Does a Honda VFR fit into a Previa
"First time i fit my bike in there. It looks like a big dog between the front seat" - S. Sengamphan
 |
| Yes! Motorcycle fits in a Toyota Previa |
Showing posts with label Toyota Previa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Toyota Previa. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 16, 2021
Monday, June 21, 2021
Replace coolant in Toyota Previa, video
Replace coolant in Toyota Previa including drain plug locations
Put in 4 liters of Biltema Longlife (Etylen) and 4 liters of desalted and oxygenfree water. Which equal 8 liters.
8 liters was about as much as I got out of it also.
You have to remove the shield sourounding the oilpan. It also helps to remove the shield so get access to the oilfilter. Atleast if you have some bad bults in the oilpan shield.
There are 2 drain plugs. 1 under the front cooler and 1 on the engine, besides the oilpan. Behind the oilfilter, looking from the front.
See video below how I did it, for more info.
Replace coolant in Toyota Previa including drain plug locations
Date: 2021-06-08
Wednesday, February 17, 2021
Previa in Schwitzerland!
Got a message from Jeton from Schwitzerland. He's a fan of the Previa also. Kindly he sent me some pictures of his 4 wheel drive Previa GL from 1998. It looks to be in great condition.
He also installed a big screen car stereo with DAB and USB.
He tells med it's getting new 15W-40 mineral oil.
Nice to see some other peoples Previa, thank you Jeton!
 |
| This Previa 4WD Looks to be in prestige condition! |
 |
| Nice big screen stereo! |
Thursday, February 20, 2020
Toyota Previa blow head gaskets . Problem, very good article!
Scotty Kilmers tips further down in video (about the cooling system).
This is where I found it, since It's not there anymore I decided to put it up on the Internet again:
http://www.ebay.com/gds/Owning-a-Toyota-Previa-Estima-Lucida-Emina-/10000000004429796/g.html
Owning a Toyota Previa/Estima/Lucida/Emina
a. The wide body Previa is the most spacious MPV on the market without a doubt (and yes I have driven the Chrysler Grand Voyager and Kia Sedona)
b. Very comfortable to drive
c. Drive very well if looked after.
d. These are back wheel drive so no CV joint/boot issues as with the other MPV's on the market. (although the independent suspension models do have rear CV boots but as these run in one plane of motion they are pretty durable.) Actually one exception to this is the 4x4 versions that have CV joints on the front driveshafts.
e. On the 8 seaters the rear seats fold down into a double bed.....very cool (7 seater variants are a bit limited when the rear seats are up)
f. With all seats occupied there is still plenty of luggage space in the boot.
g. Because of the space between the rear most seats and the rear window your passengers will be unlikely to suffer head injury if you are rear ended.
The bad points
1. The Petrol versions are known to blow head gaskets although this is not that common and spares are readily available.
2. The diesel versions are well known for cracking cylinder heads, this is an expense issue to have resolved and can cost upwards of £1000
3. Getting insurance on the imports can be expensive although this is changing as imports are becoming more common. Shop around and take a look at the bottom of this guide.
4. There are NO official English workshop manuals available for the imports but do a search on Ebay for various offerings. There is a Genuine Toyota manual for the 3C-TE diesel engine but as this book was based on the Corolla there are some subtle but important differences.
5. You may have trouble finding garages that will repair the imports and this includes some Toyota agents.
6. Spares for the Imports ( Anything with ESTIMA in the name) are mostly only available from Ebay and Toyota but Toyota can be expensive. Some head gaskets sold are incorrect for these vehicles. NOTE: - The diesel engine used in the IMPORTS is also used in other Toyota's BUT the head gasket is very specific to the car in which the engine is installed. Put the wrong one in, whilst it may fit, and it will cause the head to crack again but sooner rather than later
So yours is running fine and you are quite happy with it. Great here are some points to try and keep it that way.
