How I drive my 1997 Toyota Hiace Super Custom's automatic A340F transmission without destroying it. Contact me on Instagram @nathansharma87 Email: esvernoc@gmail.com
Ok simplified explanation below. Overdrive is safe to use at any speed provided the area is not mountainous or steep and/ or you are heavily loaded or towing. Basically anything that requires 30% or more sustained throttle input. Overdrive is not an actual gear, it can heat up rapidly and begin slipping away. Picture overdrive as a dinner plate connecting the engine power to the wheels. Too much load for too long, it will shatter. ✌️ Gears Listed Below; OD OFF 1st 2nd 3rd 3rd at 58kph = TC Locked OD ON = 4th OD ON 4th at 82kph TC Locked The ultimate in transforming these vans into intuitive responsive vehicles is OD on (provided as I said above) and ECT power on. Drives like a modern car.
Torque converters make heat when unlocked and transmitting torque. When the torque converter clutch engages and locks the torque converter very little heat is generated. If heat in the transmission is a concern use a lower gear with the torque converter locked. If engine temperature is a concern then slow down and/or use a lower gear. The lower gear will raise engine speed to move more air and coolant through the system. The A340F transmission has 4 forward gear ratios with the 4th being an overdrive. 2.804, 1.531, 1.000, 0.705 This means that the output shaft is spinning faster than the input shaft. I have a spreadsheet that calculates engine RPM for road speed. At the power peak of 3600 RPM in overdrive top speed is right at 100 mph, assuming that 130 hp is enough to go 100 mph. In 3rd it's 70 mph at 3600 rpm. This is with lockup engaged.
I Saw A Hiace with A Left-hand Drive Version Driving Here in USA From Mexico for the First Time. So Thank God. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-HVQzlNItOTk.html
Wish I found this video a few days sooner, just blew up the transmission in my 93 super gl going up a big hill. Better late than never! Quality video. Have any recommendations on good places to find replacement parts for these?
Cool vídeo! I wanted to see how the rpm fared with the truck speed and load. Mine, an 1999 LH122 van with the 2L engine didn’t come with a tachometer, and albeit all my efforts to find one has not been possible yet!
Hey Nathan if your still getting questions consider doing an uphill driving video at highway speeds when you get time and if your ok to put your custom through this ordeal.
Hello mate I got the same van Now I need to scan it Do you know any adapters fir my car? I need ti convert it to 10 pin Whom I have the scanner But one that I gave it doesnt fut into my my cars socked so I can scan it
Thank you for explanation. MY first gen Toyota Tundra with a340. The Over drive gear get destroyed because truck has a V8 and you tow heavy loads it gets all the stress. I drive with the OD off when i tow. I'm Bing watching your content.
Hey Nathan, thanks for this video. It is very helpful. A couple questions: I have a 1993 3L Super Custom. The O/D button is the red button in front of the shifter, right? Mine seems to be stuck in O/D or the light is out. No change on dash or any noticeable reaction at all when I click the button. I have noticed two things that could be related but could be other things and I would love your input. Note that I'm getting it into a shop that knows these vehicles ASAP, just waiting to finalize my insurance before driving it across town. 1. Twice in the last 2 days or so, I start up the car and while still in park, the engine begins revving. I wasn't sure what was going on, so I shut it off, waited, and tried again, and all was normal. Could this be related to O/D? Is this a typical response if it is stuck in O/D? 2. I also noticed occasional heavy black smoke. I imagine this is something to do with fuel/air intake imbalance, but could an issue with O/D be related as well? Also note that these issues have only happened when the car was very low on gas. The guy sold it to me almost empty and I just filled it up. Another note is that the previous owner didn't know O/D existed. Not sure what the implications are, but hope to find limited damage once the shop takes a close look. Let me know any thoughts and thank you in advanced!!
Hey congratulations on your van. Mine is a 97 so it's buttons etc are different. The OD switch should be on the gear selector lever, not sure of colour etc on a 93. It should be the only button on the shift lever. It won't be a hold button etc like a Mazda of the era or Nissan only overdrive. Re the overdrive not working you've obviously tested pushing it on and off at around 60kph and it didn't jump out or in gear? If it doesn't jump into or out of a gear it's time to start diagnosing. Usually a fluid and filter change first, then onto fuses, and lastly solenoids. Remember when you test the overdrive, be accelerating fairly decently at around 60-70 kph and the push the button Off, if it's working you'll feel overdrive disengage and the engine rev higher. Re the high revving, im assuming it's a diesel. Have you checked if it's the air conditioning compressor? Sometimes the old cars have an auto choke and coupled with the AC compressor it revvs very high on cold starts. Try switch the AC off and see if it makes a difference. Black smoke is usually down to three things. Clogged fuel filter, clogged air filter or injectors. I'd replace the fuel and air filter, then start running a cap full of diesel fuel conditioner and cleaner in every tank. Put a decent amount in the first tank then just a cap full or two thereafter. All the best 👍
After only driving manual cars, or more modern auto's w/o overdrive, I'm afraid to say I never new to hit the button to turn o/d off in the 11 months/15k km's since I got my 95 Hiace. How would I know if I caused damage? Is it an obvious thing or something more nefarious lurking deep in the trans?
