My Gen2 200,000 mi “Tune Up” - Engine Clean

I put the links at the top for quick reference..

21+ awesome YouTube Links:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZhpuu0As313s4VL9JBHmPhHJ8RtxA9Ql

Amazon Tools Shopping List:
www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1UFD8WGZP2GF7?ref_=wl_share
*Be sure to look at the whole list.. it’s not in the best order.

Amazon Gen2 Specific Parts Shopping List:
www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1V9VXOB3WXY6C?ref_=wl_share
*Same as above.

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My 2008 gen2 is turning 200,000 soon! She has about 196,500 at the moment. I bought her straight off the truck with 14 miles on the dash.

Let me start by saying that I have beat this car to a pulp over the last 10 years. Early on I tinted the windows & drove cross country for almost 2 months from DE.. slept in the back the whole way! I uploaded a couple pictures from the trip. She’s a perfect little one room hotel! Some of the stuff I’m about to do, I should have done long ago! Both batteries are going strong and all I have ever done is oil (not religiously.. once at about 75,000 I went 12,000 and that was a MISTAKE.. do regular oil changes and your gen2 will last you FOREVER! I love my baby..

During this thread, I’m going to post some pictures of what I’m doing. This is my first go at auto work.. in fact, I had to order a lot of garage tools as I had nothing. I am not a mechanic, but I will be when I’m done! If I can do it.. you can do it! I’ll put together my Amazon shopping list and share the link here so that you can pick and choose what you may need. So far I’ve speant about $400. At the top of this post (for easy finding later) are the links to the YouTube videos I used, as well as, the Amazon shopping list I created.

I’d love for input on things I may have missed that you think I should think about doing!

Here goes the list:

- Tires/brakes. - Mama got some shoes.. lol
- Replace license plate bulbs
- Replace rear lift switch cover
- Replace Rear Lift Supports
- Clean out battery cooling fan.. I never have :-/
- Inflate spare - 60 psi
- Spray can of sea foam through throttle plate while idling.
- Clean engine with LA’s Totally Awesome cleaner with oil.. 3 times. See video..
- Clean MAF sensor
- Clean Throttle plate with tooth brush
- Replace spark plugs(13ft/lb, 1.0 gap)Anti Seize
- Replace pcv valve
- Run 1/2 qt MMO (Marvel Mystery Oil) with oil for 1,500mi.
- Change oil again - put in a bottle of Lucas oil.
- Spray down shocks and struts

- Fix the damn heat shield that’s been rattling forever... and ever..

Enjoy!

-Lord Byron-

 

Cleaning the battery fan will be happening every 10-15,000 mi from now on! I’m surprised my battery didn’t choke out long ago..

 

Make sure you grab some of these blue punch clips before you go taking stuff apart.. you’ll be glad you did!

 

Just about done getting deliveries.. the fun begins next week!

 

Unfortunately, somehow the white connector to the fan wouldn’t come off. I think the tab was broken when I got to it. It definitely would have been easier to remove it and sit a table... but hey, some cardboard on a couple of jack stands worked just fine!

 

Thanks for the info edthefox5! It was the clip on the connector had broken. I couldn’t get the back end to depress enough to get it to disconnect. Even tried a jewlers screwdriver.

There was no sign of water around the fan side paneling or the back end in general. However, I did notice some standing water where the 12v is. There is no water where the spare tire is and I don’t see where water could be getting in. Is there a way to fix the leak? Can you upload a picture of where water could be getting into the 12v battery well?

 

I found the post you were referring to.. here are the pictures of where the leak is. I’ll look tomorrow and see about sucking the water in the battery well out with a pump.

 

Drained and patched with 3 coats of touch up paint! Thank you!
There was A LOT more water down there than I thought there was. I parked on an incline so the water would move to the front side of the battery well where I had better access for the pump hose.

 

Put a can of sea foam spray through the throttle plate today. My girlfriend sat in and helped by keeping the rpms up and the gas engine from cutting off. Massive amount of smoke!

