Purchasing a used 3.4 Prado

Thanks mate, most appreciated.

Mark what ks does your speedo say. Are the digits all lined up even ?
Cheers cPete

Hi Mark, sounds like it might have done some more klms then showing, or it was very missed treated prior to you getting it. What has been the issues with it ?? The only real main thing I have heard about wth these motors has been the occasional head going but very far and few between, and like a lot of things, some times I dont think we get the full story, service history, oil/coolant changes ect. I have just bought myself and 01 grande T/D with a genuine 78k on it and so far so good. Will the head go ?? who knows but if it does Ill obviously have it repaired, lets hope not and I dont have the troubles you have had. Im Toyota through and through but they all have the problems. Did you know you can do a check on previous owners, pink slip klms, ride offs, previous owners etc via the RTA website, costs you around $23 for the check, well worth it. Might even pay for you to do it now and if you find anything dodgy with the pink slip like speedo been wound back then you can have them big time. It will show you the last 5 years of what klms the pink slip had on it when registered each year.....WHG

I had no idea that was available, History says a thousand words, $23 is a small price to pay for the truth - 'such a lonely word but mostly what i need from... used car sellers!

Sam

Axles hold wheels, Doors don't do as good a job. I've noticed this annoying fault, swing away kaymar bar would be a dream but obviously the coin is huge.
Sam

It was only the 2.7L 4-cyl "RV" model that had one fuel tank - all the V6 ones had two tanks.

Ahhh. . . .that's right, I knew one of 'em did

Thats funny, i have been waiting 3 weeks to join that forum. Still waiting on approval, tried twice. Given up now.

I got accepted straight away, I even admitted to not owning a Prado. Not sure whats wrong with you mate?! perhaps you have cyber BO;-)

Sam

Hi there. Similar experience myself: 11 year old GXL manual. Mine since new. Almost no problems in 210,000km (master window winder switch panel 2007 [ouch: - $400]; starter solenoid in 2008; air con seal 2009. Otherwise just routine replacements, a couple of suspension rubbers. Quite boring really.
As for "scuttle/dash rattles" yes, it happens, but two solutions: if the corrugations are slight, turn up the radio; if not open the window and enjoy the ambience.
Like Russell says, the big problem is the $50k changeover price to a new one!
Chris

Those repairs seem minimal for a 10 year old car. Sounds like both yours have been cared for and not abused. I htink it is the History that i need to watch.

Sam

Hi Mark, I had the 97 Grande petrol V6 myself. I just sold it about 3 weeks ago with 186k on it for $16,500 same as I payed for it 2 and a bit years ago. I added some OME suspension, cargo barrier, bullbar and a few other bits and pieces, sold it with the bar, barrier and OME was left in it. Was a great vehicle. My biggest mistake (for myself) was putting LPG on it. Had no issues what so ever with the PLG but the tank size 59L usable was way too small and really stuffed me for long distance touring. You are spot on with the annoying droning/vibration sound coming from the exhaust in that rev range but just turn up the radio a bit more LOL. I also heard about the water pumps but mine was still ok was still running the original pump. Mine did develop a rear main leak not bad, but enough for it to drop a drop or two of oil over a couple of weeks. The only other thing I found was the front discs seem to warp easy and IM not hard on brakes (wife yes), other then that a very capable vehicle.
Sam as said check it over good, there is a tube that runs from one side of the vehicle to the other just in front of the rear wheels, get a torch and check it out make sure if the vehicle has been on the sand that this is clear as the sand will sit in there, also open both front doors and check inside lower front guards for sand, down behind headlights. Check around the heads for oil leaks at the rear, if its a grande check the rear control panel (behind centre console) is working. Take the cover off where the jack and tool kit is passengers side rear cargo area, for possible corrosion down at the bottom. The 96 V6 models did have an issue with head gaskets going but would have been rectified by now due to age (klms). Myn use to use around the 17L per 100 klms around town but that was a lot of stopping and starting. The best I ever got on open road was 12.2L per 100 (all freeway). Great all round vehicle. If you want to go extreme rock hopping then buy a patrol or 80 series or early 100 series cruiser without IFS. Any IFS, torshion bar front end is no match for the soild coil front ends, leaf spring front ends were fairly good to. As said above, heaps out there so take a good look, GXL or Grande would be the go if $$$ allow for it...........WHG

