[Steve]

My Toyota Land Cruiser is currently out of commission.

Last Saturday, while in Vancouver, I was pulling into the Elmer's parking lot when I suddenly heard a loud knocking sound. First I thought a belt may have let loose - but that wasn't the problem.

After breakfast, I purchased a auto stethoscope to maybe better diagnose the problem. No luck on determining the noise. It was loud on both the valve cover and the oil pan.

I had the Land Cruiser towed to my Aunt's house in Kelso (using my cousin's AAA service).

I went down yesterday (Thursday) to do a little more diagnosis. Everything I read on the internet mentioned that if it was a rod bearing that the noise would disappear if a spark plug was disconnected. The noise was still there and I have good oil pressure. I did find a bent spark plug electrode on the #2 cylinder. Not good.

My guess at this time is something let loose in the valve train/head? If so, hopefully no damage to the piston.

With no trailers available in the Longview/Kelso area and getting refused to rent a trailer from a U-Haul in Rainier, I called Tim Lund at Wild West Fab in Centraila and he set me up to borrow his car trailer.

Now my Land Cruiser is home. Still on the trailer as I write this. As soon as I get my daughter to school, I'll be off-loading the Land Cruiser and driving the trailer back to Tim.

Now as time permits (and the weather - because I have to do it outside), I get to start further diagnosis.

For now, I am out of commission as far as trips are concerned.

Hopefully it's something simple and doesn't require an engine replacement.

More to follow.

Steve