SamF

Engines will ping at low revs when you go to accelerate and the timing is too far advance. The pinging is pre-detonation of the fuel. It will also ping if you have low quality fuel. I assume that the timing advance curve has been checked by Toyota (but going with my experience with Toyota service staff, do not assume this). If the pinging goes away by using higher octane fuel, it is unlikely to be a timing problem (as this, if anything, should ping more). I would certainly take it back to Toyota and demonstrate the pinging noise, as I have not heard of anyone complaining of this problem.

There is a very good article on this web-site on car detailing. Please see link below; http://au.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/inde...c=18390&hl=

Great info, keep up he good work.

Ric You may have a problem with your unit or you are not pressing the reset button when you refuel. The reset button placed the consumption for the previous tank full in the history bar below the current average consumption. Also that screen with the time and temperature and with most of the rest of the screen blank is for messages from the ECU, ie. problems like engine alarms etc.

Hi LozRo, the cheapest place I have found in Sydney is; Castle Hill Toyota is located on Victoria Avenue just off Windsor Road and only 4.5km from the Hills exit/entrance of the M2 motorway.

Hi Holmesie I measured the tread depth with a vernier caliper of the unused spare and then measured the tread depth of the tyres on the car and the difference gave me a wear amount for the amount of Ks I had done. Then assuming you rotate all 5 tyres, I calculated the theoretical Kilometres I could do based on the current wear rate.

Hi I have just rotated my own tyres after Toyota did not do it at 10,000K and based on the amount of wear I have calculated that they will last for 60,000K. For a heavy vehicle which has towed a caravan for 8,000 of its current 14,000K this is not bad. This of cause does not allow for uneven where but currently they are pretty even although slighlty more worn on the outside of the tyres which suggests to me that the specified tyre preasures are under inflated. I have have bumped mine up to 38psi when not towing and 44psi when towing.

No I have no such problem with my climate control. The only thing I notice is that I have to set it warmer than normal so I do not get blasted with cold air.

Hi, I recently read in a motoring article that the new Camry's V6 (same engine as the Kluger) have a problem with piston slap when they were cold. (This is a rattly noise in the engine before it gets to normal operating temperature.). My engine is definitly a litlle noisier when cold, I have put this down to it being an alumnium engine and therefore not having the noise damping properties of a cast iron engine block. It is definitly not as noise as my Gen III V8 Calais which had to have the Holden modification of having teflon inserts installed in each piston. I would be interested in other people's comment.

Hi, it is now the 6 September and we have been to Toowoomba, Rainbow Beach, Noosa, Gladstone, Rockhampton and then back to Brisbane before coming to Surfers Paradise. The petrol consumption is still in the range quoted previously. The Kluger has handle the caravan very well. While in Rainbow beach we accidently strayed on onto the beach where 4WD are loaded onto the ferry for Fraser Island. This meant we had to travel about 0.5 k across heavily rutted sand and then do a U-turn on the ferry before heading back. I had 4 adults on-board and the tyres at normal inflation. The sand ruts were about 180mm deep. The Kluger did not miss a beat and handled it all with ease. Hi from Warwick we went to Toowoomba and then on to Rainbow Beach before moving on to Noosa. From Noosa we went to Bundaberg and we are currently in Rockhampton. The Kluger has not missed a beat. Towing is easy and comfortable. Petrol consumption is still 16-18 L/100K. We start going south in two days time. 31/07/08 Currently in Warwick, the Kluger has been performing faultlessly. Best economy so far was about 15.5L/100k worst 18L/100K this was going up and down some hilly country around Cowra. 27/09/08 We got back home yesterday after coming down the east coast. Traveled a total of 8500Ks. Very impressed with the Kluger's towing ability and it off-road capabilities. As stated previously the best fuel consumption while towing was about 15.5 L/100K and the worst was 18.5L/100K. Did not use a drop of oil on the whole trip. The highest speed reached with the van was 130Kph (while passing a slower van) and the car and van were completely stable. Most of the time I towed at 95-100kph.