Thank you both for your input, most informative. We took a 96 Grande on the CSR a couple of years ago. I ended up with my knees hard pressed against the glove surround. I'm stoked to hear the solution isn't a finnancially costly one - I guess I'll cross that bridge when i come to it. As already said every model has it's pitfalls. Thanks again,
Sam

Interestingly I have a RV6 95 4runner. You make a good point about economy, the best I've done is 12l/100 on petrol (I think average is around 14) and usually average 17l/100 on LPG around town.
Thanks for your input
Sam

Hi Robin. Yes, you are right about the Prado's narrow track and the fact that it does not pass the 45 degree static rollover test. The practical reality is that this inherent weakness has to be seen in context: most vehicles that roll are actually moving, and the practical determinants of a rollover are, as you, an engineer well know, include also matters of grip, and also lateral force. Whether or not 45 degrees has any magical value is debatable, but I have to say I would develop some serious digestive disfunctionality well before a static 45 degree figure was achieved whilst I was driving.
When you add factors like a roof rack loaded with spare tyre and a few other things, many 4wds are fairly dubious in the lateral stability department. We ALL must use our vehicles safely. But there's nothing magical about 45 degrees, even though London Transport was so very proud of its double decker buses back when!!
Chris (SA).

Thats a well presented line of discussion that I agree with Chris.

The instant I put even a small trailer on my car, its stability is reduced significantly in some areas and requires driving to suit.

45 is as you say no magical figure , just like a fixed speed limit isn't in some weather conditions.

Some of my driving situations like last weeks thread 68264, do make you go for every bit of stability you can get.

Its interesting. My current 79series has the same track as the 90series Prado I owned previously but when offroading, it feels a lot less likely to roll over.

I think the IFS on the Prado is an additional factor - there is less unsprung weight and the front end can easily lift, raising the centre of gravity.

I don' think i would be too concerned between the difference of a 45deg and 48 deg slope as a car that measures aprox 2metres wide we would only be concern with a variation of about aprox 70mm in rise of slope, i can assure you that when i am installing metal roofing it does not make much difference if the roof is 35 deg or 60 deg i still cant walk on it so i would assume that i would not drive on these type of slopes. I would also feel much safer if i was travelling on a wet slippery surface with as step side slope, that i am in a prado or any safe vehicle with good suitable tyres rather than a vehicle that may on paper have a better side slope angle but with 20% remaining tread tyres [as per68264]!i guess 160 -180 ltrs of fuel weight at floor levels does have an advantage. In 28 years of driving 4wd i have nether based my buying decision on roll over angles only,but i did consider such things as safety features available when i bought the prado and made sure the option boxes had been ticked.
Russell

Hi Phil , Russel

There is a lot in that impluse surge as the body rolls , I get uncomfortable driving across a calibrated 20 deg slope even though I know its well within the cars capability , but I know that if it slips a little on wet grass then a wheel goes into a rut that this is the real worry.

Its all potentially manageable , but it seems that what happens is that some factor gets forgotten , and this tips the car over , starting with a more stable car puts the odds in your favour.

I guess I've seen to many 4wd rollovers to do anything other than stack the odds in my favour

Where do you find the roll over details from? i'd be interested to know the details... makes you think twice about throwing a roof rack on.

Sam

in regards to the other posts i did try to search the forum for other posts similar to this one. I found that either the site wouldn't allow me to search or i'm no good with computers, I think the latter is the most probable option. My apologies for clogging up the forum.

