Tweet
A while ago I wrote asking advice on my 1KZ diesel in my TX stalling. Thought I'd report back.
I was extra concerned because we were planning a trip up the Birdsville Track, down the Strezleki across to Cameron Corner then back across home to Newcastle.
After a couple of good thrash sessions up around Mt Sugarloaf and lots of wriggling electrical connectors the problem disappeared as suddenly and as strangely as it appeared. The only real major thing I did was replace the fuel filter three times in short (very short) succession in the vain belief / hope that the problem was fuel related.
6874klm later after a two day run from Newcastle across to the southern Flinders Ranges then a steady roundabout cruise northwards through Melrose, Quorn, Wilpena, Arkaroola where the life of two fairly new Coopers went terminal, across to Copley, up to Maree then the Oodnadatta track to Sth Lake Eyrie and Coward Springs, then back down to Maree, up to Mungerannie, then Birdsville. Across the development road to Haddons corner, the Strezleki was closed, down to Innaminka, the Moonba, Merty Merty and across to Cameron Corner. Tibooburra, Bourke, Moree, Tentafield, Casino. Grafton and down the Hwy to home.
The only real place we hit rain was the nth coast of NSW. The Birdsville track was still closed when we were in the southern Flinders Ranges. As we got closer, the roads opened. As did the Birdsville development road across to Haddons Cnr and the road south to Merty Merty and the roads across to Camerons cnr & Tibooburra. It seemed the roads were opened only 3-4 days before we got to them. At Mungerannie they were expecting the next lot of water from QLD to come down the Cooper and close the road again a couple of weeks after we left.
Most places were frustrated with the lack of travellers as that part of the world relies heavily on tourists. Indeed I was amazed at the number of new or near new 4wd's around Wilpena and Arkaroola. Then again this is advertised as a comfortable days drive from Adelaide, so the city people would frequent these locations in their nice new shiny wagons. Further up the track, the more hardened the 4wder. Ca'rn the troopy.......
All in all the Prado went very well. We towed a Johnno's off road hire trailer which performed very well. The Prado didn't really notice it. Two adults, two kids in the car plus more junk than we really needed. There were a couple of longish stretches of mud / water / slush over the road on the Birdsville track, especially around 80 / 90 klm south of Birdsville and then again across on the development road toward Haddons Cnr. Creek crossings had aall been graded and were no problem, only the odd bit of shallow water in creeks here and there. Nothing that low third didn't handle with ease.
Disappointed in the Coopers, they seemed to puncture quite easily and badly, three punctures on three tyres, two of the punctures destroyed two of the tyres. One tyre a rock the size of an egg went right through it and was retrieved from inside the tyre when the tyre was changed for a new item. Carcass seemed to be very thin and weak. Have had discussions with a couple of Cooper people over it. People we spoke to out in that part of the world laugh at Coopers. One person saying they make lots of money from Cooper tyres and have retaining walls made from them. Popular tyres out there were Kumo & Hankook...........
Averaged 16.5 litres to the hundred klm over the whole trip. Worst was 19.8 between Nyngan and Bourke and best was 14.5 from Casino to Newcastle.
Have developed a leaking seal on the front output shaft on the transfer case which I'll repair this week. Noticed the gearbox oil smell wafting around the car about half way across the dirt from Tibooburra to Bourke. (Dodging goats!!) I carried spare oil for everything, so was able to keep topping up the transfer box every now and again on the trip home.
Was amazed at the flood damage west of the great Divide before we went up to Tenterfield. There was debris in trees along the side of the road higher than our car. Man, there must have been some water out there.
A great trip. Very sad to be back at work.
Now, wondering about a trip to the Cape...........
Bob
I was extra concerned because we were planning a trip up the Birdsville Track, down the Strezleki across to Cameron Corner then back across home to Newcastle.
After a couple of good thrash sessions up around Mt Sugarloaf and lots of wriggling electrical connectors the problem disappeared as suddenly and as strangely as it appeared. The only real major thing I did was replace the fuel filter three times in short (very short) succession in the vain belief / hope that the problem was fuel related.
6874klm later after a two day run from Newcastle across to the southern Flinders Ranges then a steady roundabout cruise northwards through Melrose, Quorn, Wilpena, Arkaroola where the life of two fairly new Coopers went terminal, across to Copley, up to Maree then the Oodnadatta track to Sth Lake Eyrie and Coward Springs, then back down to Maree, up to Mungerannie, then Birdsville. Across the development road to Haddons corner, the Strezleki was closed, down to Innaminka, the Moonba, Merty Merty and across to Cameron Corner. Tibooburra, Bourke, Moree, Tentafield, Casino. Grafton and down the Hwy to home.
The only real place we hit rain was the nth coast of NSW. The Birdsville track was still closed when we were in the southern Flinders Ranges. As we got closer, the roads opened. As did the Birdsville development road across to Haddons Cnr and the road south to Merty Merty and the roads across to Camerons cnr & Tibooburra. It seemed the roads were opened only 3-4 days before we got to them. At Mungerannie they were expecting the next lot of water from QLD to come down the Cooper and close the road again a couple of weeks after we left.
Most places were frustrated with the lack of travellers as that part of the world relies heavily on tourists. Indeed I was amazed at the number of new or near new 4wd's around Wilpena and Arkaroola. Then again this is advertised as a comfortable days drive from Adelaide, so the city people would frequent these locations in their nice new shiny wagons. Further up the track, the more hardened the 4wder. Ca'rn the troopy.......
All in all the Prado went very well. We towed a Johnno's off road hire trailer which performed very well. The Prado didn't really notice it. Two adults, two kids in the car plus more junk than we really needed. There were a couple of longish stretches of mud / water / slush over the road on the Birdsville track, especially around 80 / 90 klm south of Birdsville and then again across on the development road toward Haddons Cnr. Creek crossings had aall been graded and were no problem, only the odd bit of shallow water in creeks here and there. Nothing that low third didn't handle with ease.
Disappointed in the Coopers, they seemed to puncture quite easily and badly, three punctures on three tyres, two of the punctures destroyed two of the tyres. One tyre a rock the size of an egg went right through it and was retrieved from inside the tyre when the tyre was changed for a new item. Carcass seemed to be very thin and weak. Have had discussions with a couple of Cooper people over it. People we spoke to out in that part of the world laugh at Coopers. One person saying they make lots of money from Cooper tyres and have retaining walls made from them. Popular tyres out there were Kumo & Hankook...........
Averaged 16.5 litres to the hundred klm over the whole trip. Worst was 19.8 between Nyngan and Bourke and best was 14.5 from Casino to Newcastle.
Have developed a leaking seal on the front output shaft on the transfer case which I'll repair this week. Noticed the gearbox oil smell wafting around the car about half way across the dirt from Tibooburra to Bourke. (Dodging goats!!) I carried spare oil for everything, so was able to keep topping up the transfer box every now and again on the trip home.
Was amazed at the flood damage west of the great Divide before we went up to Tenterfield. There was debris in trees along the side of the road higher than our car. Man, there must have been some water out there.
A great trip. Very sad to be back at work.
Now, wondering about a trip to the Cape...........
Bob