1992 3VZE T4R Multiple questions

[FubarGrn]

Alright, haven't posted in a while, been busy with work.

I've managed to get the A/C blowing ice-cold, but the belt occasionally makes a chirping noise (litterally, a chirp, chirp like a bird noise) when I turn it on, other times it's quiet. I've noticed the belt seems a tad loose, but nothing extreme. Could it be the small pulley below the compressor?

Dash lights, well, I HAVE them, but they are abysmally dim (the dimmer is on full power, btw), are there super-bright replacement bulbs that I can use to get that to be brighter? Also, the HVAC control panel has NO lights on, which I find rather odd, is it supposed to be backlit?

This is my second T4R, the first being a 89 22re. I know all about the Toyota engine rattle, but this 3VZE is pretty damn severe. I mean when I pull off from a stop, it sounds exactly like a diesel engine... Also at about mid throttle I get a rapid knocking sound (around the 2500-2700 RPM range), but it's only really bad when I let off the throttle, not so much when I am mashing down on it. Could this be poor oiling? I'm currently running 10w30 oil in it (187K on the clock), should I switch to 20w50 for the summer?

I've also noticed that this beast performance just goes to pot when it's really really hot out (+95 degrees), Since I work overnights, It's in the high 90's low 100's here, and when I get off work early in the morning, it's in the 70's and 80's, It runs surprisingly great when the ambient temp is lower. Is this because of the temp of incoming air? If so, is there anything I can do to lower the temp of the incoming air, short of getting an intercooler?

Also, I'm wanting to reduce parasitic drag on the engine. The stock mechanical fan on this thing roars like a lion alllllll the time (no, it's not locked up, believe it or not), any recomendations for an electric replacement? I'd like something super high flow, maybe even variable speed (so as not to render my heater useless in the winter, lol).

 

[rustyrazor]

I've also got the v92 3vze. I'd try tightening the AC belt or try some belt dressing on it.

The dash lights on mine aren't very dim and the HVAC control is back-lit. Your best bet would be to take it apart and see what's wrong. You probably just need to replace some bulbs.

I run sythetic Mobil1 15w50 oil in mine year round. Our winters are long and cold but the synthetic oil doesn't seem to thicken up like conventional oil does in the cold. They have the mobil1 on sale in the advance auto parts flyer right now $30 for 5qt plus the synthetic oil filter ends July 31. It seems like the sale happens about once every 4 or 5 months. You may want to try adding some Seafoam or something like that to the oil a week before changing the oil so that it can loosen up any built up sludge etc. I found that the 15w50 sythetic oil helped with the rattles etc.

Mine runs the same regardless of temperature. I think you have a bad part somewhere that's being affected by the heat. The first thing I think of is a bad distributer cap.

As for parasitic drag; if you have the automatic hubs than you should look at picking up some manual hubs. If you have the ADD system like mine than your 4x4 engages and disengages at the differential. This means that your axles are always turning. Warn has a manual hub kit but the best would be to find some used Toyota hubs made by Aisin since they're supposed to be the strongest. The hubs bolt right up. The ADD system can be jury rigged so that that it's always locked but that isn't necessary as long as you don't try shifting on the fly when the hubs are unlocked.

 

[rustyrazor]

I was thinking that the A/C could be causing your lack of power problems since you're probably running the A/C when it's 95 deg.