Stupid Mistake, Now I need YOUR help Options

[Doge]

Hey all...I recently caused a huge problem that could have been prevented had i taken 30 seconds of my precious time!!! *punches self in head* But anyways...i took my car to get its 3k oil change...and afterwards continued to drive it. After 3250 miles i figured i should probably get it changed again...so i got in my car and started driving into town...i live out a country road so driving fast around the twirlies is really fun...and i was doing just that. But then i suddenly heard a pinging...not your usual pinging...i knew right away that it was something bad...but i couldnt understand why. It turns out that my car either burns oil INCREDIBLY fast or the people that changed my oil last time forgot to add a QUART OR TWO! I really dont knwo since i've been too scared to run it anymore..i dont want to make anything worse. So here's where i need you knowledgable people's help...it starts knocking at around 4k rpm. Had a guy listen to it and he said the rod bearing was going out. So odviously the engine is going to have to be taken out and it will need to be repaired...but when i take it in i want to tell them everything they need to know...so they know that they can't mess around and try and rip me off. So in order to repair the engine, what is going to have to be fixed/replaced? And second and most importantly...is it going to cost more to do that or just to buy a new engine? If the latter is more prudent then i think i might just go with the 3s swap. But only if it would be more cost effective...im a starving college student and right now my car is (regretfully) my second priority. So any and all info on what i can do..and what i need to know would be wonderful. Thanks ahead of time for what i hope is alot of info that i can smack down in the mechanics face and demand a fair deal! THE DAY WILL BE MINE!!

Steve (Doge)

p.s. who would'a thought that checking your oil as often as possible could save you so much money

[Phat_Boi]

Yeah get your engine repaired before driving it around. Blew my engine the other day "racing" my friend (taking another friend home) doing around 2.5k and when I sped up to the speed limit 3.5k I hear clink, clink, bang, and a LOTTA white smoke came out from under the hood and a few pieces of the engine flew out underneath the car.

Whee.

Oh well, already got a line on a new 7AFE with like 70,000 miles and the guy thats gonna install it is only charging me $1,600 for the engine and installation. Gotta thank my dad for that.

P.S. Oh yeah I needed an oil change badly and I didn't know cause the little oil light didn't turn on and my mileage thingy is like not working right. *sigh*

This post has been edited by Phat_Boi: Jan 10, 2004 - 2:33 AM

[Doge]

Sorry to hear that...I know how you feel =) ...sounds like your dad hooked you up pretty well... I hope I can find a deal like that if it comes to that. Thanks for the info...and the pride comforting story.


Edit. In addition to my first post. my rod bearing is going out...so what parts am i going to have to get to replace it? New rod, ring, etc.? A list of whats gonna have to get fixed would be really helpful. THanks again guys...and girls.=)

This post has been edited by Doge: Jan 10, 2004 - 2:41 AM

[97sccelica]

well, since you were in the twisties, it is possible that while in a turn, all the oil in the pan shifted to one side and for a short period of time no oil was being pumped up to the head, that could have cause a failure in a part and the result was rapid burning of oil(i had my oil light come on once after turning right in a parking lot at 40mph)

thats why its good to check your oil, if youre at the full mark, it takes a VERY sharp turn to make the oil shift away from the pump pickup

a 3s swap may not be the best thing, since the engine will cost you about $1500 for a front clip(which save time and money) and the cost of droping in the engine(not so bad) and the wiring(hardest part)

you could get another 5sfe for really cheap. they are everywhere and it will drop in with no changes

[FAQdaWorld]

That is what happened to my car. My mechanic (good guy) told me that the rod bearing was going out (common problem on 7afe's), My car had a big oil problem too either leaked or burned it. He told me he could repair it which could cost upward of 500 bucks or so, but it would not guarantee to fix the problem. I could also just swap in a newer 7afe and that would fix the problem for a grand total of around 1000 - 1200 bucks or so. I decided I'd go w/ the 4agze... well i still dont have my car back yet......... Soon as the harness is finished i should have my car tho.... I have faith in you Mike!!!!!!!!! Anyway... do u have auto and did manual shift w/ it? or red line frequently or the like?


-Ryan

[Doge]

That turn theory could have been..because its a really windy road and when i checked my oil afterwards it was really low...but not gone. How much do 4a's run Ryan? Of course it would be alittle harder for me to do that since i have a 5s. But i have a manual and I wasn't redlining...but i was in the 4 to 5k rpm's (in second and third gear) alot of the time.

What exactly has to be fixed when a rod bearing goes out?

[97sccelica]

[lagos]

you should check your oil every time you fill up on gas!

every engine consumes some amount of oil. if you drove it 3,250 an never check it then you were low on oil for a while and didnt know about it.

the check oil light only comes on when there is almost no oil in the engine, not when you need an oil change.

[Doge]

Just think...getting off my lazy ass for 2 minutes to check my oil could'a saved me alot of money... I definately am learning that lesson the hard way! but checking oil every time you fill up is a good idea...instead of just sitting there staring at the gas pump. Thanks for the advice Lagos.