Hi, it is now the 6 September and we have been to Toowoomba, Rainbow Beach, Noosa, Gladstone, Rockhampton and then back to Brisbane before coming to Surfers Paradise. The petrol consumption is still in the range quoted previously. The Kluger has handle the caravan very well. While in Rainbow beach we accidently strayed on onto the beach where 4WD are loaded onto the ferry for Fraser Island. This meant we had to travel about 0.5 k across heavily rutted sand and then do a U-turn on the ferry before heading back. I had 4 adults on-board and the tyres at normal inflation. The sand ruts were about 180mm deep. The Kluger did not miss a beat and handled it all with ease. Hi from Warwick we went to Toowoomba and then on to Rainbow Beach before moving on to Noosa. From Noosa we went to Bundaberg and we are currently in Rockhampton. The Kluger has not missed a beat. Towing is easy and comfortable. Petrol consumption is still 16-18 L/100K. We start going south in two days time. 31/07/08 Currently in Warwick, the Kluger has been performing faultlessly. Best economy so far was about 15.5L/100k worst 18L/100K this was going up and down some hilly country around Cowra.

Hi from Warwick we went to Toowoomba and then on to Rainbow Beach before moving on to Noosa. From Noosa we went to Bundaberg and we are currently in Rockhampton. The Kluger has not missed a beat. Towing is easy and comfortable. Petrol consumption is still 16-18 L/100K. We start going south in two days time. 31/07/08 Currently in Warwick, the Kluger has been performing faultlessly. Best economy so far was about 15.5L/100k worst 18L/100K this was going up and down some hilly country around Cowra.

31/07/08 Currently in Warwick, the Kluger has been performing faultlessly. Best economy so far was about 15.5L/100k worst 18L/100K this was going up and down some hilly country around Cowra.

I normally travel at about 95kph (100kph on the speedo). You can see the torque converter lock by the fact that at 100kph (speedo) the RPM drop from 2250 to 1750 and because it is so sensitive on a anything above a dead flat road or a decline the RPM hunt between 1750 and 2250. So I just pull it back into 4th gear and it sits at 2500rpm.

I have just hitched my 17 foot caravan to my Kluger and headed for an 8 week trek to and around Queensland. The caravan weighs about 1345Kg unladen and probably about 1600Kg loaded. Out first leg from Melbourne to Albury, the Kluger averages 16L/100K and the leg from Albury to Cowra (using secondary highways and passing some hilly country) we average 18L/100K. The Kluger has no problem towing the van, sometime I hardly know it's there. However I now know why Toyota recommend that you tow in 4th gear instead of 5th, and that is because they have set their torque converter lock-up to be far to sensative and even on the slightest incline it keep locking and unlocking the torque converter. No great drama. I select 5th gear on level parts and manually drop down to 4th when running uphill. Apart from that, very pleased with the economy and towing experienced. I will keep this topic updates as I progress on my trip, for those interested.

If I pushed it any harder it would go through the firewall :( Hi Cookie The Service guy that suggested you should use the transmission detent to hold the car on a hill is a fool. If the handbrake cannot hold the car on a hill, then what is the point of it. Mine was like yours and a took it back twice before they adjusted it correctly. They gave me the same line that it was adjusted within spec and I had to call them a bunch of fools before they fixed it. My advise is to go back and demand to see the Service Manager and insist that he ensure the handbrake is adjusted correctly.

Hi Don, I have static tested it and works, this model Prodigy because it is all electronic, can be mounted up to 70 degrees from the horizontal. The way it is mounted on the Kluger it is about 45 degrees. I have bought a new Jayco Pop-top caravan (17 foot) the GMT is 1365 Kg ATM will be about 1575Kg, so well within the Kluger's specs of 2000 Kg. Have not towed it yet, but am leaving for Queensland for 6-8 weeks in mid July. Have you installed yours under the steering column as yet ? Sorry SAMF I have been sent to northern coast NSW on another project and the Kluger is sitting at home with nowhere to go, I definitely will install it under the steering column, I have three wiring jobs that I would like alldone at the same time. Hot wire to anderson plug on rear end adjacent to the trailer plug. tap into the lightstalk wiring in the steering column for the fog lights I have fitted Wire up the prodigy controller. Then we are good to go, I hope to return back to Geelong in 2-4wks so I will not be able to report back to you until after that. Your Van sounds great, hope it all goes well, the Kluger will pull it easily, be interesting how the fuel goes, smooth tecnique and choice of cruising speed will be the answer, some recommend 90Km/hr I would definitely go for 100Km/hr with your van and I believe the results will be better, use manual shft when starting up hills in preference to applying the accelerator. good luck and have a great break. Did you setup the controller to any procedure? do you intend to fine tune it again with the Van on? Hi Don I am retired so I have plenty of time and I normally tow the van at 90-95 kmh. I found that with my V8 Calais the difference between 95 and 90 kph meant a cruising range difference per tank of about 50-100Ks. I normally set up the Prodigy controller on the road. I set it at its lowest level of boost and apply the brakes a few times to warm them up and then increase the boost until I can just feel the caravan brakes being applied. This is the setting I then normally leave it on. I find that first thing in the morning when leaving caravan parks that the brakes grip a bit until they get warm, but no dramas. Just I word of caution if you are going to install your unit under the steering column, make sure it is well away from the knee airbag that is under the column, otherwise it will interfere with its operation.

