Repair order on LC200 says "ENGINE"

[Lazy Doe]

We have an 02 LC100 and I'm looking to add a 200 series to the family. So, I did a Toyota owners look up on a 2013 LC200 I'm looking at purchasing. Not sure if I should be scared or not.

On 7/26/17 (105,777 miles) at regular service dealer;

VEHICLE IDLES ROUGH UPON COLD ST ARTINTERMITTANTLY ~|~ ~|~105777 250 FOUND CYLINDER 8 MISS FIRING.SWAPPED COILS AND P LUGS FROM KNOWN GOODCYLINDER TO BAD CYLINDER AND MISS FIREREMAIN ED IN CYLINDER 8. REMOVED FUEL RAIL AND REPLACED CYLINDER 8 INJECTOR. INSERTED SCOPEINTO CYLINDER 8 AND FOUND COOLANT LEAKINGINTO CYLINDER.

That's not great obviously, but then on 8/18/17 (105,825 miles) at a different dealer nearby;
ENGINE

WTH does this mean?? If I was a betting man (and I am), I would bet this engine was replaced. No other detail on this repair is available.
The servicing dealer has not been exactly responsive (2 year old repair, can't say that I blame them) especially since the truck is for sale at another dealer.

It appears this truck was sold/traded in very soon after this repair on 8/18/17. Any advice for a prospective 200 owner?

Thanks!

 

[ridetime]

We have an 02 LC100 and I'm looking to add a 200 series to the family. So, I did a Toyota owners look up on a 2013 LC200 I'm looking at purchasing. Not sure if I should be scared or not.

On 7/26/17 (105,777 miles) at regular service dealer;

VEHICLE IDLES ROUGH UPON COLD ST ARTINTERMITTANTLY ~|~ ~|~105777 250 FOUND CYLINDER 8 MISS FIRING.SWAPPED COILS AND P LUGS FROM KNOWN GOODCYLINDER TO BAD CYLINDER AND MISS FIREREMAIN ED IN CYLINDER 8. REMOVED FUEL RAIL AND REPLACED CYLINDER 8 INJECTOR. INSERTED SCOPEINTO CYLINDER 8 AND FOUND COOLANT LEAKINGINTO CYLINDER.

That's not great obviously, but then on 8/18/17 (105,825 miles) at a different dealer nearby;
ENGINE

WTH does this mean?? If I was a betting man (and I am), I would bet this engine was replaced. No other detail on this repair is available.
The servicing dealer has not been exactly responsive (2 year old repair, can't say that I blame them) especially since the truck is for sale at another dealer.

It appears this truck was sold/traded in very soon after this repair on 8/18/17. Any advice for a prospective 200 owner?

Thanks!

Well if they did replace it assuming the dealer did it and used a new motor, party! I would think you could just pop the hood and tell that it has a new motor? Cleaner vs. Dirtier? There is bound to be something that doesn't look original.

 

[Lazy Doe]

Well if they did replace it, party! I would think you could just pop the hood and tell that it has a new motor? Cleaner vs. Dirtier? There is bound to be something that doesn't look original.

That's what I thought too but I'm 4+ hours away and simply don't have the time to check it out. I asked about a motor VIN and have received no response. I replaced a 7.3L powerstroke in a F-350 years ago so I'm not really spooked if it was replaced.

The only things I can think of that would cause the coolant to enter the cylinder are 1) Gasket issue 2) cracked block or head. Sound about right?

 

[indycole]

Based on my personal engine-replacement experience, the only noticeable thing is that the replacement engine has some surface rust on it where the rest of the truck doesn't. My original looked like the rest of the truck.

 

[Markuson]

Is there a crazy-low price on this 200?

If not...and you cannot check it out or verify... I’d be moving on.

Not that a replaced engine means doom.. It doesn’t, and @indycole ‘s positive outcome on his rig is proof...but uncertainty of what actually happened (like the case you cite) isn’t a situation I’d pay big bucks to buy into.

 

[JohnJB]

Funny how folks make varying assumptions out of unknowns. I would not take your bet. My initial assumption: the PO took the truck to another dealer in hopes of a miraculous diagnosis that did not end up with a multi-thousand dollar repair bill. When they were told similarly bad news, they punted the truck and moved on.

If you have zero ability to verify a replacement motor, I would pass since coolant doesn't take long to nuke the bearings.

 

[Lazy Doe]

Based on my personal engine-replacement experience, the only noticeable thing is that the replacement engine has some surface rust on it where the rest of the truck doesn't. My original looked like the rest of the truck.

Yes I read your thread am interested to hear how the new motor was treating you. Do you know what you may glean if you did an engine VIN search on your replacement? Just curious what would show up.

 

[Lazy Doe]

Funny how folks make varying assumptions out of unknowns. I would not take your bet. My initial assumption: the PO took the truck to another dealer in hopes of a miraculous diagnosis that did not end up with a multi-thousand dollar repair bill. When they were told similarly bad news, they punted the truck and moved on.

If you have zero ability to verify a replacement motor, I would pass since coolant doesn't take long to nuke the bearings.

I hear ya - I would not buy this truck without the complete story on those repairs. It's just too risky.

Also, the Autocheck report furnished by dealer includes no real service records. I found these repair records only by adding this LC to my Toyota owner's account.

 

[Lazy Doe]

Is there a crazy-low price on this 200?

If not...and you cannot check it out or verify... I’d be moving on.

Not that a replaced engine means doom.. It doesn’t, and @indycole ‘s positive outcome on his rig is proof...but uncertainty of what actually happened (like the case you cite) isn’t a situation I’d pay big bucks to buy into.

Yes sir - the price doesn't make the risk palatable.

 

[Lazy Doe]

I just received the CarFax and it does not mention the freaking coolant in the cylinder at all!

7/26/17; Maintenance inspection completed, Vehicle washed/detailed, Tire condition and pressure checked, Cabin air filter replaced/cleaned.

8/18/17(and 48 miles later); Vehicle serviced

Moral to the story - find out what's in the Toyota service records and don't just trust CarFax/Autocheck to give you 100% of the story.

 

[Markuson]

I just received the CarFax and it does not mention the freaking coolant in the cylinder at all!

7/26/17; Maintenance inspection completed, Vehicle washed/detailed, Tire condition and pressure checked, Cabin air filter replaced/cleaned.

8/18/17(and 48 miles later); Vehicle serviced

Moral to the story - find out what's in the Toyota service records and don't just trust CarFax/Autocheck to give you 100% of the story.

Frustratingly... it’s not too surprising to discover missing items in Carfax reports. One more reason to do checking beyond the Carfax thing...just as you are doing.

 

[indycole]

Yes I read your thread am interested to hear how the new motor was treating you. Do you know what you may glean if you did an engine VIN search on your replacement? Just curious what would show up.

No issues from the new motor but a very, very important piece of information in my case is that my replacement motor has a warranty through my insurance.

I'd probably keep looking based on what you're seeing unless you can get enough backstory to be confident in the current condition.

 

[hickuptruck]

Well engine replacement can vary anything from short block, long block. If it's the short block, I wouldn't trust a Toyota tech to have it put together as good as one from the factory, even if the factory untouched motor has 200k miles on it. Much rather take a 200k untouched motor vs a 100k mile short block.