Need advice... Keep and fix or SELL.

I need some help. I am military, temporarily stationed in the Northern VA area. My truck (2007, 4.0L V6, 4x4, 150k miles) check engine light recently came on. I am staying in a hotel next to a Toyota Dealership so I had them run the codes. Came up as the Bank 1 Knock Control Sensor gone bad. Dealership wants $3,345 for the job as its mostly labor to get in there. Ive owned the truck for almost 3 years, owe about 8k on it, and recently put a brand new OME suspension on it front and back including small upgrades like a head unit, interior, lights, and a camper shell. It's currently at the dealership now, but I drove all day with it at freeway speeds and saw no issues. I NEED TO DRIVE IT HOME TO TEXAS IN 3 MONTHS.

Is the money worth spending to save it or should I try and offload it either private sell or hear the dealerships crappy offers for it? Im not really in the mood to finance a new truck but worried I will have to dump more money into it in the future to keep it running.

 

That's a common mouse chewed wiring problem. Your comprehensive insurance should cover it. However, from what I've seen on here, I think that's too high of a price for the job. Do a TW search for mouse knock sensor.

 

Drive it to Texas!

Found on the net:
"The average cost for a Toyota Tacoma knock sensor replacement is between $863 and $1,269. Labor costs are estimated between $622 and $786 while parts are priced between $241 and $483. Estimate does not include taxes and fees."

Even this is a rip-off!
Here is a knock sensor for your truck. They are located under the intake maifold so it has to come off.
https://www.1aauto.com/toyota-lexus...MIx7e1k6Ok5AIVl4TICh2OJA15EAQYBSABEgIQh_D_BwE

 

@Taco-mama you have experience with that company and that knock sensor?

 

Now that is the highest price I've seen for a knock sensor. Holy hell are they trying to bend you over. I understand what is involved but damn.

 

I thought Marines were trained to do things themselves

 

Sometimes you can’t do things yourself.
Sometimes you need a place, tools, time, access to parts.

The guy is staying at a hotel. Not exactly the ideal place for auto repair.

 

No Never ordered one. My Tacoma is a 4 banger.

 

I’d inspect the wiring first. If it is the wiring you could buy a new harness.
Replacing the harness should be far less expensive than replacing the sensor(s).
Can you ask the Dealer how they came to the conclusion it was in fact the sensor and not the wiring?
The sensors are not easy to get to, It stands to reason they may not have physically inspected the wiring.

I’m not saying they dealer is wrong in their diagnosis.
I’m just trying to help you potentially save some money.
If it just the harness maybe a local shop (not dealer) would help you out (cheaper).

Here is a good idea of where to start looking
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...p0333-diy-knock-sensor-harness-repair.547066/

BTW, Thank you for your service to this great country.
I truly appreciate it.

 

Get some second opinions. Take it to another dealer if possible. In addition find a good garage/mechanic or two and get their opinion and price. I wouldn’t do anything until you’ve done the above. I think the dealer you went to quoted a grossly inflated price and possibly misdiagnosed your problem. Do not spend a penny until you get some other opinions. Let us know what happens.
God bless you Marine. Simper Fi.

 

As always I would get a second opinion.There has to be someone to do it way cheaper.also thank you for your service.

 

just an FYI, military personnel have ID's that get get them onto possibly any branch base to use the hobby shop/auto skills center which comes with lifts, tools, and one or more ASE mechanics for cheap

 

Well, then maybe this would de a better option than the dealer.

 

Thank you for your service.

 

110% this.
I have firsthand experience. Rats got the knock sensor harness in my X-Runner.
Doing the harness by the book involves tearing down the engine to the point of taking one of the heads off.
Found out after the fact that you can pull the intake manifold and squeak in there (sorta mouse pun) and get to it without pulling the heads.
I think mine cost ~$3,400 at the local dealership but was handled as a comp claim by my insurance so all I had to do was pony up the deductible.

Edit: Myself and several others here on TW have had run ins with this problem and had it done as an insurance claim. Have yet to hear of a knock sensor failing, it has always been the harness and has always been because of rats/mice/squirrels.

 

I'll second this. I'm not in the service, but I work for the DoD, and I've been to a couple of different bases across the country. Most of them have all the tools you need, including lifts and it's cheap to rent a bay. I think my home base is a couple bucks an hour. You also can leave it over night for a fee

 

Definitely keep it. With proper care, your truck’s going to go strong for another 200K miles or more. I know it’s tough on military pay but if you can get a few extra bucks towards the principle every month, you’ll get out from under the loan so much quicker.

Add my support to the 1) fix it yourself with the available resources or 2) find a reputable shop.

When it comes to sensors and harnesses, stick with OEM. They’re going to cost more but it’s worth the extra $$ vs doing the job twice.

Thank you for your service . Always know it’s appreciated by many.

Edit: here’s the procedure to remove and install the intake manifold for a 1GR-FE from Autozone, others might have the FSM...
https://www.autozone.com/repairguid...mponents/Intake-Manifold/_/P-0996b43f802c5571

 

Loving those A2 style M16s

 

The dealer gave OP an estimate of $3300 for a $30 sensor? I get that the labor is significant but that's criminal.

 

In my 25 plus years working on vehicles I maybe have seen 1-2 knock sensors go bad. 99.9% of the time it is rodent damage to the engine wire harness. They love to eat the insulation as some is soy based.