Faults:

I just bought a Toyota Lite Ace...

I have some problems with overheating, but I think my mechanic is doing great solving it... he tweaked my spark plugs and it is doing great, but I know that it is not yet perfect...

My power is okay, just a little tweaking on the air intake...

General Comments:

I maintained the standard tires, and fitted it with roof rails and racks.. it really looks nice and cute...

I use it to drive to my office every day, and drive my family twice a month on long drives looking for beaches here in Manila, Philippines...

I would love to correspond with other Lite-Ace owners... email me at frontlinemedia7@yahoo.com

Faults:

Overheating.

Not-so-cool air-con.

Frequent timing adjustments.

General Comments:

Lite Aces are very sturdy and reliable vans. My father bought this van when we were still kids and what a van it was then. It was very stylish and comfortable. 10 years after, he gave me this van as my first "car". I love this van and I intend to keep it until I can buy my own car and have my own family. But then, I usually have these problems with overheating, poor air-con (which they say is because of the overheating problem), and frequent timing adjustment. I had the aircon condenser fixed under the middle part of the van so as not to burden the main engine compartment with its heat, I also installed another auxillary fan (4 all in all), had the alternator changed to accommodate the additional electrical load, used good quality engine oil, had the tubes and hoses changed, I drain the radiator often like once every month, bought good quality radiator caps, and put coolant... but I still experience overheating when there is traffic. The van can take 30 minutes in traffic, but longer than that, the temperature starts to heat up. I usually turn off the aircon for 5-10 minutes to let it cool down.

I hope some of you guys can help me with this problem. I read that removing the thermostat helps. Give me an idea. Thanks!

Faults:

Engine temperature tends to rise close to overheating, especially when stuck in traffic, with the air con turned on.

Air conditioning is weak.

There is a persistent knocking noise at the sliding door area that could not be located.

Dim headlight.

Hard starting, when hot.

General Comments:

I like the ample cabin space.

The engine has so far been reliable as long as proper maintenance is performed.

One of the general comments about the car is its being under-powered. Could this be one reason for the tendency of the engine to overheat?

I am thinking of replacing the 5K engine with a larger 7K, what considerations should I keep in mind should I proceed with this? Would there be compatibility problems?