2002 Avalon with "dropped rod" HELP!

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  • EyeCarry

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    9   0   0
    May 10, 2014
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    Okay, about three weeks ago we sank about $800 on new tires/alignment, oil/filter change, and a new radiator on this car (which is in really good shape otherwise). My wife drove it round trip to Iowa and back without any problems. The very next week she was coming home from work and calls me to say it is running roughly and making noise. Well, she made it home and what I hear is not good. I took it (drove it) to the dealer to verify what I suspected. Sure enough it has dropped a "rod." We really weren't wanting to get another car just yet so the timing is off (no pun intended).
    What do I do? Anyone here in Bloomington that someone would be able to drop in a new motor? Sell it for the tires and cut my losses? It's a shame because it has been a nice car and only had about 150000 miles on it.
    ARRRGH.
    Helpful advice and mild humor would be appreciated at this point. We are looking at the Kia Soul right now as an alternative and comments on this vehicle would be appreciated as well.
    Thanks INGO-ers!
     

    churchmouse

    I still care....Really
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    187   0   0
    Dec 7, 2011
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    2002. Not a young car by any measure. The only used engines you might find for that car will be high miles and probably ready to drop a rod. Remember the transmission is just as old with as many miles on it. Guess what will fail next.
    Part it out like you said and move on. 17 year old car. How many miles on it.
     

    ChristianPatriot

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    Feb 11, 2013
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    I put a new engine in my truck when it lost oil pressure, BUT the engine was ready available for cheap. You may have a hard time locating one unless you go to an online store which won’t be cheap and then paying someone to put it in. For example, a local shop wanted like $3000 to put in a used engine. Being a 2002, it’s probly time to just cut your losses unfortunately.

    New car shopping is fun though! Woo! :rockwoot:
     

    wingrider1800

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    Dec 27, 2014
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    I also have an 02 avalon and if the motor puked in mine, I would fix the car one or another. I would weigh the options between reman and used. The 3.0 used by Toyota had a problem with sludge build up and required more frequent oil changes than recommended by the factory. FYY, I got a letter from Toyota several years ago stating the warranty on the engine had been extended to 100k. A while later I got another letter from Toyota stating the warranty had been futher extended and that if I experienced any problems to contact my dealer. Just saying.
     

    Bigtanker

    Cuddles
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    24   0   0
    Aug 21, 2012
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    Pull the bad one out, drop in a V-8 with a few turbos and call it a day.

    One way to decide if it's worth fixing is this. Get an estimate of the complete job. Let's just say it's $4,000. Would you buy this car on a used lot or Craigslist for $4,000? If you would, then fix it. If not junk it.

    Maybe shop for a newer model by 6-8 years. That way maybe your new tires will fit.
     

    gregkl

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    33   0   0
    Apr 8, 2012
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    A co-worker of mine ended up putting almost $7K into putting a lower mileage used engine in his Chevy Traverse.

    It can get costly. Call Advanced Auto Care in Bloomington. I'm not sure if they do complete engine swaps but ask them. Get an estimate if you can.

    I had a transmission go out on a Honda that had 130,000 miles on it. Being a Honda I thought it should have lasted longer. I ended up calling Honda of America and opened up a "case". A couple phone calls later and I had a new transmission in the car for less than $500. And it had a 3 year, 36,000 mile warranty.

    You might try this with Toyota and see if you get anywhere.

    If the car has been well maintained and the rest of it is in good condition, it might be worth an investment.

    If you are looking to replace it in a couple years anyway, it might be time now.

    The issue we all have when this happens is that the car has little value in the current condition. If you put a new engine in it, could you sell it and get the money out?

    I feel for you. I hate when these things happen. My wife's car has been fine but I have to put about $1500 into it so hopefully it will last another two years til we are done with the home reno. Then we can look at getting something newer.

