New Car - Many questions

[greybeard]

Hi guys & Gals. Have now taken delivery of my 1993 2nd Gen? Surf, 2.4TD auto. New head appears fine (at the moment).
However, a few niggling bits I need answers to: (have tried searching forum for answers but no luck so far - or I may just be stupid!)

1) I only have L4 and H4 on my transfer lever (no H2), with a '4WD' button on the side. When said button is pressed I can hear a clicking noise but nothing comes up on the dash to tell me if I'm in 4WD or not. Maybe the dash indicator light is faulty or maybe not. How can I tell? Does this also mean I can swith between 2WD & 4WD even in low ratio?

2) Small hub caps on rear wheels say they are 'automatic.. ' something. What does this mean?

3) There is what looks like a silver 'donut' shape underneath in the centre of the car with a driveshaft coming out each end - is this the centre diff? If it is, is it still recommended to have 'free wheel hubs' fitted to the front?

4) Air con doesn't work and local garage is unable to get it done. Anyone know where and how easy it is to get it re-gassed? ( I live in mid-wales)

5) Nowhere in the owners manual does it mention tyre pressures, tyre sizes etc. Any ideas? (can't look at tyres as I'm at work at the mo)

All help gratefully accepted.

[BUSHWHACKER]

Hi guys & Gals. Have now taken delivery of my 1993 2nd Gen? Surf, 2.4TD auto. New head appears fine (at the moment).
However, a few niggling bits I need answers to: (have tried searching forum for answers but no luck so far - or I may just be stupid!)

1) I only have L4 and H4 on my transfer lever (no H2), with a '4WD' button on the side. When said button is pressed I can hear a clicking noise but nothing comes up on the dash to tell me if I'm in 4WD or not. Maybe the dash indicator light is faulty or maybe not. How can I tell? Does this also mean I can swith between 2WD & 4WD even in low ratio?

2) Small hub caps on rear wheels say they are 'automatic.. ' something. What does this mean?

3) There is what looks like a silver 'donut' shape underneath in the centre of the car with a driveshaft coming out each end - is this the centre diff? If it is, is it still recommended to have 'free wheel hubs' fitted to the front?

4) Air con doesn't work and local garage is unable to get it done. Anyone know where and how easy it is to get it re-gassed? ( I live in mid-wales)

5) Nowhere in the owners manual does it mention tyre pressures, tyre sizes etc. Any ideas? (can't look at tyres as I'm at work at the mo)

All help gratefully accepted.

H2 is standard 2wd with no buttons pressed,
4wd light comes on with button pressed in , you have to drive a couple of yards for it to engage/illuminate,
When you put small lever into L4/H4, it automaticly engages 4wd.
Not sure about the hub caps,(I aint got them)
Thats the transfer case. free wheeling hubs are supposed to reduce fuel consumption a little.
Aircon needs to be looked at by an auto aircon specialist,may need some minor mods to run on 'environmentaly friendly gass'
Tyre pressures, 32 or 33 psi all round is about the norm.

[NiftyNev]

(1) I have a manual so will leave that up to Auto owners
(2) Automatic Disconnecting Differential.There should be 4 caps with original alloys.Two will have this on and two will be plain.The marked ones are for the front although they fit all wheels.
(3) I thought centre diffs were only found on third generation.Never heard of a 2.4 with a centre diff.
(4) n/a
(5) Try asearch for the - 4PSI Rule - and do some experimenting with your pressure.The tyre placard should be on pillar at rear of drivers door.

Neville

[BUSHWHACKER]

(1) I have a manual so will leave that up to Auto owners
(2) Automatic Disconnecting Differential.There should be 4 caps with original alloys.Two will have this on and two will be plain.The marked ones are for the front although they fit all wheels.
(3) I thought centre diffs were only found on third generation.Never heard of a 2.4 with a centre diff.
(4) n/a
(5) Try asearch for the - 4PSI Rule - and do some experimenting with your pressure.The tyre placard should be on pillar at rear of drivers door.

Neville

Yes, sorry Nev. I meant to say transfer case.
consider my wrist well and truly slapped.

[greybeard]

More questions

>

H2 is standard 2wd with no buttons pressed,
>4wd light comes on with button pressed in , you have to drive a couple of >yards for it to engage/illuminate,

Hmmm, no light comes on even if I drive a few miles!!

>Thats the transfer case. free wheeling hubs are supposed to reduce fuel >consumption a little.

Ahh that makes sense. My local 4x4 expert reckons a pair of freewheel hubs will cost me £56 each. Are they worth it?

>Aircon needs to be looked at by an auto aircon specialist,may need some >minor mods to run on 'environmentaly friendly gass'

Okay, will try & find one. They are a bit like rocking horse poo in these parts!

>Tyre pressures, 32 or 33 psi all round is about the norm.

Thanks for that. Rears had 32 & 30, fronts had 47 & 48!!!

Niftynev said:
>(2) Automatic Disconnecting Differential.There should be 4 caps with original >alloys.Two will have this on and two will be plain.The marked ones are for >the front although they fit all wheels.

Hmm, these are on the back wheels the plain ones on the front. Still know I know what they mean .....

>The tyre placard should be on pillar at rear of drivers door.
Doh!!! Its in Japanese and reads 260/70R15 1.9 (bar I guess)

Okay next question:

The Air intake pipe to the turbo was split and part of the deal was for them to replace it. However, they have used a large rubber hose to replace what I thought was a 'corrugated' i.e. rigid plastic pipe. Is this okay? My guess is at heavy loads the rubber hose will collapse under the vacuum resulting in a loss of power?

[NiftyNev]

The Air intake pipe to the turbo was split and part of the deal was for them to replace it. However, they have used a large rubber hose to replace what I thought was a 'corrugated' i.e. rigid plastic pipe. Is this okay? My guess is at heavy loads the rubber hose will collapse under the vacuum resulting in a loss of power?

This hose is corrugated not only to make it less prone to collapsing but also for flexibility.Lift the bonnet and have someone shut down the motor and see how much it shakes.A rigid rubber hose will not allow this flexibility and may end up damaging the plastic intake pipe or filter housing as it pushes and pulls on these.Tell them you want the proper part.

Neville

[greybeard]

This hose is corrugated not only to make it less prone to collapsing but also for flexibility.Lift the bonnet and have someone shut down the motor and see how much it shakes.A rigid rubber hose will not allow this flexibility and may end up damaging the plastic intake pipe or filter housing as it pushes and pulls on these.Tell them you want the proper part.

Neville

Thanks Nev. The rubber hose is quite flexible but its also soft, which is why I am concerned about it collapsing.

Will get onto them to get the correct part. I know they will ask, so where should I direct them to get the correct part?

On the subject of the 4WD button - when in "H4" pressing the 4WD button on side results in clicking noise, but no matter how long I drive, nothing shows on dashboard. How can I tell if she is in 4WD or not or whether its just a faulty bulb?

[BUSHWHACKER]

A new rubber convoluted hose from www.milneroffroad.com is around £24.

One way to check it 4wd is working is to take truck to a muddy or gravely surface, and get someone to see if your front wheels spin when you 'floor it'

[greybeard]

.....

One way to check it 4wd is working is to take truck to a muddy or gravely surface, and get someone to see if your front wheels spin when you 'floor it'

Heh heh, I shall look forward to doing that, hopefully with someone standing behind to catch the fallout!!