Had a ‘06 Land Cruiser. Put 345K miles on it. Still going strong. Said I’d buy another if I found one with low mileage. Purchased another 2006 LC a year and a half ago. 21,000 miles. Came with maintenance records. Looked new. Loved the vehicle. Thought I’d get at least 200,00 trouble-free miles out of it. Recently broke down. Mechanic says fan belt broke, shredded. Broke timing cover and timing belt resulting in “bent valves”. Shop says two options. Install used engine or new one. Estimated cost $17 and $18K, respectively. Not sure what to do. Is it worth getting fixed? If so, used or new engine? Does that estimate sounds right?
Disaster strikes (1 Viewer)
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GTV
SILVER Star
Get a second opinion.
I agree that this sounds abnormally expensive for this drive train. Unfortunately, the continued stupidity politics has tripled the past price of normalcy. This is why the second opinion is so important. Additionally if it really is between a used engine and a new engine with a $1000 difference, new engine all day…. is this an OEM Japanese engine?
Whenever I see shops recommend a “new” engine its likely from some “trusted rebuilder.”
As a joke during a 25% off sale Toyota has I priced out a short block and heads for a VVTi 2UZ and it was still south of $7k. Unclear whether that was a Japanese build, though.
OP: get a second opinion on this job. You did likely bend valves on that motor, but to me, those prices scream “we dont wanna do this job, but can for this dumb amount of money.”
I think many of us look at very expensive parts when these super sales go on. It’s hard to pass up a good deal, even if we don’t ever need the part. if you can’t buy new, it’s always worth considering a proper rebuild from a reputable shop. This may sound silly, but op should call over to Dave’s auto in Utah and see what they think the cost of a rebuild might be for a third opinion…or check with another builder with a good rep.
This.
Best to use a known reputable instead of having a shop use 1-800-best-engines as the rebuilder.
Maybe I will get one of those 2UZs… Could probably just sell it here if I needed when these events happen.
I think it was about three years ago when I saw a brand new engine on a pallet and it was $4500 for a non-vvti engine. There were two and one of them sold so there was one left. I really wanted to buy it but know that my engine if well-maintained is gonna last another couple hundred thousand miles so it was really just a collector hoarder mentality messing with meThis.
Best to use a known reputable instead of having a shop use 1-800-best-engines as the rebuilder.
Maybe I will get one of those 2UZs… Could probably just sell it here if I needed when these events happen.
I’m trying to see how a broken serpentine belt can cause all of that carnage. Unless the fan blade broke and destroyed the timing cover and cutting the timing belt. Do you have pics?
Yeah. Did the fan bracket seize throwing the fan, or did the fan blade(s) actually just break off out of nowhere? I have heard of this taking out the radiator but seems like the perfect storm to actually cut through the timing cover and slice the timing belt. And to happen to a 2UZ with only 21k miles on it? Extremely unfortunate.
I guess it makes me just a tiny bit glad I don't have the VVTi if this is indeed a failure mode. And it makes me think maybe it's time to replace my actual fan blades assembly (and not just the fan clutch, which I've already done).
2001LC
SILVER Star
Sorry for you issues. Low miles are high dollar purchases.
They're, also, very often, high dollar baseline service cost. But they can be very nice and the new car smell is sweet. I can make most any miles rig, with good bones a sweet ride. But I can't change the miles.
As you now known, low mile. Doesn't mean and indeepth baseline is not needed. I'm servicing one now (case study 24K BAT 07LC)
We've, seen serp belt take out T-belt, before in mud. Srep belt breaks and wraps around a pulley, crushes plastic timing belt cover, knocking off timing belt.
The 4.7L VVTi, by all accounts, is a true interference engine.
Is engine worth rebuilding. I'd need to detrimen how bad the damage. Could be a head job, and done. But one would have to take the time (cost), in the off chance damage not that bad.
If it was me. I'd use a borescope, looking at damage in cylinders. See how valves and piston tops look. Valve(s), are very likely damaged. So head will need R&R or rebuilt. Next question is piston tops and cylinder walls. pictures with borescope will be revealing. Third is connecting connecting rods. One can measure top to bottom stroke ((deepth from head, compared to good), through spark plug port. Then, once info collected. Make the call on what parts and how deep the rebuild. If lower end (short block) damage. Replacement engine, would likely be cheaper.
Is a rebuild, used and new Toyota engine best?
My Toyota parts guy said: New 4.7L short block, is U.S.A. made. I feel the Japan manufactured engines, are better. The U.S.A. 4.7L engine, were known to bust rods. They guys I asked, said up until about 2007. Was it that, not many made 2007 or thereafter, or did U.S.A. manufacture correct the issue. IDK. I may be, to hard on, U.S.A manufactures. Since the 1 million mile (5 yrs) Tundra was U.S.A. made.
Remanufactured engine. How skilled the work done, matters. Also, what parts used in the rebuild matters. All I've seen, aren't near as good as a factory engine from Japan or U.S.A. IMHO. Unless I do the rebuild myself. Which I'd go high-end if not just Toyota parts. Would be costly. Even then can we be as good or better than Japan factory made. ???
So next up is used. A used Japan manufactured engine. IMHO, a good choice. But here's the issues. Finding a good one. 90% of used engine on the market, arent what the sellers claims. It can take a lot of time to find a good one. But they are out there.
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2001LC
SILVER Star
One other consideration is, insurance claim for engine. If they approved, I'd push for new engine.
Fan belt aka v-belt wont cause catastrophic damage on your or anyone’s engine, he’s probably referring to the “timing belt” but it’s interesting to realize that for a mechanic he’s confused about simple terms to use and share to a customer. Easy red flag to spot, I’d get a second opinion. Good luck and hope you get your cruiser back on the road sooner than later.
did not realize the serp belt can take out the timing belt. Wild.
I'm not sure I'd trust that one post if it's not an issue you 100 series guys have seen before...
Yeah same, never heard of that before.
When I was at BMW there was an issue with the I6 in the X5 where the serpentine belt would go (typically from fluid on the belt), and get pulled into the sump and wrap around the crank. Had to have the tech explain it to me about 5 times.
2001LC
SILVER Star
V-belt can, take out engine in two ways: 1) if wraps around pulley and bust through timing cover. We've seen it more than once in ih8mud.
2) The loose of cooling fan, will result in overheating. This will burn up the engine. Even in winter time. If one keeps driving. A local mudder, lent out his 03LX. Fan bracket shaft sheared off. Fan was lying in fan shroud. Driver, keep driving. He had to replace the engine.
The 24k 07LC I'm doing a baseline on now. Had great looking fan belt. But due to age, I replaced it. I also found fan bracket bad.
