Toyota Hilux Surf (1984 - ) - 1991 2.4td erratic temp gauge

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
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Thu 26 Feb 2009 18:53
1991 2.4td erratic temp gauge - carnut1980
hi all, my 1991 2.4td surf has an erratic temp gauge, it often goes to the high end, then stays for a while before going back to the middle. the coolant level doesnt drop at all, nor are there any leaks. could this be the thermostat or something else? also the speedo doesnt work. how easy is it to change/check the speedoo cable. i am a novice in the mechanics dept so any advice would greatly help, thanks
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Mon 9 Mar 2009 11:49
1991 2.4td erratic temp gauge - Toyota Red
The car-by-car breakdown highlights the head gasket as a problem in these engines, so be careful and do not drive it if the temp rises above normal. A blown head gasket could result.

I'm no expert, but the thermostat would be a good place to start- it may be starting to stick shut, which does not allow engine coolant to circulate through the radiator. They are pretty cheap to buy, perhaps as little as a tenner, although have a look at Haynes to find out if it is an easy repair(access to the thermostat can be a problem sometimes).

As for the speedo, I have no idea unfortunately- Haynes again.
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