craigm’s 2004 Black 120 V6 Grande

[Hutch]

Good work Craig the omly parts i replaced in my 120 was a $400 starter motor, pretty good for a 5 yo car.

Hutch- Prado 150 with some TJM Kit.

[gumboot]

Bit cheaper than the Diesel Achilles heal me thinks Robert!

That's what earmuffs are for,,,, what rattle

[Trekrider]

Bit cheaper than the Diesel Achilles heal me thinks Robert!

touché

[craigm]

The dreaded Petrol Prado Achilies heel strikes again....

Bit cheaper than the Diesel Achilles heal me thinks Robert!

[gumboot]

Glad you got if fixed alright Craig, it did sound like a supercharger under the bonnet....

The dreaded Petrol Prado Achilies heel strikes again....

[craigm]

Auto lekky reckons it was unrelated to the water crossings and that it was coincidental being more likely that the bearings were on their way out and the long days driving and conditions put them over the edge.. I beg to differ but that's what I told SWMBO and she bought it....

[DSS150]

Glad to hear it wasn't anyting more serious Craig.

[Trekrider]

Sounds like you were lucky there Craig After my last trip to the Powerlines I keep thinking mine has a slight whine but still not sure.

[craigm]

LCMP Antics!!!








Following some more-than-enthusiastic water crossings at LCMP last weekend, the Prado developed a whining noise at the front of the engine.
Nothing visible could be seen and at first I thought it may have been fan damage, but listening more carefully it sounded more like the alternator. I was unsure whether the force of the water had pushed debris into the alt scouring the stator or dislodging the brushes. The drive home had me listening to the noise all the way home. It sounded a bit like the whine of a supercharger (I wish!!!) As the Prado is SWMBO's daily drive, she wasn't keen on driving it with the noise so I made a few calls on the Monday after being quoted $780 for a genuine replacement alternator which was Ex Sydney and was given a referral by a mate of a good Auto electrician (turns out he's a Prado owner too! and was good enough to cancel a couple of appointments and he headed over. With his long screw driver, the diagnosis was worn out alternator bearings, so he pulled it out and took it back to his workshop. Before replacing the bearings he spun up the alternator and although the bearings were noisy, it was not the sole cause of the noise, so after taking the alternator apart and replacing the front and rear bearings and checking the condition of the rest of the alternator, returned to remove and check on the tensioner and idler pulleys. It was found that the bearings on the tensioner and No1 idler pulley was also stuffed, so they were both replaced with new items.
Total cost... much less than the price of a new alternator, which I dare say, had I taken to Toyota to repair, would've cost me that and some more...
So if anyone requires a good Auto Electrician on the Sthside of Brisbane, send me a PM and I'm more than happy to recommend Gordon who was a champion!

[craigm]

Thanks mjr. The front has now settled to 808/810. Pretty Happy with where it's sitting now.

[mjrandom]

Nice beastie.

[craigm]

The Grande sitting up on Lovers Hill at the Springs 4x4 Park last weekend.

[craigm]

Thats excellent Craig, I might have to look at this myself.

Was it expensive and where did you get it?

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/130978497347?ssPageName=STRK:null:IT

[Jeffers]

Thats excellent Craig, I might have to look at this myself.

Was it expensive and where did you get it?

[craigm]

The Tyredogs (well this model anyway) use external sensors screwed onto the valves Jeff.