptly fixed. Granted, the 3.5 has been around a while and it not a new design. DOHC engine, no push rods and sounds like the engine dropped a valve. I'm not intimately familiar with the design but sounds like either the valve itself broke or whatever retainer they use on top of the valvespring failed....or maybe a valvespring itself broke. Again, they're are millions of these engines on the road. The only shocking thing, to me, is how long the majority of them last without a major breakdown.

 

Only way to get them to do it is if we quit buying trucks we can't repair.

 

That first attempt was pitiful, even some amateurs know better. What is really odd is that in most mid to large dealerships, a factory field tech will usually diagnose and has to approve warranty repairs. They also request a fuel sample as standard MO and I don’t see it on the RO.

So if I’m not misunderstanding, this will be the 3rd attempt?

You can try lemon, but you rarely come out whole, the law is a sham and waste of time for the consumer. To trade in would be a loss if they finally get it right.
I would wait and see how it runs and if it looks like they did a good professional repair. A good pro will leave no trace that the vehicle has been worked on to the untrained eye. If you see wires hanging and tape rolling off harness, greasy prints everywhere, trade it while its still running.

That said, sorry for your troubles OP. I can see how this may disappoint you and many others watching this FUBAR and hope TOYOTA gets on the ball to do you right

 

off the subject, but have them replace that damn plastic cooling hose adapter thingy at the rear of the engine while its out.

 

Second failure 100% on the mechanic. They should have put a long block in originally.