1997 Toyota RAV4 - Head Gasket

Specific repair issues for Toyota + Lexus vehicles
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Tim Martin
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1997 Toyota RAV4 - Head Gasket

Post by Tim Martin »

Mitchell says the engine has to come out for a head gasket replacement on this 97 Toyota RAV4 AWD. Has anyone tried to do it with the engine in the vehicle?
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Re: 97 Toyota RAV4 Head Gasket

Post by fortknoxx »

how limber are you? I guess you could hang upside down from a rope and harness from a cherry picker. :wink:
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Re: 97 Toyota RAV4 Head Gasket

Post by Tim Martin »

fortknoxx wrote:how limber are you? I guess you could hang upside down from a rope and harness from a cherry picker. :wink:
Me being in the middle 50s with a gut problem? I don't think so!
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Re: 97 Toyota RAV4 Head Gasket

Post by brianp87 »

Never done them so I dont have a clue
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Re: 97 Toyota RAV4 Head Gasket

Post by liljoe »

fortknoxx wrote:how limber are you? I guess you could hang upside down from a rope and harness from a cherry picker. :wink:
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Re: 97 Toyota RAV4 Head Gasket

Post by fortknoxx »

Only those that went to the Vegas Class would know.
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Re: 97 Toyota RAV4 Head Gasket

Post by timbre4 »

Shhh!
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Re: 97 Toyota RAV4 Head Gasket

Post by steven kiser »

i have never removed the engine to replace the gasket or head. i do remove the front tires and lower the truck as low as i can before i start. i will warn about removing the cam, i've spun the cap bolts off and have had the cam snap. also because i'm a bull in a china closet i will take the hood off. for that matter i take a lot of hoods off just to save me from scarring my noggin.
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Re: 97 Toyota RAV4 Head Gasket

Post by crmeyers »

fortknoxx wrote:Only those that went to the Vegas Class would know.
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Re: 97 Toyota RAV4 Head Gasket

Post by Tim Martin »

Mitchell is saying that the engine has to come out if the vehicle is an AWD. For a 2WD, head gasket replacement can be done without engine removal. My question has now changed to does anybody know what makes a AWD application different than a 2WD for head gasket R&R purposes?
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Re: 97 Toyota RAV4 Head Gasket

Post by steven kiser »

i believe in the awd the engine position is different and the head will not clear when lifted.
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Re: 97 Toyota RAV4 Head Gasket

Post by Tim Martin »

steven kiser wrote:i believe in the awd the engine position is different and the head will not clear when lifted.
Must be that's what it is. Thanks for the idea. Have ya ever seen a 2wd RAV4?
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