1. Welcome to 4Runners.com!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all 4Runner discussion topics
    • Transfer over your build thread from a different forum to this one
    • Communicate privately with other 4Runner owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Spraying coolant from behind timing belt shroud (drivers side)

Discussion in '3rd Gen 4Runners (1996-2002)' started by No_frills_jake, Dec 5, 2022.

  1. Dec 5, 2022 at 10:24 PM
    #1
    No_frills_jake

    No_frills_jake [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2022
    Member:
    #29956
    Messages:
    17
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jake
    Vehicle:
    ‘97 4x4 4Runner, nick named “scratch”
    None
    Came to a stoplight when she started spraying A LOT of coolant from what seems to be like, behind the timing belt shroud on the driver’s side, any suggestions what happened here and/or what to do?

    05C044AA-CCDF-4835-8C1B-948E0F2A4FF7.jpg
    01BC5C4F-1B66-49DA-85BF-6C3B5FB4485C.jpg
     
  2. Dec 6, 2022 at 5:46 AM
    #2
    Curt56

    Curt56 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2020
    Member:
    #16828
    Messages:
    106
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Curtis
    Vehicle:
    2021 TRD ORP
    Probably the water pump needs replaced.
     
    Daddykool likes this.
  3. Dec 6, 2022 at 6:24 AM
    #3
    Daddykool

    Daddykool Photography enthusiast

    Joined:
    May 5, 2021
    Member:
    #21295
    Messages:
    1,938
    Gender:
    Male
    And if it's significantly less than new, might as well do the timing belt and pulleys while you're in there. Radiator too if it's been awhile, to avoid ruining your transmission.
     
    Curt56[QUOTED] likes this.
  4. Dec 6, 2022 at 7:25 AM
    #4
    negusm

    negusm New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2019
    Member:
    #11745
    Messages:
    2,095
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2002 4Runner SR5 4WD
    Time for a water pump. Replace with an AISIN one. Make sure it's not counterfeit. Get them from the dealer or anywhere OTHER than fleabay or bamazon.

    Do the belt, tensioner, pulleys and the crank\cam seals. Use only TOYOTA or OEM supplier parts.
     
    Last edited: Dec 6, 2022
    2Toys, Curt56 and Daddykool like this.
  5. Dec 6, 2022 at 9:46 AM
    #5
    No_frills_jake

    No_frills_jake [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2022
    Member:
    #29956
    Messages:
    17
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jake
    Vehicle:
    ‘97 4x4 4Runner, nick named “scratch”
    None
    Awesome, thanks for the info!!!
    I did a little looking around and decided on this AISIN kit from RockAuto along with a AISIN radiator cap from them as well. I highly appreciate the input! I’m on a really tight budget so I’m not gonna replace the radiator & hoses for now but I will thoroughly flush the system before the procedure. Let me know if there’s anything else I need to consider, or if I’m an idiot not to replace radiator and hose

    4EC1EC0D-3571-4905-97FE-0DD2933A73E3.jpg
     
    Curt56 likes this.
  6. Dec 6, 2022 at 9:52 AM
    #6
    No_frills_jake

    No_frills_jake [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2022
    Member:
    #29956
    Messages:
    17
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jake
    Vehicle:
    ‘97 4x4 4Runner, nick named “scratch”
    None
    Oops, when I said radiator cap I meant thermostat, but of course I did get the radiator cap as well.
     
  7. Dec 6, 2022 at 9:52 AM
    #7
    negusm

    negusm New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2019
    Member:
    #11745
    Messages:
    2,095
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2002 4Runner SR5 4WD
    That kit looks good. Except... Get the crank and cam seals. You are in there, just do those too. I found OEM ones to only fit. I threw some that I got for cheap in the trash as they would have fit but were not as thick as the originals.

    A seal puller is cheap and is helpful to remove them. To seat them, get a PVC plumbing connector that matches their size to tap them back in place. Cheap at any hardware store.
     
    Last edited: Dec 6, 2022
  8. Dec 6, 2022 at 9:54 AM
    #8
    negusm

    negusm New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2019
    Member:
    #11745
    Messages:
    2,095
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2002 4Runner SR5 4WD
    I would replace the thermostat. The OEM one will have a small hole that goes at 6oclock. Don't get aftermarket. OEM isn't that much and you are already in there. Plus the OEM should come with a gasket... Which will need replacing by now.
     
  9. Dec 6, 2022 at 9:57 AM
    #9
    negusm

    negusm New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2019
    Member:
    #11745
    Messages:
    2,095
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2002 4Runner SR5 4WD
    Best to do all that. You'll be good for 150k miles.

    If you half ass it...don't cry when you have to do it again in 10k.
     
