I have 2 questions on my 94 Toyota 4runner SR5 4WD Full Option Truck. in is a 3.0 V6 (3VZE) I've heard you say that early to mid 90's toyota 4 runners are good but wanted to double check.

Little background. My 4Runner has 177,000 miles but the engine only had 48,000. Toyota installed a Reman engine 7 years ago after the original engine blew a head gasket and pieces of the head gasket fell inside the cylinder and caused damage. I later had an issue where coolant was dissapearing 10,000 miles ago and Toyota had to replace the head gasket again on the reman engine. I have to say the second time the engine did not over heat or anything but I was not watching the coolant as meticulously as I do now. The second time the head gasket seemed corroded. Toyota told me that if I should have changed the coolant every 20,000 miles to prevent this corrosion and I was like ...."Why didnt you recommend to me and change the coolant?...This is why I bring it to you and no one else" The bill the on the second head gasket repair was $3000, but I did get the timing belt, Water Pump, idler pulley, thermostant and a some temperature sensors all replaced for the price by the Toyota dealer.

I have heard the 3VZE has a design flaw on the intake manifold that causes headgaskets to blow. If you believe there is a design problem how serious a design problem is this? Should I sell the car? Is there anything I can do to prolong the life of the head gasket if you think I should keep it? I do watch the coolant like a hawk every week and will replace it every 20,000 just to make sure the anti-corrosive chemicals in the coolant dont get too weak... The car runs like new except for an electrical problem I am about to mention below. My cousin and I both (mechanical engineers) who owned this car have maintained this car well with over $26,000 of Toyota Service records over 26 years. At this time the car runs really well mechanically except for a "groning" sound the first couple of miles on a day colder than 25 degrees. Who knows what that is but it doesnt bother me too much...would still like to know what that could be....

Now to the electrical issue. When I have the AC on with the lights and run it around town for an an hour or idle it for 30-40 minutes, I am down at 12.2 ish volts on the battery. On hot days I got stuck around town which is why I took it to the dealer. The dealer replaced the idler up system, went thro two batteries and 3 alternators - the last laternator being from autozone reman lifetime warranty. I spent 950 bucks and the problem was not solved. I had a one on one with the service manager and got my money back. The alternator I originally had on the car was an original toyota nippon denso. I did not ask them to put in an autozone duralast china alternator but they suggested I do it because Toyota alternators did not resolve the issue. They said all the relevent wiring on the harness checked out good. Now, in addition to the charging problem I originally had the Chinese Duralast lifetime warranty alternator installed by Pueblo Toyota is squealing when turn the lights on. When I turn the flashes on squealing gets "louder" and "softer" in synch with the flashing. So while they have given my money back since they couldnt figure out the charging problem, I now have inherited a new squealing problem with this chinese toyota bought and installed duralast autozone alternator. I only have a 300 miles on this alternator. Toyota now wants to charge me another 500 bucks to give me back the alternator I originally had (Reman Nippon denso from Toyota). What do I do. Yes, toyota did give me the money back because they could not fix my charging issue but they've created a chinese alternator squealing issue for which they now want to charge me. What do I do? Any thoughts on what this electrical issue is? Car does fine when I just have the AC on without the lights, or just have the lights and blower on without the AC button pushed it. It also does fine when have the lights and AC on and drive on the freeway or over 55 mph. The problem comes when I idle or drive around town for an hour with the AC on and the lights on - the voltage at on the terminals sprirals down in a downward cycle and goes down to 12.1 volts in 40 minutes.

It is still a nice car though....what do I do. I'd like to have it since we are now in Colorado and I'd like to have this 4WD.

Thanks very much.