New Life for the old rig

[black dingo Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close black dingo]

G'day All,
After reading my way through the subjects on this site, I realise that this is the place to get some advice that would be worth listening to.
I have a late 99 GXL Petrol Prado and it is time to give her some TLC that is overdue.
I am hoping that you can offer some advice on what I should be getting the mechs to do to her when they do the timing belt and tensioners this month.
Like most here I am not flushed with cash to do extravigant mods but just want to get the performance back that it is capable of.
I have been advised by a mate that I should get the oxygen sensor tested? and I will get the tension leads replaced and the fuel filter but other than them I need some advice.
power has dropped badly but the revs are constant and smooth at idle with no missing or roughness.
Please give me advise as there is nothing on the market that would replace this rig without a comprimise or a bloody large loan.
Thanks in advance

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

Re: New Life for the old rig

Well you are right on one thing, swapping to any other vehicle would be a compromise - unless of course it was to a 120 series.
I'd be looking through the 90 series section of this forum, with specific attention to the Engines - Petrol section. Maybe even try posting this thread in that section. No doubt others on here, with waaaaay more knowledge than me, will help you out.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Re: New Life for the old rig

I'd get rid of the factory muffler and stick a more straight through type one on it, at the front of the muffler (motor side) there is a spring type set up with a valve on it, they some times play up and can reduce the power a bit, bit of a dicky set up. I would keep all the original pipe work and rear muffler just replace the one under the drivers side floor virtually under drivers seat. Give the airflow meter wire a good clean with the correct CRC mass sensor wire cleaner (as per picture below) but dont touch it with anything else not even fingers, just give a good spray a few times stick it out in the sun or even just the air to dry for a few minutes then put back in. You mention leads I'd also be doing plugs, air filter, if not recently done, you can wash air filter out if its a genuine toyota one but I found after washing the paper element always seemed to be fluffy (if thats the correct description) so replaced it with a new one and kept the old one for spare. Fuel filter definately, and depending on klms you could also maybe invest in an injector clean, ramflo is a good way to go without having to pull injectors out, basically they remove the fuel line from the injecter rail and run a pressurized can of injector cleaner directly through the rail and into the injectors. The 3.4 V6 is a great reliable motor and will see an easy 400k if serviced correctly (maily oil & filter changes) Regards Steve

[black dingo Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close black dingo]

Re: New Life for the old rig

thanks for the advice on the exhaust,
I was reading in the forums about different systems and am thinking that the exhaust needs replacement and so a 2.5 inch straight flow may be the way to go.
I have read a lot about the CRC AFM cleaner and will track down a can of that myself.
The exhaust flap sounds like a strange set up hopefully a new system will solve that.

The engine has only got 215000 on the clock and should keep going if i give something back to it. the injector clean is a good idea, i do not know if toyota do this on purpose but they quoted $666.00 to cean the injectors, bloody price is certainly evil.
anyway thanks for the hints with the AFM and we will see how i go.