Chappy2121

Sounds like you had a bit of a run around to say the least. I had a similar experience years ago with Seat, never again. I'll stick to old cars. 

Sometimes they can put dye in to trace a leak, I'd say they didn't pressure it up enough, most of the components are aluminum on cars so you can't braze them up unlike older copper components. Mine still has a sightglass but it's so old you can't see anything.

I'm still not sure why the government haven't changed the regs on those re-charge places it's even more worrying anyone can go into a Halfords and bung gas into a leaking A/C system, especially when Greta et al are trying to blame everyone's cars. 🤔. I'd definitely recommend taking it to an A/C or Fridge engineer if you have issues again. 

Apologies I didn't make myself very clear, I was trying to say about the experience of Vtec and VVti is different as in the sensation whilst driving. The Vtec engagement in my Ep3 CTR was very smooth but the VVti on my 1jz Crown I have currently is almost like you've taken the handbrake off and gained 100hp, it is very brutal. I understand both the technologies is just a way of getting more flexibility out of an engine by changing the valves operation, be it lift or duration. 

On 7/23/2021 at 11:32 PM, CypressPhil said:

Evening all,

So it’s looking like I need to replace my a/c condenser on my IS300h (65 plate). It loses the refrigerant after about a week of having it recharged. The UV dye test has confirmed a leak. Apparently the hoses and seals all look ok, but when pressurised, a slight hiss appears to be coming from the condenser. The Tech couldn’t be 100% sure without stripping the front of the car down to get to it, but was fairly certain this was going to be the cause.

Assuming this is the case, what do we think a reasonable amount of time to swap the condenser out? Looking at the repair manual, the front bumper needs to come off, along with various other parts. I’m thinking around 2 hours labour? I know the Denso part is about £280 inc vat. Just trying to get an approx cost in my head ready for when I get a couple of quotes for the work. Will speak to local main dealer and a local indie specialist who have been very good in the past. Also, any good cheaper alternatives to the denso part that anyone knows of? Or is it best to stick with the manufacturers choice of part?

 

thanks in advance

Hi just noticed your post, apologies if it seems I'm intruding. Did they not pressure test it initially, as it is actually illegal to add certain refrigerants to a leaking system. Always makes me wonder about those places that offer a re-gas. Getting to the condensers can be a bit of a faff, ideally they want to be replacing the drier, usually built into the condensers these days and giving the system what's known as a triple-vac just to make sure there's no moisture in the system. Might be worth trying a local refrigeration or a/c engineer if there's one about your way?

Cheers

No danger, enjoy. They're properly capable despite their large size, and very quick for what they are. The vvti on them is quite a different experience to the Honda vtec I've found. Take it easy 👍. Stick some pictures on when you pick her up 

Hi all hope everyone's OK, despite all the madness. Thought I'd just put an update on, as I've had the VX just over a year now and about 7k miles. Had a run down to Cornwall in it a few weeks ago, then across to Skeg then back home 700-800miles and didn't miss a beat. Economy on the run about 35ish mpg which I don't think is too bad usually get about 23mpg.

I've had to replace plugs, leads and coil packs as a preventative measure, done myself, cylinder 6 was a stretch to say the least. Also replaced the A/C comp as it was not pumping, refurbed one from a place down south with a years warranty £300, got it fitted during an oil change then I commissioned it myself, (fridge engineer is my day job) ice cold now best vehicle A/C I've ever used. Had a weep on powersteering res hose, flushed it and nipped the clip. Still not seen another one on the road either. Can highly recommend if you can find one. Cheers 

Nice. Always surprises me how massive the doors are. Don't they have some sort of cantilever hinge arrangement to open them in tight spaces? 

Hi All, lovely cars them Soarers nearly pulled the trigger on a later 1jz vvti one last year, but finding a manual one for decent money is difficult these days. I got a Crown VX instead been faultless in the year I've had it 

Hi there just found this, I've recently bought a crown athlete and was wondering how yours has been if you still have it. How've you found getting the radio ect swapped out. Look forward to hearing from you cheers

Ash 

Just had a scan through this thread regarding grounding the Battery. Is that the main Battery or the one for the hybrid side of things? I'm in no means an electrical expert but working in the refrigeration industry for the past 10 years we have some very complex electronics on supermarket pack systems. I.e. invertor driven comps, and rule of thumb thinking doesn't always work so to speak. I would do as lexus say then at least you have  a fallback if something goes off with it. I've had issues where the slightest wrong voltage has caused major issues with controllers ect that were designed for a specific voltage ect. Do they not do specific hybrid trickle chargers? 

