04 Camry, blown head gasket, what all to replace?

[golferdude]

My neighbor's daughter Camry has a blown head gasket, head bolts are loose, and has 186,000 miles on the car. She will be going off to college next year and we are trying to decide what all we should replace since we will have the head off. We will be replacing the head bolts and using the Time-Sert system to put the inserts in the block.

1. Is it worth it to go ahead and pull the motor and put new rings and bearings in the bottom end.
2. What is the life expectancy for the fuel injectors?
3. Should we replace the water pump?
4. Should we replace the timing chain and tensioner?
5. Are there certain parts we should not use anything but Toyota parts?
6. Is there one manual better than the other, Haynes vs Chilton, etc? I did download the service and repair manual for the Camry. But some times the dealer manuals will include steps that you might not have to do in the Haynes/Chilton manuals. Or the Haynes/Chilton manuals might have simplied the steps to get the job done.
7. Any other things we need to consider replacing?

Thanks

Thanks

[Glenn8963]

i would try and see if there is a business around where you live that has rebuilt heads. new or reconditioned valves, valve guides, valve stem seals. new camshaft, new water pump, belt tensioner, new timing belt. new spark plugs, new head gasket set, maybe a new "dog bone" engine mount, fresh oil and filter. fresh anti freeze, new hoses, new thermostat.....but i would also probably buy new electric fan sensors. this could have been what caused the gasket to blow in the first place...the engine got hot, fans did not turn on, blown head.......

i would buy most (if not all parts) from toyota....hey, maybe toyota has re manufactured heads...

try toyota parts man here on these boards....he can get you what you need.....and stay away from any repair manual unless its chiltons or motor, or even toyota....that other one, clymer-haynes...?? they suck.....

[TOYOPARTSMAN]

It all depends on how long you want to keep the car and how much you are willing to spend.

What I might suggest is to try and find an outfit that is reliable that would sell a decent used engine, or one who offers rebuilt ones. Here in GA we have an outfit that has real good used OEM engines and their reputation is second to none. They even sometimes have rebuilt ones and offer a 12/12 warranty like the factory. Now they don't ship outside of GA, but I put that out there becuase if they do it, someone in TX may do the same type of thing and at 186K that is a real sound alternative choice.

Not really sure if I'd do the time cert thing, but one thing I know for sure, is I would take the head(s) to a machine shop and have them perform a pressure check and to check for leaks or cracks.

The rest is really up to inspection except for valve seals, water pump, timing belt or chain, which ever one you have seeing you didn't specify 4 or 6. Once I know 4 or 6 I can guide you a bit better.

[golferdude]

Sorry about that, it's a 4 cyl. He is thinking on keeping it another 5 years, till his daughter get's out of college. She will be traveling to the east coast so he does want something that will be reliable. I had looked at one place on getting a rebuilt head for about $400. I was thinking that might be a good way to go, at least have new springs, valve seals, new guides, valves, and machined flat.

Do the injectors last forever or do u typically end up replacing them at a certain mileage?

I have a good idea the bolts are part of the culprit. The pink stain is across all of the back of the block.

[TOYOPARTSMAN]

As a rule, i don't replace a whole lot of injectors, but injector grommets, seals, and O rings.

The question hers is why did the bolts fail? I might not really want to reuse those heads. While I had the heads off, I would remove the oil pan and look at the rod and main bearings to get an idea of how good or bad of shape they are in.

I will be more than happy to offer any assistance on parts you may need, I do sell to members for 30% off MSRP. However, depending on how the bottom end is looking, I'd sitll price out labor, parts, etc and then check on a reliable decent, used or rebuilt engine. It may be money up front but it may be the best result in the long run.

Now, if you happen to get a chance to come to GA, I am sure I could arrange a rebuilt or good used from the outfit I mentioned. If this were my car, that is the route I woud seriously consider going. BTW, I do have an 04 Camry 4cyl. So I am dead serious when I say this would be the route I'd look at seriously.

[golferdude]

THanks, I am looking to see what places are around here that sell rebuilt motors. What cc motor is in the camry? I know it's 2.4 but this one place I am looking it is asking what cc. I looked on the tag on the hood but I didn't see it.

Thanks on the offer for the parts. I will see which way we go.

[BlackCamSe]

oh great....another 2AZ with the stripped head bolts

[workerant]

Originally Posted by BlackCamSe

oh great....another 2AZ with the stripped head bolts

Are they all strip at around 150K miles?

[golferdude]

Was looking for a company to see about buying a rebuilt motor, that is in Texas or ships to Texas, and wasn't sure who is good and who isn't. But if you buy a rebuilt, won't the head bolt problem still be there unless they put the inserts in? Are rebuilders putting them in the blocks?

[JohnGD]

Whoever rebuilds the engine will need to put Time-serts in all the bolt holes. In many cases this should solve the problem:

Repairs to my 2002 2AZFE complete

Originally Posted by golferdude

Was looking for a company to see about buying a rebuilt motor, that is in Texas or ships to Texas, and wasn't sure who is good and who isn't. But if you buy a rebuilt, won't the head bolt problem still be there unless they put the inserts in? Are rebuilders putting them in the blocks?

[golferdude]

I was going to rebuild it and use the TIme-serts but if I buy a rebuilt motor, guess I will have to make sure they have done this or my neighbor will end right back where he is now. I was wondering if all of the engine rebuilding companies have just started doing the time-serts as part of putting a motor together. Hope so.

[DOHCammer]

Originally Posted by golferdude

THanks, I am looking to see what places are around here that sell rebuilt motors. What cc motor is in the camry? I know it's 2.4 but this one place I am looking it is asking what cc. I looked on the tag on the hood but I didn't see it.

2.4 = 2400cc Your engine actually measures 2362cc according to Toyota's owners manual specifications.

[golferdude]

Thanks, I used that to figure out which motor to get. Now just need to talk with some of the companies that sell rebuilt motors and see how they are dealing with the stripped bolt issue. Hopefully they are putting in the time-serts and taking care of it.

[catric69]

Originally Posted by golferdude

Thanks, I used that to figure out which motor to get. Now just need to talk with some of the companies that sell rebuilt motors and see how they are dealing with the stripped bolt issue. Hopefully they are putting in the time-serts and taking care of it.

Highly doubtful a company will install time-inserts on a used engine since Toyota never acknowledged the problem in the first place. They just integrated the fix under the radar hoping the public would not notice. Have a reputable company check over the head and perform the repair on the original engine.

[JohnGD]

I guess there will be different levels of rebuild. Some shops may just fix a few holes where the threads stripped out. And you may get back old main bearings and rings, etc. Cost cutting (corner cutting) is always a factor.

Call around, including Marshall Engines and Jasper Engines. See if these companies actually Time-sert all bolt holes or just a few in the back. You can get 3-year/100K mile warranty with them. Marshall lists $2231.79+400 core on rockauto.

http://www.marshallengines.com/
http://www.jasperengines.com/index.php

Originally Posted by golferdude

Thanks, I used that to figure out which motor to get. Now just need to talk with some of the companies that sell rebuilt motors and see how they are dealing with the stripped bolt issue. Hopefully they are putting in the time-serts and taking care of it.