LJ78 2.4L 2L-TE Rebuild the beginning

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Joined
Oct 15, 2016
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1
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7
Location
Annapolis Valley, NS
Hey All,

I've just purchased a LJ78 and having trouble starting her...started once with white smoke coming out of the exhaust...nice looking O's...has a pretty good knock and the motor is moving quite a bit back and forth...let er sit for a week and went back...turns over, but no go...except black smoke coming out of the exhaust. Motor is still moving a lot.

Any help would be appreciated...do not want to start ripping apart until i can isolate the knock?

I have also found the 2L-T manual from this site (not exact match)...any place i can find the 2L-TE manual...looked but haven't found yet.

This is the beginning of something...to be continued. Cheers.
 
Hey All,

I've just purchased a LJ78 and having trouble starting her...started once with white smoke coming out of the exhaust...nice looking O's...has a pretty good knock and the motor is moving quite a bit back and forth...let er sit for a week and went back...turns over, but no go...except black smoke coming out of the exhaust. Motor is still moving a lot.

Any help would be appreciated...do not want to start ripping apart until i can isolate the knock?

I have also found the 2L-T manual from this site (not exact match)...any place i can find the 2L-TE manual...looked but haven't found yet.

This is the beginning of something...to be continued. Cheers.

Links to the best manuals we have are in the first post of this thread: Ideas for improving the 2LTE

Tons of tech info here (same motor is in the Hilux Surf): Surf Maintenance

Lots of tech has been posted in the 70 section and Diesel sections of this forum. Search and read, search and read, search and read.....
 
Links to the best manuals we have are in the first post of this thread: Ideas for improving the 2LTE

Tons of tech info here (same motor is in the Hilux Surf): Surf Maintenance

Lots of tech has been posted in the 70 section and Diesel sections of this forum. Search and read, search and read, search and read.....

I've just found your thread on improving the 2LTE...lots of good stuff there.
 
Took the valve cover off last night and found little bits of metal...not good. cam was scarred...chipped and sharp in places...need a new one...from visual inspection...Looks like it dropped 3 or 4 valves...the motor will be coming out shortly.

If anyone has a good parts supplier, please forward...going to need a few items. Cheers.
 
Or if you're not attached to a Toyota engine, find a Mercedes OM617 turbo engine and swap it in.
 
Almost two years later; finally have a rebuilt 2LTE. Have most components hooked up, but am struggling with the glow system. Looks like I'm missing the wiring to the glow rail? I've looked at a few of the wiring diagrams; but still a little stumped. Anyone have a clear understanding of how the glow system gets power? and from where? Thanks in advance.
 
Here is a diagram showing the ECD wiring and glow wiring for the 1990-1992 LJ78. Hope this helps!

Edit: I've outlined the glow plug wiring in color to make it stand out. There are two glow relays in the LH fender, they get their power from one of the fusible links and are controlled by the ECM. There is a resistor in the intake manifold (either on top or on the bottom, I can't remember at the moment) that I believe controls the glow time.
 

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The Prado was in storage for the winter. Put the batteries back in and the lights on the dash illuminated. Parking brake, green turbo light, aftermarket gauges were lit as well. But would not turn over. Nothing. But the lights on the clock and the altimeter lit up. I suspected the ignition switch. Took the steering column housing off and disconnected the ignition switch and nothing changed. Noticed the glow light did not illuminate when trying to start as well.

Disconnected the batteries and heard a click of a relay...is there a faulty relay? Is so, from what I explained does anyone have an idea of which relay to look at first? With my setup, the batteries and making it a very tight space to change out a relay with removing the batteries. Will be a bit time consuming but worth it in the end. Any help is appreciated. Thanks,
 
The Prado was in storage for the winter. Put the batteries back in and the lights on the dash illuminated. Parking brake, green turbo light, aftermarket gauges were lit as well. But would not turn over. Nothing. But the lights on the clock and the altimeter lit up. I suspected the ignition switch. Took the steering column housing off and disconnected the ignition switch and nothing changed. Noticed the glow light did not illuminate when trying to start as well.

Disconnected the batteries and heard a click of a relay...is there a faulty relay? Is so, from what I explained does anyone have an idea of which relay to look at first? With my setup, the batteries and making it a very tight space to change out a relay with removing the batteries. Will be a bit time consuming but worth it in the end. Any help is appreciated. Thanks,
Wow, time must move at a different rate in NS as your last post (4.5yrs ago says update SOON) lol

As far as winter storage, especially in a high humidity area where you live, I would start with thinking "stuck starter" (provided everything was working fine in the fall when you parked it) I have to assume that you finished the rebuild 4 years ago and have been driving it since. I am also assuming the batteries are tested and good.

for 'starters' - give the starter a good solid whack to free up the contacts. If that works, it is temporary and you will need to pull the starter and clean it up at the very least, possibly a rebuild is in order.
 
I would recommend (in addition to what @Rigster posted above) to get a multimeter and starting from the battery trace out the power for the starting circuit. Check the fusible links for continuity as well.
 
Wow, time must move at a different rate in NS as your last post (4.5yrs ago says update SOON) lol

As far as winter storage, especially in a high humidity area where you live, I would start with thinking "stuck starter" (provided everything was working fine in the fall when you parked it) I have to assume that you finished the rebuild 4 years ago and have been driving it since. I am also assuming the batteries are tested and good.

for 'starters' - give the starter a good solid whack to free up the contacts. If that works, it is temporary and you will need to pull the starter and clean it up at the very least, possibly a rebuild is in order.
Ha, yes. It's been a minute. 2 kids later...

The LJ has been working well. Rebuilt the top end. Rocking the 2LTE. It has been working well...but I haven't been driving it in the winter. So, much salt.

I cleaned up the ground off the batteries and yes they are charged nicely. I heard a reply click. Disconnected a main relay on the passenger side wall, and the lights went out and started to turn over.

Ordered a new one from the boys at 4 wheel Auto in Edmonton. Have to give them a big about our for all the help over the past few years. Cheers
 

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