Goddammit VVT-i

"LuczOr" (LuczOr) 04/08/2014 at 12:09 • Filed to: Surprise Maintenance

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Welp, the VVT-i timing gear is going out in my Rav4. The thing is clattering pretty badly at all engine speeds. It's blatantly obvious that it's coming from the left side bank which happens to be the one next to the firewall thanks to transverse mounting. Looked up Toyota's price on the gear and the damn thing is $220. Conventional wisdom would tell me to buy them all and replace them, but I don't have $900 to throw at parts right now.

Therefore, I am planning on only replacing the noise maker. The problem with that is that I have to tear the 2GR-FE apart to find out if it's the intake or exhaust cam. Then I have to let it sit in pieces while I order up the gear. Probably a week of downtime. Alternatively, I could buy just the 2 gears to the the tune of $440 and do it all in a weekend.

In truth, the wife will probably make the final decision. We will find out if she is willing to spend $220 to not have to ride to work in my '86 4runner for a week. After all, the 4runner is hard to get into ("Why isn't there a step here?") and there is no visor mirror for her to do her makeup while I drive her cute ass to work.

CalzoneGolem > LuczOr 04/08/2014 at 12:12

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Wouldn't steps and a visor mirror be much cheaper?

EL_ULY > LuczOr 04/08/2014 at 12:24

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I've done a bunch of these back in the day. Any questions or tips while you have it torn down let me know buddy

Reigntastic > LuczOr 04/08/2014 at 12:37

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VVT-i just doesn't have quite the same ring to it as VTEC.

LuczOr > CalzoneGolem 04/08/2014 at 12:46

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Initially yes, but the ungodly fuel consumption of a 116 hp 4 cylinder pushing 4250 lbs of lifted, winched, steel bumpered, 6' steel yakima basketed 4runner would destroy that advantage faster than you could blink. I ran the cost difference of driving the 4runner vs. the Rav4 to work and it boiled down to an additional $13 dollars a day.

The 4runner usually only goes to the offroad trails, or the ski lift.

Opposite Locksmith > Reigntastic 04/08/2014 at 13:10

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...Or 20 psi

Reigntastic > Opposite Locksmith 04/08/2014 at 13:18

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As if my peashooter turbo can handle that much output :(

Opposite Locksmith > Reigntastic 04/08/2014 at 13:22

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Throttle response is beautiful tho

Reigntastic > Opposite Locksmith 04/08/2014 at 13:27

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True. Things with my lady have been very rocky lately, the end is nigh.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > LuczOr 04/08/2014 at 22:40

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"Buy a Toyota", they said, "It'll last forever", they said.