Need help...LC mechanic in L.A. (1 Viewer)

[DA95Cruzah]

Anyone have experience with K&H Import in Canoga Park?

The LC blew something last Friday on the 101. Problem is i had it towed to Man A Fre and they can't do anything with it for a week. I understand, they're busy and I just popped in so i thought I might take it to K&H. I've heard Richard is pretty good to deal with and they know their LC's. I would wait for MAF, but i need the truck by end of week next week.


Live in the SFV and work in South Bay.....So I'm limited.

Any input?

BTW, TLC is always far too busy w/o appointment weeks in advance, and Uber expensive...but then again, I need the repairs too.

Thanks in advance for any advice....

Dave

 

[FirstToy]

heard good things about yotamasters in corona

 

[adalnay]

Here's a thread on mechanics which mentions K&H:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/366712-good-shops-so-cal.html

 

[PabloVTA]

I went here when I blew up my block 10 years ago.
Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Newbury Park Auto Repair Lexus Toyota

it's closer than Corona and the guys were real good to me.

I got nuthin good to say about MAF's service or capabilities on an 80. Sad but true.

 

[JohnGalt]

Ken's Quality Auto in Thousand Oaks may be close to where your LC is now - you didn't say whether you are driveable.

Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Newbury Park Auto Repair Lexus Toyota

I know Ken and he's honest, fair, & will do a good job. He's not a landcruiser specific shop, but I've had him work on mine and seen several others in the shop when dropping off/picking up.

If you want help from a toyota dealer in the Southbay, pm me and I can put you in touch with someone at DCH Toyota in Torrance. I use them for local dealer work....

 

[DA95Cruzah]

Wow, Okay. I was gonna check earlier posts and threads, but I'm at work and needed to throw out a "Help" w/o too much looking.....da man watches! Thank you for the direction...just talked to Richard and we're set for tomorrow...gotta get a tow up to MAF to PU the LC.

Thanks - will advise as to the work needed and the costs!!

Dave

 

[SOCALFJ]

I second yotamasters in Corona if you can get it there. Tell em i sent you and they'll charge you double.

 

[ukaviator]

Here ....

https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/349535-cruiser-mechanics-listed-state.html

You are lucky in that you have over 30 recommended cruiser shops in CA

 

[DA95Cruzah]

Thanks UK....Yeah thankfully choices....distance is the key, especially when the LC is down. Thanks for the link!

Yeah..Corona is a bit too far for anything with the LC down.

Dave

 

[DA95Cruzah]

Update

Thanks for all of the input and advice....

I had the LC towed to K&H - I contacted Richard this morning and let him know that the injured beast was going to be there at @ 2. He said he call me when it got there. About 3:30 this afternoon, Richard calls and not only tells me the LC is there, but that he's driven it, and found what he believes is the issue....

For sure I have a blown exhaust/manifold gasket, which he says accounts for the "escaping air" and metallic sound i initially heard. Secondly, the EGR tube, gone. He's not sure for how long, but it's not there.

He says he doesn't feel any power loss, but when the problem first happened...power dropped dramatically.

So no answer on that yet. He's going to check on that tomorrow and have the day to figure out that part. Ruled out timing gear problems, and no mention of pistons, rings, etc. So, more news tomorrow.

But, awesome to get answers so quickly for him. K&H is in the circle!

Thanks again folks.

 

[teejnut]

I've been to K&H and only have positive things to say about them!

 

[DA95Cruzah]

UPDATE 2

Just added....Alternator lost a bolt and the others were loose and rusted...that was the metallic sound as the alternator vibrated violently as i accelerated. So, the complete diagnosis tomorrow as Richard attacks the exhaust leak and the bolts soak to clean them up before resetting the alternator.

Definitely not internal engine components at this point. Thankfully.


Hoping tomorrow is good news as well.

DA

 

[lt1fire]

KH is the bees knees

 

[DA95Cruzah]

Okay - Talked to Richard last night. I should be getting the rig back today!

So here's the long and the short of it.

The "Whooshing" sound I heard the second this happened breaks down like this according to Richard.
(Thankfully, no internal damage)

The catalytics are the culprit. The brick inside of the converter continues to get smaller and smaller over time. The brick essentially was the perfect size as of last Friday to completely plug the exhaust as it was bouncing around inside of the cat.

At the time I accelerated, the brick plugged the exhaust pipe and the back pressure build up escaped out of the weakest point in the system....boom....gaskets. However, the brick was still lodged in the exhaust which continued the loss of power. Richard feels that the metallic sound was a combination of the brick vibration and the alternator vibrating as i accelerated.

A bit of a perfect storm. He test drove it yesterday and the pipes were plugged. Something that didn't happen when he first test drove on Tuesday....and it had almost no power. He cut the pipes and drove it again....as Richard put it..."Now it drives like a stripped bass out of hell!"

So free flow cats are going on today, and we're back in business!

 

[Paul_L]

Had something similar in my 4Runner years ago. Metallic rattling sound as the cat internals bounced around, then suddenly huge power loss as the pipes got plugged. Fortunately for me I heard a loud pop & the power returned as the plug now rattled in the muffler. Glad to hear about the fast service.