2009 2.4 donor engine compatibility.

[TireToast]

Good day
I am replacing the engine in my '09 Vibe GT due to a spun rod bearing. I know the Toyota Matrix, Toyota Corolla, Toyota RAV4, and the Scion tC all came with the same engine but do all the cars have the same mounting points, electrical hookups, sensors, ect. Is there any other difference between engines from the different models that would prevent me from being able to simply drop a junkyard motor in to my Vibe reconnect everything and be back on the road?
Thanks in advance for any input you can provide.

[Bookworm]

If you're going to get a donor engine anyway, go ahead and replace the gaskets - especially the timing chain gaskets - while you have the new engine on the hoist or stand. Might as well get the nastiest repair for the leaky engine done when it's easy to reach.

I don't know anything else about those engines - I had an '03, and now an '07.

[zbyers]

I second Bookworm... Replace the gaskets while the engine is out to save yourself future grief.

Outside of that, I have no idea what sensors or anything would be different. I'd say yank the current engine, and compare the junkyard engine side-by-side to see if there are any difference. I wouldn't expect anything too crazy to be different, especially if you get one from a Matrix or Corolla.

The internet says that the following vehicles came with the 2AZ-FE engine (2.4L that yours has). I'd try to look for the newest possible, as the older ones had oil burning issues.

North American Vehicles with the 2AZ-FE Engine:

2001–2007 Toyota Highlander
2002–2008 Toyota Camry Solara
2002–2009 Toyota Camry
2004–2007 Toyota RAV4
2005–2010 Scion tC
2008–2015 Scion xB
2009–2010 Pontiac Vibe GT/AWD*
2009–2010 Toyota Corolla XRS
2009–2011 Toyota Matrix S & AWD*

*AWD would have some different holes punched out for the differential so I would avoid those.

http://www.hcdmag.com/toyota-2az-fe-engine/

[TireToast]

I didn't even think about the AWD being different. Thanks for bringing that up.

[TireToast]

What about sensors and the ECU. Is there any compatibility issues depending on what year the donor motor is from?

[Bookworm]

What about sensors and the ECU. Is there any compatibility issues depending on what year the donor motor is from?

I don't believe so. Everything -on- the engine should be the same. The difference would be in the computer itself. As long as you avoid trying to do something like shoehorn a 2.4 into a 1.8 bay, or vice versa, I wouldn't see you running into problems.

Before you plug things in, you could always just line the two engines up side by side and compare all the part numbers. That would also let you clean up the parts before installing the engine.