I give up! Engine is junk

[SHIFTY23]

WARPEDROTOR,

All the ones I have seen have been over 90,000 miles. And to throw out a percent is hard but I would say maybe 5 percent of the 4cyl engines of 02/03/04 have this problem that have come into our dealership. I can't remember the customers names to get vin's to see where they were built.

[warpedrotor]

Thanks for the info. I have about 60 K miles, I want to keep this car almost for ever, my last one was 21 years old with 200 K miles, still running ok but everything was rotting and breaking just from age.. At 5% the odds aren't too bad, I guess if it happens to me, I should just suck it down and do the work myself, pull the block and get a machine shop to fix the holes. I've done similar work in the past, the car looks easy to work on.

[briandownunda]

I am curious if you've solved this problem.....if so, did you take the motor to a machine shop or do the work yourself ? Where did you get the helicoils/special tools to do the job ?

I have a 2002 with 140k miles & it has a blown head gasket......I am guessing it is the same problem, but haven't attempted to pull the head yet.

Thanks,

Brian

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Brian,

Look for additional posts by the original poster. He fixed the engine using a different type of insert that seems to be a VERY good fix for the problem. He is completely satisfied with the repair and gave us a blow by blow on the procedure and the cost.

[toyomoho]

Might look at TimeSert thread inserts.

http://www.timesert.com/html/toyota.html

[RICO8458]

drop a new engine in there, manual 5 speed. mod it.