Head Gasket Woes

[sandypenny60]

Hi Where is the stat,near the engine Im guessing.My one has the same problem and now a waterleak from under the timing belt cover.This wasnt there till today just overheating for no apparent reason SOMEIMES,

[pheasant_plucker]

A water leak from under the timing belt cover will be the water pump.

Gerry

[propnut]

If your garage has confirmed the head gasket by doing a block test then all the changing of radiators and thermostats in the world won't help you. If there are exhaust gases in the jacket there is only one place they can come from.

Doing the head gasket is not difficult and at least, having a purpose made engine, you won't have to worry about the head itself. If you are mechanically minded you can do it yourself. Gasket sets are readliy available from Ebay and you DO NOT need to buy from Toyota, nor do you have to change the head bolts but you can if it makes you happier, these are £20 for a set.

I did a guide on Previa Owners.co.uk :: Index but another guy also on that forum did a far more verbose one.

[buffallobob]

Originally Posted by propnut

Gasket sets are readliy available from Ebay and you DO NOT need to buy from Toyota, nor do you have to change the head bolts but you can if it makes you happier, these are £20 for a set.

In my experience the cars that have repeated failures have been the ones that used the cheap gaskets as the ones from ebay and why would toyota recomend new bolts if you dont need them
My opinion and common sense is that if you want it to last then to save £20 or £30 pounds buying a pattern gasket and using old bolts is a false economy
bob

[propnut]

I have done well over 20 in at least the last 5 years and have yet to have one come back with a failure. Toyota themselves do not change the bolts as a matter of course because they are TTA not TTY.

But again it is a personal choice whatever makes one happy

And pray tell me where exactly Toyota recommends new bolts on the 2TZ-FE engine. I have the genuine factory manuals from 91 to 97 with all updates and no mention. Neither is it mentioned in the Haynes or Chilton manuals.

[Kneewax]

Originally Posted by propnut

If your garage has confirmed the head gasket by doing a block test then all the changing of radiators and thermostats in the world won't help you. If there are exhaust gases in the jacket there is only one place they can come from.

Thanks for that. I have a history with this, while I've been trying to find a reliable local mechanic I have tried a few. The first garage did a pressure test and said all was fine. However they also told be the rad in the front of the car was for the aircon and although in bad shape couldn't be the source of the over heating, they said there was a second radiator further back that was OK. (they then accused me of making up the overheating - like I'd want to spend £80 for tests for no good reason!). I think they just didn't want the job on an old car. The second garage who seem much more reliable have diagnosed head gasket but didn't do a pressure test. I think taking a mean view on this it is worth doing the rad and stat because even if I have got gasket problems I still get a new rad out of it, now I have established that there is only one rad, and I know it is poor condition anyway.

What I really need is a good,reliable local mechanic who knows these beasts, I used to use Gary down in Newton Abbot, but now we are in wilts he is just too far to travel too. And I know Bob comes well recommended but we are a long way from home for him and there are enough things wrong with the car to warrant someone more local (and probably less busy ).

Although she is an old bus, we have a large young family and I want to invest in this bus so she keeps us going long term.

[paul9]

if you want to invest in your bus,best bet is get the Job done properly by someone who knows these buses,that person being BOB,he will travel to you and it will save you money in the long run,get in touch with him,he may be due in your area anytime soon.

[propnut]

Might sound like a silly question but have you been to Toyota. Believe it or not they are not always the most expensive. Having said that ANY good mechanic can do the job, there is no rocket science behind it. The engines in these cars are no different to any other car they just happen to sit under the driver. The question is whether or not they wish to do it.

If you can't get into Bob's busy schedule then just keep trying your local garages. £1200 sounds a bit steep to me, for that price they should be lapping the valves and fitting new valve stem seals as well, which is highly recommended if you are taking the head off anyway but will mean that the shims will need to be rechecked as well as the clearances will change.

HOWEVER and this is purely your choice. Stand back and take a good look at the car and think carefully to yourself if it is worth spending the money. Then take a good perusal at Ebay and Autotrader, you can buy a good running Previa for that and then flog yours off as spares or repair. Personally I think you will be better off. Whatever you do don't buy an Estima, that will be a classic from the frying pan into the fire.

All the above is based on my understanding that you own a petrol Previa/Estima as you have listed your question under wide boys. Hope this is true.

All the best

[Frenchman]

Propnut,

Did you mean don't buy a diesel estima? I have a petrol estima, it has the same engine as the previa doesn't it?

Frenchman

Originally Posted by propnut

Might sound like a silly question but have you been to Toyota. Believe it or not they are not always the most expensive. Having said that ANY good mechanic can do the job, there is no rocket science behind it. The engines in these cars are no different to any other car they just happen to sit under the driver. The question is whether or not they wish to do it.

If you can't get into Bob's busy schedule then just keep trying your local garages. £1200 sounds a bit steep to me, for that price they should be lapping the valves and fitting new valve stem seals as well, which is highly recommended if you are taking the head off anyway but will mean that the shims will need to be rechecked as well as the clearances will change.

HOWEVER and this is purely your choice. Stand back and take a good look at the car and think carefully to yourself if it is worth spending the money. Then take a good perusal at Ebay and Autotrader, you can buy a good running Previa for that and then flog yours off as spares or repair. Personally I think you will be better off. Whatever you do don't buy an Estima, that will be a classic from the frying pan into the fire.

All the above is based on my understanding that you own a petrol Previa/Estima as you have listed your question under wide boys. Hope this is true.

All the best

[propnut]

That's exactly what I mean.

Yes your car has the same engine as the Previa and a damn fine engine it is too. Head gaskets blow on all cars that is a given. Heads however DO NOT crack on all cars and that's a fact.