1994 Toyota 4Runner (slight knock/low oil pressure)

[latisha1903]

Just typing this up is stressful, because I have fallen in love with my 4runner and now I'm at this point.

On Sunday while driving to church I had to pull over on the service road because my vehicle started making a loud noise and powered down. It was knocking a bit so I left it on the side of the road.

Mechanic #1

No leaks in engine
Doesn't seem as though engine is blown
Says I need to get a brand new engine

(ask me 3 times if I want to sell the vehicle to him).

Mechanic #2 (trusted)
Puts oil in the car and tells me to check the oil daily and if low then just always put oil in. So it starts...not knocking as loud as it was previously, and it drives. I'm able to drive it home actually...about 17 miles. As I'm driving I see the the RPM (?) gage is acting a bit crazy (which alerted me on Sunday that something was wrong) and so I pull over with my brother to see what's up.

I'm going about 55 on the hwy before we pull over. We check the oil..same level. Get back on freeway (55mph) and drive home. Get home...pull up...have to back up a bit and the car stalls agains...powers down. I'm able to get it right in front of the house.

I turn it on again after it powering down...and it starts back up. Seems alright besides the slight knocking under the hood.

We drive around the neighborhood...make it back safe. (shrug)

Just unsure what to do at this point. Over 200,000 miles on the car. No problems up until Sunday. Most are saying I need another engine and that it cost more than what I paid for the vehicle. I really enjoy and love my car...don't want to give it up.

I know this might not be the most descriptive, but any thoughts, ideas, comments...are GREATLY appreciated.

I've had some other places we've called throw out fuel pump. Mechanic #2 said something about a valve needing to be fixed. Brother (whom doesn't know too much about cars) said their was oil on top of the engine(?) as in there was too much oil.

Thanks in advance,

Stressed like none other...

I need to be able to get to work...

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

Wow, that's too bad... Hard to say exactly what the problem is. Sounds like loose bearings for sure, and possibly a stuck valve. Is there any water in the oil? (It would look like chocolate milk on the dip stick)

Is it a 4 cylinder or a V6?

Has anyone checked the compression on the cylinders?

 

[latisha1903]

v6

no water in the oil.

and no the compression has not been checked...at least no one has even mentioned it...

thanks for your reply

 

[45Kevin]

If you have a stethoscope (auto part store may rent or sell a cheap one) you could hone in on the "knock". Bottom of engine equals bad bearing(s), top of engine could be not so bad. Don't leave this too long, it could be catostrophic.

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

Have the compression checked and let us know what the numbers are. That will tell us a lot about the engines condition. Sadly the V6's have a habit of blowing head gaskets and burning valves (basically stuck open), but we'll keep our fingers crossed that it's neither!

 

[latisha1903]

thank ya'll for your responses. will get it checked at an auto parts store ASAP and will keep ya'll updated after I do so..

*sigh* can't even get to work at this point...

guess i shouldn't chance it to drive a little bit huh?

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

To drive or not to drive... With out being sure what the problem is, it would be best not to drive it. It sounds like the engine is repairable right now, but if you drive it it may eventually break something and push it over the line into scrap metal land...

Sorry for the bad news.

 

[latisha1903]

*UPDATE*

I had the engine replaced. $800 at a salvage yard and $500 for labor. Also had to replace the radiator for $150.

My 94 is back on the road...shakes a bit when idle but other than that runs pretty well.

Currently the check engine light is on, and my mechanic called for an update and I told him, he said to get a fuel injector(sp?), for the light issue. Will this also help a little bit with the shaking?

I need to replace the muffler and have the A/C recharged (is used to be blow soooooooo COLD!).

How much does an A/C recharge typically cost? It's fall, but I live in Houston, so ya know...trying to gauge if I can hold out for a bit or if I need to dip into savings. Will it be just as cold as it used to be before I had the engine replaced?

Why does the A/C need to be recharged anyways? Had no problems before.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Combat Chuck]

The shaking could be anything, really;
harmonic balancer, loose motor mounts, uneven/out of time motor, bad TO bearings in the clutch (if a manual) if a slushbox, it could be low fluid (my Olds used to shake like an elderly tourist with a video camera when it was low on fluid), could be really bad bearings in a pulley (beyond the squealing stage) or a loose cooling fan. The first thing I would do in that situation is just grab a ratchet, check and tighten every bolt on the moving parts, and double-check that the motor mounts were torqued down with the swap.
Pull the plugs and make sure they're good, no soot, no big gaps, check pulleys for excessive play, make sure the cooling fan isn't missing part of a blade. look for clogged injectors, and check vacuum lines for possible wear/cracking (luckily it isn't a Ranger, so you don't have six-million little vacuum lines running all over inside)

Glad to hear you're truck is taking to her new heart transplant. Personally an old Toyota saved is worth three new!