A few questions about my new 94 Surf

Sanchez · Post by **Sanchez** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 1:46 pm

Hi,

I've recently bought a 3.0 diesel SSR-X import, and, as a new 4WD user I've got a couple of questions and one potential issue if someone can help me out.

Firstly the issue. I noticed on the longer hills on the napier/taupo road the temperature increased quite a lot (although not into the red zone). I was revving to about 3-3,400rpm and travelling at maybe 85-95km/h up the long incline. Is it normal for a surf to get hot doing this? Is it dangerous?Should I only say go up at 80 or so using less revs in top gear?

I seem to have one of the single spinner rears, so what does this mean in 4wd mode, it's only ever 3 wheel drive??

And lastly I was hoping someone could tell me what the red button at the base (in front) of the automatic gear selector does. It's in Japanese and I can't see it lighting up anything on the dash when I've played around with it.

Thanks very much.

Post by **mike** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 6:51 pm

Firstly the issue. I noticed on the longer hills on the napier/taupo road the temperature increased quite a lot (although not into the red zone)

Mine does this and it is common, there is a fix but it is on the australian surf forum and is quite alot to read and digest but it will make you more the wiser :wink:

Link -> http://www.toyotasurf.asn.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=195

Be wary of overheating it. somebody had with mine and cooked the injector seats (turned blue) and cost me 1k for full overhaul of injectors and new seats. It doenst hurt to take it easy or stop if need be till you get the overheating sorted.

I seem to have one of the single spinner rears, so what does this mean in 4wd mode, it's only ever 3 wheel drive??

No you have four wheel drive till a wheel slips. If one wheel were to slip on each axil then you essentially have only two wheel drive. limited slip diffs or lockers will fix this, but for a standard shiny surf I wouldnt bother. Ive taken mine through a lot of places on just AT tyres and not had any problems with all open diffs. If you want to start doing serious offroad (not shiney trips) then you would look at something for the back as this generaly makes 70% of the improvement gained straight off.

And lastly I was hoping someone could tell me what the red button at the base (in front) of the automatic gear selector does. It's in Japanese and I can't see it lighting up anything on the dash when I've played around with it.

Pressing this allows you to move the shit lever without the brake on :wink:

or the key in I think

dont quote me on the last one

Hope this helps.

Mike[/url]

Sanchez · Post by **Sanchez** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 8:55 pm

Much appreciated info on the cooling problem, Mike.

Hard to believe they could design something that bad... Just as well I don't need to use the truck for stuff it should have been designed for, eh!! Not knowing much about the whole 4wd scene I went for the toyota cause I thought they were supposed to be pretty rock solid. Maybe a terrano would have been a better bet.

Anyway, I'll need a new radiator soon as it's got a couple of hairline cracks along the top. Looks like I'll either go in for some of those aussie parts if I can get them or head into somewhere that might be able to customise something.

So from what you're saying when the going gets tough I'll also only have a 2wd truck to get out of trouble as well?? Nice.

Thanks again for your insights, though - looks like I've got a fair bit to learn.

Post by **mike** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 9:18 pm

So from what you're saying when the going gets tough I'll also only have a 2wd truck to get out of trouble as well?? Nice.

Don't worry to much about that. The old cruisers and landrovers were exactly the same. all open diffs and look where they used to go. Alot of where you can get your truck is driving ability. It is 4 wheel drive as long as you dont slip a wheel, the suspension is meant to stop that happening, hence why range rover never put diff locks in their transmissions because they thought their suspension setup was so good lockers wernt needed.

Never buy a terrano, they are easily jynxed and break down at the start of tracks........... but they can hold their breath well :shock:

Mike

Sanchez · Post by **Sanchez** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 10:31 pm

So you reckon don't trade it in just yet then, eh!

I've got another quick question if you can be bothered.

I read somewhere recently (it may have even been on here) that you don't need to come to a standstill to switch on the high ratio 4wd as long as you're doing less than 60k's. Is this true? The couple of times I've had practice sessions down at the river so far I've stopped completely first just to be on the safe side. What's the go?

Post by **mike** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 10:38 pm

Yeah I always flick it in while moving. Should be ok but remember the front prop shaft is stationary and has to catch up so hence the 60km/hr thing you have heard of.

Mike

Sanchez · Post by **Sanchez** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 10:42 pm

cheers

Sanchez · Post by **Sanchez** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 8:10 pm

Just following on from the overheating problem above I'm pleased to say since I got the internal trans oil cooler ripped out (ie cleared the blockage) and fitted a large external one the surf is just loving the hills now. All up $472 including new top tank (toyota quoted me over a grand to do the job..)

I hear the auto's are supposed to be pretty good but I've noticed when coming to a stop it'll give a small shunt forward just before coming to rest (Same thing in another surf I drove recently too) - anything to worry about??

Post by **mike** » Fri Aug 05, 2005 8:47 pm

Havnt really noticed any shunt forwards as such but I do like the sound of what you have done to remedy the overheating problem. Any chance of a photo of where they installed it and exactly what was done. I will have to do this to mine before summer hits :roll:

Mike

Sanchez · Post by **Sanchez** » Sat Aug 06, 2005 11:48 am

The guy didn't have space to put the cooler in front of the radiator (I heard from all three radiator placed I went to that finding a fitting point would be tricky) so it's mounted behind between it and the fan. I can't take a picture cause it's bloody hard to even see the thing as it's quite low down. Hopefully it'll get enough cooling from the radiator fan. Size looks to be roughly 25X25cm.

Other than that, all the guy did was take off bottom tank, take out the internal cooler, block of the two holes and refit the bottom tank. He said for 50 bucks less he could just leave the cooler in and drill out where it blocked the hole but I told him I'd rather spend the 50 and get 100% flow.

Apparently he knows another couple of local guys with surfs that don't like hills too much but they didn't know there was any remedy.

Do you know if this blockage is also an issue with later model surfs, landcruisers etc?

wjw · Post by **wjw** » Sat Aug 06, 2005 3:45 pm

Well touch wood, i havent seen the problem on the prado... even pulling a twin axle caravan, with seized brakes at 80k's uphill

Sanchez · Post by **Sanchez** » Sat Aug 06, 2005 7:14 pm

Man, you guys get into some staunch situations. An inspiration to us all.

wjw · Post by **wjw** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 2:14 pm

I was trying to unseize the brakes

Ended up having to pull them to bits