As an intro, I’ve got a 1999 cruiser (had an 1997 80 previously). Rust free, California vehicle. Just turned over 200k a few days ago while in Yellowstone. Beautiful cruiser, but spotty maintenance records.
This weekend (Saturday, 7/17/2021) we visited Mount Rushmore as part of our great American road trip with my wife and 2 sons (I’m Navy and being transferred from CA to DC area). We’ve had great performance with the cruiser through Zion, Bryce, Yosemite, Sequoia, Flagstaff, Yellowstone, Death Valley, and places along the way.
While going through a stretch of up-and-down switch-back turns in Custer State Park in South Dakota, I heard a noise from the motor and glanced down to my scan gauge FWT reading— 283! (For context, through Death Valley a week ago, I saw 206 max). The check engine light came on and I turned off the A/C and eventually the motor a few seconds later. At the turnout that was luckily there (with a great cell signal, fortunately), I popped the hood. The motor was steaming but no sign of coolant… also, plenty of coolant in the overflow tank.
I had some water in a portable camping shower tank we were carrying so I sprayed the motor to cool it down a bit (I was actually concerned about a fire at first). Then, I could see coolant flowing (as if being washed down) from below the vehicle.
We got a tow back to Rapid City to the Toyota dealer (thanks to USAA, but, oddly, the nearest contracted roll-back came from Sturgis — 2 hours away).
Yesterday, while stuck here in Rapid City, I went and dumped some coolant and water in it to try and do a bit of diagnosing. It didn’t leak unless I started the motor. No white smoke. No coolant in oil. No “milkshake”. No spraying up on the hood insulation. I let it sit and waited until the service team opened this morning, lest I cause more damage.
my initial thoughts based on some ‘mud research was a failed or botched-install water pump. The timing belt and water pump were done at 196k — just prior to my purchase (it’s one of the few receipts I have of the cruiser’s history).
This morning (Monday), the service team here in Rapid City said… heater T. It was a busted heater T. So, tomorrow (hopefully), with fresh Ts, a coolant flush and some Toyota “red”, and an oil change, we can get on with it and continue east. Can’t happen soon enough — cheapest hotel in Rapid City is $300 a night (this post COVID price gauging needs to settle down. Although, next month’s bike rally in Sturgis and tourist season at Rushmore doesn’t help, either).
I had a thorough check over done before I left CA but I suppose that “multi point inspection” didn’t cover what it needed to. Such is life.
I’m curious of your thoughts or experience with such failure. There’s some posts on the forum, but I wanted to share my story. I think I’m lucky — or at least it seems so at this point — that I didn’t get the dreaded head gasket failure or worse.
This weekend (Saturday, 7/17/2021) we visited Mount Rushmore as part of our great American road trip with my wife and 2 sons (I’m Navy and being transferred from CA to DC area). We’ve had great performance with the cruiser through Zion, Bryce, Yosemite, Sequoia, Flagstaff, Yellowstone, Death Valley, and places along the way.
While going through a stretch of up-and-down switch-back turns in Custer State Park in South Dakota, I heard a noise from the motor and glanced down to my scan gauge FWT reading— 283! (For context, through Death Valley a week ago, I saw 206 max). The check engine light came on and I turned off the A/C and eventually the motor a few seconds later. At the turnout that was luckily there (with a great cell signal, fortunately), I popped the hood. The motor was steaming but no sign of coolant… also, plenty of coolant in the overflow tank.
I had some water in a portable camping shower tank we were carrying so I sprayed the motor to cool it down a bit (I was actually concerned about a fire at first). Then, I could see coolant flowing (as if being washed down) from below the vehicle.
We got a tow back to Rapid City to the Toyota dealer (thanks to USAA, but, oddly, the nearest contracted roll-back came from Sturgis — 2 hours away).
Yesterday, while stuck here in Rapid City, I went and dumped some coolant and water in it to try and do a bit of diagnosing. It didn’t leak unless I started the motor. No white smoke. No coolant in oil. No “milkshake”. No spraying up on the hood insulation. I let it sit and waited until the service team opened this morning, lest I cause more damage.
my initial thoughts based on some ‘mud research was a failed or botched-install water pump. The timing belt and water pump were done at 196k — just prior to my purchase (it’s one of the few receipts I have of the cruiser’s history).
This morning (Monday), the service team here in Rapid City said… heater T. It was a busted heater T. So, tomorrow (hopefully), with fresh Ts, a coolant flush and some Toyota “red”, and an oil change, we can get on with it and continue east. Can’t happen soon enough — cheapest hotel in Rapid City is $300 a night (this post COVID price gauging needs to settle down. Although, next month’s bike rally in Sturgis and tourist season at Rushmore doesn’t help, either).
I had a thorough check over done before I left CA but I suppose that “multi point inspection” didn’t cover what it needed to. Such is life.
I’m curious of your thoughts or experience with such failure. There’s some posts on the forum, but I wanted to share my story. I think I’m lucky — or at least it seems so at this point — that I didn’t get the dreaded head gasket failure or worse.
