toyota surf any known problems or comments?

[woodchopper]

Gents

I'm looking at purchasing a hilux surf either auto or manual but definitely diesel. Upon some reseach i have found that around 50% of the advertised vehicles have had engine rebuilds at low km (130,00-250,000km) What is the go with this?

Can anyone offer some advise on what to look for and if there are any major problems that reoccur in these vehicles. They seem to average around $9000 for a truck with 180,000 km, this seems to good to be true considering the competition (hilux, 4 runner, navara etc). What is the catch.

thanks
Beno

[Ryan.S]

Mate my brother is an auto electrician and strongly advised me against them when i was after one. Said they have alot of them in. I think he said they were hard to get parts for and expensive and some electrical problems. Sorry its a bit vague, i will call him and find out what the problem was for you. It was a few years ago now. Id be stickin with a hilux/4runner myself.

[MY-TopEnder]

oh i could be here for hours....

The short story is, that they were designed for Japan, therefor the cooling system isn't designed for aussie heat. SOME of them have problems with cracking heads.

The parts availability is a MYTH! 90% of parts are interchangable between Hilux and 4 Runner.

They are good trucks offroad, they aren't a powerhouse, but they're cheap now... The 3 litre models with a 1KZ-TFE have more issues with heads than the 2.4litre 2LT-E models.

Auto's will be better in the bush.

There are plenty you can do with them but you are limited by independant front suspension.

Things to watch out for-
- CV Boots
- Bubbling coolant when running
- Milky coolant
- Saggy suspension
- High kays...

High kays is an issue because they have a timing belt rather than a chain. The belts need doing every 150k, and can be costly if you can't do the labour yourself. Basically look at around $900ish for a workshop to do it, and the head swap to a 2.8 Hilux head is $2kish IF you do have a problem.

Any questions, feel free to PM me or even ring... 0438 708 435... been around these things 3 odd years and know them inside out.

[theclick]

Wish i only had to do my belts every 150,000. my dodgy old Subaru L needs it done every 80,000.

Before buying one just do a deacent check, take it for a good run and see if she overheats.

Strongly advise an RACQ or equivalent on site mech check

[CHRIS aka GWH]

i know there was a gov warning a year or two back because the jap side impact standards didn't comply with aussie regs & a lot had got into the market by that stage.

[MY-TopEnder]

I can't say i have heard of that one, but i do know i got a letter from the QLD Government advising me that Toyota Japan had issues a recall on the Surf model that i have stating that the steering rod was weak and COULD fail.

The problem being that Toyota Australia did not issue the recall so therefor would not offer the replacement foc. The same recall affected the Hilux model sold in Australia which were replaced.

The wanted $220 for the replacement part... IF you couldn't get it through the importer. Basically it is the importers responsibility to offer the claim.

I just plated mine up and its all good... it'll take a heck of a lot to break it now.

[FNQCairns]

Used to play around stockton beach, given it's proximity to sydney and newcastle lots of surfs ended up there, over the years 10 surfs to every 1 other with their bonnet up, you could count on it.

cheers fnq

[gone_fishing]

as mentioned above they have cooling probs once they get hot they grag big ends
have seen a few with code computer probs that put them into limp mode
usally the switch on the fuel pump but it comes up code for somthing else
most poeple i know recomend against them
cause of issues that arise can be expensive

[bastard]

Hey my top ender i tried to send you a pm but i cant seem to work it out,as for surfs steer clear.:D

[woodchopper]

i seem to have enough info for a logical decision.
Thanks
Beno

[haggis]

I would steer clear from all of the jap imports . getting parts for them is hard .
If you have to order the parts from Japan if thay are wrong when they get here due to language barrier & part numbers from Japanese microfiche you get to keep them with no refund . the biggest problem with the surf cracking heads is due to the size of the radiator core . you can get a bigger flow radiator that cures this problem . talk to a radiator specialist . we had a surf in last week that has boiled itself twice , the first due to radiator blockage about two months ago , then last week it snapped the water pump shaft in two . the customer brought it in thinking it had an exhaust leak not realising that it was overheating & losing coolant . the car has been fixed & is still running fine .
cheers fae haggis .............................................