Not unless you've been climbing steep hills or towing. Overdrive is fine for use all the time except for high torque demands. Anytime the accelerator is needed more than say 30%. Overdrive was only installed to improve fuel economy at cruising speeds and light load conditions. I leave mine off under 65kph because I don't want to be switching it constantly everytime there's a steep slope or hill. These are old cars now and although mines immaculate, I'd rather not overdo the solenoid switching on and off.
I'm not sure mate, if it has overdrive then prolonged heavy loads (more than 2 minutes of sustained heavy accelerator pedal down) can cook it. These are a real tedious thing to learn.
Is there a hiace that has the stronger TURBO diesel motor in but also has the manual locking front hubs? Or if you buy a hiace with manual locking front hubs, does it mean you are stuck with the gutless NON turbo diesel motor?? I cant seem to figure this out.
Negative. Early models had the 3L engine which isn't the three litre they called the 2.8 non turbo the 3L for some stupid reason. It had the hi and low range 4wd and manual front hubs. When the 1KZTE 3L turbo diesel got thrown in the newer models they got rid of manual hubs and hi and low range since the engine torque would be enough to overcome most situations. Regardless the front hubs and the same as a Hilux Surf (4 Runner) so you're not going to break them (auto hubs) unless your rock crawling with lockers and giving it death...in which case your pushing it beyond what it's made for anyway. You want the strongest IFS setup of the 90s in any Japanese 4WD? Pajero or Delica.
G'day mate, can you give me any info on these constant 4x4. I have the early model that has a proper 4x4 with the hi/lo range and the locking hubs but I have know idea how these ones work and if they are any good off road or not because I want to update my van and these newer models don't have the older style 4x4. Thanks.
Hey I have a video Hiace AWD Or 4WD on my channel. In summary it is a proper full time 4wd just like a Prado or Landcruiser. It just lacks low range but, the transfer case looks identical to one on a Prado or Cruiser. It has a viscous coupling in the transfer that acts as an automatic center diff lock. The ground clearance is about 17.5cm with 215/75R15 tyres (biggest you can go without a lift) and that amount of ground clearance is absolutely garbage. As for lacking low range, the 1KZ produces an absolute tonne of torque from idle so it's easily double the power if not more than the 3L engine. You won't need the low range necessarily unless you're doing like 20kph through super steep sand dunes like crossing the Sahara. For all other instances the torque from the engine overcomes any obstacle with ease and holds power all day long. It has auto hubs (obviously) I believe the driveline is all Aisin Toyota heavy duty so it's not like a Honda CRV or something with toothpicks for axles. Rear axle is straight off a Hilux Surf. As is the front end. A340F transmission from a Landcruiser 80/100. Get a lift, 235/75 tyres, she'll do 90% of what most people would ever ask or need.
@@nathansharma87 Wow thanks very much for this info. So the front hubs auto lock and the center will auto lock as well so that should be pretty good then. The main advantage of the low range is if you put much bigger wheels on it that gears it up to high. I use my low range a lot when moving around slow but I guess we can't have everything.Thanks again for your help.
Hey mate thanks for the vids. Just got a 95 super GL diesel. It really struggles going up hills on the highway; I have to basically have the pedal all the way down just to maintain speed but can tell the RPMs are way too high. I’ve been making sure that O/D is off on hills. Cheers
@@nathansharma87 roger that haha, do you know what guys have done to maintain speeds on highways/hills? Anything to the engine / exhaust you think is worthwhile or that’s the way she goes? Thanks for getting back to me.
Yeah lots of people used too..we used to put the factory turbo units and manifolds etc all from the 2.4 turbo diesel onto the 3l. Aftermarket kits available..just don't overboost it or run foot to floor up long gradients. When you see the internals of a factory turbo diesel vs NA they're nearly 3x as big.
This is important to know. Here in the state we have to be careful playing with the OD button, because we drive at higher speeds, my daily commute is at 130 km+. If you turn the OD off at the speed, you could do serious damage, by redlining the van. I've never tried it myself there may be an automatic override, but the thought scares me. I stayed away from the delica because I have long legs , and could not sit in a delica without the steering wheel touching My legs, besides toyota is more dependable than mitsubishi which is more of a race breed.
At 130 kph (80 mph) in top gear (OD off) with lock up. The tack will sit at 3 grand, (near top speed), however The van will cruise at 80 no problem, I'm often passing other cars in the van.
You know how the automatic slips even when working properly? That's why it can stop in drive and the engine not die like a manual. When the torque converter locks up it basically drives like a manual. 100% of engine power is sent through the gearbox with 0 slip allowed. So you get manual like engine braking, better response and lower fuel consumption but the engine can be overworked in certain extreme situations.
Do you have the 3L 2.8? In NZ growing up guys used to pull the manifold and turbo from a 2.4 Hilux Surf and put them on the 2.8 Hilux's, they went fine. Not sure how it would go together in a Hiace though.
