Previa Problems

[old man]

Hi Im new to previa world i bought my N reg previa 2.4 Auto petrol 5 weeks ago and and having problems already. :( it smokes badly white smoke its like a fog machine on start up for about ten to fifteen minutes then clears on idle which also seems high at 1200 to 1500rpm untill warm this is every start up even if its been turned off for 10mins 1hour 8hrs, i also have a problem with the coolant side i have to top the header tank up once a week, i had a good feel of the pipes today and feels like rust in them all of them so going to strip at the weekend and give a good flush out and give it an oil change with new filter as the oil filler cap on engine looks a bit gunky but dip stick is fine. Please help i bought this vehicle nowing how good toyota's are for reliability and i needed a good mpv and this fit the bill please someone help.

[Parts-King]

I fear that loss of coolant, white smoke (probably steam) and a gunkey oil filler look like leading to a head gasket failure. Get it to your dealer or local repairer for further investigation

Kingo

[propnut]

Please help i bought this vehicle nowing how good toyota's are for reliability and i needed a good mpv and this fit the bill please someone help.

Yes but what no one has told you is that these particular Toyota's are well known for blowing head gaskets. As Parts King has suggested best you get it looked at before it overheats badly.

Word of advice the engine does NOT need to come out to do this job so don't let anyone con you that it does just to make a few extra bob.

I did a high level guide on how to do this job here.

http://www.previaowners.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=164

I am not suggesting you try as clearly by virtue of the fact that you were unable to diagnose this yourself I think it may be fair to say cars are not your forte. However it should give you an idea of what's involved so you can better gauge whether the quote you are given and the description of work is fair.

[old man]

Ok i have been qouted £450 if nothings wrong if i need a recon head where can i purchase one and how much are these going to set me back.

Alan

[propnut]

Ok i have been qouted £450 if nothings wrong if i need a recon head where can i purchase one and how much are these going to set me back.

Alan

That sounds like a very good price as it is a swine of a job and I wouldn't do it for that. Anyhow the chances of the head being cracked are highly remote as these are extremely tough heads unlike the diesel models that crack heads just for fun. Unless you have seriously overheated the car which it doesn't sound like you have then a new head won't be required just a decent gasket set.

[old man]

Apart from not driving it as this would be vertually imposible is there anything i can do in the mean time for a couple of weeks while i rise the cash and get it booked in for the repair

Alan

[propnut]

Apart from not driving it as this would be vertually imposible is there anything i can do in the mean time for a couple of weeks while i rise the cash and get it booked in for the repair

Alan

Well you have two choices

1. The correct choice which is not to drive it.

2. To continue to drive it but keep 10 litres of DISTILLED water AND a big welders glove or large leather cloth in the car at all times. WATCH the temp gauge very very carefully until you can get the car fixed. if the temp gauge goes anywhere past 10 oclock stop the car immediately and wait for it to cool down by letting it idle. Only switch off the car if the gauge continues to rise into the red. Once the temp comes down switch off the car and wait a bit then carefully, using either the glove or leather cloth remove the radiator cap. Start the car again and SLOWLY pour water into the expansion bottle.

NOTE : - and take this very seriously. If the car overheats badly and you pour cold water into the car without following the above procedure there is a very high chance that you will crack the head. Remember if you pour something very cold onto something very hot the hot item will crack.

Best of luck