4A-GE MK1 Engine 3rd strike, it's out.

BUCKYWAG · 07-28-2009, 12:17 PM

Have had an 85 for years now with only 102k. Don't drive it much but it's my toy and I love it. Been searching the forums and really can't find my new problem. Took 3 trips to kill the old girl. 1st trip, started fine and ran fine, but died last couple of stops. 2nd trip, same thing only a little worse - kept the gas on at stops. Bubbling noise from the coolant tank. 3rd trip, still not happy and died but restarted. Last run (trying to get home) would'nt go over 70, died after getting off the interstate, wouldn't restart. Rested for 15 minutes, ran the starter way too long but restarted and made it home. Slight overheating. No oil on the oil cap. No hissing. No smoke. No oil on dip stick. Coolant smells okay. Compression low (30 to 50 depending on how long I run the starter) on cylinders one and two - facing the rear, left to right) and 130 to 150 on the other two. Had a new (rebuilt) A/C compressor put on not long before but seemed to have no problems. So.......BHG or timing belt.....or igniter?

muffinman · 07-28-2009, 12:43 PM

sounds like HG

BUCKYWAG · 07-28-2009, 01:28 PM

Blown Head gasket on my 71 Vega GT would envelope an entire intersection with steam blocking out headlights....... and still run........May have to fix this myself since the repair is more than the car's worth. I've done harder stuff, like pull the gas tank for a new fuel pump but I was younger then....

muffinman · 07-28-2009, 02:38 PM

timing belt or ignitor wouldn't explain low compression in two cylinders only

mustclime · 07-28-2009, 02:42 PM

I vote head gasket or a cracked block or head....

Jackstand Queen · 07-30-2009, 09:23 AM

The off and on running problem sounds like a crusty electrical terminal in the engine bay.

Check coolant temp sender, afm, ignitor, coil, dizzy, etc leads. Unscrew the hold down bolt for the injector solenoid and re-screw. Its a ground. Clean up your engine bay grounds.

The low compression is probably a HG issue, or grounds for a rebuild, or Jspec replacement.

Maticuno · 07-31-2009, 05:43 PM

When my HG went out all it did was make the coolant bubble after 10 or so miles. No smoke, no funky oil, no funky coolant. Still ran perfectly. The HG isn't entirely that difficult to do yourself. The tight quarters of the engine bay make it a beast though. I'm glad I went ahead and did my own because the shop said it wasn't worth it and they wanted to put in a whole new engine to the tune of $2100 (bastards).

YellowJacket · 08-06-2009, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by muffinman

sounds like HG

+1

esreveRBackwards · 08-13-2009, 06:53 PM

Anyone have a writeup or links how to replace? p/m will do...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maticuno

When my HG went out all it did was make the coolant bubble after 10 or so miles. No smoke, no funky oil, no funky coolant. Still ran perfectly. The HG isn't entirely that difficult to do yourself. The tight quarters of the engine bay make it a beast though. I'm glad I went ahead and did my own because the shop said it wasn't worth it and they wanted to put in a whole new engine to the tune of $2100 (bastards).

Jackstand Queen · 08-13-2009, 08:53 PM

Here's a link to the Factory Manual:

Free File Hosting Made Simple - MediaFire

Don't buy a cheap Ebay $10. headgasket, or even a bottom of the line Felpro brand. With as much, time & labor involved you probably ought to go with one purchased from a Toyota dealer.

07-28-2009, 12:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
BUCKYWAG No Skills Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 6 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	3rd strike, it's out. Have had an 85 for years now with only 102k. Don't drive it much but it's my toy and I love it. Been searching the forums and really can't find my new problem. Took 3 trips to kill the old girl. 1st trip, started fine and ran fine, but died last couple of stops. 2nd trip, same thing only a little worse - kept the gas on at stops. Bubbling noise from the coolant tank. 3rd trip, still not happy and died but restarted. Last run (trying to get home) would'nt go over 70, died after getting off the interstate, wouldn't restart. Rested for 15 minutes, ran the starter way too long but restarted and made it home. Slight overheating. No oil on the oil cap. No hissing. No smoke. No oil on dip stick. Coolant smells okay. Compression low (30 to 50 depending on how long I run the starter) on cylinders one and two - facing the rear, left to right) and 130 to 150 on the other two. Had a new (rebuilt) A/C compressor put on not long before but seemed to have no problems. So.......BHG or timing belt.....or igniter?

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07-28-2009, 12:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
muffinman U-P-G-R-A-Y-E-D-D Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sunny South Florida Posts: 5,881 Thanks: 53 Thanked 283 Times in 272 Posts Blog Entries: 1 My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	sounds like HG

07-28-2009, 01:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
BUCKYWAG No Skills Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 6 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Blown Head gasket on my 71 Vega GT would envelope an entire intersection with steam blocking out headlights....... and still run........May have to fix this myself since the repair is more than the car's worth. I've done harder stuff, like pull the gas tank for a new fuel pump but I was younger then....

07-28-2009, 02:38 PM	#4 (permalink)
muffinman U-P-G-R-A-Y-E-D-D Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sunny South Florida Posts: 5,881 Thanks: 53 Thanked 283 Times in 272 Posts Blog Entries: 1 My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	timing belt or ignitor wouldn't explain low compression in two cylinders only

07-28-2009, 02:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
mustclime cone killer Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 14 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I vote head gasket or a cracked block or head....

07-30-2009, 09:23 AM	#6 (permalink)
Jackstand Queen Cage Fighter Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 840 Thanks: 75 Thanked 64 Times in 60 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	The off and on running problem sounds like a crusty electrical terminal in the engine bay. Check coolant temp sender, afm, ignitor, coil, dizzy, etc leads. Unscrew the hold down bolt for the injector solenoid and re-screw. Its a ground. Clean up your engine bay grounds. The low compression is probably a HG issue, or grounds for a rebuild, or Jspec replacement.

07-31-2009, 05:43 PM	#7 (permalink)
Maticuno Park Ranging Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: California Deserts Posts: 313 Thanks: 15 Thanked 25 Times in 17 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	When my HG went out all it did was make the coolant bubble after 10 or so miles. No smoke, no funky oil, no funky coolant. Still ran perfectly. The HG isn't entirely that difficult to do yourself. The tight quarters of the engine bay make it a beast though. I'm glad I went ahead and did my own because the shop said it wasn't worth it and they wanted to put in a whole new engine to the tune of $2100 (bastards).

08-13-2009, 08:53 PM	#10 (permalink)
Jackstand Queen Cage Fighter Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 840 Thanks: 75 Thanked 64 Times in 60 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Here's a link to the Factory Manual: Free File Hosting Made Simple - MediaFire Don't buy a cheap Ebay $10. headgasket, or even a bottom of the line Felpro brand. With as much, time & labor involved you probably ought to go with one purchased from a Toyota dealer.