Replace Valve Cover Gaskets in my 3.4 - How?

As the title says I need to replace the valve cover gaskets in my 3.4 engine. I now have 163,000 miles and it's overdue. I get the burned oil smell and a few drops on the driveway wherever I park. I replaced the timing belt at about 100k miles, based on that I think I am game for the cover gaskets.

I see various write ups of this job but am inquiring from you guys, where are the best instructions? I already have new gaskets from Felpro but I understand more seals are needed. I bet within Tacomaworld there is a nice writeup.

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

 

Not sure on a write up but if you did the timing belt, valve covers will be a cake walk.

 

I find this using my Google-fu. It has a nice shopping list as well as step by step instructions. This one from Tacomaworld comes up. It presents fewer details but good information nonetheless.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/valve-cover-gasket-replacement-3-4-v6-tips.301900/

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ping-out-valve-cover-gaskets-pictures.469596/
This is in our sticky section

 

Excellent!

Thank you. That's a 40 minute video I'll watch in the near future. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5fAXAuGozI

 

Yes Tim's videos are a must see as well. Very very thorough. Like having the FSM in video form

 

i need a FSM in video form of proper bed removal and install, i don't think @Timmah! has done one of those?
the only info I have found is from this file on page 21

 

There's really not a video on the internets or youtubes for taking the taco bed off?

 

i have not finished looking, just inspecting what i have to do
everything covered so far except for the wire harness clips
the attachment sheet said be careful not to damage them is all

 

I did mine a few months ago using Timmy's videos on YouTube. Knowledgeable guy and great vid!

My only suggestion is to use the RTV properly if you're doing the half moons. Let it cure per the instructions before torquing everything down.

 

Ok, I've ordered the needed parts from McGeorge Toyota Online Parts in VA & should have them by late this week. Then I'll pick a not-too-cold day to do the job. In the meantime I can watch the above linked video and give the engine a good cleaning.

 

I've watched half of that video and reviewed the link in the sticky section. That video does have a lot of information but I find it had to watch with the camera constantly waving around. It must be mounted to his forehead.
One question: The instructions say to remove the half moons, clean them and reapply with RTV sealant. If they are that difficult to pull out why not just leave them there? It seems they are already in place and sealed up pretty good.

 

If the half moons are not leaking you don't have to replace them. I just find it to be a good idea since the sealant gets hard and brittle over the years causing the leaks.

 

Between yesterday evening and today I completed this job. I followed the instructions detailed by Ramon on his thread that is a "sticky", and linked below. His instructions with photos were very helpful and for that I am thankful.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ping-out-valve-cover-gaskets-pictures.469596/

About 5:00 I took it for a 10 mile ride to test things out. The truck started easily but it cannot find a correct idle RPM. It keeps surging from about 1,200 to 1,800 RPM but drives nicely nonetheless. While I did this job I did not disconnect the battery but as you know there were many intake manifold things unplugged. I did clean the gunk out of the air handler butterfly valve area.

Might the engine computer "learn" the correct idle speed if I continue driving? Or should I disconnect the battery to allow a full reset? Or might there be another solution?

 

Well, there's some things a write-up won't show you and my shakey camera work video wouldn't have helped either from preventing you from the mistake I'm surmising you made.

I bet you made the mistake that a ton of guys make when doing a job like this. You cleaned the throttle body bore out and you let the dirty run-off drain right down into the IAC Valve (Idle Air Control Valve). You will need to pull off the throttle body, take off the IAC and clean it out. Sounds like the valve door is hanging up because it's overwhelmed with all the crap you let drain down into it. I actually have a video coming out soon that shows all the steps to test and clean an IAC valve (No crazy camera work in this one). I recommend you get yourself a new IAC gasket from your local dealer for this job. The 4 screws that hold the IAC onto the throttle body are on their TIGHT. Don't strip them out. Use a screwdriver that gets a good bite on the head of the screws and use firm downward pressure as you're turning the screwdriver counterclockwise. If you own JIS screwdrivers (Japanese Industrial Standard), that would be your best bet to avoid stripping out the heads. Good Luck!

 

You pull out the half moons, clean them up and reseal them, because just like any gasket sealant, it gets old and might start leaking. If every gasket sealer made was "permanent", I guess nobody would ever have a leaking oil pan or leaking trans pan or leaking whatever else on a drivetrain component. You do it to lessen your chances of having to redo a bunch of labor if a leak does start from one of those half moons. People cut corners all the time. I bet a lot of shops don't bother with removing, cleaning and resealing them but it's not their motor, it's yours. Do the job once and do it right.

 

https://youtu.be/TBubnYKS8y4

 

I experienced the same

this was the fix- a good throttle body cleaning and q tip /cleaner/ low air pressure clean out and was Golden from on:

 

Where is the Idle Air Control Valve that you speak of? I've removed the throttle valve, removed the top plate and cleaned that area and the 6 holes that extend into the valve area. But I don't see anything on the intake area that resembles what might be the ICV

Okay, based on this thread my throttle valve doesn't have the bolt on ICV but it may be within the black plastic motorized assist on the firewall side of the throttle valve.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3-4l-w-etcs-tb-cleaning.324673/
So I cleaned the 6 holes again, pushing through with a #44 .086 drill bit, and will reassemble and try again.

Another update: I drove again with no improvement, it continued to pulsate idle between 1,200 and 1,800 RMP. Returned home, disconnected the battery (now I have to reset the radio again *_*) reconnected the battery and drove again. The idle is now closer to a constant 1,200 RPM so it did help some. I'm going to drive it some to see if it settles down, unless someone has another solution. At least it now is drivable.

 

Mine was a 2000 that had those symptoms and you are right, throttle body is different on the 03-04.
I have read some others have had it settle down after a few drives. Thanks for keeping us posted