In the video above, you can hear a slight rattle after engine start-up. I had the original Toyota dealership take a look at it. The tech said it was a VVT-I issue, and that the part couldn't be serviced (entire module needs to be replaced). Estimate? A WOPPING $3,594.80! It's out of warranty by only a few months, and has ~99,000 KM on the odometer.
I couldn't get any information from the Toyota service manager either than what the faulty part is, and that I was out of warranty. That's what led me to these forums.
(1) From my brief research, I've found that this VVT-I failure is a known issue across many Toyota models. Are there any TSBs out there addressing this? I believe my engine is 2GR-FE.
(2) Is the VVT-I module failure due to poor design? Or is this a symptom of a much bigger issue? I guess what I'm getting at is will this repair be a waste of time and resources? After 2 transmissions (both covered under warranty), I'm very reluctant to put this amount of money into a vehicle that is now having issues with the motor. Would I be better off getting rid of it? It's starting to look more, and more, like a money pit everyday.
Thanks in advance,
A desperate owner.