    Good luck.
     

    bobzilla

    Mod in training (in my own mind)
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    Nov 1, 2010
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    Not a Toyota fan here so take my words with a grain of salt. 17+ years old, time to think about something newer. The engine this week, trans in a couple months. What about things like suspension and bearings? Those things will all need to be replaced at some point as well.

    Its easier for me me because I do my own work. It’s cheaper. I mostly trust the hack doing it. I know what has been done. When a car gets to the point for me that I am doing something to it every month or two I move on. Not because of the money but my time.

    As fkr the korean cars, let’s just say I’m a huge fanboy. We’ve logged over 500k miles on Hyundai and Kia cars since 2002. In all that time only one left us (her) stranded that required me bringing it home on the trailer. That ended up being a $20 crank sensor that died at 198kmiles. We sold that one north of 250k still running/driving but looking haggard as hell. They make great cars. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend one.
     

    gregkl

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    Not a Toyota fan here so take my words with a grain of salt. 17+ years old, time to think about something newer. The engine this week, trans in a couple months. What about things like suspension and bearings? Those things will all need to be replaced at some point as well.

    Its easier for me me because I do my own work. It’s cheaper. I mostly trust the hack doing it. I know what has been done. When a car gets to the point for me that I am doing something to it every month or two I move on. Not because of the money but my time.

    As fkr the korean cars, let’s just say I’m a huge fanboy. We’ve logged over 500k miles on Hyundai and Kia cars since 2002. In all that time only one left us (her) stranded that required me bringing it home on the trailer. That ended up being a $20 crank sensor that died at 198kmiles. We sold that one north of 250k still running/driving but looking haggard as hell. They make great cars. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend one.

    This is an interesting post. I work closely with all the OEM's being a Tier 1, Tier 2, and in some cases direct to OEM supplier of parts, I know a little about what the car companies expect in terms of quality, durability and reliability.

    I also know who "cheaps" out and who goes the extra mile, even if their vehicles cost a little more.

    One thing to keep in mind is that virtually all cars made today are better than cars made a couple decades ago. If you maintain them, 250K like bobz gets is very achievable.

    In the old days, Mercedes was the company that was known for racking up high mileage. You could even get grill badges when you hit certain milestones.:)
     

    EyeCarry

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    Thanks everybody. I do think it is just time to move on since it happened.
    I do like the Viagra and Tannerite suggestions. Combined with the turbos I'll have a hard time keeping it under the speed limit but it should be a blast getting there.
    I still don't know whether to try and part it out or just sell it cheap. The dealer only offered $100 and that just seems like a rip off.
     

    churchmouse

    I still care....Really
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    Thanks everybody. I do think it is just time to move on since it happened.
    I do like the Viagra and Tannerite suggestions. Combined with the turbos I'll have a hard time keeping it under the speed limit but it should be a blast getting there.
    I still don't know whether to try and part it out or just sell it cheap. The dealer only offered $100 and that just seems like a rip off.

    They would pull the tires and scrap it.
     

    DoggyDaddy

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    Aug 18, 2011
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    Not a Toyota fan here so take my words with a grain of salt. 17+ years old, time to think about something newer. The engine this week, trans in a couple months. What about things like suspension and bearings? Those things will all need to be replaced at some point as well.

    Its easier for me me because I do my own work. It’s cheaper. I mostly trust the hack doing it. I know what has been done. When a car gets to the point for me that I am doing something to it every month or two I move on. Not because of the money but my time.

    As fkr the korean cars, let’s just say I’m a huge fanboy. We’ve logged over 500k miles on Hyundai and Kia cars since 2002. In all that time only one left us (her) stranded that required me bringing it home on the trailer. That ended up being a $20 crank sensor that died at 198kmiles. We sold that one north of 250k still running/driving but looking haggard as hell. They make great cars. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend one.