Wasn’t able to get pictures with my hands on the can.

 

Thank you.. I appreciate the input and suggestions!

She is garage kept these days. I pulled her out to pump the water. I’m going to hose her down to see if I fixed the leak before I pull the battery and do a good cleaning in the well. Will definitely put a small hole in the plug when I get there. For now the pool of water is gone. The pump was easier than pulling the battery. It went really fast.

I checked the air filter about a week ago and will do so again. No sign of mice so far... knock on wood!

I’ll definitely clean the hose inlets when I do the spark plugs and change the pcv valve. I cleaned the TB with a toothbrush yesterday too. It wasn’t too bad, but definitely had some build up around the plate. It moves much better now.

Are those the 2 hoses that you are referring to? They don’t look cracked in this picture. Will check in person to verify.




This wasn’t completely done. There was still a little more I got, but.. much better!

 

I hadn’t gotten a good picture after I finished with the bore wall. I got it nice and clean.

I think I got the throat clamp back on nice and snug. She seems to be running ok. Will make sure to triple check when I do the spark plugs and pcv valve. I’ll have my gf’s car so I can run out to pick up some new hoses iif I need to.

I did somehow have a mouse in my garage last year It had a face to face run in with my dog and I haven’t seen any sign of it since.. lol.

 

The MAF obviously hadn’t been cleaned.. like ever. Sprayed it down real good with some MAF sensor cleaner.

The pcv hoses looked good to me. I didn’t see any cracking. The front pcv inlet was pretty nasty. I tried to get as much as possible with a cloth towel in the TB. Wish I had picked up some extra clamps. The pcv hose clamp is pretty rusty.. but it’ll still get the job done.. and I sprayed some white lithium grease on the return spring.

 

I replaced the pcv valve. It had been replaced a while ago, but figured I’d do it while I was here. The valve still felt good when I shook it. I’m wondering if I tightened the new one in too much. I did it by hand. Hand tightened, then gave it a little bit more. It looks like more of the thread is showing with the one that was in there before.

PCV that was in there:


I love these ratchet wrenches:


This is the PCV that I put in:

 

Spark plugs out! I’d say she was due...

 

I dropped 4oz of MMO in each hole (sans plugs).. soaking till morning. Then I’m gonna syphon it out and put 4 more ounces for 8-10 more hrs. Syphon that off, let it air out after 2nd syphoning.. put new plugs in, oil change and by then the new hatch closers should be here.. damned thing’s been squeaking for what feels like a lifetime! I may do a 3rd MMO soak if the second round comes out looking like shit water.

For now.. she rests..

(The blue paper towels are dry.. they’re just there to keep anything from inadvertently making it’s way in).

Oh.. and I used some RainX Xtreme Clean on the headlight covers. Seems to have worked great! I’ll probably do a second coat in a week or two.


Sleep well weary travler..

 

When I went to syphon out the MMO this morning there was none in any of the 4 holes. I decided not to put any more in. I was going to syphon then soak for another 8 hrs. Wasn’t sure what to make of the situation, so I decided to put the new plugs in, check the oil and air filter and crank her over. Now that I know what to expect, I may go back and do another soak before I change the oil.

Smoked out the place!

After driving around for a a couple min I decided to stop and take a picture... note: close the door dumb nice person.. lol

I’m going to drive her for a little before I do the oil change. I added about 1/4 qt to top it off. Oil looks healthy, so I’m not stressed about doing it just yet.

 

She needs a new steering wheel.. the rubber started melting a few years back, so like any good prius driver, I threw a $20 cover on and kept on going.. lol. Going on the quest to find a good one. All the controls are fine. Just need a wheel. This thing is toast..

Taking her to a friends shop on Thursday to do the oil change. He has a lift so I don’t have to work on the ground. I’m going to spray down the struts when I’m there. I may change the transmission fluid too. It has never been done.