Anyone know about Hilux Surfs?

[Matthew]

I have been offered a 93 diesel auto Surf with 270k on it for $4000 with RWC. It has had the head replaced and the tranny reconditioned in the last couple of years, and has "all the bells and whistles" so I'm hoping it has the recaro seats and is new enough to have the 1kz.

I'm going to go look at it in the next few days, what should I keep an eye out for and what goes wrong with them?

[gwagensteve]

There's quite a lot of appeal in a Surf, however, if it's 2L-T I'd run away. They're a pretty average motor.

There aren't many points to watch for. They're hard to get the front shock valving right (and the Japanese spec cars are very softly sprung and valved IMHO and the chain drive transfer can be a bit of a weak link.

I think the Recaro interior is harder to find with the 1Kz.

Steve.

[Matthew]

Thanks Steve.

Is there a particular issue with the 2L-t? Or is it just that it's underpowered? I need a replacement for the Ford reasonably quickly, so could still be tempted providing it not horrendously underpowered.

I don't plan on making any hektic mods so the front suspension and transfer case should be fine for me.

[lbzook]

93 should be old enough for a 1kz, but may still be a 2l-te. The recaro interior is fairly rare, but the standard seats are still pretty cushy.
As Steve said, the 2l-te is horribly underpowered stock, I've heard of people tweeking up the boost to try to milk some more power, however that plays badly for the other problem with that motor, they love to do head gaskets.
1kz's are a whole different car to drive, way more power that the 2l-te, but fuel economy isn't fantastic (12-15L per 100).
The main thing to look out for with the 1kz is the fuel pump. They notoriously give up around and above 200k. A second hand spare will set you back around 1k plus labour, and a rebuild runs about 2.5-3k.
Other that that they're a pretty decent little unit.

[gwagensteve]

They're underpowered, eat cylinder heads, they're basically a JDM only motor (they had some strange early efi on them that wasn't sold on the local 2l-t which was only used in the bundera, and I think all up you'd be buying a money pit. At 22 years old that motor is going to be past it. Far from Toyota's best work.

KZ is cool.

Factor in some front shocks, especially if they look to be stockers. Check for poor panel repair. Japanese panel repairs seem to all be lousy. Make sure everything works, especially air conditioning, the electric rear window and look for evidence of sunroof leaks if it has one (as many do)

I like them. I learnt to drive in a 91 V6 4 runner (same same) and still consider that model a high point of Toyota design in the KZ variant.

Steve.

[Matthew]

2L-t is out then.

The fuel pump on 1KZ scares me a little, do they give any early warning signs when starting to go?

Leaks/rust may be an issue with this particular car. I have since found out the DS rear window motor works intermittently and the rubber surround falls when it does.

I'll have a look over the weekend and see if it's as good as the owner says.

[lbzook]

They start getting harder and harder to start from cold, the longer it's been sitting the harder it gets to start.
If you go and look this weekend, see if you can organise for it to not have been started that day. If it's suspect then it'll be a PITA to start from dead cold.

[Matthew]

I found out a bit more, it is the 1KZ. Both rear windows and the tailgate motor are suspect, the tailgate rubber is loose and when it works the tailgate window sometimes jams, and the rear diff was replaced last year. I get the feeling maintenance might not have been a high priority.

The guy has also decided his nephew who no longer wanted the car now wants to pay more than the original asking price

It seems to have had a lot of failures for a car with relatively low kms, and increasing the price isn't cool. Unless the guy calls back with a reasonable price I'm going to look elsewhere.

If anyone knows of an auto smallish 4wd in reasonable condition I'm looking.

Thanks for the advice guys, much appreciated.

[gwagensteve]

That sort of stuff sounds pretty normal for the age and (initial) price.

Just for the record, $1k for a second hand fuel pump or $2.5k for a rebuild is about right regardless of the Diesel engine. Pretty much all small diesels run a version of the Bosch P or VE pump, so rebuild costs are the same. I was quoted those same figures over 10 years ago to rebuild the P pump in the Gwagen.

[Matthew]

I had no idea diesel fuel pumps were that expensive. Even though I mainly drive diesels at work I am a complete newb when it comes to the mechanical side of them.

The rwc should be running out pretty soon so with a bit of luck the guy will come to his senses.