1999 RAV4 3sfe engine rebuild part 1

[@clarkandsharonmondich6062]

Really appreciate you taking the time to do these two videos. I am in the middle of changing an auto 3SFE…. To a manual 3SFE. Information you provide is so valuable to a DIY individual.

[@ramhoves]

Thanks I appreciate the comment. Is it in a Rav4?

[@clarkandsharonmondich6062]

Yes, A combination of a 97 and 98…. it’s hard to find a good engine in Juneau and expensive to get to Spokane for a rebuild:)

[@ramhoves]

@@clarkandsharonmondich6062 I saw somewhere that a lot of the oil consumption issues are caused by the low tension piston rings they put in the engines. Maybe just putting in new pistion rings might be a cheap fix? if the bores are good good maybe just a hone and new piston rings would due?

[@clarkandsharonmondich6062]

I may just do that with the engine I’m taking out. It was burning oil… not a lot, but other than that it ran fine. This engine that I’m putting in now is a good runner.

[@clarkandsharonmondich6062]

Do you remember anything abt the shifter cables? Engine back in and running good but may have the cable switched.. only goes into 1st

[@premonjares]

Thank tou so much for this i bought a used 98 prob going to tebuil engine. Too reliable car easy to maintaiin

Thank you very much for the video! I'm getting ready for a rebuil on my '88 Camry with 3S-FE engine. :)

[@ramhoves]

sweet 😀 good luck. Thanks for the comment. These are pretty good engines, That are easy to work on.

@@ramhoves yeah and in the Camry, there's more space around the engine too 😁👌

[@JimmyMeatwhistle]

Me again :) I have a 1999 auto RAV4. I have had tons of Toyota/Lexus vehicles old and new. Trying to figure the transfer case out on the auto RAV4s. The manual versions have a center locking diff button, so unless locked its an open transfer case. On the auto trans version I have heard that its a viscous coupler transfer case. Can you verify on that? Thanks again and great videos 👍👍

[@ramhoves]

Mine is a manual also and that sounds correct to me. But I have no idea how the automatic works 🤔🤔 I ended up just having the diff lock on mine disconnected because it doesnt work and I think there was a vacuum leak in it. A new one was like $900 and I've never needed it. Sorry I'm no help but thanks for the comment!

[@johnm.7610]

Man preparation is always satisfying. Subbed!

[@dave7856]

Hi, did you replace the pistons to an oversize, or just rings also did the crank need grinding or just replace the bearings. My is a 3S-FE 1995 Toyota Corona so far at 457,000km and due for an overhaul

[@ramhoves]

The machine shop did bore it out and put new pistons. not sure if they ground the crank. They said the engine looked really good besides it burning oil. Always did 3000 mile oil changes. Best advise i can give is to use OEM parts at least if they are available. are you in Australia?

[@dave7856]

@@ramhoves Hi, I live in New Zealand and the Corona was the last model sedan manufactured in NZ, mine is 2l manual and I used to work at a Toyota garage back in the 90s. OEM id the parts to use if possible. Cheers.

[@blvck265]

I'm driving a RAV4 from 1994, it's refusing to die.

[@ramhoves]

They are pretty good cars. Does it burn much oil?

[@blvck265]

@@ramhoves Yes, but it's a 30 year old car 😅. It does 9Km/L in urban areas and 11km/L in highway - long distance.

[@ramhoves]

@@blvck265 Thats pretty good. I think they changed the piston ring design in the 98-00 models so those tend to burn more oil. I was curious how much oil older ones burned, THanks !!

[@rckiller-sv5cr]

Awesome mines at just over 295,000 miles getting ready to rebuild it

[@ramhoves]

i definitly learned some lesons removing it and installing it. If you remove the engine, 1st remove sway bar 2nd remove steering rack 3rd remove subframe 4th drop engine and trans to ground. I did it in a messed up order when i removed it and it was a disaster. Good luck. I finally got it back to gether and its running great good engines. THanks for the comment

[@jayhonsolo3003]

@@ramhoves got any video putting it back together?

[@ramhoves]

@@jayhonsolo3003 No I don't because I'm no good at video editing. Anything in specific you need help with

[@jayhonsolo3003]

@@ramhoves just looking for motivation to start my rav4 project, i like how you have a step by step to take down the motor

[@ramhoves]

@@jayhonsolo3003 Thats what I needed when I started, but just freestyled it, And it was not fun! I would highly recommend following those steps :)

[@SpankTheGods]

Do you have to take the valve cover over to remove the intake manifold? Im bout to take my cover off. You think its A good DIY repair to take out the intake manifold replace gasket and clean it at almost 200k miles?

[@ramhoves]

The Intake manifold may be very difficult to remove with the engine in the car. Its probably possible but I would not want to do it. The way that engine sits in there on a angle makes the bottom intake bolts hard to get to. It might be way easier if its 2 wheel drive, I'm not sure though. But yes I would take the valve cover off if you are going to do it. Its only a couple bolts anyway and put a new OEM valve cover seal on it while you are at it.

[@JimmyMeatwhistle]

good info 👍👍

[@gavinwagenheim2606]

How much did it cost?

[@edallenpenganon2663]

Where did u get the sparkplugs? Is it the same as for the 1992 celica 3sfe?

[@ramhoves]

I'm not sure. But I think this ignition system was only put in the 1998-2000 3sfe's.

[@gavinwagenheim2606]

YOYR DOING EXACTLY WHAT I WANT TO DO PLEASE HELP ME WHERE DO I GET A FULL REBUILD KIT ?

[@mandoky1647]

98-2000 is all the same. The change was after 97.

[@dappa211]

I dont think that the Gasket needs changing every 2 years. If it aint broke dont fix it

[@ramhoves]

preventative maintenance. Why wait till you sludge up the back of your engine. I've already been there and want to keep the engine clean this time.

[@gavinwagenheim2606]

How did you get the engine out?

[@ramhoves]

1st step is remove sway bar. 2nd step unbolt power steering rack from subframe. 3rd drop subframe. 4th drop engine and transmission to ground. Unfortunly you cant pull the engine out through the top, so you have to drop it. This is a pretty intense job and can be very frusterating, this is a very compact engine compartment. I had the engine rebuilt at sunwest engines in spokane washington. It cost $3000. I've got about 2500 miles on it so far and hasnt burned any oil. let me know if there is any other questions you have thanks for the comment

[@gavinwagenheim2606]

@@ramhoves that’s a pretty fair price!! I’ve been trying so hard to figure out how to get it rebuild abd pricing and etc.

[@gavinwagenheim2606]

@@ramhoves do you have a website for the place you got your engine rebuilt

[@ramhoves]

@@gavinwagenheim2606 sunwestautoinc.com/

[@ramhoves]

@@gavinwagenheim2606 Yeah I thought it was a resonable price. Got bored out, head redone, new bearing, water pump, ect. What is wrong with yours? Is it burning oil?

[@cajjesra269]

Hi sir! I was wondering can those guys hook me up with a 3sfe rebuild. I am from South America. Can they export?

[@ramhoves]

I'm not really sure. Here is there website sunwestautoinc.com/ you can can probably email and ask. THanks for the comment!