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Buying help needed


 
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Landygirl
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Joined: 11 Jul 2020
Posts: 3
Location: Kent

PostPosted: Tue Jul 14, 2020 13:41    Post subject: Buying help needed Reply with quote

Hi from a newbie and complete Land Cruiser novice.
I'm looking at buying a j120. I would like some pointers of what to check when I go to look at it. This will be our first foray into non Land Rover products can't stand any of the newer offerings (after about 2004!) except Defender which is no longer suitable for us .
How easy are they to service yourself?
I have been offered a 2008 Invincible for a good price. BUT the aircon isn't working. I understand this is a common problem on this model. Anyone had thiers fixed by an independent aircon specialist?
If the pipes are corroded will this only stop cold air from blowing or do the same pipes used for the heating system? If it's just the aircon I can live without it..it has windows!
I'm not sure if this is in the correct topic so I've posted in several!
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 14, 2020 13:41    Post subject: Google Ads keep this community free to join!


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Juddian
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Joined: 31 Jan 2015
Posts: 374
Location: Homeboy

PostPosted: Sat Jul 18, 2020 20:59    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pipes going to the rear aircon unit get corroded, job for an aircon specialist, hopefully some repairs to the existing pipes could be made reasonably cheaply, new pipes from Mr T are supposed to be expensive, alternatively get the piping to the rear sealed off an use the front aircon unit only.
Worth repairing, that dual aircon is ducted right through to the boot area so great for keeping dogs cool.
Aircon is separate from heating system.

What to look for?, first place you go is underneath, chassis corrosion is the one to watch out for, particularly at the rear end, also check the inner sills between the chassis rails and side steps, the sills take a weather beating at both ends and can in extremes perforate, i avoid cars from Scotland at all costs purely due to the excess salt.

Cars up to 2008 the 3.0 litre engine was fitted with copper injector seals, these can leak allowing combustion chamber blow by, this causes carbonising of the oil and (esp[ecially in vehicles with poor maintenance) can lead to gumming up of the oil pick up leading to oil starvation, this is rare of course.
Toyota had a recall campaign and if you search around you can find which chassis numbers were affected, most cars will have been fixed...new aluminium injector seals...and a 2008 model may well already have alloy seals from new.

You want to see a decent service history, these engines like new oil every 9 or 10k or every year officially, i service mine every 6 months so 3 or 4k at most.
Engine might seem a bit rattly cold, but this shouldn't be excessive and it should be quieten down once warm, oil light should extinguish instantly when started.
Should be no smoke at all from the exhaust, condensation yes, you might get a little black smoke under full throttle cos Invincible will probably have the tuning box fitted to bost power from 177ish to 200ish, Toyota later dropped this.
Car should pull well and cleanly, should take off from standing start faster than you might imagine, gearchanges should be alosmt imperceptible under normal throttle openings,

Are they easy to work on?, generally yes, i service my own and i'm an old 'un.
Have changed every oil in the vehicle myself, including the auto box which is supposed to be filled for life (WS synthetic fluid) but everyone who has changed their gearbox oil reports better changing as a result, anyway i trust filled for life as much as i'd trust a British politician to tell the truth.

Cambelt is every 90k if my memory serves, its the worlds easiest cambelt change, takes 1 hour the first time you DIY it, £100 will buy a full quality cambelt kit.

Brakes are superb in operation, but require proper strip clean lube every year or the front pistons (lower inner) of the 4 piston front calipers will seize up cos salt corrosion.
Brake master cylinder ABS unit and pressure pump are one combined unit, a new unit from Mr T will make your wallet weep but the rare times they faily its usually the pressure pump which can be rebuilt by one or two places, you won't believe how little pedal pressure is required.
Rear brakes are the excellent drum inside disc design, with manual parking brake operating on those small drums, the best brake design out there, rarely give any bother if you look after them.

Rear suspension should be by airbags on an Invincible, same as LC5, some people are worried about this but changing an airbag is easier than a spring, and the sure footed roadholding and ride comfort offered by the high spec airbagged Prados is well worth having, off road you can raise the rear by about 3" if that might help with clearance.
Some people replace those airbags with springs, your choice.

Invincible will probably have TEMS, electrically adjustable shock absorbers all round, 4 settings from inside the car ranging from soft to Sport, yeah don't laugh, sport and and Prado don't really go together, these shockers are seriously expensive when they fail and i'd have no hesitation in replacing with decent quality standard shockers if they are the system failed.

Tyre size is standard 265/65 x 17.

