About my Previa and Sienna

So I finally get the word from insurance.  It was an older vehicle and considered not worthy of fixing. So they totaled it. ----------------------------------- 2 options. $1400 and they can scrap my van. $1200 and I keep the van... This is a No Brainer. I've dedicated so much time and effort to this van, that I couldn't simply let it die. No... This whole project was about reviving this van and that is still the mission. So I've been dreading it, but finally had time to really assess the damage. With the limited time off due to work and family time, My junkyard salvaging has been severely hampered. I was able to find a fender and grab it, but limited in time to get all the other parts needed, but those parts were either gone or damaged because dummies didn't care about them when removing. -------------------------- As I was taking everything apart for Previa, I seen that the right side isn't just pushed back, but pushed into the engine bay as well. I wa...

So after I got the sobering news that my previa will be considered totaled. We went to Dublin to a Toyota dealership. Tony W, VanKulture member, gave my info to one of his friends and in return told me they would help me out. My wife wanted a 7 seater. But she didn't want a van. She wanted a small SUV. We looked at a new Mitsubishi Outlander, but it was a small, cramped 7 seater. ---------------------------------------------- Anyways, we went to Dublin Toyota and saw some Siennas. A 2014 Silver Sienna SE caught my eye. I loved it... She test drove it and then she went for the chat with the the salesperson. --------------------------------------------------- Besides a few things I want to address, we got a Sienna!!! -------------------- The Previa was my family vehicle. The AC wasn't barely working and at times the AC pump was so taxing on the motor, it would occasionally shut of the van. So I needed to figure that out, but it wasn't the most comfo...

Okay... so while my Previa is my wife's daily, I've decided to take some small steps to make it nicer! I've always loved the JDM stuff and decided it is now the time to get some upgrades. When I was going to the Nissan leopard meeting in Hamamatsu Garden Park, a stock white TCR10 Estima Aeras was there... It looked so clean being factory white with the kouki tail/head lights and that awesome roof rack! Anyways, I wanted to start gravitating towards that look and eventually get the bumpers or maybe the kit. So I jumped on yahoo auctions and found many pieces I wanted for GREAT PRICES! Shipping does suck, but you gotta pay to play. So far, these are the times I have: So I wanted to get the awesome tail lights and I had to piece the set together. But here are the center and trunk parts of the tail lights. I won these for $28. Now, I still needed the end/corner lights. So I found a guy selling them separately and for BUY NOW price of  $11 each ...

So I went to Japan in Oct. 2016. I went to the All Japan Estima Meeting, where I met tons of estima owners. I was hoping to see more Eminas and Lucidas.. but there were none! Tons of MCR and ACR estimas. Few TCR10 estimas. Here is part 1 https://youtu.be/M76otYIhRoM Here is part 2 Met a ton of good friends and IG famous Estimas!

So I don't know how it got bent, but my rear wiper arm was tweaked. I believe it happened after I did a drive through wash. I tried to bend it back, but it didn't work. While at the junkyard, I thought you had to take it apart from the inside of the trunk, so I searched really quick. Nothing. Then I realized there is a cap and bent that back and 1 10mm nut and its free.

I've been coming to Vancouver BC very often due to my family living here. I always search for things to do and I found Bridal Veil Falls in Chilliwack This was in 2015. On the way there, I saw a Pick a Part DIY junkyard on the way. I always told myself I would check it out and Today was that day (June 12, 2016) I went there just to check things out. I didn't have any tools and wasn't expecting much. If I saw a Mazda mx-6 digital gauge cluster, I would have bought it. After search the cars and finding nothing, I decided to look at the vans. I came upon a blue 91 previa (didn't know it was AWD too) and when I looked inside.... ICE MAKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now let me say this. I didn't have tools, I wasn't expecting to buy anything, I didn't have much time.. Well, after I saw the Ice maker, I went to the nearest store  (Canadian Superstore) and bought what was available, which was a half ass tool set! I immediately got to work on th...

I finally came upon a manual previa. While looking at it, I noticed that the panel under the steering column was different in a sense that they left side had a compartment. So I decided to take it off. This was different as it did not have as many screws as other previas I had taken apart. I confirmed this when I took off the panel in my van. My van has a plate behind it and had more screws (3), but there was also a support bar where the compartment was. I took it out temporarily and is fits.  

I'm here in Vancouver BC and stopped by a shop called Velocity Cars. It is a car lot that sells some imported Japanese vehicles. Import laws are different in Canada. These are all legal. They had 5 Estimas. 2 ACR Estimas, 2 TCR Estimas (like the US previa) and One Estima Emina. Looked at all of them to see their differences. They are all 8 seaters as well. First I looked at the Estimas (TCR) that were the same body as the US Previa. Besides the awesome upgrades, one was lowered, but they are the kouki versions, so newer headlights, tail lights and one had the newer Aeras roof rack. Both were AWD. The side mirrors' top were extended like a sun guard. Obvious difference in the outside, but the inside, pretty much the same. There were some small differences. 1. Rear A/C had more buttons for adjusting flow. 2. The lower tray. US previas had a tray (some didn't). Of course some Canadian models had the cool box set up. The Estima has a tray, but it is raised. The to...

So when I was at the Junkyard, I decided to see how to remove the moon roof. After sliding the cover, you will see a plastic cover on each side toward the front of the moon roof. Move those and you will expose 2 10mm nuts. After you remove the nuts, you can either bend the bracket down or lift the moon roof to get the screws to get pass the brackets. Once you do that, you can move the moon roof manually. Remove the roof garnishes and it will come out like butter.

When I picked up the previa, the perspective of rebuild vs replace came to mind. With a blown head gasket, worn SADS couplers and unknown extent of possible damage to the internal of the motor, I decided to go all out and rebuild the whole motor. Since I could not do this at my apartment complex and if you understand the location and the amount of work this motor has, then you know that I would hate to change a head gasket on a high mileage motor and have something break down shortly after and have to go through the process again. When conversations about the rebuild vs replace come up, I always think like this: Time, Place, money (knowledge and resources as well). I dont have place, so I dont have the time. Knowledge on the previa motor, very low. I have novice mechanic skills, but not well versed. Resources, I feel I can be resourceful and have a way to get what I need (parts and services).But knowledge and resources can only take you so far if you are not working ...