This one I understand is the only 1 in the UK, and with it being a VX version is one of only 300 made. There is a crown athlete v in Grimsby now not too far from me. Yeah they do look like that era merc and lexus many people have said. I wouldn't fancy running any german metal from that era to be honest I cant imagine how many issues I'd have. Everything on this works. Drivers folding mirror gets stuck intermittently so I need to look at that. Hard to believe it's done 76k miles 

Sorry to here about this sounds like you got misled that's for sure. My mums other half works in vehicle body work and they get cars brand new off the ferry needing major body work and repainting and that's from a number of different manufacturers VAG, BMW, KIA/HYUNDAI ect. I recently bought a 19 years old jap import toyota crown and paid the RAC to inspect it as I take these descriptions people give witha pinch of salt, as perfect to one might be a dog to another. With the inspection you get a very detailed report and also a sort of warranty with regards to some components and it's only about £250 I paid if I remember 

There was an athlete v for sale on eBay recently about 40k kms. Only about 5-6k a lot of car for the money. Mine has loads of kit, satnav and tv japanese and not working think it's the aerial needs upgrading to digital. DVD,minidisk, tapedeck and CD player all standard. Electric seats, auto windows all round, heated folding mirrors, dual climate control. Amazong really for the age, oh and the all important swinging air vents. All cars should have this

He even did behind the arch liners. He mentioned he didn't have to do barely any prep at all due to it being so clean 

These are during the underseal that I got done with the valeter 

Here you go guys. It really is immaculate, barely wear at all. Minor damage to the door card where it meets the door sill, looks like the seatbelt has been caught at some point. Just got it back last night from valeters and underseal. Even the "japanese blue wood" looks cool. Only mods I've found are the auto turbo timer, and some random Jap thinks on the dash but that's it. Got a marker light on the bonnet coming from Japan as one is dim

Toyota century, top rung of toyota japan models. They do a v8 and a v12 model, a car to be driven in, more than drive. They have inbuilt air purifiers, fridges, electric everything even back in the late 80s early 90s. Well ahead of their time. They have wool seats instead of leather. The front passenger seat centre (lumbar area) folds down so the rear seat passenger can lay out and go to sleep. I saw one when I picked up my crown vx the other week. Check out Pacific coast autos on youtube, there is a few videos of these and many other old school Toyota gems on there 

3 hours ago, steve2006 said:

Amazing looking car, could we have some more pictures of the exterior, interior and the engine bay because I for one have never seen this model before.

Regarding condition mine was the same on import and remains the same by giving it a yearly underbody wash at a local car wash ( no brushes involved just the underside) and jet washing the arches after removing the trim.

Looks a great buy, did you do the importation yourself or use an agent, mine was all ready done on collection so the rear fog was sorted as well as the speedo conversion, by the way how many KMs has it done?

Fancy a drive or the planned meet at Gaydon? Not too far from Lincolnshire and would be good to see it in the metal.

If the weather isn't too terrible tomorrow I'll stick some more up. It's done 75k miles, still in kms at minute I'll leave it that way I think to keep it original. Saw it advertised on eBay from Jap Spares Coventry, they got it in. The chap there Jesse, fantastic would definitely recommend them had some really good cars, old celicas, supra, starlets and a toyota century (google that one). I'd definitely be up for the meet, whenever it is. Got a fair bit on this year, I'm a dad again end of March and then its peak at work, I'm a fridge engineer so mega busy in summer but I should be able to sort something out 

Here she is. Well chuffed. Just had oil and filter done today. You can eat your dinner off the underside. Best condition car I think I've ever had even though it's by far the oldest

2001 vx model had some input from yamaha, some extra spangly bits over a normal athlete v model. Loads of standard kit similar to a celsior in that respect. These openly admitted breaching the gentlemen's power limit as well. Only car I believe that did at the time so god knows what power it's running. There doesn't seem to be any manuals or a service history other than the stickers. Just paid 3.5k yen (£25) to have a jap hpi check all good and a genuine vx 

Hi there, yeah crown athlete vx, hoping to pick it up saturday. Next to no info out there on this model as they only made 300, something to do with Yamaha I believe. That's the v8 one? Nice them. I think they share a fair few similar parts. Theres no manuals or service booklet with this but plenty of stickers dotted about I'll have a look on saturday. It looks like it's been very well cared for 

Hi all,

Hoping to buy a Crown Athlete VX in the next few days. Not a lot of information out there on them, (well I haven't found much) wondered if anyone on here had experience with them? If theres anything in particular I should look out for?

Cheers

Ash 

Hi there I'm looking at getting a crown on Saturday hows yours been? This one I'm looking at is very very clean from what I've seen and the RAC inspection I've had done. There might be a weeping seal on the diff and they think its had the doors  repainted down 1 side. There isn't any service history other than the stickers. What you guys think? Cheers