1. Change the radiator NOW. I don't care if it is ok, trust me on this one for £70 it is well worth doing. This goes for the Petrol and Diesels.
2. At the same time change the Thermostat
3. Change the coolant on a regular basis, every 50K miles.
4. Keep the car serviced regularly as per manufacturers guidelines.
5. Keep an eye on your temp gauge
6. Check the coolant regularly, if it starts dropping on a regular and alarming basis have a pressure test and a combustible gas test done on the car immediately. This is a sure sign that on the Petrol's the head gasket is on its way out and on the Diesels the head & gasket are on their way out.
Having said that though, change the radiator cap first. This is something most people overlook but they do go over time and release pressure before they should (13psi) and water loss is the result.7. DO NOT put tap water in the radiator. Take a look at your kettle, if that happens in your engine you are on your way to a big repair bill. Buy distilled or deionised water or get rain water from your water butt if you have one. Always have a bottle of antifreeze available and mix 50% water with 50% antifreeze and put this in the radiator. You can also buy premix antifreeze to make your life easier.
8. At least once a week check the oil level and whilst at it take off the oil filler cap and look inside. If there is a milky white substance DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR ------ CALL YOUR MECHANIC9. Personally if I had just bought a diesel Estima/Emina/Lucida, the first thing I would do is to take off the cylinder head check it and if ok, fit a new head gasket and thoroughly flush the cooling system and install a new thermostat and radiator. This may sound extreme but £80 for a new gasket is cheaper than £500 for a new head and incredibly good value for peace of mind.
As for the rest of the car maintain it the way you would any other, but note the shock absorbers need changing relatively frequently as these are heavy cars. So if when you dive into a corner the car feels like you are sailing a ship, then this is a sure sign that they are going or gone.
Firstly bummer DUDE !!!
Ok what to do really depends on what you have done. If the car overheated badly i.e. YOU WEREN'Twatching the gauge. I commiserate with you and will send flowers.
Here's the deal. Heat is your enemy!!!!!! Heat causes expansion, expansion causes friction, friction causes more heat, more heat and friction cause wear, wear causes component failure. Its really a simple equation. The hotter the car ran and the longer it ran like this the more things are going to be knackered. If however you were being a good little boy or girl and were watching the gauge and pulled over right away and called the little man from the AA or RAC then well done, you have saved yourself a lot of money.
When the AA/RAC man arrives DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES LET THE MUPPET PUT COLD WATER INTO THE ENGINE......PLEEEEEEASE. Yes I know they are qualified mechanics but sometimes they don't think. If you put something cold onto something very hot it will crack and this will negate all the good work you have done pulling over. Wrestle him and his container of water to the ground if need be until he agrees to tow you home.
NOTE: - BOTH A HAYNES AND CHILTON WORKSHOP MANUAL ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE PREVIA'S. I RECOMMEND THE CHILTON BUT EITHER WAY BUY ONE OR BETTER YET BUY BOTH
Petrol engines
Ok, these are relatively simple. The most likely cause is a blown radiator or stuck thermostat-- Best case-- or blown head gasket --- Worst case. The first two are simple enough to fix and I would try these first before delving into the engine.
If it appears that the head gasket has failed the head will have to come off and a new gasket fitted. This can be done with the engine in situ so don't let anyone convince you to pay more to have the engine removed. Once off the head should be checked for cracks but this is unlikely on the petrols. Warpage is however possible so the head should be checked for this and if need be skimmed. It should then be cleaned and resurfaced as should the block. This ensure that the new gasket has good purchase. Whilst the head is off I would thoroughly recommend that you have the valves reseated and new valve stem seals fitted at the same time. A FULL top end gasket set should be bought and all gaskets replaced. It is false economy not to do this as eventually you will be revisiting these gaskets if you don't. You MUST buy NEW CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS!!!!!!