Sam

I think my issue is that with out statistical data on both high and low speed data of roll overs for both prados and patrols and other vehiclesand the break down of these stats as to roof racks ,speed ,wet conditions etc, i think we are spliting hairs over a minor difference to a few degrees. I worry that you [Robin ] sound like the Harold Scruby of the anti prado council, going on this post and previous posts.
I think we are getting away from SAM's original question re 2nd hand prado's, from most replies the owners have been more than happy with them and we are yet to get any replies from previous owners who may have had bad experiences from them and certainly no replies from owners who have rolled them.
Sam as affirmed before i have been more than happy with this vehicle have recommended this make to others and know of 2 others who have since bought a prado and seem happy with the decision.I do travel with other patrol [4] owners on off road trips etc have always have done and gone every where these vehicles and know 1 of these owners is considering changing to a prado after many problems which still remains un resolved 4.5 ulp, and laught at another who has a sticker on the back of his patrol
[I WISH THIS CARS MOTOR WOULD LAST AS LONG AS THE BATTERY]3.o ltr
also an earlier reply mentioned the brake issue and yes i have replaced rotors but living at the top of a mountain i put this down to the cost of where we live.At the end of the day you need to decide what best suits your needs
Russell

Robin, I find every time some one mentions roll overs its the prados you jump at, What about the same year models in the pajero's, hilux's, tray back cruisers and a few others. While I dont dissagree with you in that the wider the wheel track the better, but at the end of the day it comes down to using our brains when out and about 4wdriving. I have lifted the front wheel/s on the old prado numerous times being IFS they dont have the wheel travel that for eg your patrol would have but most roll overs come down to driver error or going at some thing full boar instead of steady. Like driving on sand I for sure a hell would not try and turn my prado around and drive across a steep sand dune, for me its either straight up or down or If I get stuck halfway and dont make it hit reverse and go back the same way I tryed to go up. Same a freeway driving at 110k I have told my wife wether she is in her buzz box or the prado DONOT swerve to miss anything or you will end up on your lid. I have told her if someone comes into her lane, hit the brakes (ABS) hang onto the wheel and hope they either swerve back or there going to graze some metal off both cars, same as if a dog runs out in front of her, hit the brakes and if its still in front of you, sorry but old rover will be copping a bullbar up its clakker. I would appreciate if you could send me the link for the stats on roll overs either on or off road ??. At the end of the day its the same old question, do I need to go that way ?? is there another way ?? am I just chopping up the track to prove a point ?? or in an emergency situation then you may have no choice like we had to a few years back in the High Country with the fires behind us we had to get out via one way ....WHG

The roll-over angle is certainly ONE part of road safety. The Patrol may have a better roll-over than the Prado, but it's still a lot worse than normal sedans.

There are other factors in the Prado that are good: full-time 4wd (not on Patrol), ABS & Dual Airbags (Std Grande, opt. on others), great braking.

Then there's quality and type of tyres - muddies will grip the tarmac shockingly compared to highway treads, so should we all be on these instead. Cheapies will do a worse job than dearer ones too (generally).

Suspension affects steering and braking, so are these up to scratch?

Driver attitude and mental fatigue.

Other idiots on the road...

Hi Sam

(Note your search issues - I presume you are able to read the referenced posts like 60050 ok They contain links and info )


The Prado 90 data came from when Racv comissioned tests at Seymour Military tilt table facility, and published in there mag in nineties.
They no longer do these tests, and its hard to get current model data in Australia although in USA every new car is required to have rollover figures.
The US Prado nearest equivalent (4 runner) - has a poor 3 star rating.

Toyota Australia, have not to my knowledge released any figures on Prado's (as opposed to landcruisers)
- perhaps because after recalling 200,000 for rear-axle issues which contributed to rollovers they were very sensitive.
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/16/toyota-to-recall-land-cruiser-prado/

The improved new model still has woeful figures (42 degrees)
http://www.um.co.za/specifications/toyota_land_cruiser_prado_4_0_vx_at_(2004).aspx

In addition we (myself Electroincs & brother Automotive engineer) were involved with comparative testing at Victorias Angelsea Test facility during release of this car and specificaly drove them on test slopes against other cars.


Hi Wherehegon / Hi Russel

You have asked a few questions and I am happy to answer I may have missed or not covered by references.

The Prado is a popular car and unpalatable facts are not so popular but its important that anyone asking for information, should have it so that can make informed choices.



What Can You Do about it ?
Australian police reports E.G. http://www.monash.edu.au/muarc/reports/muarc184.pdf
- show that static stability is still prime factor in rollovers, not good driver behaviour and that this can be dramatically improved with weight re-distribution.