I have an all wheel drive 1999 RX 300 with a bad rod bearing. While shopping for a used engine I have noticed that people list the all wheel drive and two wheel drive motors seperatly. Is there an actual difference between the two engines, or is this a ploy to charge more.

 

this may be one for lexmex.as far as i know,their is only a difference with the trans.not the motor.

 

There is, but I don't think with respect to the broken piece in question there is a difference in that particular part. I didn't think so but I also just checked in my service manual and didn't see any as they distinguish between FWD and AWD when it happens on such parts. What came to mind immediately was the location of the engine drain plugs (they are in different locations on the FWD and AWD). Of course the transmissions are also different, too.

 

I was also just studying this and didn't see a difference per se on the part, http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...layCatalogid=0

 

are you sure they werent referring to vvt-i,and non vvt?

 

They're vvt-i, but there are subtle differences in the engines. I am not sure on all of them but I know there are between the AWD and FWD models.

 

I think what the poster was asking essentially was if he found a good used 2WD would there be any differences that were of any consequences as far as using it in his 4WD (or AWD). Didn't want to buy it and get caught like Thomas's neighbor did with the Highlander.

 

I don't think he needs a new engine, he just needs to replace the part in question, that's certainly a lot less than getting a new engine and taking it out.

 

I'm not disagreeing with that, I was just pointing out the question that he asked. The problem with replacing the rod bearing (plus maybe the rod, but not a huge chance that would be bad) is that by the time the rod bearing has gone out it would be unusual for it not to have damaged the journal. Then it would still require removing the engine to deal with having the crank re-ground, if it could be. I can't honestly remember the time that I have seen a rod bearing go out without any damage to the journal.

 

Be very careful, my neighbor got burned, because there were not mounting holes for one of the motor mounts on the engine. That Is something I would like to know, do the FWD engines have a motor mount on the crankshaft end of the engine on the subframe?