Word of advice, if you are doing the job yourself take pictures of all the tubes and pipes so you know where these go when the time comes to reassemble!!That's it, reassemble and you have a nice car again.
Well the same process should be followed as with the petrols but here it is highly likely that the head will be cracked and even if it isn't I would recommend you have it pressure tested and if need be welded. Best case scenario is a new head. DO NOT USE A SECOND HAND HEAD!!!, really this is a big job and you don't want to do it twice because you decided to be a Scrooge. I cannot advise whether or not to buy a genuine Toyota head as in my mind the genuine Toyota one is the one that has just cracked so why would another one of theirs be any better, so this I will leave up to you to decide, however a Toyota head gasket is probably wise.
If you choose to buy an after market gasket the thing to watch for is the water ways in the gasket. Make sure you strip your head first and keep the old gasket to compare. Make 4000% sure that the gaskets, new and old are identical in every respect before fitting. ONCE AGAIN BUY NEW BOLTS.
IF IT APPEARS THAT ONLY THE HEAD IS AT FAULT DO NOT LET ANYONE CONVINCE YOU TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. ALL THE ENGINES ON EBAY ARE USED........BETTER THE DEVIL YOU KNOW.
Here again reassemble and drive with a smile.
Now what if you were a silly Muppet and drove a long way with the car in the RED. TUT TUTWell chances are you now need a new engine, as almost certainly either your liners, pistons, rings or all three will now be knackered. I doubt you will find a new engine so your only recourse will be one of the used ones off Ebay but remember that these are pretty much all second hand so make sure you get a decent warranty.
If you have an Estima/Lucida or Emina you would be wise to join the www.estima-motoring.co.uk forum. Here you will find help and advice as well as information as to where to get spares and even discount on Insurace.
------------------------ --------------
This is where I found it, since It's not there anymore I decided to put it up on the Internet again:
http://www.ebay.com/gds/Owning-a-Toyota-Previa-Estima-Lucida-Emina-/10000000004429796/g.html
Owning a Toyota Previa/Estima/Lucida/Emina
August 12, 2008
This guide pertains to ONLY 1990 - 1999 models.
The good pointsa. The wide body Previa is the most spacious MPV on the market without a doubt (and yes I have driven the Chrysler Grand Voyager and Kia Sedona)
b. Very comfortable to drive
c. Drive very well if looked after.
d. These are back wheel drive so no CV joint/boot issues as with the other MPV's on the market. (although the independent suspension models do have rear CV boots but as these run in one plane of motion they are pretty durable.) Actually one exception to this is the 4x4 versions that have CV joints on the front driveshafts.
e. On the 8 seaters the rear seats fold down into a double bed.....very cool (7 seater variants are a bit limited when the rear seats are up)
f. With all seats occupied there is still plenty of luggage space in the boot.
g. Because of the space between the rear most seats and the rear window your passengers will be unlikely to suffer head injury if you are rear ended.
The bad points
1. The Petrol versions are known to blow head gaskets although this is not that common and spares are readily available.
2. The diesel versions are well known for cracking cylinder heads, this is an expense issue to have resolved and can cost upwards of £1000
3. Getting insurance on the imports can be expensive although this is changing as imports are becoming more common. Shop around and take a look at the bottom of this guide.
4. There are NO official English workshop manuals available for the imports but do a search on Ebay for various offerings. There is a Genuine Toyota manual for the 3C-TE diesel engine but as this book was based on the Corolla there are some subtle but important differences.
5. You may have trouble finding garages that will repair the imports and this includes some Toyota agents.
6. Spares for the Imports ( Anything with ESTIMA in the name) are mostly only available from Ebay and Toyota but Toyota can be expensive. Some head gaskets sold are incorrect for these vehicles. NOTE: - The diesel engine used in the IMPORTS is also used in other Toyota's BUT the head gasket is very specific to the car in which the engine is installed. Put the wrong one in, whilst it may fit, and it will cause the head to crack again but sooner rather than later
So yours is running fine and you are quite happy with it. Great here are some points to try and keep it that way.
