2AZ-FE head bolt issues?

[vit]

It appears there have been issues reported with head bolts stripping out of the 2AZ-FE blocks. Does this condition apply to the 09-10 Vibes or was it only on the older version of the engine?

[10vibe]

I do not know the answer to that, but would like to think that it was an earlier problem and was fixed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_AZ_engine" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.bing.com/search?q=2AZ-FE+hea ... &sp=-1&sk=" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/104-5 ... bolts.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_AR_engine#2AR-FE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; This 2AR-FE 2.5 liter looks to be replacing it.

EDIT:
Looking through the forums, looks to be mostly affecting the 2002-2007 years.
http://www.camryforums.com/forum/genera ... =ccm-ext-0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
...."They showed me a "Technical Service Bulletin (TSB2740)" for Toyota, which affects 2002-2007 Camry and also Rav4.".....
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/probl ... pe=VEHICLE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Make / Models:
Model/Build Years:
TOYOTA / CAMRY
2002-2006
TOYOTA / CAMRY SOLARA
2004-2006
TOYOTA / HIGHLANDER
2001-2007
TOYOTA / RAV4
2004-2005

Service Bulletin Number:
SB-0015-11
NHTSA Item Number:
10037592

Summary:
TOYOTA: THERE MAY BE DAMAGED CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS THREADS. *RM

[rogue1313]

I just bought an 09 Vibe with the 2.4l engine and came across this potential issue while poking around online.....and was wondering the same thing (actually just submitted my own post, not realizing you had already asked the question...oops).

Did you ever get an answer or more information about this? It's a bit disconcerting to say the least.....but I know how something can seem like a widespread problem, when in reality it only really applied to a small group......I'm hoping the same thing as you, that things were sorted out by 2009 (or actually mid 2008, when my Vibe was sold).

[journeyforce]

On the Club ScionTC forum there is a guy that thinks his 2008 TC has a headgasket issue and a person at the bottom of the post talked about the headbolts stripping

http://clubsciontc.com/forums/maintenan ... -tc-40760/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

But I find no others after 2006 with that issue
There is also a TSB on 2002-2006 2.4l engines
TSB 01507, NHTSA #10021542, Dated April 6 2007.

Coolant Loss on 2002-2006 Toyota 2.4L, 2AZFE engines

The following information concerns the loss of coolant on some 2002-2006 Toyota 2.4L, 2AZFE engines. The location of this condition has been noted at the rear of the engine where the cylinder head bolts to the cylinder block.
It has been reported that stripped head bolt threads have been found on some of these engines during tear down. When the two rear head bolts lose their clamping ability they allow coolant to seep out at the rear of the cylinder head.

To repair this condition, engine builders report using thread repair tooling used for various GM engines. Specifically, Cadillac 4.6L engines use the same threaded head bolts (Figure 1). The head bolts for this Toyota engine may be reused if they are not damaged and meet the following length specification.

Using a vernier caliper, measure the length of the head bolts from the seat to the end.

Specified bolt length: 6.350˝ to 6.465˝ (161.3 mm to 164.2 mm). If the length is greater than the maximum, replace the bolt.

I also read that Toyota made some changes in 2007 to the 2.4l engine in which the engine was revised and strengthened.
Look at the botton of the first page of this article by C&D about the 2007 camry
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/200 ... -road-test" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

As to what was revamped, I cannot say because I don't know.

However it seems that something was changed because I have not heard anything about head bolt issues on 2007- present Toyota 2AZ-FE 2.4l engines. There should be a lot of 2007-2009 2.4l engines hitting 100,000-200,000 miles by now and in the those years that engine was in Camry's, Vibe(2009), Matrix(2009), Highlander,RAV4, XB, TC but nothing has come up on them.

I guess that issue was fixed so just enjoy your Vibe.

