philpreston3072

Assuming it's expensive because you have no spare keys to make new copies from? Whilst your key doesn't need batteries and has no buttons, it probably still has a chip built in for the immobiliser to prevent hot wiring

Yep. I used that hack because the dash was so dark. It's brilliant and easy. Newer Taragos have backlit dash day and night so no more need for this hack

After owning a 2007 GLi Tarago (ACR50), I've only just found there are 2 Tweeter speakers hidden under the roof lining just behind the front row (driver and passenger) seats, above the B-pillars. Blew my mind. Would really have preferred it if they weren't so hidden. Ideally they should have positioned them a bit further back too for the rear passengers to hear more clearly. Now that I know, I've been able to tune the stereo much better for rear passengers. Taragos were alway advertised as having 6 speaker stereo systems, but I assumed it must have been a marketing con because I could only find 4 speaker grills. Since the rear speakers don't have any treble sound, they really need those tweeters in the roof to balance out the sound.

Probably a concern if it's pinging. Are you using the right fuel for this car? Does it require premium unleaded?

After years of owning my 2007 Tarago, I only just found out that if you turn the A/C off just before shutting off the engine, when you turn the engine back on again with the A/C remaining off, you get sluggish engine response and bad fuel economy, probably because the A/C compressor is still partially engaged to the engine, even though the A/C is switched off. It seems as though that if you shut the engine off too soon after shutting off the A/C, the A/C compressor is not able to fully disengaged from the engine. So when you turn the engine back on again, the A/C compressor still remains partially engaged and continues to be a drag on the engine, despite the A/C button being off, resulting in poorer fuel economy. For years, I couldn't understand why my Tarago was so sluggish despite the A/C not being used and the fuel economy wasn't good either, getting a fair bit higher than the 10L/100Km quoted by online car reviewers. Then one time after being frustrated with the sluggish engine response, I tried turning the A/C on momentarily and then off again, and voila, the engine was spritely and responsive again, and fuel economy matched with online reviews. Something for people to try if you find your Tarago is sluggish and giving poor fuel economy. Only works for 2006 Taragos (ACR50/GSR50) onwards though as these used the clutchless variable compression compressors

Good that you resolved the problem with some tapping of the ECU. I haven't had the fault return, and the last time it happened was after I had been idling the car for over 10 or 15mins with the Air Conditioning running so I suspect it has something to do with that. Some generic OBD2 scanners might not show the power steering fault code from Toyota so that's why you're better off using the mini VCI with Toyota's software. A little problem though is that the Toyota software I used only runs on Windows XP, not later windows.

I have the Tarago of the same generation. I can only suggest popping up the plastic seatbelt guide where the seat belt comes out of the seat shoulder, and seeing how much access to the seat interior you have. I remember having an issue with that seat belt where it got stuck because of the seatbelt guide.

Try these Tarago Service Docs: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PX8dCDW8PN2nO8FmEh4eeqogMJ5VdBaV?usp=sharing

I had mine serviced at Chang Auto in Springvale. 0410463580

Just bought a Hiace Commuter 2015. It has the Factory Toyota stereo system (Model 22840). When playing a USB stick in the system, it doesn't resume the song from when the car is turned off, but instead it goes back to the first song on the USB (after reading for about 30sec). This doesn't seem like normal behaviour, but would like to know if anyone else has this issue or is it just me? I could understand if this was from an early model like 10 years ago when USB players were just coming out, but this model is from 2015 so surely USB playing is the norm and doesn't need to frustratingly read from the beginning every time I start the car.

Sharing with others how I fixed Trouble Code C1554 which is a Power Steering fault. I was able to rectify the problem by clearing the fault code using my laptop and Mini-VCI J2534 OBDII connector (bought from ebay) to my 2007 Toyota Tarago/Previa/Estima (ACR50). You'll also need to install Toyota's Techstream software as per Mini-VCI instructions. The fault code was reporting overheating of the power steering unit. I guess it was a hot day and my brother in law was over enthusiastic with turning the steering wheel whilst in the parking lot when the P/S light came on and the power steering disabled. It's so hard to turn the steering wheel when power steering is disabled. The trouble code indicates there's a power relay failure for the power steering, but once I cleared the trouble code, and restarted the car, the P/S light (usually lights up on start up briefly) turned off after a couple of seconds and the steering wheel was back to normal again. Saved me good time and money going to the mechanic to do the same thing.

Yes they can. A dealer for 2nd hand Japanese imports quoted me $300 or $500 to purchase and install the cruise control kit for a 2001/2002 Estima. I don't know how it looks though.

Just updating that my Air Con has been fixed and the fuel consumption is a much more satisfying 10L/100km when driving with Air con. I can get around 540Km from a full tank and a full loaded car before the fuel light comes up. The previous owner had overfilled refrigerant into the Air Con system which made the system too hot, resulting in the radiator fans constantly running on high on hot days. So my mechanic had all the refrigerant taken out and then refilled with the proper amount. Now when the Air Con is on, the radiator fans run briefly on a loud high speed before settling down to a quiet low speed which is so quiet you don't even realise the air con is on apart from a slight load on the engine. It is true though that these new air con systems with variable displacement compressors don't cycle on and off as much as the older compressors. They adjust to light compression once the air con system drops to the right temperature when cruising. So the radiator fan does constantly run on hot days but should only run on quiet low speed when cruising and switch to loud high speed intermittently when stopped at traffic lights. Those who are getting excessively poor fuel consumption with their Toyotas should test whether the air conditioning system is the cause. Compare the fuel consumption between air con and no air con.

I have 4cyl.

Both. Even on long drives, I can still hear the fans going when coming to a stop. Switch the A/C off and the fans switch off. Coolant Temperature is around 90C degrees so I doubt that is the reason for the fans going continuously.