If you get a well looked after one they are really very good vehicles, lovely to drive and ridiculously reliable, a little narrower than some so easy to live with for normal driving, and apart from an LC200 which i can't afford and refuse to pay the inflated used prices anyway there is nothing i'd replace my 05 LC5 with.
Check carefully underneath, that is the most important place, if its rotten walk away, keep looking and you will eventually find one that's been cared for well enough, if you find a good one get busy with some decent rustproofing straight away and top it up every year.

Remember 2008 will attract £555 VED, reckon on no better than 28mpg maybe 30 on a steady run with 25 being typical for general nipping about.
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Landygirl
Newbie


Joined: 11 Jul 2020
Posts: 3
Location: Kent

PostPosted: Sun Jul 19, 2020 12:02    Post subject: Reply with quote

Juddian thank you for your comprehensive answer.
It's a bit odd to be buying a car which we know little about after 30 years of Land Rover ownership.
We are waiting to have a look at the Invincible ,Covid 19 is playing havoc!
Your answer has reassured us about the aircon.
If we don't buy this one we will be looking for others.
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Juddian
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Joined: 31 Jan 2015
Posts: 374
Location: Homeboy

PostPosted: Sun Jul 19, 2020 15:12    Post subject: Reply with quote

You're welcome and best of luck in the search.

One thing i should have mentioned, regarding the injector seal issue, the oil pick up strainer is located directly above the sump plug, and seeing as you are sensible DIY types if you let the oil drain for several hours you can shine a torch or use an endoscope to inspect said pick up every oil change, this gives great peace of mind.

Also the 120 series with 3 litre has a useful extra sump under the main sump which basically houses the pick up, undo a dozen or 10mm bolts and that small sump will come off so you can remove and clean the oil pick up properly if it needs doing, obviously if its carboned up then the chances are you have a leaking injector seal, if you ever find this issue don't leave it.

Between here and the other forum there's lots of good info on 120's.
The forums aren't that busy because the motors are generally pretty reliable.

A good source of Prado info regarding all things engine and injection is 'Fourby4Diesel' channel on Youtube, an Australian Prado specialist mechanic who knows these things inside out.
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Juddian
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Joined: 31 Jan 2015
Posts: 374
Location: Homeboy

PostPosted: Sun Jul 19, 2020 15:30    Post subject: Reply with quote

Reading further, its possible the 2008 Invincible will not have the tuning box fitted, that appears to have been used on 2006/7 versions of Invincible only, and those versions might be based on LC4 rather than LC5, so rear end in steel springs rather than air.
Many prefer the LC4 because it doesn't have air suspension and a slightlty more basic dash, LC5 based vehicles have the built in satnav (pretty awful to use) and touch screen operation of heating audio and aircon.

Whichever model it is they are all good vehicles, just remember to do a search to find out the chassis numbers affected by the injector seal recall.
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Landygirl
Newbie


Joined: 11 Jul 2020
Posts: 3
Location: Kent

PostPosted: Fri Jul 24, 2020 12:45    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks Juddian for the extra info. only just seen it as my PC broke down, must be a LR Discovery 3!!!
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Masterblaster
Newbie


Joined: 21 Jun 2020
Posts: 2
Location: Tadworth Surrey

PostPosted: Wed Aug 05, 2020 16:16    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks Juddian, in answering Landygirls query, you have given a pretty good intro to the ownership of a LC. I have just bought a d4d 05 LC5, with 55K miles, and full dealer history. One of the first things I did, was to get some underbody protection where rust was starting to show. I will endeavor to follow your recommendations about keeping the protection up. What are your thoughts about keeping the AC pipe corrosion down please ? Agree about the timing belt, how easy was that ! Moved into LC ownership, having disposed of a VW Tiguan, such a contrast, but always wanted one, and now I have the need to pull a horse trailer for my daughter. Thanks again for taking the time for your comments.
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Jon5
Newbie


Joined: 18 Oct 2020
Posts: 1
Location: Kent

PostPosted: Sun Oct 18, 2020 20:31    Post subject: Hope you are happy with your LC5 Reply with quote

Masterblaster wrote:
Thanks Juddian, in answering Landygirls query, you have given a pretty good intro to the ownership of a LC. I have just bought a d4d 05 LC5, with 55K miles, and full dealer history. One of the first things I did, was to get some underbody protection where rust was starting to show. I will endeavor to follow your recommendations about keeping the protection up. What are your thoughts about keeping the AC pipe corrosion down please ? Agree about the timing belt, how easy was that ! Moved into LC ownership, having disposed of a VW Tiguan, such a contrast, but always wanted one, and now I have the need to pull a horse trailer for my daughter. Thanks again for taking the time for your comments.
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