Something wrong with my LandCruiser Prado KZJ 78

[crazydragon]

I have two Toyota LandCruiser KZJ 78. However, one of them has very slow acceleration and the engine will sound like it's straining when I go over 90kmph. The other one is very smooth to drive and has no problems.

The problematic LandCruiser's specs are as follow:
Model: LandCruiser Prado KZJ 78
Year: 1994
Odometer: 308800kms
Engine: 1 KZ TE
Transmission: Automatic

Sometimes, the acceleration is so bad I have to put it in "L" to give it a push before putting it back into "D". On the motorway, the good LC will cruise 100kmph at around 1.8k~1.9k rev but the bad LC will cruise 100kmph at around 2.4~2.6k rev. The O/D light also flashes all the time in the bad LC. I have gone to a few mechanics and all of them gave me different answers each time.

Anyone can give me an answer of what this means and what do I have to do to fix it? Thanks

[kbushnz]

Might have a faulty solenoid in the auto...
Drive gently slow to moderate and see if you can feel each of the gears.
Or the TPS is out of adjustment.
Broken / damaged wires.
ECU fault...
Auto is electronically controlled......
Have a read thru this
http://www.autoshop101.com/forms/AT25.pdf

[tallsam66]

OD light flashing would seem to suggest a fault in the Auto...the auto has flash codes like the the 1KZ-TE engine does.
But could also be an ECU issue.
Try taking the ECU out of the good LC & put into bad & see if it fixes the problem.

[tomsoffroad]

Fluid level?

[wjw]

Have a look through the troubleshooting stuff in here:

http://home.wjw.co.nz/Toyota/A340/autotrans.html

[kzn130smurf]

I have a similiar problem in my kzn130 surf. OD light flashing.
Its like taking off in 3rd gear.
Checked codes, bringing up a solenoid code, solenoid 1 and 2 faulty meaning its not selecting 1st and 2nd gear when in D.
i just shift manually. So i get 1st gear in low, then put into 2 or D to get 3rd and 4th gear. Im not too worried, ill fix it one day.

Could be the same as your acceleration problem.
If its sitting at higher revs maybe its not able to shift into top gear? Staying in 3rd??
Probably best to check codes first.

To fix solenoids, just need to drop the trans pan and theyre right there.

[crazydragon]

So I went to Auckland Transmission, they told me it's Solenoid problem and the quotation was $324.00 for a "Shift Solenoid Set". Are solenoids that expensive? I hope it's only solenoid problem. I don't wanna spend 1k+ fixing the solenoid when the problem is something else.

kzn130smurf it's exactly the same problem as yours. The quotation came up to:
Shift solenoid set - $324.00
Filter - $33.56
Pan Gasket - $25.40
Transmission Fluid - $ 132.00
Labour - 5x $85.00
Total up to $1081.00 (including gst)

[kbushnz]

If it was me I would do it myself....
As said remove the pan and there they are....
There are A340 / AW4 manuals on the net so you can see how its done...

[micahb]

holy shit! 5 hours labour. id say 2-3 max! and thatd be working slow!

[mike barnett]

its a toyota!!!!!! thats whats wrong with it

[mike barnett]

na just joking.as above said do it yourself .take your time and get online if you run into problems 5 hours is a rip.

[crazydragon]

I would do it myself if I know how to. I have no idea where the "pan" is and where the solenoid is. DIY is clearly out of my options in case I screw up anything and make things worse.

kbushnz, do you know how much will the solenoid set for auto trans cost? Is it's around $324, I might as well just do it there. If it's not I might ask around for other workshops that will charge lower.

[kbushnz]

kbushnz, do you know how much will the solenoid set for auto trans cost? Is it's around $324, I might as well just do it there. If it's not I might ask around for other workshops that will charge lower.

I wouldn't have a clue.... But looking at the manual...its an easy repair.
And that sort of thing doesn't scare me...

Ring around a few transmission guys and get prices.

I hear sometimes its cheaper to buy in from the States... but you have to wait...

[kzn130smurf]

Jesus how much!!??
Through toyota theyre usually 800 ish for the solenoids, buuuut special price was $240 i believe. The solenoids "set" comes with 1 and 2, its one piece.

It is very straight forward.
As far as i know, the pan uses sealant, not a gasket.. well mine doesnt?
Id just get fluid from repco, atf isnt that expensive.
Filters dont actually need doing too. Its not in any toyota service schedule at all.

[tallsam66]

The auto doenst have a pan gasket you use FIPG (fix in place gasket)
Rather than a filter as such it has a mesh filter that you can clean ...there are also 4 x magnets on the pan..you clean these as there will be very fine metal powder on them.

Jesus how much!!??
Through toyota theyre usually 800 ish for the solenoids, buuuut special price was $240 i believe. The solenoids "set" comes with 1 and 2, its one piece.

It is very straight forward.
As far as i know, the pan uses sealant, not a gasket.. well mine doesnt?
Id just get fluid from repco, atf isnt that expensive.
Filters dont actually need doing too. Its not in any toyota service schedule at all.