can anyone tell me where i can get a head gasket changed for space cruiser,in Birmingham, took it to toyota dealer star city & he quoted £2K.
Took it to 2 local garages both would do it for approx £500, but both have no expericence of this model & both thought carb might be faulty too.
Symtoms are overheating after 40-50 mile run, water boiling, and engine cuts out on tick over and braking to a halt.
It has been suggested I get a replacement engine, but mine has done only 46k & relacement might be more worn?

- (#11966) johnkay, 6 Jul 04 06:13

Can't help with the garage, but are you sure it is a head gasket problem?
Is the antifreeze mix correct, is the timing spot on and is the fuel filter clean? All would add to overheating as would a blocked rad/thermostat.
The engine has no suprises and apart from it's location is conventional, so any garage should be able to do any work.

- (#11966) Clive (Bristol), 6 Jul 04 07:13

The dealer said it was the head gasket.
I think I a very weak anti freeze solution by now,due to having filled up with water several times, but the coolant is still a very mucky brown colour which seems to stain everywhere it goes. The carb has been tweeked up to stop the engine stalling, it runs at about 1200 on idle and has a slight variation in it.
The local garage said they need a special tool to get at the carb, that made me think I should get a garage which is familiar with spce cruiser.

- (#11966) johnkay, 6 Jul 04 11:10

I recently had a mobile tuner out to my carb
(no special tools were needed)
I had alot of the same problems and the tune sorted them

- (#11966) jon, 6 Jul 04 11:42

It sounds like this might be a pressure problem. Try replacing the radiator cap first.

- (#11966) dave Bright (Bournemouth), 6 Jul 04 13:06