fluids and other newbie questions

[pinto]

Hi I just purchased a 92 Delica diesel automatic. I would like to know if I check the tranny fluid in park or neutral, also I'm sure it must have glow plugs......but I do not see a light on the dash. Also how often should I replace the fuel filter.....One more thing is it easy to check the timing belt (chain)....and how.....thank you I am glad to find this site.....Looking forward to a meet......I live in the Vancouver area.

[nishby]

Congrats.

I'm curious what you got and how your buying experience was.

I'll be picking up a Deli next week when I'm in Vancouver and I'm still trying to narrow down my list of available vans. I might have to stroke the one you bought off!

Cheers.

[FalcoColumbarius]

Hi Pinto, Welcome to the club .

If you live in the Vancouver area you ought to make yourself acquainted with CVI Automotive, pretty much the Delica Canada garage for the Vancouver area. On the Island I would recommend CC Autos, in Coombs. As far as the glow plugs are concerned: There is no light but what you hear is a click, then roughly three seconds later you hear a second click. This is when you turn the starter over. You may hear other clicks after this but this is the glow plug controller doing it's thing, making sure that the cylinders are nice and warm. I would further recommend reading up the forums on this site ~ such as "Delica Canada Technical". In there you will find a link to "Delica Wiki" ~ a must read. Also "Delica Modifications" is a good source for seeing what other drivers have done to their Starwagons, a souce for inspiration.

Keep an eye open in "Delica General" for "Events - BC Lower Mainland" because going to mini-meets is where a lot of information is exchanged first hand. Keeping active in this club will pay off tenfold.

Cheers! Falco.

[marsgal42]

If you didn't get a Japanese owner's manual, or can't read the one you got, there is an English version, often referred to as the JPNZ manual after the people who published it. The Russek manual is a small but useful service manual.

Do a search and you will find both of these. I bought my copies from my usual overseas car book supplier, The Pitstop in Perth.

...laura