Service Guides
Free Service Guides for the Toyota Surf and 4Runner
One guide per engine. Written by an owner, verified against Toyota's factory manuals and cross-checked with the 8,500 owners in the Surf Syndicate community.
Free PDFs, delivered by email in the next couple of minutes. No catch.
Not sure which engine you have?
Three ways to identify your engine before you pick the right guide.
Chassis code prefix
Look at the first three letters of your chassis code (on the VIN plate).
LN = 2L-T · KZN = 1KZ-TE · KDN = 1KD-FTV · VZN = 3VZ-E or 5VZ-FE · RZN = 3RZ-FE · RN = 22R-E
VIN plate location
Open the driver's door and look at the sticker on the B-pillar. The chassis code is stamped there and on the firewall.
Valve cover marking
Pop the bonnet. Toyota casts the engine code (e.g. "1KZ-TE") directly onto the valve cover on most engines.
Pick your engine
1KZ-TE
KZN130 · KZN185
The head-crack diesel, and how to make sure yours never does.
Get the 1KZ-TE guide →
5VZ-FE
VZN185
The 3.4L V6 — timing belt discipline, and the pink milkshake trap.
Get the 5VZ-FE guide →
2L-T / 2L-TE
LN61 · LN130
The engine before the 1KZ-TE, and the head that still cracks.
Get the 2L-T guide →
I'm Campbell.
I built these guides because I couldn't find them. Toyota's factory service manuals are dense, workshop-only, and only cover one generation at a time. Owner forums are gold but scattered. The Service Guide Library is what I wish I'd had when I bought my first Surf.
Campbell, Surf Syndicate