1. Change the radiator NOW. I don't care if it is ok, trust me on this one for £70 it is well worth doing. This goes for the Petrol and Diesels.
2. At the same time change the Thermostat
3. Change the coolant on a regular basis, every 50K miles.
4. Keep the car serviced regularly as per manufacturers guidelines.
5. Keep an eye on your temp gauge
6. Check the coolant regularly, if it starts dropping on a regular and alarming basis have a pressure test and a combustible gas test done on the car immediately. This is a sure sign that on the Petrol's the head gasket is on its way out and on the Diesels the head & gasket are on their way out.
Having said that though, change the radiator cap first. This is something most people overlook but they do go over time and release pressure before they should (13psi) and water loss is the result.7. DO NOT put tap water in the radiator. Take a look at your kettle, if that happens in your engine you are on your way to a big repair bill. Buy distilled or deionised water or get rain water from your water butt if you have one. Always have a bottle of antifreeze available and mix 50% water with 50% antifreeze and put this in the radiator. You can also buy premix antifreeze to make your life easier.
8. At least once a week check the oil level and whilst at it take off the oil filler cap and look inside. If there is a milky white substance DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR ------ CALL YOUR MECHANIC9. Personally if I had just bought a diesel Estima/Emina/Lucida, the first thing I would do is to take off the cylinder head check it and if ok, fit a new head gasket and thoroughly flush the cooling system and install a new thermostat and radiator. This may sound extreme but £80 for a new gasket is cheaper than £500 for a new head and incredibly good value for peace of mind.
As for the rest of the car maintain it the way you would any other, but note the shock absorbers need changing relatively frequently as these are heavy cars. So if when you dive into a corner the car feels like you are sailing a ship, then this is a sure sign that they are going or gone.
OK SO THE DREADED HAS HAPPENED - THE CAR IS OVERHEATING --- NOW WHAT ???
Firstly bummer DUDE !!!
Ok what to do really depends on what you have done. If the car overheated badly i.e. YOU WEREN'Twatching the gauge. I commiserate with you and will send flowers.
Here's the deal. Heat is your enemy!!!!!! Heat causes expansion, expansion causes friction, friction causes more heat, more heat and friction cause wear, wear causes component failure. Its really a simple equation. The hotter the car ran and the longer it ran like this the more things are going to be knackered. If however you were being a good little boy or girl and were watching the gauge and pulled over right away and called the little man from the AA or RAC then well done, you have saved yourself a lot of money.
Steps upon failure.
When the AA/RAC man arrives DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES LET THE MUPPET PUT COLD WATER INTO THE ENGINE......PLEEEEEEASE. Yes I know they are qualified mechanics but sometimes they don't think. If you put something cold onto something very hot it will crack and this will negate all the good work you have done pulling over. Wrestle him and his container of water to the ground if need be until he agrees to tow you home.
NOTE: - BOTH A HAYNES AND CHILTON WORKSHOP MANUAL ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE PREVIA'S. I RECOMMEND THE CHILTON BUT EITHER WAY BUY ONE OR BETTER YET BUY BOTH
Petrol engines
Ok, these are relatively simple. The most likely cause is a blown radiator or stuck thermostat-- Best case-- or blown head gasket --- Worst case. The first two are simple enough to fix and I would try these first before delving into the engine.
If it appears that the head gasket has failed the head will have to come off and a new gasket fitted. This can be done with the engine in situ so don't let anyone convince you to pay more to have the engine removed. Once off the head should be checked for cracks but this is unlikely on the petrols. Warpage is however possible so the head should be checked for this and if need be skimmed. It should then be cleaned and resurfaced as should the block. This ensure that the new gasket has good purchase. Whilst the head is off I would thoroughly recommend that you have the valves reseated and new valve stem seals fitted at the same time. A FULL top end gasket set should be bought and all gaskets replaced. It is false economy not to do this as eventually you will be revisiting these gaskets if you don't. You MUST buy NEW CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS!!!!!!
