$1500 land cruiser series 100 (smart buy) help

[ClintR2]

Hi, well I just got my first land cruiser. So Stoked!!
It is a 1998 land cruiser. I got it for $1500. Yes, $1500 is correct. It does have some issues but what do you exspect.
I had drove past it for years and finally went and asked they guy about it.
He said he would sell it.
(This is a weekend rig for family)

Details
(Original Ower! All service records)
Yes timing belts changed.

360,000 miles

Rear passenger window busted out.

Code 13 on check engine light. (Power is there but not 100%

Passenger front window will not roll down.

AC kicks when you hit a bump.

Questions?.?.?.?.

Was this a smart buy?

What are things I should check on this right away?

Code—13, (knock sensor) I believe. How
easy it is to fix and cost?

Cost of rear window replacement?

AC —lose wire?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[atnolan94]

I mean $1500 for any running and driving 4x4 SUV is great. Bonus points that its a 100. Just have a glass shop do the window. others will be more help on the other items.

How does the interior look?

 

[LEX]

You can part it out for more than that. Locker?

 

[3_puppies]

are both windows broken? fixed and the roll up?

 

[atnolan94]

Random but that passenger headlight has been replaced. 98s came with glass headlights and don't fog up. Notice how nice the driver one looks? Any other signs of accident damage?

 

[athensrep]

Yeah, 1500 for a truck. Its getting tough to find anything with four wheels that’s halfway decent for under 2k. My days of scoring cheap cars seems to be over.

Good luck.

 

[JT4runner]

Not bad at all for a project 100 series. I see it is in Georgia. This forum is full of research and knowledge. I would for sure look on the Lexus Owners site to see if has had any maintenance records on it. With the shape it is in probably not much. Good luck!

 

[JT4runner]

I would go ahead and get that window and remove those ugly running boards and give it a good wash!

 

[2002TLCyes]

Tell him to replace the heater T’s, not take off the running boards. Looks are subjective.

 

[bucfl]

Hella find! Possible AC clutch issue? No need to remove compressor. Test by removing power plug. Take a 12v battery and connect cable to +- of compressor. If it kicks on it’s good. Possible short or lose cable down stream.

Or pay dealer $100 to give you a diagnostic.

 

[yotasavg]

Nice score! Obviously the best year and color

 

[JT4runner]

Tell him to replace the heater T’s, not take off the running boards. Looks are subjective.

That was going to be in my next reply but I was driving. I would for sure get it baselined with new fluids and also do the heater t’s as those will need to be done.

 

[dnp]

Heckuva buy! I know plenty of people with 100s with over that mileage, and they run great! Mine has (only) 325,000, and I'd drive it anywhere!

Yep, heater Ts are a MUST (cheap, and easy). Also, it'll lose 1,000 "visual pounds" if you'll take off those heinous running boards; be sure to baseline things like: drain/fill all fluids (except transmission fluid), repack front wheel bearings, check driveshaft bolts, check condition of the radiator (if it's brown, it's probably time to replace before failure), check the condition of your fan pulley bracket bearing and the idler pulley bearing on the belt tensioner. Those are just a few. Oh, and if you decide to go ahead and replace your knock sensors (located in the V under the intake), be SURE to go ahead and replace your starter while you're in that far. You'll be angry with yourself if you don't.

 

[ClintR2]

I mean $1500 for any running and driving 4x4 SUV is great. Bonus points that its a 100. Just have a glass shop do the window. others will be more help on the other items.

How does the interior look?

Interior is ok.
No rips In Leather. Wood grain is faded.
Just needs a good cleaning

 

[ClintR2]

You can part it out for more than that. Locker?

Yes , locker in rear and center locker also.
They work

 

[habakkuk007]

Sounds like a great deal as long as you do not go the OCD route to make it "perfect", and turn a good deal into a money pit. I'd ear mark at most $3500 (based on my view that $5k is worth 140k of trouble free miles) to address longevity issues that will allow you to drive it to 500k miles, and ignore the more expensive non-essential issues.

 

[ClintR2]

are both windows broken? fixed and the roll up?

Both passengers.
Back is busted out.
Front will not go down

 

[ClintR2]

Sounds like a great deal as long as you do not go the OCD route to make it "perfect", and turn a good deal into a money pit. I'd ear mark at most $3500 (based on my view that $5k is worth 140k of trouble free miles) to address longevity issues that will allow you to drive it to 500k miles, and ignore the more expensive non-essential issues.

Absolutely! Fix what needs fixing. This is basically a budget build.
Fun rig to get the family outside but still safe and reliable.

 

[ClintR2]

Not bad at all for a project 100 series. I see it is in Georgia. This forum is full of research and knowledge. I would for sure look on the Lexus Owners site to see if has had any maintenance records on it. With the shape it is in probably not much. Good luck!

Yes, I am going through all the maintenance records tonight.
Guy buys only land cruiser looked meticulous with his 2014 land cruiser

 

[dnp]

Absolutely! Fix what needs fixing. This is basically a budget build.
Fun rig to get the family outside but still safe and reliable.

For what it's worth, I'm currently parting out a '98 100, so let me know what all parts you need. I'm in MS, so I'm not too terribly far away for shipping purposes (in fact depending where in GA you are, it's a straight shot on I-20 for possible 'mudship opportunities)