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- #381
Absolutely!Let me know when you are coming through BC and we'll meet up to grab a milkshake!!
Builds Another Prado in Montana
- Thread starter AirheadNut
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- #382
I finally got around to reinstalling the exterior temperature sensor; it lost its mounting point when I took off the original front bumper, so I made a new bracket out of a piece of steel angle and bolted it back. Nice to know how cold it is outside now 
GTSSportCoupe
2LTE abuser
I finally got around to reinstalling the exterior temperature sensor; it lost its mounting point when I took off the original front bumper, so I made a new bracket out of a piece of steel angle and bolted it back. Nice to know how cold it is outside now
View attachment 2906439
Nice! I've come to really like those temp sensors actually....
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- #384
Same here, especially in the winter when the temperature is hovering around the freezing mark. Hopefully it will help me get better at the ºC to ºF conversion too.
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- #385
Well, with an overnight temp of around -18ºC and the outside thermometer showing -14ºC this afternoon my battery (an ancient refurbished unit that is the wrong size) and pitifully small starter weren't capable of getting the Prado going. Looks like a new battery is on the short list. Oddly enough I don't recall what the battery spec is for a single battery LJ78, I think it is Group 27? Can anyone confirm that? Hoping to get a battery that actually fits in the battery tray!
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- #386
Did some more searching and found several threads recommending Group 27. Going to head to Costco when my battery charges back up and get an Interstate.
I just had a mechanic recommend the store brand of batteries from CarQuest. Apparently he’s seeing them significantly outperform interstate batteries.
I have a pair of Costco batteries in my hdj81 (not sure if they’re interstate or not), and haven’t been altogether pleased with them. Both batteries leak around the posts and grow white fuzzies.
I have a pair of Costco batteries in my hdj81 (not sure if they’re interstate or not), and haven’t been altogether pleased with them. Both batteries leak around the posts and grow white fuzzies.
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- #388
Got the old battery all charged up and the engine started, then went out and bought a new Interstate Group 27 for a whopping $92; a lot less than I was expecting. Popped it in once I got home, will see how much difference it makes tomorrow morning. Supposed to be -8ºF (-22ºC) overnight, should be a good test for it!
On the way into town the PCV hose froze up and pressurized the crankcase, blowing oil out through the turbo seals and making a huge cloud of smoke. I disconnected the hose from the valve cover, but will take a knife to it and make a slit in the hose like @coldtaco suggested so it can blow off pressure in case it freezes up again.
On the way into town the PCV hose froze up and pressurized the crankcase, blowing oil out through the turbo seals and making a huge cloud of smoke. I disconnected the hose from the valve cover, but will take a knife to it and make a slit in the hose like @coldtaco suggested so it can blow off pressure in case it freezes up again.
Winter loves to bring out all the hidden gremlins in our cruisers! Hopefully this new battery breathes new life into yours! 
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- #390
It certainly does! Thinking my glow system might be getting a bit weak also, combined with the small starter it usually takes several seconds of cranking on a cold start to get going. Thinking about scouring some junkyards to see if I can find a "cold weather package" Tacoma/4Runner/T100 V6 1.8kW starter to swap starter motors for a little more oomph. My current starter is only 1.4kW; the original TDI starter was 2.0kW.Winter loves to bring out all the hidden gremlins in our cruisers! Hopefully this new battery breathes new life into yours!
JDM Journeys
Moderator
I'm tired of these temps. Is it spring yet?
Do you switch to 5w full synth diesel oil in the winter? I do with my daily 1kz. Doesn't hurt, but empirically, I don't know if it helps either?
Do you switch to 5w full synth diesel oil in the winter? I do with my daily 1kz. Doesn't hurt, but empirically, I don't know if it helps either?
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- #392
The TDI is spec'd for 5W40, so I just run that year round. It hasn't been nearly as cold here as it has been where you are, so I can't complain too much! I actually really don't mind cold weather so long as there's snow to go with it. If it is going to be cold and dry it might as well just be spring.
Agree. I would have loved trying some snow wheeling with my Cruiser. But it hadn't had a single flake here. Just rain. Miserable.
I like snow and cold. I was behind the polar circle 3 times in winter. Great fun, well, maybe not when living up there.
Anyway. Let's get our Cruisers ready for some great summer fun !
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- #394
Huge shout out to @FJ73Texas for hooking me up with the correct connectors and pins for my trailer wiring harness!
I finally got around to replacing the plugs on the harness to match the ones in the Prado. First requirement was to make a pin removal tool as specified in the Toyota Wire Harness Repair manual (RM1022E).
