Well Gentleman's and Ladies,

After 8 or so long years, I have an opportunity to return to a Scion tC. I used to have a 2005 that was awesome, but I foolishly sold it at 158,000 miles so I could buy a family car (at the time my wife was pregnant with our son). Now, 3 kids later, I realize there is no need to have a 4 door car to commute 5x a week.

So I have been looking around and found a 2014 Scion tC for sale. I have spoken with the owner and verified his story through a Toyota Dealership. During the hard rains we had here in Texas in the first week of July, he drove the car down a street that was flooding with rain water about 4" high. Air intake sucked up the water and hydrolocked his engine.

Quote from dealership was around $5000 to replace the engine and starter, Insurance decided to total it out. So now I have the chance of buying a flood/salvage tC (even though I know for a fact it's not a flood car per-se).

Question of this thread: Has anyone ever removed the 2.5L engine from a tC2? I am curious if it can be disconnected from the transmission and pulled through the top, or if I need to drop it through the bottom attached to the transmission. I have access to a lift so I can go either way.

Just looking for advice and recommendations. The car is dirt cheap and is in great condition - so this is most likely happening. I found a replacement engine with 44K miles on it for $1000. So if all goes well, I could be in a 2014 tC2 for under $3,000

Thank you in advance!

 

Sounds like a deal if you know that's the only issue with it (no electrical gremlins).

This motor is pretty small, pop the axles out and remove the hood and it should come right out with the tranny installed.

 

So just remove the engine from the tranny out of the car - attach replacement engine and then re-install as a whole assembly?

I assume just use an engine hoist from above since the hood is being removed.

Certain about condition. It was towed to a dealership where they went over it (I have the report)

NO water entered passenger compartment. It went a few inches above air intake down in the fender, so it never came close to fuse box/wiring.

 

Yup that's how I'd do it if the motor needed to come out. I mean you'll want to unbolt the exhaust and accessories and etc, but it should be pretty straight forward.

 

I very much appreciate your suggestion. From the top it is!

 

Does anyone have any schematics or information on the procedure to do this? Ended up getting the car, sure enough engine is seized / hydro-locked (tried to turn manually by crankshaft)

I'm looking all around and I see for sure I need to start as follows:
1) Battery
2) Airbox
3) Belt off
4) Alternator
5) A/C Compressor
6) ECU Harness/connector
7) Any/all wiring connectors/clips
8 ) Fuel lines
9) In/Out radiator hoses (after draining)

But what is getting me is I only see one motor mount, left hand side next to alternator. I see one transmission mount on bottom at the back near the cross brace. Where else does it need to be unbolted from? Also, do I need a slide hammer to knock out both axles?

Thanks

 

There are 4 motor mounts, one on each side and front/back. There's one hidden by the airbox and one between the radiator and engine straight down. It usually has a white sticker on it.

Also removing the belt and alternator, etc shouldn't make a difference for pulling it out, just remove any obstructions in the bay and disconnect any wiring and fuel/coolant lines that are running off the motor

To pop the axles out you should just need a pry bar.

 

So I don't have to remove the alternator, just leave it on the block and transfer when out of car?

I need to pull the compressor for sure as it'll be attached to the A/C lines and I am leaving the condensor/radiator in (trying not to discharge the system - saves $$$)

Thank you for the location of the motor mounts! I had no idea!

 

Out of the car seems much easier as you'll have significantly more leverage and access. If the motor has been sitting a while there's no guarantee that the compressor is still good - hope the gamble of doing all that work to save $100 in R134 pays off.

 

Vehicle stopped running in July so it hasn't been long- and I hate working with A/C (can never get decent manifold gauges) so it's saving me the R134 + labor from an A/C shop





Thank you again for your help

 

@drizzoh

One more question, sorry.

Do you think it will be necessary to :
A) Take off the plastic/metal cowling below the windshield to fit the engine (with intake manifold still attached)
B) Take off the intake manifold.

Most of the engines I am looking at have the plastic intake manifold still attached, so I am assuming they didn't have to disassemble to get the engine out.

 

I don't think so, but it couldn't hurt - it only takes a few minutes to remove. I would think once the hood is removed that you won't need to disassemble much else though.

 

Thank you very much for your help. I think Im going to *try* to document this. I am still just floored there is no youtube or forum how-to anywhere. Even for Camry 2AR-FE engines.

But I guess that's a good sign they don't need to be replaced often or at all.

 

For visitors / Google analytics -

The rebuild thread is here:

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/sci...thread-237623/

Youtube links will be included as they become available in that thread.