Hi Don, I have static tested it and works, this model Prodigy because it is all electronic, can be mounted up to 70 degrees from the horizontal. The way it is mounted on the Kluger it is about 45 degrees. I have bought a new Jayco Pop-top caravan (17 foot) the GMT is 1365 Kg ATM will be about 1575Kg, so well within the Kluger's specs of 2000 Kg. Have not towed it yet, but am leaving for Queensland for 6-8 weeks in mid July. Have you installed yours under the steering column as yet ?

I am about to install one and I am mounting mine attached to the bottom of the dashboard panel below the small compartment you are suggesting. Don HoustonThanks for the feedback let me know how it goes, my concern is knocking it with your knee when entering and getting out of the seat, also the manual lever if you ever have to use it will require you to reach and take your eyes off the road, the idea of having it under the steering column if a special standoff bracket is made the units screen can be viewed through the bottom spoke of the steering wheel and the manual lever could be operated without taking your eyes off the road. SAMF how did you go with your installation? have you had it wired up and trialed it for towing settings etc, I mounted mine under the steering column for a trial period and am happy to make it permanent, yet to wire it. Still have not mount mine, but I must do it within the next two weeks as I have just bought a new caravan. I will let you know how I go. Hi Don, Just finished installing the Prodigy Electric Brake controller, all working well. Attached is a picture of the mounted Prodigy unit. No problem with hitting with my knee as it is to far away.

I am about to install one and I am mounting mine attached to the bottom of the dashboard panel below the small compartment you are suggesting. Don HoustonThanks for the feedback let me know how it goes, my concern is knocking it with your knee when entering and getting out of the seat, also the manual lever if you ever have to use it will require you to reach and take your eyes off the road, the idea of having it under the steering column if a special standoff bracket is made the units screen can be viewed through the bottom spoke of the steering wheel and the manual lever could be operated without taking your eyes off the road. SAMF how did you go with your installation? have you had it wired up and trialed it for towing settings etc, I mounted mine under the steering column for a trial period and am happy to make it permanent, yet to wire it. Still have not mount mine, but I must do it within the next two weeks as I have just bought a new caravan. I will let you know how I go.

Hi Iwantone The fuel consumption gauge is graduated in Litres/ 100 Kilometres. Because when you are idling, you are not moving, therefore your Kilometer being travelled is zero. Any number divided by 0, the result is infinity. The highest consulmption shown on the gauge is 30 litres /100 kilometer therefore as the actual is infinity it just registers the highest reading while you are not moving.

Works both in forward first gear and in reverse also.

Very Interesting that the GPS states it about the same time. From my experience the Hume Hwy (Country road) takes aboiut 10-12 hours the Pacific Hwy would take you 16-18 hours.

As a matter of course, I usually do not like towing heavy items with front wheel drive vehicles. The load on the back (imposed by the caravan or trailer) lifts the weight of the front wheels and reduces traction and steering. For this reason I purchased an AWD Kluger. I use to tow a caravan with a V8 Calais, but I think the Kluger appears to have ample power and have less affect from the caravan due to the extra body weight. So far ,I am very happy with its performance. Towing a 780Kg caravan reduces the fuel consumption to about 14L/100K at about 90kph. Without the caravan and sitting on 100kph, I have seen as low as 9.5L/100K. Thank you SamF. Would not the load levelling bars transfer some of the weight back to the front wheels? I currently use the Hayman Reece load levelling bars on my holden commodore to keep the car level and transfer some weight to the front wheels. Yes they do but this is a static balance and does not completely compensate for the dynamic loads when accellerating or braking. Weight distribution hitches are certainly worth using, and I use them myself. Front wheel drives also have problems because the weight transfer is to the rear when going up hills reducing tranction on the front wheels. However in most towing situations on level ground, with a properly setup hitch, they perform adequately. Having said that, my original statement regarding AWD being superior to FWD for towing still apply in my humble opinion.