4Runner diff shot - please advise

Hi All,

My wife's was driving her 4Runner (2002 SR5) . As she tried to
disengage 4WD (at about 25mph) the smoke started pouring from
underneath the hood and the truck sounded like it was revving too high,
although tachometer read normal, somewhere at 2000 rpms.

She got out of the car and saw fire underneath, which went out shortly.

We towed it to a mechanic nearby that was recommended to us by a family
member. He wants $4500 for:

1) Replacing the front differential ($1400 new, maybe cheaper if can
find used)
2) Some wiring harnesses melted by the fire ($1000)
3.) Some motor that engages and disengages the 4WD ($300)
4.) Misc parts such as sparkplug wires and some hoses that were melted
by the fire ($300)
5.) Labor 20hrs x$75/hr ($1500)

Does this sound normal or am I being ripped off?

<igarber@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:1134608310.617141.162170@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> Hi All,
>
> My wife's was driving her 4Runner (2002 SR5) . As she tried to
> disengage 4WD (at about 25mph) the smoke started pouring from
> underneath the hood and the truck sounded like it was revving too high,
> although tachometer read normal, somewhere at 2000 rpms.
>
> She got out of the car and saw fire underneath, which went out shortly.
>
> We towed it to a mechanic nearby that was recommended to us by a family
> member. He wants $4500 for:
>
> 1) Replacing the front differential ($1400 new, maybe cheaper if can
> find used)
> 2) Some wiring harnesses melted by the fire ($1000)
> 3.) Some motor that engages and disengages the 4WD ($300)
> 4.) Misc parts such as sparkplug wires and some hoses that were melted
> by the fire ($300)
> 5.) Labor 20hrs x$75/hr ($1500)
>
> Does this sound normal or am I being ripped off?[/color]

The parts prices sound about right. You have to shop several service places
around you, including the dealer, to see if the labor rate is competitive.
The labor hours sounds about right.
--
Ray O
correct the return address punctuation to reply[color=blue]
>[/color]

On 14 Dec 2005 16:58:30 -0800, [email]igarber@optonline.net[/email] wrote:
[color=blue]
>Hi All,
>
>My wife's was driving her 4Runner (2002 SR5) . As she tried to
>disengage 4WD (at about 25mph) the smoke started pouring from
>underneath the hood and the truck sounded like it was revving too high,
>although tachometer read normal, somewhere at 2000 rpms.
>
>She got out of the car and saw fire underneath, which went out shortly.[/color]

And the most important questions: What caught fire? And why?

A 2002 model year should still be under warranty, unless you've
already put a whole lotta miles on it - and even then, if you are a
good customer who is out of warranty by 23 miles, and the item that
failed really shouldn't have, they might be able to help... Perhaps
you should talk to the local dealer?

If you state what happened, one of the dealer techs here can tell
you if there are Technical Service Bulletins on that problem. There
could be a "silent warranty" for very rare but known problems.
[color=blue]
>We towed it to a mechanic nearby that was recommended to us by a family
>member. He wants $4500 for:
>
>1) Replacing the front differential ($1400 new, maybe cheaper if can
>find used)
>2) Some wiring harnesses melted by the fire ($1000)
>3.) Some motor that engages and disengages the 4WD ($300)
>4.) Misc parts such as sparkplug wires and some hoses that were melted
>by the fire ($300)
>5.) Labor 20hrs x$75/hr ($1500)
>
>Does this sound normal or am I being ripped off?[/color]

If all that stuff needs to be replaced, it sounds in line. But you
should be able to find good used units covering most of those items at
a wrecking yard, or just get your old front differential rebuilt if it
didn't grenade. Plug wires you should get new at the dealer, and the
hoses can be generic Gates unless there are molded bends involved.

If you buy a differential at a wrecking yard, pop the covers and
inspect them before installation. No sense finding out the
replacement unit is more hosed than the one you took out AFTER getting
it all bolted in.

--<< Bruce >>--

--
Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA - Desktop
Electrician for Westend Electric - CA726700
5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545
Spamtrapped address: Remove the python and the invalid, and use a net.

