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Joined
Oct 19, 2006
Threads
2
Messages
14
Hi all! I just got myself a Toy Hiace (JDM)! The van of my dreams... I hope. Anyways, the van is making sure I don't get too proud... I still haven't figured out where to get at the air filter... anyone know?
-Werner :o
 
I've driven one as a loaner - RHD / Standard. Nice little van. Where did you buy it?
 
Hi All,
Thanks for the congrats!
Importer: I bought the van from a small importer here in Calgary. He does the importing thing on the side, so he doesn't offer the kind of service a bigger outfit like Outback does, but the price was right. Now I just have to find out where the air filter is ;)
Headlights; Funny thing that, a couple days before purchase I was informed that the headlights passed without mods....? So, I called the government and was informed that they had invested a lot of money training the inspectors, and that it wasn't really my job to second guess them. All that time on the net researching, being a responsable citizen, and then I find out it's not not my business.:rolleyes:
The Van; 1991 Hiace 4wd diesel 48000K and options galor like the "joyful talk" button! (" and on the right we see a mother grizzly and her cubs, get your bacon and cameras kids, we're stopping for a photo op!")
My computer's sick so pix will come later.
-Werner
 
Congrats on the new van - I own a town-ace that has been great but I've recently learned the hard way that surprises can sneak up on you - of course yours is improved from the 89's with much beefier frames and such - get all your fluids flushed and have your turbo checked out. My van is now awaiting a donor engine as I've got a cracked head due to overheating. This could have been avoided with some preventative maintenance but I hadn't heard of this site back then. Have fun in the snow!
 
hey DD
-Sorry to hear about your headache...
Hopefully I'll have the basic maintenance done tomorrow. The only thing I can read in the service records is the mileage, but it looks like its been run for 30k w/o any service.
 
Heya Light-duty
ya, I apprenticed as a younger fellow but my attention-span's too short to keep doing just guitars + mandos, these days I'm working on a giant instrument called the groaniphone. It's a right hand drive too! (forty pound flywheel), just to keep to the thread topic.
PS I found the air filter, you get at it bottom up!
-Werner
 
Hey Werner..(hijack)
Are you still making guitars?
 
Congrats on your new van. The air filter may be under the passenger seat, or just behind it. with our new snow here in Calgary should be fun. Did you ever find out what joyfull talk was for ?
 
The joyful talk button turned out to be an intercom sorta thing between the driver's seat and the far corner... who'da thunk?

No, I'm not really making guitars, well I have a half finished one in my shop waiting for me to come up with a fret slotting method, but I mess around with stringed sculpture/instruments and drums for fun. :D
 
I have to say this van is starting to suck, Top speed 120 KM/h Fuel 16 litres/100km and, now that it's minus 27 C outside the heater isn't putting out heat...
I hope I didn't just waste half a year's income....:frown:
 
Hmm, top speed 120! Thats pretty good for a diesel van, no wonder you get 16l/100kms - back off to the speed limit and watch your consumption get better. No heat from the heater - try a new thermostat, that failing do a pro flush. Your importer should be able to find out how to improve econmomy - and get the proper parts.

Change fuel filter, air filter, thermostat and gasket - is blowing black exhaust? Are the front hubs locked? If they are your mileage would be worse. Sounds like it needs a good once over.

16l/100 kms - that was what i got with my first nissan xterra - not good.
 
I have to say this van is starting to suck, Top speed 120 KM/h Fuel 16 litres/100km and, now that it's minus 27 C outside the heater isn't putting out heat...
I hope I didn't just waste half a year's income....:frown:

dude, you best be getting a pyro into that puppy and increasing the boost or you will be cracking the head in no time...
 
Hey All,
That was 120 k downhill w/ a tailwind...
I did get an air filter hopefully that will help. Had the coolant system flushed, it was gross.
I'm not much of a mechanic, so what are the chances I can get a thermostat at canadian tire and stick it in today, (gotta drive to Banff this afternoon)?
Also what exactly is a Pyro? :o and do you mean the head gasket?
 
Pyro = pyrometer, measure the heat in the exhaust gass flow. the higher the heat, the higher the stress on the head casting = broke head and loss of a half years pay.

not head gasket, i mean the head itself... i had one of those sitting here for a bit with a cracked head. uninformed owner drove the crap out of it and it broke...
 
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I did get an air filter hopefully that will help. Had the coolant system flushed, it was gross.

what engine is in that unit? it is going to be S L O W and it will be working hard to move that brick down the road = poor fuel milage.

as for the coolant, that is a bad sign...
 
Thanks for all the feedback and advice!
The engine's a 3L no turbo
I checked the upper hose off the rad, seems to get warm, maybe not the thermostat, but the heater core?, could something have been loosened in the flush?
Anyways sounds like I'd better drive my trusty rusty 87 4x truck this month and get some major servicing done on the van.

..Life in the food chain...
 
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