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What gets 3x the mpgs as my 4Runner? Our 'new' car! Really just a beater, we continue the tradition of the beater stocker car being the newest one of the bunch and not in too bad shape. It's an '03, manual, diesel, and a Volkswagen. At least it's one of the German built wagons. I'm not generally a VW fan, but this fit the size, price, safety, trans and mpg requirements so there you go. Guess I'll learn.
It's a peach. About the worst I could say about it is that some of the rubberized trim pieces inside are peeling, but that seems to happen a lot. We'll either ignore it, or take them out and plastidip them.
I know, it's a really nice sticker, isn't it Jason?
We had somebody who knows what they're doing go ahead and put new timing bits on the wagon. Interference engine + special tools + finicky to get right....well, it's good for another 100,000 miles and is still a pretty cheap car for what it is.
282,289 miles
Preparing to do the valve cover gaskets on the 96. Trying to find the really excellent thread on, I think, knock sensor replacement but so far no luck. Maybe it was injectors? It was in my bookmarks, but then I lost them. Well, the search is young. I've linked other people to it...figures now I can't find it. For the 5vzfe...if any of you recall- lots of pics and tips in it.
I'm still not needing to add oil between changes, but there's a leak at the back of the right valve cover, maybe the cam plug thingy and the vc gasket. It's really hard to see back there! It's bad enough to be dripping on the exhaust a little and the starter is a black oily mess. Guess it'll be easier to see once I dig in.
So the hubby was digging around in the garage and found a little doo-dad he'd brought home for me from the boneyard. PROJECT!
Rear power outlet mod. Way don't blame me if you try this at home, I measured once, jumped on the bed some, then had at it.
First I pulled the outlet out of the panel to make making a template easier. This requires total disassembly of the outlet.
Here's the template. Pay attention to what's behind the panel and where you want your outlet, there was some stuff in the way here and there so I had a limited area to work with.
And there you go, other than the power. The fuse block under the rear seat will be my power and there is a ground very close by.
Fit = not perfect. Maybe if I'd put it about a half inch closer to the rear, but I had some interior stuff I was avoiding. I did not pull the panel off the 99 to compare what's behind it, just went with what I could see on the 96.
Tomorrow: putting the panel back in the truck and seeing if I did okay....or not.
And yes, that is a lot of scrapes and scratches. I'm not sure what the 96 does when I'm not looking...
Got the panel in and wired it up this morning...
Had pretty good aim, it fit in the available hole as planned.
and yet another part that doesn't quite match.
Originally Posted by millball
Are you gonna do a valve check/adjustment while you are into the valve covers??
How long since its had one??
It's never had a a valve check or adjustment. I've thought about it and that's as far as I've gotten with that. I'm also trying to decide whether to send the injectors out or not.
Today I fiddled with it for a little bit. Bugger of a headache and hunger made me quit for the day.
The plastic cover on the wiring harness is cracked. Somebody used something called rescue tape from Bass Pro on theirs, I may give that a shot. There was a small mouse nest too. Other than that little stuff it's so far so good. I do need to replace vacuum and fuel line while I've got stuff apart.
Taking a back break. Got the valve covers off, left looks prettier than right, but not too bad for 282xxx miles. Will have to do a valve check per millball because he's right that it should be done. Everything has wear, but nothing stood out as uh-ohs right away. The gaskets are brittle and cracking, the rtv is brittle and broke off where I pushed on it, the plastic wire cover- what plastic wire cover?
Okay. Thanks millball, for reminding me to do this so I didn't kick myself later. Especially since the results were acceptable.
Time to put some valve cover/ cam plugs/ half moons on!
Valve covers done, pics and notes later. Really more time consuming than hard. Also, it rained a lot.
On to bigger fish, aka knock sensor wiring. Not bad, but I'm in this deep, what's a little deeper? I did not expect the valley to be that deep, even knowing about the coolant tube and knock sensors....interesting....
I'm under the lower intake, in the valley. Awaiting gaskets to finish the job because I forgot to order them earlier. Little bit o'green (Subie long-life coolant b/c the local yota dealership sells only pink, not red) at the water pump weep hole, but just a touch. I'm voting to wait for the next t-belt...
Took some old vc gasket vs new measurements to make plausible what is obvious to probably many people and my theory as well, the loose vc bolts that are common to the 5vzfe have not backed off, just the gasket has compressed. Same goes for the cam plug. I'll post that up later too.
Anybody know the torque specs for the lower intake manifold? I'll have to get into rw's fsm link!
Answer- torque specs for lower intake manifold bolts/ nuts is 13 ft lbs or 156 in lbs
Last edited by habanero; May 25, 2016 at 05:53 AM.
Nice job on the VC gasket. That's on my to do list. The back of my engine looks like the back of yours did.
Also good job on the 12v plug. I've swapped tan parts into my 97 and I've found that SEM granite color coat flexible coating spray paint is a close match for moon mist. I put a tan 99+ center console in and the color is good enough most people don't notice.
Now that you've practiced your welding skills with your ladder you need to make that left open bike rack!
Welding skills??? I wish! I think I know who you're thinking of, though, and I am VERY flattered if that's the case. He's doing some awesome work with the improvised tire carrier and ladder. I keep looking for a left-open rack besides that crazy expensive one (nice, yes, but...) you posted. So far it's the only one I've seen with the option.
The other day the hubby found an power outlet in a jetta that doesn't require a surround, fits in a hole and has a nut on the back. You'd still have to watch the length on the backside, make sure it fits in an open area behind the panel.
Thanks for the info on the paint. That is actually the moon mist socket in my blue-grey panel (stupid camera!). I do have those tan rear drink holder (internal parts only, the outside is blue-grey) and the tan outlet on the rear of the console.
Apr 20, 2016 | 05:58 PM
