'93 FZJ-80 w/CEL Code 28

[thekirk]

I'm in Iraq, having left the Land Cruiser in the care of my sister. Of course, since I'm 7000 miles away, it's having issues.

Most recent one was that the CEL went on one morning, on the way in to work, and went out, on it's own, after about twenty miles. I've had similar experiences myself, only, it's usually an O2 sensor code that's thrown, after driving on the highway for prolonged periods.

Told her to pull the code, and where the FSM was. She did the deed, and got a 28, which she says is a code for transmission control issues.

Since the light went out on its own, and there doesn't seem to be any major transmission-related problem, I'm thinking this is one of those "Intermittent Cruiser Wierdnesses That Aren't Really Important". On the other hand, with my luck, this is the easily-corrected problem that leads to having to replace the transmission, if ignored...

The tranny does have a rather odd "rubbing/winding-up" noise, when starting from a stop, but it goes away after maybe 50-100 feet, and both an independent mechanic and a dealer told me "no big deal, don't worry about it...". Of course, another mechanic told me that it was my transfer case, and that he thought my viscous coupling was about ready to go out... <sigh>

Does any of this ring anyone's bells? I'd appreciate any relevant past experience with this code, and any insight anyone has into this problem...

Thanks!

 

[CJF]

Told her to pull the code, and where the FSM was. She did the deed, and got a 28, which she says is a code for transmission control issues.

You sure about that? I only have a Haynes manual covering your year (my truck and FSM are '91), but it says code 28 is O2 sensor related.

Can anyone verify?

Curtis

 

[cruiserdan]

28 is the number 2 O2 sensor. Transmission communications codes are 83, 84, 85, and I think 87.

Smetimes a 93 will throw a 28 along with an 83, 84, 85. If that is the case the "correct" repair is to replace the engine ECU with an 89661-60221.

 

[thekirk]

Y'know, I thought that code was sounding a little too familiar, but since I don't have the FSM here, with me, I had to go with what she was telling me.

Dan, I'm afraid to even ask the cost on that engine ECU. I'm guessing that it's not the cheapest thing on the truck, though...

I've had that intermittent O2 sensor code on a couple of occasions. It's always gone away, usually during the same drive, and I've always assumed it was an anomoly, and not that big a deal. Generally, when my Toyota's throw an O2 sensor code, and the sensors are gone, they keep throwing that code until I replace them... Am I wrong in thinking this isn't a major issue?

Thanks, y'all. Again, Ih8mud comes through...

 

[IdahoDoug]

Kirk,

First off, thanks for your service to our country, and we hope you and your unit have a safe and effective mission.

My CEL goes on once in a while with the same code. It has for about the last 5 years and turns itself back off after periods ranging from 30 seconds to a few minutes. I've noticed that certain fuel brands cause it, and others never do. Blow it off and don't give it another thought until you've got an extra $200 to buy a couple from Dan.

The tranny sound is absolutely 100% normal for the A442F tranny. It's a transmission straight out of a 30,000 GVW city bus in Japan as it was the only tranny Toyota had that could handle the torque of the then-new 1FZ. I'm told 1st gear and top gear are not the normal hypoid gear teeth, but are straight cut gears for maximum durability to handle the bus' inordinate number of starts, and the time it spends in top gear. Hypoid gears are quieter, but for a city bus Toyota is/was not interested in consumer level durability/quietness and it was not changed for use in the 80 for only a couple years usage (the wimpy 343 tranny was used from 95 on). So. Completely normal. I've had several 80s and people in the know who ride in them always comment about that sound. Mine all did it the day they were new, and there has been zero change in 156,000 miles.

Be safe,

DougM

 

[thekirk]

Doug, I appreciate the kind thoughts. More particularly, I appreciate the information--that noise has bothered me since the beginning, because the only other FZJ-80s I've ever been in were all the later years. I didn't notice it at all, when I was looking at the truck, or test driving it, but within the first thousand or so, it became really obvious. I've had it looked at by about a half-dozen different folks, including a Toyota dealer, and they all told me different things--one guy says it's the transfer going out, another said not to worry, a third said it was the transmission, etc.

You're the first person to mention the straight-cut gears, which suddenly makes it all very clear as to why the noise is there.

I'm thinking I may be due for some new O2 sensors, so if that CEL doesn't go out, I'm going to get with Dan and order a set.

I'm really hoping I don't get the condition Dan refers to, in his post. An engine ECU can't be cheap.

Although, in retrospect, since getting the Land Cruiser, I've had to re-define "cheap"...