made a mistake via craigslist

[ozmonkey]

I bought a 98 Tacoma 4x4, 4cyl 2.7l; cash, "as is" w/o making sure the emissions had already been tested.

I drove it home and it performed satisfactory.

Next day, on the way to emissions station, the check engine light came on. Emissions test failed.

I took it to a shop, they have determined the the 3rd cylinder is lacking compression which is letting un-burned fuel through the exhaust.
They recommend replacing the engine and will do the job with a used engine, installed for $3730.

I'm looking for advice. Is this a fair price? Are there any less costly fixes?

I'm happy to live with the way it runs off of 3 and 1/2 cylinders, I only plan to use it for hauling yard waste and the occasional large awkward item, but I need plates and cannot get plates in my county w/o emissions.
I'm not a mechanic nor do I pretend to be one, so fixing this in my own garage is not going to be at the top of my options.

[Chris]

So you just need to pass emissions and you'll be okay with it? If so, run it down to 1/4 tank or less, add a couple bottles of Heet or Isopropyl Alcohol and take another run at emissions with the engine nice and hot.

For future reference: Colorado law requires sellers to provide a current emissions.

[ozmonkey]

Chris previously posted:

[flashboiler]

Can you post the results of the emissions test?

HEET may lean it out and pass it but you'll have to deal with that CEL.

[ozmonkey]

I think the shop already tried to do something similar. I left the paperwork with them. It almost passed one part and miserably failed the other, but I don't know which one is CEL and which one is the other.

[Haku]

That sounds like a shady diagnosis of the problem to me honestly, and I wouldn't trust it. I would personally take it to another shop and see what they think, and also go and get that emissions paperwork from the original shop if they still have it. I mean, it might be the problem, but I have found that most emissions issues occur for much more benign reasons like a bad sensor then a catastrophic engine failure costing thousands of dollars.

Generally, it is an instant fail if you have a CEL light on I believe, so you need to find out what that CEL is from. Otherwise, unless then catalytic converter is bad or some other modification is making it read badly it shouldn't be a problem getting that to run correctly.

How many miles on the truck? That engine should be good for 300k minimum, even with less then stellar maintenance. There are plenty of those trucks on the road with 500k and no engine rebuild, so it seems rather unlikely that you will need to rebuild it.

[Jim]

Yep. Second opinion the repair diagnosis.

If it's not a burned / holed piston I'd think repair would be less costly than replacement - specifically for a 100 mile a month vehicle.

Know of any friends that live in a non-emissions county?

[xaza]

It could be different in different places but the CEL is no longer a fail for emissions.
http://aircarecolorado.com/fail-and-...-engine-light/

a second opinion is always a good idea. I would not reveal anything found out at original shop to second shop. If you find someone to help you on the side you do want to tell them.

[Hypoid]

A CEL is not a fail.

ozmonkey previously posted:

[The StRanger]

Did they do a compression test or just take a shot at it ???

[gm4x4lover]

If it doesn't pass emissions the seller either has to buy it back or make it pass. That is the law.

[Patrolman]

These engines are known for burning up valves at higher miles if the valves have too much lash. There is no way to adjust them, spacers only. It is quite possible you have a burnt valve. Since it is a 16 valve engine, it probably still runs pretty decent. It would require a valve job or head, but no an entirely new engine.

In regards to the "as-is" part, the seller is still liable for the emissions. Selling it "as-is" doesn't get them out of the emissions requirement. The only way they can not be liable is if you both signed a document stating the truck could not even be tested, such as it had no brakes or something. It is this document:
http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite...&ssbinary=true

Assuming you did not sign one of these, the seller technically is liable for the cost of repairs. It is up to you if you want to contact them to remind them of that. The repair costs could of course exceed the price of the vehicle. Small Claims court would certainly find in your favor. The seller could be essentially giving back all the money or more.

[Unbalanced]

How about the basics?

What did it fail for?

[ozmonkey]

I left the emissions report with the shop.
They say the cat is not the issue.

[Colin]

gm4x4lover previously posted:

[94ToyBear]

If you should decide to resell it I have a buddy looking for what you have.
And agree with everyone else. Get a second opinion before you do any work.

[94ToyBear]

ozmonkey previously posted:

[gm4x4lover]

Colin previously posted:

[94ToyBear]

gm4x4lover previously posted:

[Unbalanced]

CRS 42-4-304 & 42-4-310

It's a dry read...

But the seller is responsible for emissions. As long as that transaction takes place in an emissions area.

Does not differentiate private party vs. dealer sales.