New engine needed - JDM?
Hello all,
In a nutshell, our manual transmission 2007 tC's engine died a few weeks ago due to oil starvation, and we need a new engine. We are the 2nd owner, 90K miles total, the car was originally purchased in 2006. The best that Toyota seems willing to do for us is that a local dealer will install a different engine for $1500 (labor only). Some questions up front:
1. Is there any advice to get Toyota to do more?
2. What do you think of JDM engines as an option?
3. In particular, would this particular engine be the proper fitment?
05-10 SCION TC 2.4L JDM 2AZ-FE 2AZ
4. Do you have any experience or knowledge about this vendor (
JDM Engine Depot)?
5. What might be the best way to convince Toyota to cover the piston/ring repair on this new (used) engine so we don't have this experience again?
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Background (feel free to ignore):
As most of you were already aware, some of the tC and other Toyota 4 cyclinder engines have issues with oil consumption as they age, so much so that there was a class action lawsuit and an extended warrantee granted for these engines, to the tune of 10 years or 150,000 miles.
Our car, which my daughter loves dearly, and I'm fairly fond of as well (it has TRD suspension components) was purchased 2 years ago with 70K miles. It now has 90,000. No one ever mentioned the issue with the oil consumption - not the prior owner, nor Toyota. The car has always been maintained on Mobile 1, with 5000 mile drain intervals. On the somewhat rare occasions that I've checked the oil in between bringing it in for service, I have not found it to be much low.
This time around though, with 4000 miles since the last oil change, the car stalled while I was driving and put my foot on the clutch. I let the clutch out, and it restarted. No strange dash warning lights. It did this once again a mile later, and restarted, and I decided to go straight to the mechanic (5 more minutes). However, I didn't make it that far before it stalled and wouldn't start. Towed to our mechanic who diagnosed it as seized, no engine oil. Sigh.
The car is 11 years old at what we thought was a fresh 90K miles (it's a Toyota after all), and Toyota corporate won't do a darn thing for us. We are very, very disappointed in Toyota. We did manage to get a local Toyota dealer to give us break on labor for an engine replacement ($1500), as we'll be in the market for a $40K SUV next year, and right now the Highlander would still be in contention, but my wife doesn't want to touch another Toyota if they do nothing.
We've examined a number of options including used from salvage yard, rebuilt (Jasper, Jarco), and are looking for something simple/direct replacement. A JDM engine seems like the cheapest and least mileage option.
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So any advice on working with Toyota, replacement engines, or other options? (Please see specific questions above)
Any other advice?
Thanks,
Dan