Sequoia exhaust manifold leak and high $ quote

[powerg]

I have an exhaust manifold leak on the drivers side of my 2001 Sequoia. I have contacted a few shops for quotes. 2 different shops quoted me around $850 to replace. The said it was about a 7 hour job. The local Toyota dealership was a lot higher. I asked my local shop that does tire work and light vehicle repair. They said it was too much trouble for them to mess with it.

What have other people paid to have the 1 exhaust manifold replaced? Is $850 normal?

I have read on this forum that it should only take 3-4 hours. I do not have the time or space to do this myself so i will have to get the work done at a shop. Can anyone suggest where I might be able to get a decent deal on replacing the manifold.

I look forward to your input.

[Puffnstuff]

For that price why don't you just get a set of headers?

[powerg]

I thought about headers and I asked the 2 shops that gave me the quotes. It would cost me almost 2 times the amount for a set of headers. The labor is 7 hours for 1 side. If I put headers on both sides, then it would be 14 hours labor (per the shops that gave me the quotes) Labor is the biggest part of the quote.

Has anyone had a shop replace the manifold? If so, what is a reasonable price?

Thanks

[tuesdayd]

Originally Posted by powerg

I thought about headers and I asked the 2 shops that gave me the quotes. It would cost me almost 2 times the amount for a set of headers. The labor is 7 hours for 1 side. If I put headers on both sides, then it would be 14 hours labor (per the shops that gave me the quotes) Labor is the biggest part of the quote.

Has anyone had a shop replace the manifold? If so, what is a reasonable price?

Thanks

Wow! 14 hours to install headers. I did my JBA's in less than five hours, and I took my time. Even when I installed the S&S's (they're more work - grinding motor mounts, etc.) it only took me eight. You might consider doing it yourself. It's not that hard, but it does take some patience.

[Burger Steak & Eggs]

There are quite a few anecdotes about exhaust manifold noises. Mine made a ticking sound from the lower passenger's side at idle. It was most easily heard while at drive thru coffee bars, where the sound could reflect off a solid surface and then find its way to the driver's side window more easily.

I complained about this during the warranty period. The vehicle was tested for leaks with a "smoke machine", but they claimed there were no leaks. Instead, the explanation was that noise from the exhaust rushing through the manifold tubing was to blame, because of the thinness of the tubing. The exhaust gas itself was properly contained within the tubes (i.e. no leak) but the exhaust noise was not fully contained.

I was told this problem is common to Toyota trucks due to the thinness of the factory exhaust manifold tubing. In fact on V6 Tacomas there is a TSB in place and the manifold has been redesigned with thicker metal to help quell the noise. I was also told that in the V8 Tundra application, simply replacing the manifold is no guarantee the noise will go away, since the replacement manifold is also constructed of the same thin metal.

If you have obvious evidence of a leak....black soot traces seen around the seal etc....then of course the manifold must be replaced, but otherwise it should be mentioned that replacing the manifold is unfortunately no guarantee the problem will be solved.

[powerg]

Originally Posted by Burger Steak & Eggs

There are quite a few anecdotes about exhaust manifold noises. Mine made a ticking sound from the lower passenger's side at idle. It was most easily heard while at drive thru coffee bars, where the sound could reflect off a solid surface and then find its way to the driver's side window more easily.

I complained about this during the warranty period. The vehicle was tested for leaks with a "smoke machine", but they claimed there were no leaks. Instead, the explanation was that noise from the exhaust rushing through the manifold tubing was to blame, because of the thinness of the tubing. The exhaust gas itself was properly contained within the tubes (i.e. no leak) but the exhaust noise was not fully contained.

I was told this problem is common to Toyota trucks due to the thinness of the factory exhaust manifold tubing. In fact on V6 Tacomas there is a TSB in place and the manifold has been redesigned with thicker metal to help quell the noise. I was also told that in the V8 Tundra application, simply replacing the manifold is no guarantee the noise will go away, since the replacement manifold is also constructed of the same thin metal.

If you have obvious evidence of a leak....black soot traces seen around the seal etc....then of course the manifold must be replaced, but otherwise it should be mentioned that replacing the manifold is unfortunately no guarantee the problem will be solved.

Thanks for the information. The noise is very load at start up with the engine cold. It will go away in 5-15 minutes after the engine warms up. It is coming from the drivers manifold area. (Both shops have told me it is a manifold leak so I will have to trust their opinion). I will confirm with them that they believe it will solve the problem. That is a lot of money to not "fix" a problem.

[ThomasE]

You should get some more quotes from other shops, there's no way it's going to take a professional mechanic 14 hours to replace the manifolds. When I installed my headers it took me 9 hours, first time ever I've done headers and I did everything slowly. Even JBA instruction sheet says 6hrs to install their headers.

[speed25]

I agree with the rest of these guys. I installed my own headers with one helper, and we did it in five or six hours if I recall correctly. The exhaust manifolds look like the worst-engineered part of the truck when you compare them to headers!

[KFlash]

Not sure if it would help you or fit your 2001, but I have a used 2002 drivers manifold that is in good shape. Would sell it cheap. You could do it yourself!?