Hilux problem, please help mechanical people.

I can't offer any solutions, just best wishes. I spent thousands chasing a mystery over heating prob in my old Patrol.....never solved by the way.

Best of luck, I guess the old rule comes to mind, start simple.

IE: New rad cap, pressure test, leak down test and the one they test for exhaust gas in the coolant and go from there. maybe an hour on the dyno and see if they can cause it to do it then and see whats happening with the bonnet up??

Cheers Stefan

Just a little outside the square...

where those spotties on there when you drove it or are they new....& is the number plate now covering the air gap thru the bullbar?

Cheers

Hi Twinkles,

Just a couple of things to check. having towed a camper round Oz in 98 model (pre-turbo) SR-5, it takes a bit to get the temp gauge to even move off normal, let alone overheat!

When you say "overheating"; is it visible overheating (steam, etc) or is it because the temp gauge indicates it's overheating? Reason I ask, is maybe in the accident or ensuing repairs, the wire to the temp sender could have been dislodged or stretched/ broken internally - and that's damage not necessarily visible from the outside.
Faulty earths are also a common source of electrical problems. I'd suggest cleaning and reseating the battery connections, sender unit connections, all and earth straps to the body.

Failing that, I'd be temporarily replacing the temp sender with a direct reading gauge (capillary/mechanical type) and monitoring your temperature with that and see what readings you get.

I'd be surprised if the radiator, etc is to blame - unless the maintenance regime on the vehicle hasn't been followed as per the log book.

Cheers, Matt

Hi there Twinkles, I presume you have replaced the thermo coupling which was approved after the second hand one ??? Did I read that write ?? Also was it replaced with a genuine Toyota one ?? not a davis craig or the like ?? When I had to replace myn I was told to use genuine and nothing else as they have had trouble with after market ones working then not working at all or cutting in too late or too ealry, this was advised to me by the bloke at the spare parts shop as he said he many returns due to the atermarket ones not working properly (this was referring to ones mainly for hilux's and cruisers). Yes they are 3 times the price but worth it for piece of mind. WHG

Is the fan shroud (and all associated foams/seals) intact and in place?
Thermostat working as it should?

(just going through the "process of elimination" here;-))

you may need to put extra oil in the viscous fan hub , have a mate who went through the same drama after spending big money doing up the cylinder head etc . I mentioned to him that it could be the problem ,yes it was a new one !! but after adding more oil no more overheating .
mechpete .

G'Day Twinkles

Your problem maybe co-incidental to the accident.
Just a thought.

I good mate of mine is a mechanic, his daughter' s car developed an intermittent o/heat problem, he drove the car around for 3 weeks and of course nothing happened, he did the appropriate tests as he is a very very thorough bloke. Changed the radiater cap,checked to ensure hoses weren't clapsing when engine warmed up etc etc etc.Thermostat etc you name it he did it. Gave car back..week later "dad cars overheating". A little fustration settling in now and he takes the car back for further tests. Finally 2 weeks later he gets the car to car o/heats,now starts testing and discovers the problem is a blown head gasket that appeared to open and close at will. He replaced the head gasket and problem solved.

Think about that

Regards Jeff