[celica3sgte]

This may be for the better. Now you may have the opportunity to get the 3sgte afterall. See how much they want to charge you to fix this problem whatever it may be. You have a GT already. I'm guessing that it may cost you about $2800 total to complete a 3sgte swap.
$1700 motor
$100 new clutch disc
$300 for Mike to splice your new harness
$250 for an exhaust
a couple hundy for misc. parts
Use the crazy ass trd pressure plate that comes with the 3sgte and you are good to go.
You have everything else you need for the swap already.

[Doge]

But then you have to figure labor right?
And what kind of misc. parts do you mean, 3s?
You make me want to do the swap more and more..i just need alittle more convincing...
I can keep my tranny I know...i just bought a centerforce duel friction clutch...do you think that will hold up as well as the TRD one?
Will I need new axles? What else?

And also...If i were to buy a clip, how many other parts would i need to buy? Or would I be pretty set on all the parts that would be used to make the swap?

Thanks for the info.

Steve



This post has been edited by Doge: Jan 11, 2004 - 10:16 PM

[celica3sgte]

Don't be skeered. Do the swap yourself. There are a few technical things that you need to know like using loc tite for the bolts on the pressure plate and that there is a tightening pattern, but mostly it's undoing bolts and then putting them back on. Too bad you didn't live closer to Ohio or I be glad to help you with the swap. I wanna do another swap, any takers,,,lol.
You just want to make sure that you get these parts with your motor. Such as ignitor, intercooler, ignition coil, resistor packs, afm unit, and ecu. You have everything else you need. As for misc. parts, that means gaskets, loc-tite for bolts. You don't have to buy new axles, you can use the ones you have. That centerforce should work good. I'm not sure how strong the pressure plate is, but I know that the TRD pressure plate that comes with the 3sgte is good for about 2600 ft/lbs.

http://www.enginedemons.com/steve2nd3sgte.htm
http://www.geocities.com/zegoat2000/THESWAP.html

steve@enginedemons.com

[Doge]

Man you dont know how bad i wish you were closer! I would totally do it myself but I'm just not that confident in myself. I wouldn't necessarily be winging it but I'm definately no mechanic. How much experience do you have with engines and swaps and all that good stuff?
If I got together some friends that were engine savy how easily do you think this could be done?

Thanks for those sites by the way...thats the most info on the swap I've seen. Mabye (with many many emails and phone calls to you), just mabye I could do it.

Has anybody else on the boards done the swap themselves?

[celica3sgte]

If you know someone that has messed with engines before then, I think you'll be fine. That was the first time I've done an engine swap. I had about 6 going at once. Once I started mine we started ripping them out of a bunch of hondas for some reason. The hardest part about hte swap is the wiring. But that would be done for you. Email me all you want, If you go through with the swap I"ll help you on the phone as much as possible. I think you can do this swap as long as you order all the parts. I think there are quite a few of us who have done the swap ourselves, I'm guessing about 15 or so and about another 15 who have had mechanics do it for them.

[Doge]

I just talked to a mechanic today and he said that it most likely isnt the rod bearing. He said that because it still had a quart and a half about, that it was most likely the knuckle joint (i think that is what its called...could be wrong though). And if it was that it would probably be more cost effective to buy a new engine. Does that sound like a feasible scenario? He's a good guy so I dont doubt him..i just want a second opinion just for the hall of it.

Which is even better news cause then I'll be forced to do the swap!

This post has been edited by Doge: Jan 14, 2004 - 3:42 PM

[Digndoug]

Damn, you got a 97, how many miles are on it, ...humm...im getting a little scared, i thought these damn forign cars are saposed to last longer and better then american, ****, im hearing all this stuff about these things blowin at 150-170, my chevy truck..89 280k just blew a bearing and a rod, my ma's pontiac van 93, 210k still runnnign fine, my bmw 160k Thing ran better then most new cars.....aw man, i better start saving up for an engine swap or somthing, ....

ok real question, for anyone that has done the 3s swap, how much did it cost you, doing your self......

[Doge]

I don't know if you read my previous posts but my car is having problems cause for some smart reason I found it necessary to not check my oil...something that can decrease the life of an engine by alot more than some if you know what I mean. I'm sure there's people on here that have cars that are reaching 200k and above without major problems...of course they probably check their oil...freakin geniuses!

[OneLuv1]

oh man, that does suck... same thing just happened to my Rodeo.. my mechanic told me the best thing to do is NOT fix it, cuz most likely it will keep givin you probs... and I had to get a new engine for mine... told em the rod went out due to driving without enough oil... or any... which wasnt me, but the ppl that owned it before me... cuz i only had the rodeo a few hours when it happened... bas-tards...
when you got your oil changed, they probly forgot to put the plug back in it...
anyways, yeah i would go with the swap... goodluck with this, man!

[Doge]

OK...took my car to the mechanic but since its martin luthar king day he isnt there to look at it till tomarrow. Should know by tomarrow if i'm doin the swap or just getting the engine fixed...cross your fingers!!

[Doge]

Ok...I got the go ahead from the mechanic...so now the question is where to order from? Not from toyosport i know. What about Venus? Or some other place like that that would be in cali or in the western states. (to save on shipping). You guys have any ideas?