Head problems...the truth.

[ribeiro]

Originally Posted by Timberwolf

Lets find out the real truth about head problems. As stated before we get an unbalanced view as only those who have problems post on here. All the others with no problems say nothing, So people thinking of buying one of these buses visit the site and only see the problems ones being talked about.

So lets get a balanced view.

the problem mix wateer in red toyota antifrezeer

[Merlin]

I came to the club at the recomendation of Paul9 when I got the bus from him. I then became a regular visitor when I needed a new head and felt so at home I never left. Mine went on holiday and got it fixed by Gary at GT Motors.

[walbor]

I've had my '92 4wd for 4 years now - had 97000km when I bought it and now has 152000km on the clock-still going strong.

[Aerasmus]

i bought my 'bus - a fresh import with 77k miles on the clock - after finding this forum, so i went in with my eyes open. it's true that i am nervous about the head going, but at the end of the day i was incredibly impressed with the passion for the estima that is evident here and indeed elsewhere on the net. i mean - it can't be any worse than the 2000 espace 2.2 dci i made the mistake of buying in 2005, can it?

i'm about to change the radiator and coolant (i'm sticking with toyota red - as god intended!) in the hope that an extra 150 squid of investment now will help keep the gremlins at bay. that said, i have already set up a sinking fund in the event of head failure. fingers are crossed.

[Koma]

Ours went at about 195000ks, used to do about 3000ks evry chrismas fully loaded. Done lots of long hot runs, plus the usuall around town rubbish, dragged trailers and allsorts, generally its been thrashed. We got it in 98 (its a 94) at 35000ks. The coolent had NEVER been changed until the head cracked, when the radiator was cleaned out the guy took a photo of it it was that bad, he reckoned 80-90% blocked. Wacked a 750NZ dollar head on it 10000ks ago and shes still going alright.If we get another year out of the old girl we'll be happy.

[abnfto]

When looking for an MPV I found on the Smartgroups forum (predecessor to this forum?) an Estima for sale with a cracked head. I bought it as it was cheap and repaired and used for a year before buying my current Estima off the same forum and also with a cracked head and thus cheap. I repaired this one in early 2004 with a welded up head which lasted 3.5 years before it too cracked. I replaced with a brand new genuine Toyota head.

[windigo]

Can this poll be modified to show what percentage of the head failures had towbars fitted?.

[Timberwolf]

Originally Posted by windigo

Can this poll be modified to show what percentage of the head failures had towbars fitted?.

I'm not sure if this would help in any provable manner. Mine has a tow bar fitted, but I only pull a trailer. Some of us pull trailer Tents, some small caravans and some great big caravans.
It would be hard to pin it down if towing was causing it, as a cracked head can take a while for it to become bad enough for it to be noticed. So saying it happened whilst towing would be a problem to prove.

We would also need to know how often towing took place over a year and the type of terrain covered. Dragging a trailer down m/ways would be easy on the engine compared to dragging a caravan around the Scottish highlands

If posters wish to add if they tow, then feel free to add it to your postings, you never know a pattern might emerge.

[wookie]

Had ours nearly 3 years now
had 113,000 km when bought, now done nearly 160,000 km
still using original radiator and Toyota red coolant.
it does lots of short trips running the mrs to work and kids around to local clubs, with longer journys from time to time.
We do tow a caravan (and don't have an additional oil cooler fitted).

We recently did 2000 miles in a week when we went to Scotland (without the caravan) including 2 trips of over 600 miles in a day (one there, one back).

I don't stick to the service intervals, getting it done around every 10,000 km by Bob.

It still starts first time every time and drives fine.

I think too much can be read in to the milage of these as may of them will do hours on tickover while the owners go shopping etc. in order to run the aircon. So you could have a low milage one that's done thousands of hours.
As with most cars there is an element of luck and as already mentioned the stats will be skewed by the fact many people will have come looking for help because their head has gone.

p.s. I'll now be back next week telling you all how my head had gone and it'll be all your fault for causing me to write this

[mr mince]

Originally Posted by wookie

I think too much can be read in to the milage of these as may of them will do hours on tickover while the owners go shopping etc. in order to run the aircon. So you could have a low milage one that's done thousands of hours.

One thing I've never understood why a car is listed in mileage a lot of other stuff is working hours. Makes more sense to me.