My special tool doesn't look quite as nice as the one in the manual, I used a sliver of 20ga stainless steel and ground it to shape on a belt sander. It's ugly but it worked great:
Harness plugs de-pinned and ready to be replaced with the correct pins:
I finally got around to replacing the plugs on the harness to match the ones in the Prado. First requirement was to make a pin removal tool as specified in the Toyota Wire Harness Repair manual (RM1022E).
My special tool doesn't look quite as nice as the one in the manual, I used a sliver of 20ga stainless steel and ground it to shape on a belt sander. It's ugly but it worked great:
Harness plugs de-pinned and ready to be replaced with the correct pins:
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- #395
New pins crimped on to the harness. First time using a ratcheting wire crimp tool, it is amazing!
Plugs installed with pins in the correct orientation for the Prado harness. It took a little digging but the plug diagram and pin numbers are in the wiring diagrams for 1990-1992 70-Series.
I went ahead and temporarily plugged it into the vehicle. I haven't tested the trailer plug, but the vehicle tail lights all work as they should. Have to figure out how to route the wires across the cargo area and out to the bumper now.
Plugs installed with pins in the correct orientation for the Prado harness. It took a little digging but the plug diagram and pin numbers are in the wiring diagrams for 1990-1992 70-Series.
I went ahead and temporarily plugged it into the vehicle. I haven't tested the trailer plug, but the vehicle tail lights all work as they should. Have to figure out how to route the wires across the cargo area and out to the bumper now.
I am glad the plugs worked out for you. If you want to convert to the 7 pole trailer plug, etrailer sells a kit that plugs right into the 4 pole end.
https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Wiring/Tow-Ready/30717.html
https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Wiring/Tow-Ready/30717.html
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- #397
How did you route the wires across the cargo area? Just run them under the carpet, or is there a better way? I'm also struggling to see anywhere I can run the trailer plug to get it outside to the bumper.
I ran the wire under the plate at the end of the carpet. I upgraded mine to the 1 pc plastic version so I am not sure how easy this is to do with the original OEM metal 3 pc version then I ran the plug out of the plug holes in the cargo box. The upgraded 1 pcs plastic version can be seen here: PLATE, REAR FLOOR MAT SUPPORT 5857360070B1 | Toyota Parts | PartSouq - https://partsouq.com/en/search/all?q=5857360070B1
Not the cleanest way to do it I know but no one sees it anyways. Especially with my full sized cargo mat on top of the OEM carpet.
Not the cleanest way to do it I know but no one sees it anyways. Especially with my full sized cargo mat on top of the OEM carpet.
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- #399
A box from Dubai arrived today, so it was time to replace a couple of little things. Several of the little aluminum rivets that hold the contact strips in the dome light housings had failed some time ago, and my attempts to solder them back together were not a success. So I ended up with two new dome lights:
Install was pretty quick and easy, it is so nice to have light when I open the doors at night!
Another thing I purchased was a second A-pillar grab handle and hardware for the passenger side. Unfortunately after poking around in the approximate screw locations I can't feel any threaded holes beneath the headliner. I feel like I've seen where someone installs one of these on the passenger side and that the tapped holes were there, but I'm not sure. Anyone know for sure? Going to try locating them with a needle.
Install was pretty quick and easy, it is so nice to have light when I open the doors at night!
Another thing I purchased was a second A-pillar grab handle and hardware for the passenger side. Unfortunately after poking around in the approximate screw locations I can't feel any threaded holes beneath the headliner. I feel like I've seen where someone installs one of these on the passenger side and that the tapped holes were there, but I'm not sure. Anyone know for sure? Going to try locating them with a needle.
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- #400
Looking for information about installing a passenger side grab handle I found this: Builds - 1995 HZJ77 wagon build - Japan sourced - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/1995-hzj77-wagon-build-japan-sourced.1119726/post-13628365 Apparently there is one captive nut hidden under the sheet metal, but not two. Looks like I may be waiting on installing it until I get my hands on a nut-sert tool. Also, I attempted to peel back the headliner from the door edge but it is glued in place, so I will have to just measure and poke a couple of holes in it when the time comes.
During a recent nighttime snowstorm I was on my way home when a deer decided to play chicken and run in front of me. Super thankful to have an ARB bumper, it probably paid for itself right there by protecting the front end of the Prado from any damage. The deer hadn't taken the precaution of installing a big bumper and wasn't so fortunate.
During a recent nighttime snowstorm I was on my way home when a deer decided to play chicken and run in front of me. Super thankful to have an ARB bumper, it probably paid for itself right there by protecting the front end of the Prado from any damage. The deer hadn't taken the precaution of installing a big bumper and wasn't so fortunate.
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