Offroad-Express

Hello Guys

Hope everyone is doing good, i got a PRADO 120 recently from a dealer (swap with my IX35) and i have noticed when i go up hills temp indicator come near half and go down again.

If i am driving on a flat road then it's sitting 80 - 85 degree angle and if i drive the truck bit hard then also i have notice the temp climb up a little.

Also i have noticed when its up a little then gear shifting delay too

This been done 285k on the clock and seems to be the coolant is factory red one and trans oil also seems to be clean red

Not too sure about the fan clutch which i need to check on the weekend (gone swap the fan from my Surf as both with 1kz-te)

If this is related to the trans (A343F trans) then hope the dealer will fix as Consumer act apply to this.

Hope this is not normal as my Surf stick to 100km through out the same hill without moving the temp as this drops the speed little at the middle of the hill.

Please give me some ideas and share the details

regards
JC

Best taking it straight back to the dealer, they have first right of repair, if you fiddle around replacing bits and pieces, or installing a proper Temp gauge etc yourself, they may claim you have voided any warranty that it might or might not have.

Yes good idea mate, i'll call them, see what going to happen

regards
JC

The Surf's don't have a very reliable temp gauge anyway (if it's the standard factory fitted one).
They are slow to react to temp changes, so it probably was getting hotter but not showing it.
How hot does your Prado gauge read?
I just added a VDO temp gauge to mine as the Prado gauge is fairly rubbish at giving a reading.
I read somewhere (maybe on this forum?), that Toyota gauges have 3 readings...Cold, Normal, Oh shit, your head has cracked.
So, don't rely on the Toyota temp gauge to actually indicate any worthwhile reading to you.

GreyGhost wrote:The Surf's don't have a very reliable temp gauge anyway (if it's the standard factory fitted one).
They are slow to react to temp changes, so it probably was getting hotter but not showing it.
How hot does your Prado gauge read?
I just added a VDO temp gauge to mine as the Prado gauge is fairly rubbish at giving a reading.
I read somewhere (maybe on this forum?), that Toyota gauges have 3 readings...Cold, Normal, Oh shit, your head has cracked.
So, don't rely on the Toyota temp gauge to actually indicate any worthwhile reading to you.

- Prado temp is sitting just below the half mark and while on a hill climb at the speed of 100 (speed drops to 85 - 90km) and temp is going to half and settled back to the same place after 1-2 min on the flat road at 100. Or if i drive it like a madmax on 50 km road with hard foot it seem to be going up and down little but not crossing half mark

Surf climb the hill at 100 from bottom to top with no issue and if i press the foot it climb the speed rather than the temp


Spoken with the dealer and ask to come to the mechanic to check this (as per the dealer this is thermostat but i don't think it's that)

regards
JC

Been to the mechanic for the dealer and advise they replaced the thermostat, going to see how this go

regards
Sheran

if you have any temp concerns you'll have to do as grey ghost advised and install a stand alone temp gauge, Toyota gauges wont show you or give an indication of engine temp they have a flat spot in them to indicate cold, normal range or too late Engines work harder climbing hills so you would expect a slight change in temp.

I got the truck back y'day and temp is sitting little higher than before now, but its not jumping up and down so far but still this is monitoring and ill install a external gauge soon guys

regards
JC

Maybe someone's done a guage mod on it?

Sounds like no, coz after change the thermostat looks like stick to the same place

Temp being a little higher is no prob. Just means that the thermostat is doing its job and holding a more constant temp. (And the new thermostat may be a few degrees hotter). And that's also why it's not spiking like it was before.

Sounds like a win.