    I've been really happy with my Hyundai. Great warranty (that I've never had to use - knock wood), and pretty much just regular oil and filter changes on it and have not had any problems. It's only a 2011, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one. This was the first brand new car I'd ever bought. Morgan Freeman has a commercial about the Takata airbag issue and gives a website to go to to see if your car might be affected. Hyundai wasn't even on the list of manufacturers, and KIA wasn't either. Surprising which brands were, including Ferrari, Mercedes, BMW, Audi, all the American brands...

    https://safeairbags.com/en/
     

    wingrider1800

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    Thanks everybody. I do think it is just time to move on since it happened.
    I do like the Viagra and Tannerite suggestions. Combined with the turbos I'll have a hard time keeping it under the speed limit but it should be a blast getting there.
    I still don't know whether to try and part it out or just sell it cheap. The dealer only offered $100 and that just seems like a rip off.
    I might still have the letter that Toyota sent me regarding extending the warranty. If you want, I can look for it and get you a copy. I know it is probably a waste of time but it still may be worth a call to Toyota.
     

    Tactically Fat

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    I've been really happy with my Hyundai. Great warranty (that I've never had to use - knock wood), and pretty much just regular oil and filter changes on it and have not had any problems. It's only a 2011, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one. This was the first brand new car I'd ever bought. Morgan Freeman has a commercial about the Takata airbag issue and gives a website to go to to see if your car might be affected. Hyundai wasn't even on the list of manufacturers, and KIA wasn't either. Surprising which brands were, including Ferrari, Mercedes, BMW, Audi, all the American brands...

    https://safeairbags.com/en/

    The newest iterations of both Hyundai and Kia are light years ahead of where they were even 10 years ago. And 10 years ago they were light years ahead of where they were even 10 years piror to that.

    HOWEVER - you trade offs with the Korean brands: Lower fuel mileage, a slightly more "tinny" interior, and a burgeoning issue with oil dilution in their small displacement turbo engines. FYI - this is the same exact problem that Honda is having with their newer small displacement turbo engines.

    That said, I now have 6k miles on my 2019 Camry SE and I generally love it. Outward visibility isn't all that great, however, if you're tall. But I dig the nearly 40mpg it gets @ 65mph.
     

    DoggyDaddy

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    The newest iterations of both Hyundai and Kia are light years ahead of where they were even 10 years ago. And 10 years ago they were light years ahead of where they were even 10 years piror to that.

    HOWEVER - you trade offs with the Korean brands: Lower fuel mileage, a slightly more "tinny" interior, and a burgeoning issue with oil dilution in their small displacement turbo engines. FYI - this is the same exact problem that Honda is having with their newer small displacement turbo engines.

    That said, I now have 6k miles on my 2019 Camry SE and I generally love it. Outward visibility isn't all that great, however, if you're tall. But I dig the nearly 40mpg it gets @ 65mph.

    I have a 2011 Elantra Touring (mini-station wagon) and it's strictly utilitarian for sure, but that's what I was looking for when I bought it. I normally get 28-30 mpg combined. With the back seats folded down it really has a lot of cargo space for a small car too, which is nice. The only complaint I have is that it absolutely sucks in any kind of slick conditions. The ABS is horrible, and locks the steering wheel if you start to slide at all, while the brake pedal beats the crap out of the bottom of your foot. That's just crazy to me.
     

    mensajess

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    I can't believe no one has recommended this yet. It dropped a rod, SO PICK IT UP.

    I know practically nothing about engines.

    And +1 for hyundai, 180k on mine before wreck, kia at 120k.
     

    Bigtanker

    Cuddles
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    Thanks everybody. I do think it is just time to move on since it happened.
    I do like the Viagra and Tannerite suggestions. Combined with the turbos I'll have a hard time keeping it under the speed limit but it should be a blast getting there.
    I still don't know whether to try and part it out or just sell it cheap. The dealer only offered $100 and that just seems like a rip off.

    Just list it on Craigslist or FB marketplace with full disclosure of the engine problems. Somebody will snatch it up for a project.
     
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