CAM SHAFT TOWER SEAL LEAKING ** PLEASE READ***

Might be your best bet and you could request that they clean the engine bay since this was a result of the repair. Its a major repair, there's reason to feel uncomfortable about it. If mine was just a seep I would have said screw it and let it go vs. have my engine pulled and torn down. But my is dripping onto my exhaust manifold so I don't really have a choice in the matter, it has to be fixed. Let us know what you find out once you give it a good look over it take it to the dealer.

 

Mine was leaking onto the left exhaust manifold and burning. That's what made me notice it. Never saw any spots on the ground, but the valve cover on that side is pretty black from oil too. I think I'll be taking by the dealer first thing tomorrow morning and having them look at it and see if they will clean it good too. I've got a decent pile of suspension parts in the garage to put on it but not sure now.

 

I hear ya, worst thing is we cant even really trade up to a newer Tundra to escape the problem as it still exist. Such a bummer.

 

Yep, that's what I'm sitting here thinking about. Maybe a 4 Runner if this keeps giving me problems.

 

yep..i'm holding on my gen 2 that has been repaired..

 

Last thing I want to do is worry about my truck that's why all but one of my other trucks have been Toyota. I'M WORRIED ABOUT THIS ONE... although I do have confidence in the guy who will do the repair.
So yeah.. pretty fvcking sad for Toyota. And to not extend a warranty...tells me they are not very confident .

 

Sounds like once it is fixed it is good. I will have to look at mine when the weather improves. If they can fix it and it is solid I would rather have a repaired Tundra than most of the other options out there.

 

I get your being worried, but if the Tech has experience in R&R of cam towers, you should be good. There’s a few videos on YouTube that show the cam tower job, and it’s not too bad; plus, you’ll be getting the better black sealant. My worry would be working over the fenders and scratching the paint. Hope it turns out very well for you.

 

It is sad, especially since its been going on for so long... While we can have confidence in the guy whos repairing them, the issue is that so much has to be taken apart and put back together that there's a pretty good margin of error here. If they do it in the truck there will be less, pulling the engine even more to come off and put back on. I'm willing to bet even the a/c system is disconnected and would have to be recharged after the repair. Not 100% on that or if the unbolt it form the engine and sit it off to the side in the engine bay.

We wont see this fixed for good until the come out with the next gen Tundra.

 

I was thinking the same thing, but wouldn't they use fender covers in a dealer repair facility? I have this removable clear bra stuff you can stick on your vehicle before traveling, I might go ahead and put some on my truck before it goes in on Monday.

 

I would want to see their fender covers, and if you add your clear bra material, it should come back without damage. My dealer knows how picky I am with my truck, and they treat it like a show car.

 

Im with you, picky about my vehicles. I'm going to wash my truck on Sunday and add my road wrap. Can't hurt to be precautious. This Is the stuff i use if anyone is interested.

 

Great idea. When they see the care you’ve taken, that should put them on notice...”Don’t scratch my truck.”

 

That's what I'm thinking, didn't realize the pic was upside down and my puppy got a paw in there...ha.

 

I just checked Amazon for road wrap. Not there. Can you please tell me where you found it. Thanks.

 

Found it at carID. $41

 

That roll I bought at pepboys, looks like its getting harder to find. It works great, I use it on the high impact areas when I take trips or to protect areas of the truck when I'm working on it. Goes on and removes easily, I used to use blue painters tape but its expensive now and doesn't stay put at highway speeds like the road wrap.

There is some on ebay for 29.99.

 

It is a very big job indeed, I posted some pics a few pages back you can see. Of a couple that I have done. But yea there is a large margin or error but that’s with any engine tore down that much, and I have heard of even really great techs having one go bad, but we are human and shit does happen. But again this repair really comes down to the tech and their experience and comfort with it like myself, I do them and really don’t mind them except that Toyota just cut our time down to like 7 hours.

As for your a/c it depends if I do it it in the truck it stayed charged the compressor simply unbolta and sits on the side of the engine while I work my magic. If I pull the engine it gets emptied and recharged.

 

Yea there are a couple videos out there one in particular is just sneaking the cam tower out, I have and can do this but honestly I prefer to take the cover off, just easier to see everything and know the timing is perfect.

Yea I use fender liners or a new fender blanket. Step stools it’s hard on the back Tundra is a big girl leaning over it all day. But yes shit happens I have scratched some and I go tell the boss and we get it taken care of. even if it is a scratch I find it better for everyone not to try and hide it just fess up it’s just courtesy and honesty it will treat you better and no mad customer. I slipped of my step stool putting the cans in once little scratch and a busted lip.

Snap on makes a table now you can lay on and it elevates you above/into the engine bay and rolls like a creeper. Prolly get one of those next.

 

Took my truck back to the dealer this morning to see if they could find my antifreeze leak after the cam tower repair. Turns out that a hose to the water pump had a "bad clamp" and a coolant crossover hose was leaking into the valley from the left head. Seems that a metal gasket was re-used that should not have been. They tell me it's totally fixed now but I will definitely be watching it. The gasket part bothers me. Hopefully that was the only thing re-used that should not have been.

 

Having an inexperienced tech half-assing the reassembly of the engine scares me more than the engine being taken apart in the first place.

 

Here is one of the issues. Toyota has cut their time down to 7 hours. IMHO even the best tech is going to be rushed. The only reason Toyota would cut the hours is to cut the cost, most likely due to the number of jobs being done now. Some service departments found the leak and reported it to the owner, probably wont want to now with the hour deduction.

 

That's what bothers me about the gasket issue. I can accept the clamp. Shit breaks. No excuse to re-use something like a gasket if you don't know for sure it's re-usable. Makes me wonder if anything else was done wrong.

 

Hopefully any issues (if any) will show up in the next 10,000 miles.

 

Good that it was something easy, crappy that they overlooked it and caused you a trip back. Did they clean your engine bay for you? This is the kind of stuff that worries me about having this thing torn down.

7hrs to do this job seems pretty crazy, Toyota is churning out motors with faulty seals and then skimping on what they are paying the techs to make us whole--not right. My dealer is pulling my engine to repair and keeping my truck for 3days, I cannot see how they can accomplish this in 7hrs.

Have you tried contacting Corporate to see if they will do anything for you?

 

Looks like mine will be emptied and recharged, bummer. Do any transmission lines get disconnected with the engine being pulled?

 

They did clean the engine bay today. It's not perfect but does look much better. I have not tried contacting corporate yet. I think I will now after spending 5 hours of vacation time at the dealer today.

 

Robot applying the sealant at the engine assembly plant is showing up to work on Monday hung over from the weekend and skipping out of work early on Friday to cash his check and get a early start on the weekend.

 

I just unbolt the line brackets from the engine block

 

Ok thanks, just trying to figure out what I need to be on top of checking out after this repair is done. If they were going to disconnect trans lines I was going to make sure they check my fluid level after. 3 more days till she goes under the knife....