Grabbed a used 200 but now have some concerns

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RTK

RTK

Joined
Sep 30, 2019
Threads
2
Messages
32
Location
San Ramon California
I picked up a 1 owner, 2013 200 Series this weekend from a Toyota Dealership in Northern California. Kinda took a leap on it without having a 3rd party PPI, no time. The vehicle has spent it's whole life in California, with a clean Carfax and good Service History. Maintenance seems to have been done religiously. That is probably the main reason I just went for it. The vehicle had to pass the dealership inspection, and they said did some work on it before I could take it, they said they did brakes, who knows.

Anyway, I went on the Toyota Owners website and found a recent service note that concerns me a little. The record indicated that they replaced both head gaskets and resurfaced the heads, and also replaced all of the exhaust manifold bolts and head bolts due to them being rusted and seized. Huh really? I would think that since this is a California Vehicle why would the bolts be rusted?
Is it common for bolts to get stuck like this even in California? Maybe the owner lived in Tahoe in the winter and exposed it to salt on roads? Also whats up with having to replace the head gaskets is that very common? I am a little concerned but at the same time everything seems ok.

I was able to get a look at the underside on a lift when it was at the Toyota Dealership, and it looked pretty clean to me, a few surface rust spots here and there, but no serious rust issues. I did not know about the KDSS valve, but I checked it after I got the car home. The KDSS Valve is rusted on the surface but not seriously, I assume that is normal? Also looks like rear left shock is leaking, which I did not notice on the lift before. I own this thing now, I drove it away, so no going back now.

Any thoughts?

See the screenshot of the record attached and some photos.

Service.webp


KDSS.webp


Shock.webp
 
Not normal or common.

Please don't put any part of your body under the vehicle with a flimsy factory jack like that and no jack stands or something else similar preventing it from crushing or injuring you.
 
I wish my truck was that clean underneath.

IMO that minor leakage on the shock is insignificant. If it rides OK, I wouldn't bother replacing it.

Or... start down the rabbit hole of a new suspension.
 
It would be interesting to know more on why she had a cylinder head job, but I've never had success reusuing exhaust hardware, and the head bolts are probably Torque to Yield and can't be reused.

Also, don't get under a truck supported by a jack, it's a sure-fire way to head to the hospital.
 
Try contacting the dealer that did the head gaskets and see if they’ll give any indication why it may have been necessary. They are under no obligation but the right service writer may help you out.

If the job was done right it should be fine. Maybe consider doing used oil analysis after a couple oil changes to assure you of engine condition. That kind of testing is so sensitive to coolant elements that you’d probably still have high numbers at this point.
 
Was there any indication that the radiator was replaced too?
 
To OP this is not common but not unheard either. We had someone with a failure in here this year. Again not common.
But if the engine overheated for whatever reasons it can happen. Common is radiator failure but you are not saying anything about a radiator replacement.
 
doru said:
To OP this is not common but not unheard either. We had someone with a failure in here this year. Again not common.
But if the engine overheated for whatever reasons it can happen. Common is radiator failure but you are not saying anything about a radiator replacement.
Click to expand...
Since I do not have the actual service records,( Toyota will not give them to me due to privacy issues) I have no idea if radiator was replaced. Who knows.
 
Last edited:
turbo8 said:
Was there any indication that the radiator was replaced too?
Click to expand...
I do not see it in the notes, but that is all I have, just the notes on Toyota Owners website. The image I attached is all I have related to that service. Toyota dealer wont give me any reciepts for service, due to privacy issues. One service manage told me to call the place it was done and ask for the srvice manager by name, he gave me his name, he might be able to enlighten me as to why the heads were replaced.
 
AussieHJCruza said:
It would be interesting to know more on why she had a cylinder head job, but I've never had success reusuing exhaust hardware, and the head bolts are probably Torque to Yield and can't be reused.

Also, don't get under a truck supported by a jack, it's a sure-fire way to head to the hospital.
Click to expand...
Just stuck the phone under, not me head, yeah need a good set of jack stands, and a floor jack
 
AussieHJCruza said:
It would be interesting to know more on why she had a cylinder head job, but I've never had success reusuing exhaust hardware, and the head bolts are probably Torque to Yield and can't be reused.

Also, don't get under a truck supported by a jack, it's a sure-fire way to head to the hospital.
Click to expand...
Just stuck the phone under and snapped a bunch of pics, wide angle lens on iphone is great.
 
Head gasket isn't an unheard of repair, particularly if there was an overheating issue (Radiator or hose failure that wasn't caught in time). If it was done right, nothing to worry about IMO. If the radiator was replaced 8/22 it would have gotten the newer one, if you take a picture of the top of the radiator we can tell whether it is original or not (There was a design change to the square boss in the middle of the top of the radiator). Exhaust manifold bolts will be rusty and hard to remove on even the most pristine vehicle. The constant heat cycling causes rust regardless of environment. I'd be very suspicious of a head gasket job where they weren't replaced...
 
I'd run it with no worries. I think you have to assume they did the head gasket job right or you'll just never sleep again.
 
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