Prado Grande Air Conditioning

My TD GXL aircon is absolutely excellent. High 30s, stop start etc no problems. It's not the split system but yours should be better so back to Toyota. Remember the aircon is dealer fitted so they should be able to fix it with no hassles.

My TD GXL Prado's air con is also not very good on warm days. I had it checked out at the 10,000 km service . Gas in the viewer seemed very low --- a lot of bubbles also. They said everything was ok . I think they said the air temp was 7c. I think I will now get the windows tinted. The huge slope on the front window doesn't help. Even when the sun is straight above you you have a lot of sun on you. I do not know why they have to have such a slope on the front window on a 4wd. Look at the disco's , built like a brick but still gets good economy . I had a sunvisor on the hilux , worked really well. Toyota don't make sunvisors anymore . The year 2000 when I bought double cab Hilux was the last time they built them ??

Nugs,

Would check the sight glass on the drier, or it mat be a little alloy square on tube leading back to firewall. On mid-cycle the glass should be clear, with no bubbles. If it's milky or bubbly then feel you would need a top-up.

A lot would depend on colour of your car, darker colours will take longer to cool. We have four toyotas here, and even in 47 degree heat here last week, they would cool down within a few minutes.

Hooroo...

I think there were some issues with the new 120 series air cond. 90 series was OK.

And the RV's and GXLs had dealer fitted air cond. The dual system on the Grandes were factory fitted.

I have the same car and same problem. OK at high speed but at low speeds its will not blow cold for long. Could only manage 14 degrees on a recent 36 degree day.

Climate control does not seem to work either. Always having to move temp up and down manually.

Refrigerant levels are OK. Dealer looked at it on Christmas Eve and found nothing obvious but has ordered a new TX valve to see if that is the problem.

I'm told its not related to the aircon but does your external temperature display take a long time to register the true temperature. Mine takes about an hour to catch up with reality when driving off from cold.

Regards
Howard

gosforth@optusnet.com.au

Steven
Sounds like you have had very similar experiences to me. I thought I was just imagining the problems as I could never really pin down excatly what was occuring until the recent hot weather. I've driven Landcruisers for years and downsized to the Prado as it is featured better than the Sahara which I wasn't very impressed with. The 100 series air is brilliant by comparison though. I agree with your sentiments about early models. Mine is one of the first and I took delivery in April. My Satnav was wired incorrectly on delivery and absolutely hopeless. Now that its fixed it does help if you study the route it suggests before setting off on a goosechase of long detours along main roads. It still amuses me that parts of the Bruce Highway only have a 60 kmh rating on the DVD which makes the ETA function useless. I don't suppose thats Toyotas fault though.

I had the hill start assist checked at the dealer (Jonkers, Caboolture). They said it was normal. I say it does not work as claimed (i.e. it does not work at all) and made the same comment about Subaru, except it was probably nearer 20 years ago. Toyotas customer service helpdesk were not interested so I gave up. I don't think its neccessary anyway. DAT is just sales pitch.

As to the knocking, I don't have that problem (yet?) but the last time I was at Jonkers they were aware of it. I may be wrong but I thought they said it was fixable.

I do have a problem when the torque converter locks up. At exactly 80 kmh in top gear I get a vibration through the car which feels like mud terrain tyres have suddenly been fitted. It very noticable until it fades away at about 100 kmh.

Toyota have been working on a fix since April supposedly. Fat Chance. Another problem to live with I expect.

Having just spent a week on Moreton i'm actually pretty impresssed with the way the Prado went on soft sand on the Dunlop slippers. Unstoppable would be a good description. Most other folks seemed to be struggling in the deep ruts.

I'm annoyed about the stupid "sand scoop" vent built into the sump guard though. Need to get a proper guard made without scoop before next trip. Any ideas where?

Let me know how you go with your air. I'm still waiting for a TX valve to arrive from Toyota.

Regards
Howard