Head gasket special

[wuvvum]

I acquired this yesterday as part of a slightly convoluted deal with a mate.

 

 

It's an Estima Enema Lucida or something along those lines. It's a 4-wheel drive model, and it's got the infamous 2.2 TD engine and auto 'box. It doesn't get hot though, and it hasn't used any water so far. It's also quite nice to drive - a bit more grunt than the Townace, and a lot less wallowy. It's also chock full of gadgets, including fluorescent lights in the back and a mahoosive sliding glass roof, and an auxiliary heater which works independently of engine heat.

 

It's actually quite a likeable thing. I'm not expecting the fuel economy to be fantastic, but it shouldn't be too bad, and it's big enough to use as a van with the seats taken out. It's got a big ole sliding door on the nearside as well. I still can't quite fathom why non-buggered ones make such a lot of money though - I would have thought a Galaxy TDi would be just as useful, and a lot more reliable. Still, if I can keep it un-buggered then hopefully I can turn this to my advantage come selling time...

[Spottedlaurel]

I followed a UK-spec Previa for a while yesterday, it was a G-reg. Couldn't believe it was 20 years old.

 

Hope you keep clear of HG woes with yours.

[Station]

My dad had one, they're pretty amazing, they're HUGE inside.

If you need the jack/toolkit, it's under the panel next to the side door. Mine had never been used, because nobody could find it ("a common problem").

Me dad's had the fridge/warmer under the dashboard, sun/moon rooves, rear mirror, twin side doors, and a TV. It did about 17mpg.

[pogweasel]

Get it flogged!

[Milford Cubicle]

I'm sure the persistent HGF issues with these grey imports is due more to the owners than the cars.

[CreepingJesus]

Tidy; with 6 kids, and two bloody great big greyhounds, I could certainly use one of these. Or the Mitsubishi Delica, of which there are a few hereabouts.

How does it drive tho'? Like a truck, or is it better than that?

[warren t claim]

I must admit I looked into buying an Es-steamer with the former Mrs Claim but after the multitude of unfixable faults the Townace suffered we went down the Tourneo route.

[Station]

They drive fine, like a more 'civilised version of a Transit'*, due to 'having an engine in the middle, giving a low centre of gravity'*

 

 

(â„¢ copyright all crappy, predictable motor journalists).

[Pillock]

Sadly they just have a MASSIVE image problem, thanks to being the wagon of choice for anyone who sees the Jeremy Kyle Show as a valid entry into the showbiz lifestyle. So yeah, the HG issues are more likely down to the fact most of the owners have spent all their giro on wifebeater, nappies for their 15 kids, and oven chips and not things like routine servicing.

 

It inevitably goes tits-up, they lob it on ebay blaming everyone but themselves, and it becomes a common problem.

 

See also: Rover K-series.

[warren t claim]

Sadly they just have a MASSIVE image problem, thanks to being the wagon of choice for anyone who sees the Jeremy Kyle Show as a valid entry into the showbiz lifestyle. So yeah, the HG issues are more likely down to the fact most of the owners have spent all their giro on wifebeater, nappies for their 15 kids, and oven chips and not things like routine servicing.

 

It inevitably goes tits-up, they lob it on ebay blaming everyone but themselves, and it becomes a common problem.

 

See also: Rover K-series.

LOLZZZZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rusty Pelican]

My neighbour has one which did blow the H/G , not sure exactly which donkey it had but the head cracked in two places ,Another Engine got off ebay , wrong one though , looked the sameish but wouldnt fit , He managed to get another head from somewhere and it now seems OK , Pig to work on he recons , especially an engine change

[58classiccars]

bloody hell wuvvum, must have been a good mate

[Des]

I'm guessing the HG rep has been earned from lack of maintenance, has anyone seen one of these with a freshly blown gasket and was the cooling system having to make do with rusty sploodge. Toyota A/F was a pink ready mixed piss called 'Forlife', but no A/F is for life, anti corrosion inhibitors will go soft. Good advice with any old car is to change all fluids, and given the nice quality coolant rubberware found in Jap stuff, what you drain from the rad could be original, maybe worth flushing?

I've had a Toyota overheat on me, I'd bought it needing a headgasket, fixed it up and used it every day, after about 9 months, sat in motorway queue on a hot day for a couple of hours and up went the gauge, I found the radiator fan viscous coupling was slightly weak, but only a problem after an hour plus of stop start, so that's what caused the HG to pop before I bought the thing, and would have popped the HG every summer thereafter if allowed. Although common opinion was that 'those gaskets go because they're a shit engine innit.'

[Guest]

I think it was called "Forlife" because you had to use it for life, rather than that you could keep it in for life.

[Station]

The problem is, the engine is under the front seats. I got access in about 10 minutes, it's easy to get to. Can't imagine it'd be easy for some random person not into doing that though.

[Milford Cubicle]

The problem is, the engine is under the front seats. I got access in about 10 minutes, it's easy to get to. Can't imagine it'd be easy for some random person not into doing that though.

If it's like the Previa, I imagine it is, Toyota have placed all the reservoirs under the 'bonnet' at the front, even the oil dipstick is there.