110k and the 80 hates me

[peepers]

here it is... getting flatbedded about 75 miles into my 2,500 road trip. this was nice.



that one i will blame on myself. i installed an adjustable panhard rod and that bolt fell out on the highway. my bad.

lets see, what else has gone wrong?

• A/C kaput
• Power Steering pump leaking like a sieve
• Brakes soft as hell - this is probably my fault too, somehow air in the lines?
• Leaking rear window
• Clogged sunroof drains leaking internally
• slee headlight harness failing
• exhaust rusted through and needs replacement
• custom made steel wheels are rusting and the wheels themselves are out of balance
• radiator kaput, might as well replace the fan clutch too

i realize this is a mix of aftermarket failures and toyota failure but i have been around many cars that did not have multiple A/C failures at 100k or toasted radiators. i have to admit. the ONLY cars that have failed me on long trips have been my landcruisers. one of which was bone stock the two times it failed.

just a rant. thanks for listening.

 

[JJS]

I think the exhaust rots through on all road-salt-exposed vehicles by 100k. Sorry to hear about your problems, but a lot of that stuff sounds routine. I'll trade you an '01 F-150 for it.

 

[82cruiser]

Hey Pete,

Sorry to hear of the troubles you're having with the 80. That's a mighty long list of issues. Have you tried bitching at the PO?

What's kaput with the AC? Slider windows leaking or rear hatch window? Sunroof drains need regular cleanings if your live in NE. The Slee harness should work for a loooong time...what's it doing? Is it the down pipe on the exhaust or farther back?

Maybe you should trade up to John's Great Pumpkin.

 

[natickdave]

Pete,
I will pull a Tanya Harding on the kneecap of the PO if you want.
Dave

 

[Wildman]

Wow you have s***ty luck. :bummer: I drove a 4runner from cali to ma in 10 days (besides the 6 months before that) and it was rapping the whole way Sounded like a little Kabota tractor.

Personaly I think its just rejecting the 40 hubcaps you have on there.

 

[nat88toy]

sucks dude tell you what bring it back to mass and i will buy it off you

 

[mainemike]

[*]A/C kaput


pisspoor bad luck on the AC


[*]Power Steering pump leaking like a sieve


happens to the best of them after 10 years/100k miles...


[*]Brakes soft as hell


80 brakes are notorious for this....


[*]Leaking rear window


PITA but probably not a deal breaker


[*]Clogged sunroof drains leaking internally


known issue... not a hard fix


[*]slee headlight harness failing


hmmm... i've read a few complaints about this, not sure what to make of it. I haven't done the upgrade yet myself. can you elaborate?



[*]exhaust rusted through and needs replacement


normal for New England


[*]custom made steel wheels are rusting and the wheels themselves are out of balance


put the stock wheels back on and forget about them... although your wheels are among the coolest mods ever done to an 80. Repaint and balance those suckers.


[*]radiator kaput, might as well replace the fan clutch too


radiator is a big one but it happens.... are you sure yours is dying?

If it's any consolation, because of your temp readings I bought a fan clutch last week before I drove to Ohio.... my temps did stay in the 185 zone, so you (and I) may not *need* a radiator.

It sucks when the list stacks up and you have schitt happen in the midst of a roadtrip. But then again, would you have really enjoyed that roadtrip in Clifford?

 

[peepers]

oh, and the ABS is cooked. i replaced the entire harness and all 4 sensors to the tune of over $400 and it is still not functioning, yes, i pulled the ECU fuse.

so, yes, all fixable. BUT, on the "bulletproof" landcruiser? seems to have many kinks in the armor. oh yeah, the rear heater lines that rusted through and blew up while i was camping in maine? sweet.

bottom line is i have never had so much "maintenance" to do on a vehicle ever. have had saabs and bmws go well over 100k with out all this crap.

oh yeah, and it just failed texas state inspection. too much "lash" in the steering. wonderful.

 

[peepers]

It sucks when the list stacks up and you have schitt happen in the midst of a roadtrip. But then again, would you have really enjoyed that roadtrip in Clifford?

No. I would never have been able to make it all this time in a 60 or 62. nothing against them but they just arent comfortable enough for me.

i see a sandstorm FJ cruiser in my future... everytime i hit the gas pedal i see my headgasket exploding in my mind. very fearful.

oh yeah, the radiator, yeah, i can see crap floating around in coolant. no, its not oil, its like fine fine rust particles.

 

[peepers]

Hey Pete,

Sorry to hear of the troubles you're having with the 80. That's a mighty long list of issues. Have you tried bitching at the PO?

