5s-fe head gasket/timing belt parts

[tonic]

Hello Toyota Owners,

Since I am replacing my head gasket for my Camry 96 4cyl. and since I would need to remove all those parts around the engine could anyone please kindly help me with a list of parts that I would need to replace beside head gasket itself?
Basically what parts I would need/is good to repalce for the head engine ... also
what parts I would need to replace/is good to replace for timing belt area ... also intake mainfold.
I would really really apreciate any advice. This is critical since I need to order all those parts in time and once I put everithing back - I don't want to be surprised after that finding out I didn't replace X part which is highly recommended to be replaced.
THANK YOU!!!

[vitec115]

Are you done this before? i only ask because i want to do the head gasket in my 94 and i cant find a "how to" anywhere. do you have one.

[tonic]

Never. I am in the same situation. I start opening the exhaust part the one in the front of the engine. I need to open this weekend the timing belt side. And then I would need to make room in the back of the engine- the intake mainfold- which sincerely I don't know how to do it, I have the manual I can see the screws but it looks impossible to reach those screws there in the back. I do not have experience, so I am trying hard. I have the Toyota Manual, but is not simple the way they explain there. And than I am really confused cause everybody is recommending to replace certain parts, so I need a clear/complete list with what exactly is critical and recommended to be replaced, since you remove so many things!!!! I mean at least if you do this kind of job it's nice to replace parts that later will be a pain replacing! and if you have the luck to run the car for another 2 years let's say ... not to have the surprise you need to go back in the same area.
Anyhow - I am KIND of dissapointed in this overated 5s-fe engine ... everybody mentioned it will run a high millage, blah blah blah. Well I did took care of this engine and it runned for 160,000 miles, so yes it runned a pritty high millage, which alot of american cars can run too! Whatever, first time I will get the money ... it's time for me to go back to VW Passat. At least I feel/have the pelasure driving!!! And simply there is no way to compare a japanese car and a german car for the way is acting on the road. NEVER!

[tmauldin]

just replaced timing belt, noticed oil leaking from intake, guess im in same boat as u, ill let u know if figure it out

[tweak1029]

It should be doable for under $100, assuming you have the tools and ability. Check RockAuto and eBay for head gasket sets. I've read that MLS gaskets are superior, but graphite gaskets are slightly cheaper. Depending on how long it's been since you've changed your timing belt and water pump, you might want to do that now. If it overheats because the water pump fails you might have this same problem again.

Chilton Library has this on the repair:
http://www.mediafire.com/?keuyzzrp1grtkyi

Just unzip and double click on the .htm file. It'll load in your browser.

F Srvc Man

[tonic]

never overheated ... it never overheat ... just coolant going to sparkplug chamber no2 ... the reusl being misfire cyl 2 ... basically car works just in 3 cylinders ... and I stopped driving the car after 2-3 days ... initially I tought is the injector/blocked ... but I found out after 3 days coolant is in the sparkplug no2

[tweak1029]

When you get it off, try to determine what caused it to fail. It seems unlikely that a defect waited 160k miles to start causing problems. I'm not a mechanic but I think that ideally you would want to see similar wear all around the gasket and not one excessively damaged spot. How long have you been losing coolant? Any external leaks? Ever used plain water? What coolant do you use? How often do you check your coolant level?

[tonic]

I like your question- and the only think I can link to this is:
I can say I was losing coolant just a little bit- which I always considered normal. Was a infime quantity- like every 6month or maybe 8-12month adding a little bit water.
Now like 2-3 years ago I did a flush and bought the original Toyota coolant/red one ... I mixed 50/50 but with tap water not distilled water ... So not sure if that could be linked to the problem.
4 weeks before this to happened I went in a trip driving like 4 hours continuously (like 350 miles) and drive min. 65miles/hour and average 75-80miles/hour fwd and then after a few days driving back same 4 hours continuously ...
All levels looked fine the time I was back- coolant and oil etc. no overheating...
and 3rd ... this is funny cause everyone I asked said it is PURE coincidence ... BUT ... after that long trip ... after like 2 weeks ... check engine came ON and I checked the code ... I forgot the number was related to the gas system ... and I checked the manual and it said that could be ... the gas cap, or a valve (the one from the tank?!) or another valve I forgot the place ... or the catalytic converter whatever it is ... anyhow I never replaced the gas gap/it's still the original one ... but in like 2 weeks when I did the full tank the check engine light turned off by itself. So I was guessing it was the gas cap. The problem is I had this idea to use a good gas/fuel injector cleaning, don't ask me why, but after running into that error and having the check engine turned off by itself I said let's use a fuel injector/gas cleaner. Which I NEVER USED. That's the funny part/coincidence which I still do not understand. How come it's possible in so many years, what are the chances!!! in 16 years, exactly at that point/millage exactly! at that full tank with chevron techron fuel system cleaner my engine/head gasket/or whatever it is - who knows maybe it's a crack in the head?!!? to die. I mean everybody is keep saying it happened/ and it's just a simple coincidence. For me this coincidence sounds CRAZY!!!
So basically almost at the end of the tank ... my car/engine cylinder 2 died.
That's the reason I was totally SURE/convinced it's an injector issue since I used that additive! And I said shut - now I need to take the injector out and clean it!
In fact it's worst, discovered ... the sparkplug chamber full of coolant. Sad, sad ..