help please

[Brolga Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Brolga]

Hi all
I am new owner of a 2000 3.4litre auto petrol Grande. The surface of the vehicle looks great but when my mechanic checked it out he was less than happy with my purchase (I am female and know a fair bit about horses, does that explain anything?) Wondering if anyone has advice about 2nd hand motors - I have heard that you can get good deals on motors imported from Japan. Also (at the risk of sounding really dumb), is it possible to put the more recent 4litre motor in my older vehicle. I will really appreciate anyone's ideas.
Thanks
Brolga

[williade Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close williade]

I'd be searching for an engine from a wrecker instead of importing. Did your mechanic explain what was wrong with the engine? It may be economical to repair/overhaul the engine rather than replace it.

Re: 4L engine. I'm sure it can be done though I don't know of anyone that has done that conversion. It would be a lot more expensive than replacing it with another 3.4L. You would need the bell housing from an 4 speed 120 series automatic among other things.

[Brolga Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Brolga]

Thanks williade - all the advice I can get will help. Cheers Brolga

[Matty80 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Matty80]

Brolga, what is your location? its not in your profile. Information like this may aid someone in pointing you in the right direction for parts or information.

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

Get a second opinion on the motor Brolga, it could only need a good flush and service, the 5VZFE is a very strong motor and is very hard to kill, Some of them (mainly the earlier ones, (pre update)) do have a different exhaust smell, and if your mechanic is not use to the early Prados (yours is built around the update, so it could either be the pre update or post update), it could be in need of just a good service.

[Brolga Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Brolga]

Amended the profile now, thanks for the tip

[Brolga Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Brolga]

Thanks heaps for that advice croozza - I definitely notice that it is a bit 'stinky' - I haven't owned a vehicle with this particular smell before so you could be spot on. What was involved in the update you speak of?

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

The easiest way to pick the update that i can think of is if the indicator lense (the vertical lights at the rear) are amber it is pre update and if it is clear it is post.

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

The easiest way to pick the update that i can think of is if the indicator lense (the vertical lights at the rear) are amber it is pre update and if it is clear it is post.

Not amber, or indicators in the main body tail lights, the pre-update ones had red on the top and bottom, with the reverse in the centre. they tended to fade so most would look like amber, these are normally aftermarket ones that fade, the genuine ones dont.

The grill on the update is different too, as well as the trim, there were a few added sensors on the motor and exhaust too.

[ON888 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ON888]

Not amber, or indicators in the main body tail lights, the pre-update ones had red on the top and bottom, with the reverse in the centre. they tended to fade so most would look like amber, these are normally aftermarket ones that fade, the genuine ones dont.

The grill on the update is different too, as well as the trim, there were a few added sensors on the motor and exhaust too.

My genuine tail-lights on my 2.7L prado faded at the top. So the top is pink now. I'm going to replace the headlights and tail-lights with the new look Prado ones soon though.

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

My genuine tail-lights on my 2.7L prado faded at the top. So the top is pink now. I'm going to replace the headlights and tail-lights with the new look Prado ones soon though.

Are you sure they are genuine, mine are and they have not faded at all yet, and they have never been replaced in their life.

[footoo Member Find all posts View Profile Close footoo]

Just to get back on thread.

Sory guys, don't want to be a grumpy old bstd, but think we should get back to trying to help Brolga...

[williade Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close williade]

The easiest way to tell if you have an updated prado is from the instrument cluster. Early models have the fuel gage to the left of the speedo and tacho and the the temp gage is to right of the tacho. On late models both the fuel and temp gages are to the left of the speedo.

[kav Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close kav]

jap import engines suck . theyre gutless . the japs don't get the same power as we do in motor cycles or cars . i put an import engine in a corrolla once . i stiil had to provide all the ancillary bits and have them rebuilt , and the 300 000 km old engine had miles more go than the import . fix your old one , it just depends if its truely buggered .seek a second opinion . i know that SOME mechanics will tell you the motor is buggered then buy the car off you , JUST TO HELP YOU OUT , then fix it for $200 bucks .

[ON888 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ON888]

Are you sure they are genuine, mine are and they have not faded at all yet, and they have never been replaced in their life.

Oh yeah... I've owned that baby since new and it's never been in a rear end prang either so go figure... strange. My neighbour's Prado Grande has the same problem as well with their tail lights fading at the top. I just figured Toyota worked this out so they made all the new look Prados with a clear lens in the top half.