So, there I was last week, driving along a quiet residential street at about 25mph. All of a sudden, I hear and sense a momentary skid of the rear tires. My sister, who was riding shotgun, says she heard a loud noise. Anyway, the engine stops and all the idiot lights turn on. I clutched in and drifted to the side of the road. Tried turning the engine over, engine turns but doesn't start. Some pedestrians stopped by, said they heard a "hard clanking noise."

OOPS! Anyway, waited about two hours for a tow truck and had the 4Runner towed to the shop I always use. So far, all I've heard is that the lower timing gear (i.e. on the crankshaft) was broken. They don't know why yet.

The 22RE is an interference engine, so yikes...

Just have to wait and see. Mileage is just a few hundred shy of 200K.

Priced a rebuilt engine, $1600 or so. And the company is located in the same town as my repair shop. Hopefully it won't come to that, though. Wish me luck![/align]

 

Good luck man, I feel the pain....