  10. Dec 6, 2022 at 10:24 AM
    #10
    Daddykool

    Daddykool Photography enthusiast

    Joined:
    May 5, 2021
    Member:
    #21295
    Messages:
    1,938
    Gender:
    Male
    A radiator failure, since your transmission fluid also runs through the bottom portion, can be catastrophic. 150k+ miles is about all you want to put on the OEM radiator. If it fails, the coolant and transmission fluid mix, and I understand that it's nearly impossible to recover the transmission if that happens. So if you can't do it now, I'd put it on your short list. Some folks install a trans cooler instead, but don't think that would save you much.
     
  11. Dec 6, 2022 at 11:50 AM
    #11
    No_frills_jake

    No_frills_jake [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2022
    Member:
    #29956
    Messages:
    17
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jake
    Vehicle:
    ‘97 4x4 4Runner, nick named “scratch”
    None
    Thanks everyone! I’ll update if I have any hiccups. Doing this job in my driveway, in 25 degree F snowing weather is going to be fun peace out from north Idaho
     
    Curt56 likes this.
  12. Dec 18, 2022 at 6:04 PM
    #12
    No_frills_jake

    No_frills_jake [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2022
    Member:
    #29956
    Messages:
    17
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jake
    Vehicle:
    ‘97 4x4 4Runner, nick named “scratch”
    None
    Alright, got her all tore down to find that the issue was a rusted out freeze plug. What do y’all think, when I replace the rusted one should I Just go ahead and replace all four? The others look perfectly fine, so I’m not sure why the one rusted through.

    3B481AAF-D5B3-4F2E-9AE8-7CAD146B7033.jpg
    FCA95054-13CC-4DEB-B757-379F9854E16E.jpg
     
    Curt56 likes this.
  13. Dec 31, 2022 at 2:49 PM
    #13
    No_frills_jake

    No_frills_jake [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2022
    Member:
    #29956
    Messages:
    17
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jake
    Vehicle:
    ‘97 4x4 4Runner, nick named “scratch”
    None
    All back together and running again! After driving it a few times I noticed when I come to a stoplight or just idle you can feel the engine shake a tiny bit. Like it’s miss firing or something any ideas? Could I have damaged a cam position sensor or something?

    As always, thank you guys!! I’m learning so much, haha
     
    Curt56 likes this.
  14. Dec 31, 2022 at 3:48 PM
    #14
    Ahdofu

    Ahdofu New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2020
    Member:
    #18506
    Messages:
    310
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Matt
    Vehicle:
    1997 4Runner SR5, V6, Auto, 4WD
    Have you checked to see what code(s) may have been thrown?
     
  15. Dec 31, 2022 at 4:27 PM
    #15
    No_frills_jake

    No_frills_jake [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2022
    Member:
    #29956
    Messages:
    17
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jake
    Vehicle:
    ‘97 4x4 4Runner, nick named “scratch”
    None
    I checked for codes but found none, which surprised me, but maybe the scan tool isn’t working right or something.
     
  16. Dec 31, 2022 at 5:16 PM
    #16
    Ahdofu

    Ahdofu New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 14, 2020
    Member:
    #18506
    Messages:
    310
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Matt
    Vehicle:
    1997 4Runner SR5, V6, Auto, 4WD
    Hmm ... If there was a fault, you should have seen a code. It may be the scan tool or perhaps all is OK after all. You can certainly undo a plug wire and see whether the OBD throws the miss code or not.
     
  17. Dec 31, 2022 at 6:08 PM
    #17
    Curt56

    Curt56 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2020
    Member:
    #16828
    Messages:
    106
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Curtis
    Vehicle:
    2021 TRD ORP
    Glad you got it back together and on the road.
     
  18. Dec 31, 2022 at 7:53 PM
    #18
    RumHamRunner73

    RumHamRunner73 Dead on with a zero

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2022
    Member:
    #29771
    Messages:
    2,775
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Philip
    Oakboro, N.C
    Vehicle:
    2022 4 Runner Limited. Blizzard Pearl
    Have you double checked to make sure the cooling 100%, Have had prior issued with hot spots (air pockets) around the sensors.

    Just another item to check/verify.
     
    2Toys likes this.
  19. Jan 16, 2023 at 1:19 PM
    #19
    No_frills_jake

    No_frills_jake [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2022
    Member:
    #29956
    Messages:
    17
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jake
    Vehicle:
    ‘97 4x4 4Runner, nick named “scratch”
    None
    Well, I watched a few videos and came to the conclusion that when I disconnected the battery it reset the idle control unit-thing that was why it was idling low & rough. So I took off the throttle body and cleaned it really thoroughly and took out the ancient copper spark plugs that looked terrible, some were even pretty pitted on the edge where it’s supposed to spark and then replaced them with NGK platinum, the double prong ones. After that she fired right up and ran WAY smoother than I ever remember! Maybe even slightly more get up, but that could be it my head, haha!
     
    Curt56 likes this.

Products Discussed in

To Top