Has anyone considered doing the J02 valve spring replacement themselves?

[gutbuster]

My 13 is on the recall. I do not plan to let Toyota do the service. I do not want a discussion of risk associated with the dealer screwing things up vs not doing anything. I am considering pulling the engine and doing the work on my nickel. Yes, that may seem strange when Toyota will do it for "free"!

I have not stumbled upon threads of guys buying the parts and going DIY.

[Mr.ac]

If you have the experience and tools to do the job yourself, go for it. All you'll be paying is the parts, coolant, or what ever you'll be using.

But ask yourself this, if your car is running fine, why fix what is not broken?


And for shits and giggles I took my car in for the recall. Been running like normal for the last 2k miles.

[DarkPira7e]

Why would you want to? The car is covered for life if the valve springs do go, just let them replace the valve springs if they ever fail.

You're more than welcome to try, the instructions are available in many locations. Just seems like a lot of work with a lot of risk for no reason

[Mr.ac]

If you have the experience and tools to do the job yourself, go for it. All you'll be paying is the parts, coolant, or what ever you'll be using.

But ask yourself this, if your car is running fine, why fix what is not broken?


And for shits and giggles I took my car in for the recall. Been running like normal for the last 2k miles.

[DarkPira7e]

Why would you want to? The car is covered for life if the valve springs do go, just let them replace the valve springs if they ever fail.

You're more than welcome to try, the instructions are available in many locations. Just seems like a lot of work with a lot of risk for no reason

[gutbuster]

I was thinking of making it a fun Winter project!

When the transmission went on my 01 Odyssey, I planned to scrap it. Then i got the itch to rebuild it myself. So I did it. Getting it in and out was a pain in the arse, but the bench work was fun! And it has been running strong for three years now.

And yes, the rational side of my brain is saying "why bother if Toyota will fix if it does fail"

I should start by coming up with a complete bill of materials and what unique tools would be needed. The TSB itself is very detailed.

[fika84]

I just rebuilt my engine and my fix for the valve springs was to buy a set of used 2014 heads and use those instead!

Now I have all of these valve springs to do a fun welding project..

I had a spun bearing, so my parts list will be slightly different than yours, and I took the liberty of adding some upgraded parts (like oil baffling, fluidampr pully, killer b oil pickup, king bearings, etc.)

Let me know if you pic doesn't work and I'll upload it differently.

[ermax]

Originally Posted by fika84

I just rebuilt my engine and my fix for the valve springs was to buy a set of used 2014 heads and use those instead!

Now I have all of these valve springs to do a fun welding project..

I had a spun bearing, so my parts list will be slightly different than yours, and I took the liberty of adding some upgraded parts (like oil baffling, fluidampr pully, killer b oil pickup, king bearings, etc.)

Let me know if you pic doesn't work and I'll upload it differently.

Was 2014 the year they changed the oil hole diameter in the lifters, change rockers and lengthened the valves? Can't remember.

What did the heads cost you out of curiosity?

[fika84]

Originally Posted by ermax

Was 2014 the year they changed the oil hole diameter in the lifters, change rockers and lengthened the valves? Can't remember.

What did the heads cost you out of curiosity?

The heads were $600, but I had to replace the cam gears...

The valves and rockers were changed sometime mid to late 2013 I believe. I know 2014+ is safe. There are some threads on here that have pictures showing the pre/post update so that you can verify the rockers are the updated version.

[ermax]

Originally Posted by fika84

The heads were $600, but I had to replace the cam gears...

The valves and rockers were changed sometime mid to late 2013 I believe. I know 2014+ is safe. There are some threads on here that have pictures showing the pre/post update so that you can verify the rockers are the updated version.

600 each or for both? If that is for both then I blew it by not going that route while I had it apart.

[fika84]

Originally Posted by ermax

600 each or for both? If that is for both then I blew it by not going that route while I had it apart.

For both. Replacing the cam gears cost me another ~$600 though..

[gutbuster]

Can anyone provide a link to the instruction bulletin pdf file that the Toyota technician would be using to actually perform the work? I can't seem to find it.

[Ultramaroon]

I've commented on this a few times. There's statistically a near zero chance that any springs remaining in service will ever fail. Those that were going to, already did a long time ago.


I would swap mine only if I had my engine out for another reason. It's way more likely that something else will fail first.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by solidsnake11

But if you change heads you loose the rocker ejection. option.
By the way the only difference in the head itself is the length of the valves, and the length is above the keeper groove. Installed valve spring height should be the same.

I thought that was only if I upgraded to the TRD rocker valves.