Word of advice, if you are doing the job yourself take pictures of all the tubes and pipes so you know where these go when the time comes to reassemble!!That's it, reassemble and you have a nice car again.
Diesels
Well the same process should be followed as with the petrols but here it is highly likely that the head will be cracked and even if it isn't I would recommend you have it pressure tested and if need be welded. Best case scenario is a new head. DO NOT USE A SECOND HAND HEAD!!!, really this is a big job and you don't want to do it twice because you decided to be a Scrooge. I cannot advise whether or not to buy a genuine Toyota head as in my mind the genuine Toyota one is the one that has just cracked so why would another one of theirs be any better, so this I will leave up to you to decide, however a Toyota head gasket is probably wise.
If you choose to buy an after market gasket the thing to watch for is the water ways in the gasket. Make sure you strip your head first and keep the old gasket to compare. Make 4000% sure that the gaskets, new and old are identical in every respect before fitting. ONCE AGAIN BUY NEW BOLTS.
IF IT APPEARS THAT ONLY THE HEAD IS AT FAULT DO NOT LET ANYONE CONVINCE YOU TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. ALL THE ENGINES ON EBAY ARE USED........BETTER THE DEVIL YOU KNOW.
Here again reassemble and drive with a smile.
Now what if you were a silly Muppet and drove a long way with the car in the RED. TUT TUTWell chances are you now need a new engine, as almost certainly either your liners, pistons, rings or all three will now be knackered. I doubt you will find a new engine so your only recourse will be one of the used ones off Ebay but remember that these are pretty much all second hand so make sure you get a decent warranty.
If you have an Estima/Lucida or Emina you would be wise to join the www.estima-motoring.co.uk forum. Here you will find help and advice as well as information as to where to get spares and even discount on Insurace.
Friday, November 1, 2019
Toyota Previa Camper, conversion
Micro Campervan
Eric Petersen has made the most beautiful conversion of a Toyota Previa that I have seen. He also has a Youtube channel (GotMountains.ca) with some videos explaining the build.Take a look.
" It will seat 6, has lots of storage for one or two people (more on roof) and has a shelf unit that can switch to a closet to hang a suit if needed. I usually just use it as shelves for now. Its a fully outfitted RV with 200Ah of batteries, water/sink/tap, large inverter, 12V fridge, ability to connect to shore power, portable 2 burner stove, etc. I have a folding bag toilet but seldom use it as restrooms are generally easy to find." - Eric Petersen
"The seat unit slides forward to allow someone to sit in the back like the old rumble seats did. Once it's slid all the way to the back, the seats pull forward to make a double bed (a little smaller than a double). It leaves about 6" between the front of the bed and the cabinet behind the passenger seat." - Eric Petersen
------------------- Another one ---------------
Made by Si Fu
Dual freezers
"I have (3) 100W Solar panels with one 127 ah Lithium battery. Running my freezers 24/7 and it uses about 20% of the battery for the night. Day time the battery is recharged to 100% by 11 am." - Si Fu
Saturday, October 26, 2019
Replacing the clutch on the Toyota Previa, removing transmission and driveshaft
Doing a Clutch Job on the TCR11 Toyota Previa.. It was the most massive work I've done so far. Juggeling the gear box is the hardest part.. Slowly made progress though.
Check out this video:
Symptom is in this video:
Check out this video:
Symptom is in this video:
Friday, November 23, 2018
Toyota Previa in a Minivan racing competition
From Top Gear at its peak - The Minivan racing episode where Richard Hammond likened the mid-engined Previa to a Ferrari.