I will say that the issue you should be looking at is the water pump. Toyota 2AZ-FE(2.4l) engines are known for going through them. The easiest way to see if you need to replace yours is to look at the underside of the hood and if there is a pink/red/green or orange(depending which coolant is in the car) line on the area of the under hood that is above the belt/waterpump because a leaking water pump slings coolant onto the underside of the hood

[rogue1313]

Hey, thanks for the input/info. Yeah, I read through a 20+ page post on a Toyota board & I agree, it seems like the complaints/issues kinda stopped at 2006 or so.....At least I didn't really see anyone complaining about a 2008 or 2009......Hopefully, whatever the deal was, Toyota took care of it by my year. It's just not the kind of thing you like to see/read about right after you buy a car, ya know...ha!

Anyway, I'll keep an eye out for the water pump.......I just got the car & haven't picked up a repair manual.....Do you now if you can change the water pump on it's own, or is it like other cars where it's kind of integrated into the front of the motor.....like under the timing chain cover, where you have to remove a bunch of stuff to get to it, that kind of deal?

One of the things I like about the Vibe is that it uses a timing CHAIN and not a belt....the chain being long lasting and not having to be replaced every 75k miles. I had a Honda Civic, and the deal was you just changed the water pump when you did the timing belt, because it (the water pump) was buried under the cover & pullies....One of those, as long as you have it all apart, you might as well put a new one one.


Well, if anyone else has any input with regard to the head bolts OR the water pump, I'd love to hear it....Thanks.

[journeyforce]

The waterpump being hard or easy depends on your commitment, If you only have 30 mins to get the job done then it will be a pain in the back end, if you can devote 2-4 hours on a nice day to it it will go easy and you will be able to half the time the next water pump change.

It is not like the water pump in my Accord or my old Escort where you had to take the timing belt off to change the pump. This one is rather conventional in that it is close to the top and you might have to only remove the plastic fender liner to get at some of the bolts.

The other thing you need to look at for is that a lot of the 2.4l engines consume oil(not all but some) and there is a TSB about that also.

It is a great car so don't worry about those things too much.

[rogue1313]

I miss the old days....like the 67 Camaro I had....the waterpump was right on the front of the motor & was held on by 2 or 4 bolts. As long as it's not 'buried' on the Vibe, the way it was on my Honda Civic....that's just poor design with regard to future repairs. So I'll keep an eye on the water pump & the oil....but I'm not staying up at night worrying. If something's gonna happen, it'll happen.

BTW, took the Vibe on a 150 mile round trip today & it was great...smooth, comfortable, plenty of power...just nice to drive. And I think the Pontiac exterior looks more, I don't know, elegant/refined (for lack of a better word) than the Matrix....More like a grown-up's car.

Well, thanks again for the info.

[davidbreen]

This thread is pretty old, but I wanted to post a picture of what the problem is with the 2AZ-FE head bolts.
I had a 2002 Camry that started leaking coolant out of the intake side of the engine. The car had about 163,000 miles on it and ran pretty good. I traced the leak to the insulation around the intake manifold to find out that is was the head that was leaking externally and soaking the insulation. I pulled the cams to get the head bolts and as soon as I put a wrench on the first bolt I knew there was a big problem. The bolt was loose and actually spun free in both directions. Three bolts were stripped. Thermal expansion causes the steel bolts to gradually rip themselves out of the aluminum block in this isolated spot on the block. Clearly an engineering flaw that Toyota never took care of. The fix seems to be either TimeCert (like a helicoil, but I don't think you are supposed to use helicoil in this application) or head studs like those from ARP. I used the ARP head studs. There seems to be about 5/8 " inch of good threads beyond the reach of the factory head bolt. They sucked down tight and my leak went away. For how long? good question, this fix is only as good as the original, the problem remains. This job was a huge pain in the (removed) (DONT drop anything behind, on top of, or around the valves; you'll be pulling the oil pan trying to find where it went).
So, now I have a 2009 Pontiac Vibe with the 2.4. I was worried about the same problem, but for as far as I can see there don't seem to be any complaints on the newer 2AZ-FE. fingers crossed!
The picture shows actual stripped aluminum threads from the toyota block still in on the head bolt, the other bolt (the clean one) is for reference.