How much longer do you see yourself driving the RX?

For me, it's a no brainer! I'd get it fixed. Cheaper than buying a new car, and making payments.

 

Hes going to get me a exact price quote tomorrow so I guess I will decide when I know exactly. Im assuming it will be over a $1000+ though. and car is only worth $5k tops so.........idk

 

I think it'll be well over one thousand. I would definitely get it fixed if he does it for $1K, especially at a dealership.
It'll probably cost that much if you did the work yourself. I sure hope I'm wrong.

 

So Im getting the exhaust valve on cylinder 2 fixed for $750 at a toyota dealership. That seems like a fair deal correct?

 

I guess pulling the head(s) on these Toyota V6 engines is simpler than what I had envisioned. I replaced the head in my Jeep Cherokee (4.0L in-line 6) last summer and aside from the cost of a new head ($450), it cost me around $250 just for the fluids, gaskets and the cooling system hoses. And given the engine design - single head, over head valve, etc., the work was pretty straightforward but still took roughly 6 hours, same as what the dealer quoted me for labor. One thing to keep in mind is when you dig as much into the engine, you may want to consider replacing some of the "wear" items that come of during disassembly and/or consider doing a more thorough valve job. How much of the $750 is labor?

 

kalali is so right .. the list just grows .

intake gaskets, plenum gaskets, coolant would be the minimum.

Optional:
Plugs, knock-sensors, knock-sensor harness, cam seals, timing belt, tensioner, front main seal, water-pump, why-not all valves on this head, why not the other head

Salim

 

I bought my 2002 RX300 four years ago and noticed blue smoke when starting for maybe 10 seconds, but only after driving more than a few miles and after sitting at least a few hours. I suspected a bad valve stem seal and just lived with it.
A few months ago I started getting check engine light which was misfire on cylinder #2. I checked spark, fuel injection and finally compression which was "0". Blew air through the spark plug hole and it came right out the exhaust with no change while turning engine over. Between loosening the stuck valve with rope, putting carb cleaner in the cylinder and turning over to get onto the exhaust valve to soak, marvel mystery oil and lucas fuel treatment, I now have the valve working most of the time. Still Idles rough and at low rpm in overdrive, but smooth at highway speed and gets typical mpg.
I now know that it is cylinder #2 with the bad valve stem seal because whenever that cylinder wasn't firing, there was no smoke.
But I still need to fix the root problem, valve stem seal and possibly valve. Mechanics I've talked to quoted $1,400 to do both heads. I don't think I really need that, nor want to put that much into it. Have thought of doing it myself, might not have access to specialized tools I need.
What exactly did the Toyota dealer do for $750? Redo the entire front head or just what needed to be done to cylinder #2? Thanks.