***LONG POST WARNING***
Hi guys, could really use your help on this one. Truck is a '97 80 with Kazuma SC since December--less than five months--and has not really been "used" yet. Just driving around; no towing. 90K on the odo. Otherwise stock.
My wife was driving the truck yesterday and noticed that it started to "shudder", as she puts it, when at about 50mph. Bad enough that it scares her to drive. Less than a mile later, she pulls over and calls me. When she restarts the truck, she gets a "bang" and a puff of smoke from the exhaust pipe. Fortunately, she's just across from the Toyota dealer, so they play frogger across the highway and bring the truck back to the shop.
When I arrive at the shop, the service manager starts asking me about the SC. The tone seems to be that he suspects it of having been at fault (hey, if so, then TRD should pay for the repair, right?). At lenght, he tells me that the puff of smoke was antifreeze in the exhaust. So I immediately suspect a head gasket--at least hopeful of one since the other alternatives are likely worse. Others signs/symptoms: no water in the oil (had just recently been changed--have been using full snythetic since about 45K).
The manager is suggesting that since I have the SC installed, that I might consider taking it off (not likely--I bought it for a reason, not cosmetics), or consider doing some work on the bottom end, should they have to fix the top end. One of his comments was that when they have the head off, they'll check out the cylinder walls to see if the cross-hatching is still there--if so, he things the bottom end should be okay, but otherwise would suggest rebuild. Not sure if I buy this logic with 90K on the engine. I suggested to him that since he'll have the head off, that he should check/repair the valves and guides etc.
They have to do a tear-down today to really know what's wrong. Even though I consider them to be a good dealer, they are after all a dealer and I don't entirely trust them. I am hoping that the combined wisdom of this board can give me a better idea of what to expect going forward, both in terms of likely diagnosis, and cost to repair. Also, any other work you think I should have done while they're mucking about in there.
TIA,
Tom
Hi guys, could really use your help on this one. Truck is a '97 80 with Kazuma SC since December--less than five months--and has not really been "used" yet. Just driving around; no towing. 90K on the odo. Otherwise stock.
My wife was driving the truck yesterday and noticed that it started to "shudder", as she puts it, when at about 50mph. Bad enough that it scares her to drive. Less than a mile later, she pulls over and calls me. When she restarts the truck, she gets a "bang" and a puff of smoke from the exhaust pipe. Fortunately, she's just across from the Toyota dealer, so they play frogger across the highway and bring the truck back to the shop.
When I arrive at the shop, the service manager starts asking me about the SC. The tone seems to be that he suspects it of having been at fault (hey, if so, then TRD should pay for the repair, right?). At lenght, he tells me that the puff of smoke was antifreeze in the exhaust. So I immediately suspect a head gasket--at least hopeful of one since the other alternatives are likely worse. Others signs/symptoms: no water in the oil (had just recently been changed--have been using full snythetic since about 45K).
The manager is suggesting that since I have the SC installed, that I might consider taking it off (not likely--I bought it for a reason, not cosmetics), or consider doing some work on the bottom end, should they have to fix the top end. One of his comments was that when they have the head off, they'll check out the cylinder walls to see if the cross-hatching is still there--if so, he things the bottom end should be okay, but otherwise would suggest rebuild. Not sure if I buy this logic with 90K on the engine. I suggested to him that since he'll have the head off, that he should check/repair the valves and guides etc.
They have to do a tear-down today to really know what's wrong. Even though I consider them to be a good dealer, they are after all a dealer and I don't entirely trust them. I am hoping that the combined wisdom of this board can give me a better idea of what to expect going forward, both in terms of likely diagnosis, and cost to repair. Also, any other work you think I should have done while they're mucking about in there.
TIA,
Tom