31st May 2007, 01:48
I've just bought one. 1990, Xi, 281000kms already. The biggest problem is that when starting the car in the morning, the first try will always fail, regardless how long you hold the key. But the second try will always be successful no matter how long you hold the key in the first try. I sent it to Kmart and they said "possible a early sign of head gasket". Anybody had similar problem?
4th Jun 2007, 12:17
About the fuel problem above... my Mazda was having a similar problem and mechanics couldn't find anything wrong.
Turned out to be the fuel filter... the old one had a moth's wing in it!!! Replacement was a few dollars. Something to look at maybe?
10th Jul 2007, 21:51
Hello all.
I have recently purchased a 1991 auto Applause, but since I got it, the oil light has been coming on when below 1000 revs. This is slowly getting worse, and now when the car is warm and out of gear, idling at a grand, it has the oil light on constantly. I think this is an oil pump issue; any ideas?
22nd Oct 2007, 03:45
I have recently bought a 1990 applause auto. Have had no worries with it at all until the gearbox decided to go out. If anyone has a spare one I would be very interested. Cheers, Jed.
2nd Dec 2009, 00:38
Help please, we are tying to track down a workshop manual for a 1992 Daihatsu applause, it is a HD engine. We are replacing the motor. Does anyone know where to find on, and if not a similar one to guide us? Thanks.
2nd Feb 2010, 20:19
Hi there,
I recently inherited a 1990 automatic Daihatsu Applause from my grandfather. It has been running fine until this morning when I was going to start it up; my neighbour ran out and told me not to start/drive it, he said he heard me driving it last night and said it sounds like a valve is about to fall out. Can anybody explain to me what this means and how I can fix it?
Cheers
Jordan.
23rd Mar 2010, 04:53
I too, have been looking for a Daihatsu Applause workshop manual, I don't think one has been made in Australia! Not sure about anywhere else in the world.
I have got issues with the idle speed sitting at about 500 rpm while stopped in drive. I think I will try and run some PULP through the old girl, and check all the vacuum hoses for any holes.
Great car.
17th Feb 2012, 10:55
The Applause is a typically reliable Japanese car that will do 200,000 miles often without major problems. They are however prone to head gasket failure and overheating (the 1.6 engine is known as a hot engine). The heater matrix is also problematic, and will often leak coolant into the passenger foot well (K-SEAL fixed this on my car. Been a year now and still fixed).
Otherwise, the Applause is a very good car, and was one of the 1st cars to have rear disc brakes as standard.
The auto gearbox is a refined unit that proved to be generally very durable.
3rd Feb 2013, 03:18
I know this is kind of late, but your problem is most likely an air bubble in the cooling system.
2nd Apr 2015, 01:59
Hi. I have a 1990 Daihatsu Applause that I just bought off somebody. Now my problem is, I have no tail lights. Brake lights, yes, but no tail lights. It takes a 20 amp fuse, but keeps blowing. No matter what I put in it, it blows. Also, the front left light is not working either. It will on full beam though. Could the head light problem be the reason the fuse for the tail lights keeps blowing? Anybody got any ideas please, it's doing my head in.
Thanks, Myke.
Could you reply to me at myke.heather@gmail.com.
19th Nov 2015, 04:06
Hi there,
My 1990 1600cc manual is doing the same. But only when the aircon is on, otherwise fine.
Only boiling in the overflow bottle is strange.
Mine is also hard to start unless I turn the key twice when cold.
BTW The Applause is a lift back, not a hatch; the first in fact. The difference is that it looks like a sedan when the boot is closed.
Bob
19th Nov 2015, 04:14
Hi there,
I have looked everywhere for a manual too without luck. Saw only one in several book formats in the UK for about $400.
Did get a printout of the circuit for the aircon from a mechanic; they have a database they can get info from it seems.
Bob
7th Mar 2007, 00:23
To the overheating problem, I had the same thing, except mine was quite strange at first it would heat up whilst driving then cool down when stopped? it eventually got worse... over about 6 MONTHS which wasn't bad, I put some radiator stop leak in and it seemed fine, it never went over half way on the thermometer, until one day it overheated, and over heated, and overheated, no matter how much water was in it, found out the radiator was 75% blocked sent it away and got it unblocked and reconditioned, now the coolant temp barely even goes up to a quarter, never ran any different while it was blocked though, water just used to boil out the overflow, which frustrated me when doing pressure tests to find a NON EXISTENT LEAK.
Be wary as mechanics all said it was either a headgasket or a cracked head, never had a problem since.