Forum:
Hi
N Plate, F78….
How on earth do I change the light bulb on the heater control panel? In the manual it (blithely) says remove the control knobs and then some pawl screws then take off the small heater panel… but how to get at the pawl screws? I have a horrible feeling I have to take out most of the dash? Or is there some way I can get to them via removal of the ash-tray?
Hope someone out there has tips?
Thanks
Heater Panel Light?
Not sure that this will help but we have a '97 F78 which we have had from new and the heater control panel has never been lit. Now it maybe that ours has never worked and therefore we have been blissfully ignorant. I have never been able to get hold of an F78 manual so cannot comment on what it does and doesn't say. There is no reference in the F78 handbook that might help.
I do have a manual for the earlier non independent models, and the heater control panel described there looks very similar if not identical, but there is no reference that I can find to it being lit.
David T
Hi and thanks for the
Hi and thanks for the reply!
Again by remarkable coincidence, I have just spent an hour this afternoon looking at this issue (the weather being dry for once!). Mine too is an F78 (1995) and I have uncovered the mystery of the heater light!
1. Take off the 4x heater control tips (they just pull off)
2. Remove the ash try
3. Remove 3 screws which secure the ash try holder to the dash and remove the holder
4. Carefully push a screwdriver back up through the steel heater controls onto the back of the plastic heater control panel. Tap the screwdriver (from engine towards rear) on both sides and in the middle of the panel and it will pop out. On the back of the plastic panel (passenger side on RHD) )is a dash light socket… twist that out and, hey presto, there is a tiny dash bulb! All of 50p's worth!
Don't do what I did and try to prise the panel off from the front with an electrical screwdriver… this just marks the panel and makes you scream at the engineer who designed it!
Cheers
Fascinating. As we've not had
Fascinating. As we've not had lighting on ours for the past 17 years I can't decide whether to try fixing it or not!
Where did you find the info. as a matter of interest?
David T
Heater Light Problem
Hi
Whilst looking for info on dodgy rear lights, I bumped into a thread confirming the existence of the heater light on Difflock.com (I think?)… Unfortunately, it didn't quite explain how to prise the panel off…. that was guesswork. Maybe some models/specs didn't have them? Why not have a look?…. it would only take 15 mins (famous last words!!)
So you've had yours from new? Now that is interesting as you must know the things inside out. Are there any photos or other history of it on here?
Heater Light
Hi Gee
We got it new when Daihatsu were offering an attractive lease deal. When the lease expired we bought it. It's now done 170K and for the last 10 years we have used it here in Spain. It's completely stock and apart from normal maintenance which I do myself, we have never had any problems, touch wood. The only current outstanding job is the front diff. pinion seal which is dripping. I did the rear a while back, and now need to get around to the front. I will have a look at the heater light as well.
Strictly speaking it belongs to my wife and she swears she will never part with it. They are great trucks in my view, really loyal and trustworthy, that demand little in return, just common sense care. Ours is still on it's original clutch which tells you a lot!
Sorry to hear about the hassle you had with your lights, glad it's sorted.
All the best, David
David T
Heater Light Problem
Hi
Ah yes, Spain (well southern) is very kind to cars isn't itI I was originally after a BJ73/74 FRP-top Landcruiser. The only one I've seen in the UK was 23 years old but absolutely rust free as it had spent 99.9% of it's life down there. Unfortunately, when I test drove it, the engine boiled over…. it was Portuguese built and these were given Italian engines instead of Toyota's bullet-proof 13BT. But I have come to love my Fourtrak just as much!
BTW, I think you may have a compadre in Spain! Had you seen this already? http://www.daihatsu-drivers.co.uk/node/18289.
Cheers
Off Topic!
Hi, Just as an aside, it is interesting that DavidT has had his F78 for 17yrs from new. I also bought mine new in Oct 98 and still using it daily, so not quite as long as David. I was just wondering who on this forum has had their Fourtrak the longest (not necessarily from new).
Like David, I have had very few problems, although not still got the original clutch (mine has had a hard life towing!), but still got the original rear brake shoes. Rust is my main problem, (I imagine David's will be OK if living in Spain), and the cooling problem when under heavy load (well documented on here).
What do others think?
Hi delp and gee Yes, we are
Hi delp and gee
Yes, we are still on the original rear shoes as well. I bought a new set about three years back expecting to need them sometime soon, but every time I check there is still a way to go! I have debated whether to have a new clutch fitted as I can't believe the original is going to last much longer, yet it shows no sign of being near the end of it's life, driving quite normally. We have never towed which no doubt has helped. Structurally it shows no sign of any serious rust, I have thought about injecting a rust inhibitor as I suspect that the closed sections will inevitably have some deterioration after all this time.
We are rather sentimental about Rocky as he is always referred to and see him as part of the family. Daft I know.
David T
Just wondering if you'd seen
Just wondering if you'd seen this before DavidT?
http://www.daihatsu-drivers.co.uk/node/18289.
Any photos of yours?
And yes, I think it'd be great to get a long-term owners' thread… would be brilliant to see/hear experiences of yours for us new owners.
Sorry, I omitted to comment
Sorry, I omitted to comment on the link you provided. Never seen a white 'trak before, it looks very tidy. Sorry I don't have a pic of mine on the site but it looks just like any other dark blue F78, completely standard.
I have seen another member, Asassin, comment in the past that he knows of at least one 'trak with more than 500,000 on the clock, with little more than routine maintenance. I guess if you can keep the rust at bay they will last almost indefinitely, but parts will become much harder to find eventually.
David T
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If it ain't broke then fix it any way