"Bruce L. Bergman" <blPYTHONbergman@earthlink.invalid> wrote in message
news:sov1q1pffbhd6ikrf8un7ahmop9bcg6ns0@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> On 14 Dec 2005 16:58:30 -0800, [email]igarber@optonline.net[/email] wrote:
>[color=green]
>>Hi All,
>>
>>My wife's was driving her 4Runner (2002 SR5) . As she tried to
>>disengage 4WD (at about 25mph) the smoke started pouring from
>>underneath the hood and the truck sounded like it was revving too high,
>>although tachometer read normal, somewhere at 2000 rpms.
>>
>>She got out of the car and saw fire underneath, which went out shortly.[/color]
>
> And the most important questions: What caught fire? And why?
>
> A 2002 model year should still be under warranty, unless you've
> already put a whole lotta miles on it - and even then, if you are a
> good customer who is out of warranty by 23 miles, and the item that
> failed really shouldn't have, they might be able to help... Perhaps
> you should talk to the local dealer?
>
> If you state what happened, one of the dealer techs here can tell
> you if there are Technical Service Bulletins on that problem. There
> could be a "silent warranty" for very rare but known problems.[/color]

There is no such thing as a "silent warranty." The district service manager
may authorize out-of-warranty repairs on a case by case basis.

--
Ray O
correct the return address punctuation to reply

On Thu, 15 Dec 2005 11:22:08 -0600, "Ray O"
<rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOT.com> wrote:[color=blue]
>"Bruce L. Bergman" <blPYTHONbergman@earthlink.invalid> wrote in message
>news:sov1q1pffbhd6ikrf8un7ahmop9bcg6ns0@4ax.com...[/color]
[color=blue][color=green]
>> If you state what happened, one of the dealer techs here can tell
>> you if there are Technical Service Bulletins on that problem. There
>> could be a "silent warranty" for very rare but known problems.[/color]
>
>There is no such thing as a "silent warranty." The district service manager
>may authorize out-of-warranty repairs on a case by case basis.[/color]

Nothing sinister meant by the term 'silent' - but a lot of little
problems get noted in TSB's but don't get to be general public
knowledge, like the head gasket woes some engines have had. Or that
batch of potentially bad ball joints. Or the AC system failures from
leaking R-12 expansion valves a few years back.

And the front differential or it's shift motor (I'm still not clear
on exactly what happened here) catching fire with enough energy to
make a big mess of the car sure sounds to me like something that may
be warranteed - they are NOT supposed to do that under normal
operating conditions.

The independent repair shop will be glad to take your money for
doing any repairs you need - even if they might be done for free under
warranty if you went to a dealer.

--<< Bruce >>--

--
Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA - Desktop
Electrician for Westend Electric - CA726700
5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545
Spamtrapped address: Remove the python and the invalid, and use a net.

"Bruce L. Bergman" <blPYTHONbergman@earthlink.invalid> wrote in message
news:79p4q1d3l9jf1klgbq9b7e6kubg1p9avu0@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> On Thu, 15 Dec 2005 11:22:08 -0600, "Ray O"
> <rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOT.com> wrote:[color=green]
>>"Bruce L. Bergman" <blPYTHONbergman@earthlink.invalid> wrote in message
>>news:sov1q1pffbhd6ikrf8un7ahmop9bcg6ns0@4ax.com...[/color]
>[color=green][color=darkred]
>>> If you state what happened, one of the dealer techs here can tell
>>> you if there are Technical Service Bulletins on that problem. There
>>> could be a "silent warranty" for very rare but known problems.[/color]
>>
>>There is no such thing as a "silent warranty." The district service
>>manager
>>may authorize out-of-warranty repairs on a case by case basis.[/color]
>
> Nothing sinister meant by the term 'silent' - but a lot of little
> problems get noted in TSB's but don't get to be general public
> knowledge, like the head gasket woes some engines have had. Or that
> batch of potentially bad ball joints. Or the AC system failures from
> leaking R-12 expansion valves a few years back.
>
> And the front differential or it's shift motor (I'm still not clear
> on exactly what happened here) catching fire with enough energy to
> make a big mess of the car sure sounds to me like something that may
> be warranteed - they are NOT supposed to do that under normal
> operating conditions.
>
> The independent repair shop will be glad to take your money for
> doing any repairs you need - even if they might be done for free under
> warranty if you went to a dealer.
>
> --<< Bruce >>--[/color]

Very true!
--
Ray O
correct the return address punctuation to reply