Historic People Carrier Racing - Top Gear - BBC
Historic People Carrier Racing - Top Gear - BBC
Friday, April 6, 2018
Previa conversions, camper
Picture from:
http://www.postadsuk.com/automatic-toyota-previa-converted-to-camper-hampshire_212324-4.html
http://www.garagetunerautomotive.com/2010/10/build-a-bed-in-your-previa/#+
Picture below from Angie Edwards:
..."working on a budget of less than $100, so I will add more later.
That is a normal full size single bed, with a really comfy Sealy innerspring mattress, heaps of storage underneath and I can sit on it without hitting my head on the roof!.. picked it up on Gumtree for $40, and there is still room for my kitchen at the back."
http://www.postadsuk.com/automatic-toyota-previa-converted-to-camper-hampshire_212324-4.html
http://www.garagetunerautomotive.com/2010/10/build-a-bed-in-your-previa/#+
Picture below from Angie Edwards:
..."working on a budget of less than $100, so I will add more later.
That is a normal full size single bed, with a really comfy Sealy innerspring mattress, heaps of storage underneath and I can sit on it without hitting my head on the roof!.. picked it up on Gumtree for $40, and there is still room for my kitchen at the back."
Monday, March 5, 2018
Getting to top bolts for strut mount
How to get access to the top bolts for strut mount.
The passenger side is doable with a tiny wrench from the underside if you don't mind scraping up your hand. Underside of dash that is
Found removing the cover under the steering wheel made it easier.
Thanks for pictures from Robert Jackson
  |
 . |
|  |
Also search "Strut replacement" on this site and you will find more info.
Saturday, March 3, 2018
Sunday, February 25, 2018
Previa swivel seat
Look at this converted Previa with four swivelseats. Cred goes to Sean Green who also took the photo.
Captain chairs, seats
Captain chairs, seats
 |
| Picture from: http://guineapigturd.blogspot.se/2013/01/the-sexiest-minivans-ever-made-includes.html |
 |
| Previa swivel chair, Picture from: http://www.talbotoc.com/just-been-and-collected-t10061.html |
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Toyota Previa as a work horse
Always nice seeing some Previa hauling things..
Photo by Jack Blabey
--------------- Another work horse ------------
Photo Steeve Perron
-------------- ----------
Towing a caravan, no problem.. This is a Solifer 5502i from 1988. Measured the Engine Coolant Temperature when towd this caravan, about 95 degrees, just as normal.
Will Miller Jacobs hauling scooters. Picture below.
"This 28 foot trailer is heavy, but the van pulled it down to the curb without any issues. Best minivans ever made." - J. Blabey
Ted towing trailer
Sergio towing, have painted sides white.
Daniel is towing a Toyota Previa. Pretty heavy load!
Be careful out there.
SC an NA are rated at 3500lbs with a 350lb tongue weight. That being said, if you're hauling a bigger load I'd definitely use trailer brakes.
--------------------------- ---------------
RedTrike Glenn has loaded his Previa:
10 2x4x10
250 fence planks
About 1500 pounds
"No worries it’s a Previa"
Photo by Jack Blabey
|
|
|
|
--------------- Another work horse ------------
Photo Steeve Perron
 |
|
Towing a caravan, no problem.. This is a Solifer 5502i from 1988. Measured the Engine Coolant Temperature when towd this caravan, about 95 degrees, just as normal.
 |  |
Will Miller Jacobs hauling scooters. Picture below.
"This 28 foot trailer is heavy, but the van pulled it down to the curb without any issues. Best minivans ever made." - J. Blabey
 |  |
Ted towing trailer
 |  |
Sergio towing, have painted sides white.
Daniel is towing a Toyota Previa. Pretty heavy load!
 |  |
SC an NA are rated at 3500lbs with a 350lb tongue weight. That being said, if you're hauling a bigger load I'd definitely use trailer brakes.
--------------------------- ---------------
RedTrike Glenn has loaded his Previa:
10 2x4x10
250 fence planks
About 1500 pounds
"No worries it’s a Previa"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)