Valve clearances on LC 100 TD (24 valve)

Submitted: Thursday, Mar 08, 2007 at 08:07
ThreadID: 43020 Views:8915 Replies:5 FollowUps:4
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Just had the valve clearances done on my 100 series Turbo diesel (24 valve) as part of the 80K service. Did the rest my self but and would normally do the valves myself but don't have a manual for this vehicle decided (reluctantly) to have the local Toyota dealer do them. Need the car for about 2 hours they said. It took all day and when I got it back was informed that one was a bit loose (what an understatment that was). I suspect that they have had some problem that they are not coming clean with me on.

Their story is that they are a bitch to set that's why it took so long, but 5 hours. What sort of trouble can be encountered with this engine when doing the valve clearances? Are they really that hard too do?
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Reply By: Andrew from Vivid Adventures - Thursday, Mar 08, 2007 at 08:27

Thursday, Mar 08, 2007 at 08:27
they probably don't do them usually unless they sound awful loud, so the apprentice who did yours was doing it for the first time.
AnswerID: 226012

Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Thursday, Mar 08, 2007 at 08:35

Thursday, Mar 08, 2007 at 08:35
Hehehehe

Maybe the mechanic (apprentice) had never done them before?? I'd also guess that they have never been adjusted before. I have heard via the grapevine that in many instances, time prevents it from being done in a major service, so guess what doesn't get done? And Toyota lists it as a 20k item. 40k is the interval most mechanics seem to recommend.

I have the 1HD-FTE and do my own. Takes me about 3 hours, but I take my time.
Its not that difficult. Each pair of valves is actuated by a bridge coming off the single overhead cam. It is diffcult to simply check the clearance because its hard to work the edge of a feeler gauge in there. But its straightforward to loosen them off and then adjust each. The procedure is well described in both the Gregory's #520 and the Ellery's manuals for this vehicle. If you've done it before on other vehicles, then its very similar - half of them get done when TDC on cyl1 and then rotate the engine a full revolution and do the others. AS far as the bridge goes, look at the diagram below, and it will give you an idea. If you want to do it yourself, buy the Gregory's manual, which incidentally is a very good manual for your vehicle.

!MPG:24!
AnswerID: 226015

Follow Up By: Flesh - Thursday, Mar 08, 2007 at 11:18

Thursday, Mar 08, 2007 at 11:18
Thanks guys. Phil that's exactly why I said reluctantly re the apprentice. I'm a mechanic myself or was in a past life worked for a GM dealer when I did my apprentiship and I know what gets done and what doesn't. It must be a bugger when someone turns up and says to just do the valve clearences. They probably go bleep how do we do that.

Knew there was a bridge set up under the cover but being a new (sh) vehicle 4 months back and without a manual decided to let them do it. Will grab a Gregory's and be doing them myself in future.

Have just taken it back to them and told them that they can have another go at it tomorrow. Sounds like a bloody tractor.

Thanks again.
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Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Thursday, Mar 08, 2007 at 11:53

Thursday, Mar 08, 2007 at 11:53
I really feel sorry for apprentices working in dealerships. They seem to spend a lot of time washing cars, and are under a lot of time pressure with the mechanical stuff. And their salary is a pittance. My son was one for a while.
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Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Thursday, Mar 08, 2007 at 21:56

Thursday, Mar 08, 2007 at 21:56
Yes Phil

I'm with you, I hate the way most people on this forum and in life bag and blame the apprentices all the time, having been one and having trained tree in my time and now looks like I'm going to get another (there like having sons) that's 12 years of training. (maybe you don't need training to take photos, anyone can take them..LOL)

Every man has to learn somewhere

I could do it, but I look it this way.

I work to make money to pay people to do things I cannot or don't want to... ;-)

Richard
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Reply By: Gerhardp1 - Thursday, Mar 08, 2007 at 11:16

Thursday, Mar 08, 2007 at 11:16
The real question is, how many hours did they bill you for?

Some vehicles need valve clearance to be adjusted with the engine cold.

If yours needs to be adjusted cold, and you drove in in the morning, it would have to take all day - most of the time to let it cool down.
AnswerID: 226040

Follow Up By: Flesh - Thursday, Mar 08, 2007 at 11:21

Thursday, Mar 08, 2007 at 11:21
It was cold. They tried to bill me for 3 hours but I kicked up as I had been quoted 2 hours and that's what I paid. And now they are going to do the job again NC now that they have had some practice.
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Reply By: nowimnumberone - Thursday, Mar 08, 2007 at 18:46

Thursday, Mar 08, 2007 at 18:46
they are a bit of a mongrel job but 2 hrs is about the right time
AnswerID: 226126

Reply By: Member - DOZER- Friday, Mar 09, 2007 at 00:42

Friday, Mar 09, 2007 at 00:42
I did mine a few months ago, and it was a PITA...took me a few hours with breaks in between to smoke (i dont smoke) the only problem ive heard with them is if you dont hold the bridge when tightening the locknut, whilst holding the screwdriver steady on the adjuster with your mouth, you can stuff up the bridge and pin.....
Incidently, i was speaking to a good diesel mechanic in Wollongong, who said he hired an ex Toyota leading hand, thinking he would know his way around a diesel, and he didnt know how to do the clearances....so it seems they dont get done under warrenty at all....
AnswerID: 226240

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