What's kaput with the AC? Slider windows leaking or rear hatch window? Sunroof drains need regular cleanings if your live in NE. The Slee harness should work for a loooong time...what's it doing? Is it the down pipe on the exhaust or farther back?

Maybe you should trade up to John's Great Pumpkin.

no offense to John but that orange is obscene. I loved the green.

the rear hatch window. no problem, i am just going to slop on all sorts of window sealant/silicone and call it a day. i dont care what it looks like.

the AC? who knows, its been to the dealer 2x. each time they tell me its seals. i am going to bring it to a new place here in TX.

slee harness? i hit a bump and it loses low beams sometimes. i have to get out and jiggle it to get them back - ask landtank about his - the older ones, which we both have are crap.

exhaust, back from the downpipe, 02 sensor just fell out and the other stuff, minus the new muffler is rusted and loose and making noise.

the bottom line is i got wrapped up in the purchase, a late model locked 80 with low miles... i should have learned that working on trucks is not my forte, nor is driving them off camber, just driving them on long raodtrips and camping trips is.

Pete,
I will pull a Tanya Harding on the kneecap of the PO if you want.
Dave

just box up that fixie and mail it to me

 

[Cattledog]

Sorry to hear all of the problems.

Had the same issue with the slee light harness, It is a poorly made piece of crap.

The other issues, yeah I agree that the cruiser is a PM pig. But not many trucks in it's class are "trouble free or low PM".

In terms of exhaust pipes in N E, my corolla had 190K and still the original exhaust system. 100 k is early IMO for a toyota oem system.

In short I am being really picky of aftermarket parts with the cruiser, the quality most of the time is falling short of the OEM parts. IE the wheels, light harness.

Is the radiator OEM?

Good luck.

 

[peepers]

Sorry to hear all of the problems.

Had the same issue with the slee light harness, It is a poorly made piece of crap.

The other issues, yeah I agree that the cruiser is a PM pig. But not many trucks in it's class are "trouble free or low PM".

In terms of exhaust pipes in N E, my corolla had 190K and still the original exhaust system. 100 k is early IMO for a toyota oem system.

In short I am being really picky of aftermarket parts with the cruiser, the quality most of the time is falling short of the OEM parts. IE the wheels, light harness.

Is the radiator OEM?

Good luck.

yeah, the after market stuff is killing me. which REALLY scares me considering i hacked up my front axle to put on the slee caster plates. going to take off the slotted rotors, put on brand new OEM and 100 series pads tomorrow.

the radiator is OEM.

 

[archie]

Sorry to hear all of the problems.

Had the same issue with the slee light harness, It is a poorly made piece of crap.

The other issues, yeah I agree that the cruiser is a PM pig. But not many trucks in it's class are "trouble free or low PM".

In terms of exhaust pipes in N E, my corolla had 190K and still the original exhaust system. 100 k is early IMO for a toyota oem system.

In short I am being really picky of aftermarket parts with the cruiser, the quality most of the time is falling short of the OEM parts. IE the wheels, light harness.

Is the radiator OEM?

Good luck.

Funny you should think that Toyota is a good exhaust system because just recently I was talking to a Japanese guy who works for a muffler company in Japan and said that toyota makes the best muffler. My 95 corolla has 127k with alot of short trips ( not enough time to burn off all the moisture) and it still has the original exhaust system. Just adding my observations.

 

[40Flipper]

no offense to John but that orange is obscene. I loved the green.

At least mine runs!

(Looks much less orangy in person. the florescent lights in the garage are a bit harsh)

 

[landtank]

how's that front locker holding up? Man that's quite a list of failures.

Just be sure to put it to the wife double time to stem that tide!

good luck and X2 on a PO blanket party.

 

[Leaping Deer]

I reaplaced the factory cat back on my 97 Tacoma with a factory piece at around 155k. It appears to have been the original but I don't know. However there is a lot of surface rust on it now at 194k

Also my parents replaced like 4 mufflers on their 89 Corolla back in the day (sold it with 225k).

I think it has a lot to do with the weather here in New England.

Pete you should get rid of it and buy yourself a nice cherry rust free truck now that you are down there away from all this salt

 

[40Flipper]

Pete you should get rid of it and buy yourself a nice cherry rust free truck now that you are down there away from all this salt

X2. It's like poker at a casino...when the cards keep coming at you badly it's time to switch tables.

 

[JJS]

Pete you should get rid of it and buy yourself a nice cherry rust free truck now that you are down there away from all this salt

Absolutely.

 

[94landcruiser]

Sorry about your troubles. My AC needed a recharge & expansion valve shortly after I bought mine.

I am guessing based on the attire in the picture you don't really need AC right now, lucky it did not happen in Phoenix in the summer.

 

[green40]

Trade it for a Jeep!