Faults:

I have a problem with cooling liquid coming inside the car under the feet of driver and front passenger. I presume that there must be a leak in the heater-block, as the cooling water level has to be checked every day.

Has someone got a clue how to get to that heater block just to control it, and almost certainly dismantle it for replacement?

I used a liquid to stop leaks in the cooling system, it helped mostly, but not completely, so I have to go on repairing. I don't want the engine to overheat in order to prevent more damage.

Regards, Patrick.

General Comments:

For the rest, it's a good car with (for its time) a lot off modern equipment. It's in fact affiliated with Toyota.

Faults:

Bad oil leak traced to break in head gasket resulting in loosing lots of oil while driving, I did the job myself with the advice of Toyota Australia (who owns Daihatsu) I cannot express how much I thank one guy there, Josh, he helped me so much with technical advice and understood why I declined the dealership servicemen.

Josh, you are a "legend" man!

Had to replace all shock absorbers after traveling on Kangaroo Island (off the coast of South Australia) K.I. has some of the worst roads I have ever traveled upon in my 34 years of driving.

Driver's seat broke, I had to weld it up, however, since I am a huge guy, maybe my weight broke it, I expect it was designed for small light Japanese.

General Comments:

Folks, apart from the oil leak at 209,000kms and the damaged shocks at 179,000 kms, 10 years of trouble free motoring, without a doubt, the best car I have ever owned, 10 year without having to put a spanner to it! Now that is awesome. serviced almost 10,000 kms every time, oil filters at 5,000Kms and I added ROIL, a metal conditioner 6 years ago, it goes like a rocket, had to lower the revs several times as it freed up. It corners like it is on rails and you point it, it goes, brakes could be a bit better, or I should slow down. Maybe I slow down.

It travels quite well at 140-155 kph 170 with no effort, at 258,000km that awsesome! (when cops are not around) fuel economy about 11km/litre city driving and 12 on trips. I still own and do all my own servicing. I do not trust the dealers, I have been ripped off too many times by one very shady dealers, claiming dud injectors, how do I know this, I have the supposed injector running since mid 2002 and the new one packed away in a box. You really have to watch car servicing Dealerships, most are shady.

Anyhow, the car, an Auto, which I drive like a t-bar manual, goes well.