Hello,
I am looking for some feedback and advice on a situation with my 2001 Toyota Land Cruiser.
Here is the background.
The vehicle has been well maintained (mainly at a local dealer that has proven very reliable and trustworthy). I purchased my cruiser used in late 2002 with 40,000 miles on it. Since then I have done a lot of highway driving and the vehicle now has about 225,000 miles. Since I have had it I have only used Mobil full synthetic oil and have had the entire regular maintenance completed.
At approximately 135,000 miles I had the transmission go. All of a sudden while driving down the highway. I was told that this was very unusual especially when the vehicle was not towing or ever been used for towing. I had the transmission rebuilt and so far have had no problems with it.
In fact, aside from replacing the exhaust manifold about a year ago the vehicle has been pretty reliable until now.
I am in the process of moving from Austin to Colorado Springs and decided to drive my cruiser up to use in the Springs while I tried to locate housing etc. About two weeks ago while driving back from Denver to the Springs the check engine light came on as I cruised down the highway.
I took the next exit (about a ½ mile) and pulled into a service station. Once stopped I could hear a pop-pop-pop sound not unlike the sound one would hear from a pipe connected to a compressor. I cruiser was drivable but idled rough. I drove it to a nearby repair shop where they checked it out.
This is what I was told. They told me that one of the spark plugs (cylinder 5) apparently came apart inside the cylinder and that cylinder 5 no longer has any compression. They claimed they stuck a bore scope down inside the cylinder and it was full of coolant (strange considering it was blowing any smoke). I was suspicious and had the vehicle towed on a flat bed trailer to the Springs where it was taken to a small local shop that came well recommended. I have heard the Toyota dealers in the Springs are very bad. Any comments on this? My dealer back in Texas says that they have never heard of a plug coming apart inside an engine and are puzzled by the whole thing. The local shop I took it to seems reliable but does not have a lot of experience with Toyotas and especially Land Cruisers.
I have been told by the new shop and the original that I will need a completely new engine and that a used one will run about $4000 and a rebuilt one will cost about $7000. Yikes! The vehicle is a in good shape but it is almost 10 years old and I am not certain what to do. It seems like a lot of money to place into a vehicle (my faith in cruisers running “forever” has been a bit shaken). I would not mind replacing the engine if I could have swapped a diesel in for the V8 gasoline but I am supposing that this would be too complex given all the associated electronics and other components.
I would really appreciate any thoughts or suggestions on this situation and any advice on a facility that might be able to handle this repair more reasonably.
Thanks for all the advice in advance!
Mark
I am looking for some feedback and advice on a situation with my 2001 Toyota Land Cruiser.
Here is the background.
The vehicle has been well maintained (mainly at a local dealer that has proven very reliable and trustworthy). I purchased my cruiser used in late 2002 with 40,000 miles on it. Since then I have done a lot of highway driving and the vehicle now has about 225,000 miles. Since I have had it I have only used Mobil full synthetic oil and have had the entire regular maintenance completed.
At approximately 135,000 miles I had the transmission go. All of a sudden while driving down the highway. I was told that this was very unusual especially when the vehicle was not towing or ever been used for towing. I had the transmission rebuilt and so far have had no problems with it.
In fact, aside from replacing the exhaust manifold about a year ago the vehicle has been pretty reliable until now.
I am in the process of moving from Austin to Colorado Springs and decided to drive my cruiser up to use in the Springs while I tried to locate housing etc. About two weeks ago while driving back from Denver to the Springs the check engine light came on as I cruised down the highway.
I took the next exit (about a ½ mile) and pulled into a service station. Once stopped I could hear a pop-pop-pop sound not unlike the sound one would hear from a pipe connected to a compressor. I cruiser was drivable but idled rough. I drove it to a nearby repair shop where they checked it out.
This is what I was told. They told me that one of the spark plugs (cylinder 5) apparently came apart inside the cylinder and that cylinder 5 no longer has any compression. They claimed they stuck a bore scope down inside the cylinder and it was full of coolant (strange considering it was blowing any smoke). I was suspicious and had the vehicle towed on a flat bed trailer to the Springs where it was taken to a small local shop that came well recommended. I have heard the Toyota dealers in the Springs are very bad. Any comments on this? My dealer back in Texas says that they have never heard of a plug coming apart inside an engine and are puzzled by the whole thing. The local shop I took it to seems reliable but does not have a lot of experience with Toyotas and especially Land Cruisers.
I have been told by the new shop and the original that I will need a completely new engine and that a used one will run about $4000 and a rebuilt one will cost about $7000. Yikes! The vehicle is a in good shape but it is almost 10 years old and I am not certain what to do. It seems like a lot of money to place into a vehicle (my faith in cruisers running “forever” has been a bit shaken). I would not mind replacing the engine if I could have swapped a diesel in for the V8 gasoline but I am supposing that this would be too complex given all the associated electronics and other components.
I would really appreciate any thoughts or suggestions on this situation and any advice on a facility that might be able to handle this repair more reasonably.
Thanks for all the advice in advance!
Mark
