toyota LC engine trouble Egypt
 

:(Hello I am in Luxor with my wife we are having trouble with our Toyota LC 95 series UK model with 1TZ TE deisel engine. May have blown a head gasket. Anyone know of a good mechanic in Luxor? Any help gratefully received.
Jim:(

Jim

Hows it going - found a decent garage yet?

Guys on the Land Cruiser forum have sent mesages to contacts in Egypt, will let you know if it comes to anything.

Have you asked at the British Embassy/consulate or the like?
Hotels? etc

Hope all gets fixed and you get back on your trip

G'luck

LC problems sorted!
 

Heard from Jim today, here's what he said:

"Luckily the LC is all sorted now. I found an ace mechanic in Luxor, called Ayyad (pronounced Eye-Ad) who is a whizz with Toyota. He works on all the HiAce mini buses in this city, and has a great reputation.


My LC is a 1998 Colorado with a 1KZ engine. Trouble was a worn cam lobe on number 4 cylinder which meant the poor thing was running on 3 cylinders. Totally recommended. All work done in 2 days, and new head was delivered in 1 day!"

Happy for him that he found a mechanic to sort his problems.

Happy travels Jim

Wonder how much the spares cost.....things like that probably cost ££££££££££££ in somewhere like Egypt cos of import duties.

Although having said that, when I had various fuel injection / front axle etc things done on my LC 80 series in Pakistan (also a place with mega import duties) it was dirt cheap, despite all the bits being Toyota Genuine.

Somedays Egypt is glorious, somedays...?
 

Not sure how spares compare, but the cost of labour certainly helps.

It's not a bad day when a trio of man, under a qualified toyota mechanic, change out your clutch in 2 hours for 50 quid on your driveway.

Car since done 3000km Cairo-Siwa-Silica Glass-Farafra-Cairo and it is a much much much improved beast. OK, we didn't quite make silica class as one of the motorbikers decided to snap his femur through his skin 200km from civilisation.

Of course those glorious Egyptian days are followed by a day in customs being told that I need a letter requesting the letter that I have been sent to get confirming I can drive a right hand drive car.

I was in a RHD car and wasn't asked for that and other ppl I know have also been in RHD cars and not asked for it.

Suspect they're making it up as they go along - suggest you offer some baksheesh to make it go away.

Don't I know it!
 

Yes,

No need for it on entry,.. or even on your first extension. Unfortunately, it's now on my file, so they need it every time now. The great bit was being sent to another customs office to get the letter, to be told I need a letter requesting the letter.

I don't think its an issue for a one time entry, which is then extended. More of an issue when the car is in and out repeatedly. I did see a large pile of such letters although I cann't say I've seen that many UK cars here for the long term.

Another mystery of Cairo life but nothing to worry about for overlanders I think.

Have you seen this video???

Getting Two Land Cruisers Through Egyptian Customs - YouTube

This is what it cost Jim: "new head for 530 GBP and swapped heads for 125 GBP labour"

Not sure personally whether thats cheap or not, but gotta be cheaper that UK prices, and Jim's really happy with the work done - I think satisfaction and peace of mind are often more important than price.

This is what Jim said about the mechanic he found:

"I found an ace mechanic in Luxor he is called "eye-ad" and is on the west bank. Ask the white minibus drivers for him. He works on all their hiace buses and is well known. He has a workshop near the valley of the kings. Top bloke. His mobile is 01003663770. He knows toyota, isuzu really well. His english is pretty good. Totally honest man, and a new friend! Please pass the word on!"

Happy to hear Jim's sorted and maybe this can help someone else sometime.