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Daihatsu: Reviews, Models & Prices

Daihatsu built a reputation for small cars and compact 4WDs before ceasing Australian sales in 2005. Explore models including the Charade and Rocky.

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Daihatsu Frequently asked questions

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Petrol is getting into the oil in my 1997 Daihatsu Feroza F300

Your list of potential causes is a pretty sharp one and one that suggests you know a bit about how engines work. And it remains that all those possibilities could be the root cause of your problem.

If petrol is getting into the sump, it’s going to be past the piston rings, which means you either have a leaky component in the fuel system (that’s dribbling fuel into the engine when it’s not running) or, as you suggest, something like a dud temperature sensor which is creating a too-rich mixture that is not burning completely and contaminating the engine oil in the process.

Having the car scanned might throw up a fault code that coincides with one of these components, and that would be a very good place to start. But don’t rule out the really basic stuff, too, like a worn out engine or a broken piston ring that is allowing fuel to enter the sump. Or perhaps the car is used exclusively for short trips where the constantly cold operating temperature is leading to an equally chronic rich-mixture state.

Meantime, you’re right to not drive the vehicle until this is fixed as the thinned oil now in the sump can’t protect the engine as well as it needs to, leading to accelerated engine wear.

My 1980 Daihatsu Charade engine shuts off and the radiator water is dirty and boiling

It seems pretty clear from these symptoms that the engine is massively overheating. That explains the boiling water in the overflow tank which will be dirty mainly form rusty deposits within the engine’s cooling system. The question then becomes what’s causing the overheating.

There are lots of reasons for an engine to overheat, including low coolant level, a blocked radiator, collapsed radiator hose, failed head gasket, incorrect ignition timing, poor fuel mixture, a damaged or missing fan shroud, slipping fan belt, worn water pump and many, many more. But a good mechanic should be able to assess the situation, do a few quick tests and determine the root cause of the overheating, then you can move forward on a fix, knowing that you’re tackling the correct issue.

The other piece of advice is to not drive the car until it’s fixed. Continuing to drive with an overheating engine is a great way to destroy the engine completely. At that point you need a new engine or a new car.

The engine on my 2004 Daihatsu Sirion M100 has started faulting after 180,000km. What could it be?

If the engine mounts are indeed in good condition (and it can be hard to tell just by looking) then you might be looking at a problem with the idle speed settings. Engines typically idle more slowly when they’re cold and in gear and there’s usually a compensation for this. In an electronically controlled engine like the Sirion’s, this idle-up function will be a job for the onboard computer. But if the computer has lost the plot or isn’t getting the right signal from, say, a temperature sensor, then it can’t bump the idle up a fraction when it needs to. And then, once warmed up, the engine seems normal.

A cold engine that spits a little water out the tailpipe is completely normal. Water is one of the by-products of the combustion process. It’s black because it mixes with soot in the exhaust system. But we only see it when the engine is cold, as once warmed up, the exhaust system turns the water to steam and we don’t see it. A black exhaust in a modern car that runs on ULP is completely normal also.

Disclaimer: You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice. CarsGuide is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided in the answers.

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About Daihatsu

Daihatsu earned a reputation for ruggedness and reliability in the 1960s with its light trucks, and built on its good name with a range of small passenger cars and light four-wheel drives such as the Charade hatch and Rocky 4WD over the next few decades. Toyota gained control of the company in 1988, and in 2000 the Japanese company's Australian operation was absorbed by Toyota, and sales ceased here in 2005.

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* Price is based on the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price for the lowest priced variant. The Price excludes costs such as stamp duty, other government charges and options. Disclaimer: Glass's Information Services (GIS) and CarsGuide Autotrader Media Solutions Pty Ltd. (CarsGuide) provide this information based on data from a range of sources including third parties. Whilst all care has been taken to ensure its accuracy and reliability, GIS and CarsGuide do not warrant or represent that the information is accurate, reliable, complete, current or suitable for any particular purpose. You should not use or rely upon this information without conducting an independent assessment and valuation of the vehicle. To the maximum extent permitted by law, GIS and CarsGuide exclude all liability for any direct, indirect, special or incidental loss, damage, expense or injury resulting from, arising out of, or in connection with your use of or reliance upon this information.

** Warranty information shown is based on manufacturer data supplied by Glass's Information Services or the manufacturer directly, and reflects the manufacturer warranty offered at the time of publication. Warranty terms vary by model, variant and time of purchase, and may be subject to service conditions and exclusions that can change without notice. Where a warranty is expressed as both a period of time and a kilometre limit, cover ends at whichever of those limits is reached first. Where a warranty is shown as "up to", the maximum term applies to selected models only and may be subject to additional conditions. Extended warranty cover may be conditional on servicing at an authorised dealer. For used vehicles, remaining manufacturer warranty depends on the vehicle's build date, service history and previous ownership. Nothing in this warranty information limits or excludes any rights or guarantees you have under the Australian Consumer Law, which apply in addition to any manufacturer warranty. CarsGuide does not warrant the accuracy or currency of the warranty information. Confirm current warranty terms with the manufacturer or an authorised dealer before purchase.

*** Disclaimer: The repayment calculator is merely a model for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an agreement by any lender to provide credit. The default interest rate included is an indicative rate and does not represent an offer by any lender to provide finance at this repayment rate. The default loan term is an average loan term of 5 years. The default interest rate and default loan term can be changed in order to allow you to model alternative repayment outcomes. The calculator does not factor in fees and charges that a lender may levy. CarsGuide Autotrader Media Solutions Pty Ltd, trading as carsguide.com.au, and their affiliated companies (carsguide) do not make any representation or warranty, whether express or implied, as to the calculator or calculations and accepts no liability in relation to the same. CarsGuide does not hold an Australian Credit Licence and does not provide financial or credit services of any kind. You should obtain independent financial advice before obtaining finance. CarsGuide may let the dealer know that you have used this repayment calculator as an indication that you are interested in obtaining finance.