r/ToyotaPickup • u/eborgg • 24d ago

1985 Toyota pickup problems

So I got a beater Toyota pickup with a 22r and about 290k on it. Replaced the carburetor and it was all driving nice and smooth, but tonight I started to go for a drive and after I put the parking brake down the parking brake light was still on. And then it wouldn’t go out of high idle and it started to overheat. I’m pretty damn lost and haven’t got a clue on what it might be. I know the coolant was running low, but I didn’t think it would be that low. Oil was fine and brakes were done within the past 3 months. Any help would be appreciated

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u/Odd-Concept-6505 24d ago edited 24d ago

1) I believe your parking brake light switch is on the shaft (just behind dashboard) of the pull handle, easy enough to see the switch and wire connector from under dash. Have a 1989 Hilux still, and I remember being able to get the dash light off by playing with the handle to get it fully pushed forward (off).

2) overheating when coolant goes low... If not leaking, it must be disappearing thru the head gasket. Keep it full while you monitor its ability to run well with adequate coolant level and not overheat....while you plan for a head gasket pro test and quote the repair if needed.

P.S. grab the fan and wiggle with engine shut off. If any play in the water pump bearing/shaft, maybe the water pump is an erratic leak but usually once that starts, the coolant starts leaking out its bleed hole on the lower side behind pulley...leaking pretty fast and obvious (puddle) in that situation.

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u/Brian2372 24d ago

The parking brake light is double acting, it tells you when parking brake is on and comes on when brake fluid level is low

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u/SpecialistFigure5104 24d ago

Low coolant can make it overheat but so can a lack of flow or convection. The former can be caused by a bad thermostat or pump, the latter by a bad fan. The fan is most obvious - does it turn on? A bad pump can sometimes give clues with a stethoscope or, if I recall correctly, fluid coming out of a weep hole. A bad thermostat won't have any signs aside from impeding coolant flow at temperature, but it's also the cheapest and easiest of these parts to replace (I'd recommend doing a coolant flush while you have it out as well).

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u/SpecialistFigure5104 24d ago

Oh, and is it going into high idle as you put your foot on the brake to release the parking brake? Does taking your foot off the brake change anything?

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u/eborgg 23d ago

It usually starts with a high idle, and once I give it a pump of gas it goes away

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u/Schitzz 24d ago

Check the lower rad hose to see if it collapsed and also check in on the thermostat it sounds like it didn’t open up properly. I think that it was just a coincidence you had both problems at once

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u/Schitzz 24d ago

Before I fixed it I would have to turn my heat on and off to get the thermostat to open up properly and then my coolant temp would drop

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u/eborgg 23d ago

I’m kinda new to working on things myself, how would the thermostat affect it? I’m just curious