timing control valve-1KZTE

[carco Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close carco]

So she finally lit the CEL and threw fault code 14, timing control valve.
I've been suspicious for a long time but there has never been any fault codes stored or even a CEL, even though she had all the symptoms. Massive power loss then after I'd back off she'd come good again.
When pulling at highway speed she'd drop back to 1800 and surge slightly before caving. She'd be zooming along at 110 on the freeway and then at the slightest hill it was all over and back to 80, embarrassing.
Back to 1st last night on the Gunalda Range hill, slightly scary with cars doing 120 in the passing lane.
Never been a power giant, thought that was all she had.
I've been on the net and there were a few different pumps on the old KT so I'm concerned about buying the wrong valve.
When I enter my VIN the valve Part No is 23010-67010 as fitted in vehicles 08/2000 to 09/2002 and seems the one for my 2001 car.
Big cheese would be the man to talk to as he's been through this recently (as well as living just down the highway) however he's dropped off the edge of the world so can anyone else shed some light.
I need to get her running properly ASAP.

[t303 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close t303]

Don't want to tell you how to suck eggs, but before you start buying anything, diagnose and check the basic (cheap) stuff first. Don't blindly trust fault codes. This is how some "technicians" manage to burn customers for hundreds ( even thousands) of dollars whilst they just change whatever the next fault code suggests. Only last week a wise old mate of mine told me of a guy that brought in a 2.7L VVTI petrol Hilux. It was making a rattlle just off idle. Had been to the dealer and several other shops. Diagnoses ranged from $4300 from the dealer to replace clutch and dual mass flywheel, to exhaust hitting the chassis. He spent hundreds of $$ on "expert" opinions. My mate took it for a drive and, yep, noise is there, hard to tell where it is coming from but sounds like rear of engine. Told customer he would need it overnight for a cold start (worse when cold), but let's stick it up on the hoist and drop the oil as it needs a service anyway. As customer watched the sump plug was pulled and the blackest, crappy oil flowed out........ for all of ten seconds. After an overnight drain the oil amounted to 1.4L. Dealer serviced vehicle; do you reckon it burned 3L of oil in between services?
Anyway, the moral is check the simple sh*t, THOROUGHLY, first before you throw money at it.
Mine has only ever thrown one code: 14, and there was nothing wrong with the timing control valve. In my case it was fuel starvation while changing tanks. I know of two cases (I think they were both on this forum, maybe one on the other Prado site) where it was the valve as indicated by the code, but check all the basic and cheap stuff first. Can I assume you have changed the fuel filter and checked for air leaks? You may need the TCV, but be sure to be logical and methodical in your diag process.
cheers
Steve

[carco Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close carco]

Yes have checked and re-checked, guess I was previously disappointed that she never threw up any fault codes as I was so sure the timing was out.
Lately she's not starting as well either, almost dies once she starts all of which is very different to how she was a while ago and I was making excuses for her, colder weather etc. Even checked glow plugs but they're doing their job properly.
Tested the TCV a month ago and the resistance was fine plus it clicked when 12V was applied, not much more I could do.
Think the big difference was I wasn't driving the other night, as I back her off when I notice she's folding. No use keeping the boot hard in as being an auto it will just kick down gears.
Mrs however doesn't mind how many cogs it kicks back, don't think the rev counter had ever been up so high.

[t303 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close t303]

Only other thing I could suggest would be to hit the TCV with a heatgun or hairdryer when you test it to see if it is failing under heat, but if it does it cold it may be on the way out. Good luck with it, let us know how you get on.

[carco Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close carco]

A quick update.
Valve arrived in a little over a week from Amayama, $283 delivered.
Would have to be the worst job I've done on the beast yet.
2-5mm Allen head setscrews and simply impossible to get at. One of them is behind the engine mount so it's all teensy teensy, bit by bit to undo.
Had to cut about 3-allen keys to varying lengths, must have been doing something wrong as no workshop would do a job this hard, they'd remove the engine mount or pull the donk.
Only access is from below.
I removed the left wheel thinking it could be accessed better through there but although you can see some of it, that's all you can do. Can't work spanners or get your hands in there.
I even got Mrs with small hand to have a try, got nice and filthy but no go so it was all from below.
Eventually I'm rewarded with a face of diesel as the old valve drops out.
Then it gets really hard. You can't reach the Allen screws to re-fit, even with magic fingers to poke the screws in, there's no way to turn them.
After a lot of swearing, she's in.
I don't remember much, it was all a blur, arms drained of blood, mouth aching from holding the LED light, you get the picture.
Immediately she starts way better and the idle is as sweet as a D4D.
Power is same-same but I haven't given her a highway test yet so there's more to follow…...

[t303 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close t303]

Isn't it a great relief when you get it first time!

[carco Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close carco]

Highway drive into town and it's a different car.
No more power but she lugs now instead of just caving in.
Our local highway speed limits are 90 which is tough on the auto, only just into convertor lock and about 18-1900. She's happier at 100 to 110.
The real test will be when I hook her up to the camper.