I replaced the head gasket on a 10 year old camry and I thought it was pretty straight forward. I know some engine designs and accessory parts configurations can make the job difficult, but at least the older Camry's make it pretty easy.

-Bob
Contact: bobarrigo@hotmail.com

 

Replacing the head gasket is the easy part... Replacing the threads in the block so that you don't leak coolant (again) is the hard part. (Some of these are 4" deep in the Camry block.) A gasket replacement (or engine replacement) is not enough...

Vector_In, use Time-Serts on your new engine (see a demo on their website) instead of heli-coils. They're like molly bolts -- they expand into the block metal and hold tight. Do all 10 holes on your new engine to avoid this happening again. Think of it as insurance against another new engine; that's how I look at it.

 

Add this retired school teacher and 3rd time Toyota owner to the list of disappointed Camry customers.

I just rec'd news today that my 2003 Camry with 60,000 miles on it has a blown headgasket. This week it suddenly overheated after no prior symtoms. Although it has not gone to the dealership, after reading these posts I'm afraid I'll learn first hand about the block thread defect. I can say this for certain; I am the original owner and I have taken great care of this vehicle. If I have to replace the engine and Toyota does nothing to be accountable to a design defect than I will be finished as a Toyota customer. Furthermore, I will make sure I voice my disappointment to prospective new car buyers that I encounter. Toyotas are sold at premium prices and the life expectancy of a well maintained premium car is well over 2x 60,000 miles, I remember the dealership salesman telling me how Toyota cars can go well over 200,000 miles with just routine maintenance. Toyota leaders know this and therefore, I think with proper pressure they will concede to compensate the victims of this design flaw so keep sounding off.

Next.........

 

Julene, with parts + labor, you're looking at thread repair, a new head gasket, new oil & filter... about $1000. Toyota should cover it (and cover my new engine as well) -- but don't hold your breath...

How do we organize everyone who's affected by this? Any lawyers out there who've had this happen to them?

 

Add me to the list of sore Camry owners. Started overheating, took to independent mechanic who advised me the intake manifold was leaking, take the vehicle to the dealer. Dealer quoted a $900 fix only to be told after hours of waiting that the 3 back bolts were stripped, allowing coolant to leak and I need a new engine to the tune of $6900. This is NOT what I expected from a Toyota. Toyota will do NOTHING... District Service Mgr was contacted and I quote, "We will not participate" in the repair.

So...... Time-Serts may be the answer. I drove the car to the dealer but it doesn't sound like I'll drive it to another mechanic. Add a tow bill to the list.

I've placed a call to a great attorney who will steer me in the right direction. Toyota USED to stand behind their products.

 

My (former) Toyota dealer quoted me $8000 to replace my engine. As if!

Do let us know what your lawyer friend has to say...

 

From this forum, we are reading about more and more Toyota customers with this problem. I wonder what the Bureau of automotive repair would say about this

Bureau of Automotive Repair, State of California, Dept. of ...
Bureau of Automotive Repair home page. ... Dept. of Consumer Affairs · File a Complaint · Find a Station ... To protect and serve California consumers by ensuring a fair and competitive automotive repair marketplace

 

Well, it's been longer than expected, but one of my customers finally decided to fix their engine. I ordered the TimeSert kit (#2200), about $400, it just finished installing them. I did do all 10, even though it is usually only the middle three on the back that strip. I took a bunch of pics of the procedure, it's pretty straight forward and the kit works really well. I'll be getting this one together over the next couple of days, and then starting the next one which is out on the lot. I have another customer, both her daughters have these cars and one of them popped, so it looks like this kit is going to pay for itself. If things start slowing down a bit this winter I may try to find a few of these cars I can buy broken. After you have the kit, it's only about $35 for a set of inserts to do another one. Except for the one I was stopping to take pics of (I'll post those when I have a bit more time) it took about 10 minutes per hole to do it. I'm thinking for my customers, take the cost of doing just a head gasket replacement, add about $200, and it will never happen again.

And the same kit fixes Hondas (although I haven't heard of them having a problem with this) and Cadillac Northstars (which definately do).

 

Hi all,

I never thought that through buying a TOYOTA CAMRY that I would end up as a member of this group.

A GROUP OF PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER DUE TO A TOYOTA DESIGN FAULT, AND WORSE, TOYOTA REFUSING TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR POORLY DESIGNED FAULTY PRODUCT.

My 2003 Camry 99000ks; well maintained and serviced, the previous owner having no problems with the vehicle, it presents well drives well.

Changing the oil recently I noticed a couple of drips of water from the firewall side of the motor, confused and concerned I made effort to track this. No overheating, radiator level fine, top tank with water but down a little?

Local Toyota dealer dismantled the vehicle while I searched for clues on the internet. The Toyota dealer claimed the motor had been 'cooked', basing his assessment on the fact that the three rear head bolts where loose.

I shared with him that I had been reading about this TOYOTA CAMRY DESIGN FAULT 'LOOSE HEAD BOLT SYNDROME' on this web site, and in other forums. The Toyota dealer checked this out himself and assured me that he has registered the fault with my vehicle directly with Toyota Australia, and that Toyota will "look after me with this one"

The outcome: I am being quoted up to Aus $7000.00 for a new short block and that Toyota will not look after me at all!

Considering other options, I have contacted Toyota dismantlers and engine rebuild specialists in Perth WA. This highlights how widespread the Toyota Camry Loose Head Bolt Syndrome really is as most were well aware of this design fault having seen, replaced short blocks or repaired a number of Toyota Camry engines with this fault.

WE ARE ALL BEING RIPPED OFF BY TOYOTA THROUGH THIS SILENT AND VERY COSTLY RECALL.
I was charged $660.00 by the Toyota Dealer for informing me that the cylinder head can no longer be bolted to the short block - "Ouch What A Feeling"

As it has been suggested that this Loose Head Bolt Syndrome will continue through to the 2007 Toyota Camry our numbers are NOT going to decrease!

 

Hello tech 30528,

Would you mind sharing a litle more of your knowledge please - as Toyota inform me that the only way to resolve this problem is to replace the short block?

My situation is a 2003 Camry Altise (VVT engine) with rear head bolts unable to be secured into the short block due to stripped threads. (Further detail posted on this site)

I have been given a Time Sert kit number (M11 x 1.5) to match the Toyota Camry engine, I see you have used a #2200?

Information given indicates that the kit comes with some sort of set up jig - is this straight forward?

Did you have to remove the short block or is it possible to install Time Serts with the engine in the vehicle - without obviously getting metal filings where they ought not to be?

Is the Time Sert installation a straight forward process or is this a job for a specialist engineer?

Your thoughts greatly appreciated!
Regards.