1998 Prado rescue mission!
- Thread starter John Young
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
- Thread starter
- #42
LOL! Thanks SN! I enjoy sharing the experiences. Regarding the DMV, I made up a tiny little song with my sons:
"There is nowhere I'd rather be than standing in line at the DMV"
(sung ironically). Over and over. Just that. That's the whole song.
The boys now laugh about it. But it helps to keep a sense of humor about it. We've had just about every issue you can think of, including errors in VINs, but generally, with enough perseverance the DMV can be persuaded. I learned this in the 1990's when I bought a model 80 with a reconstructed title.
Speakings of stories to share, today I was walking to the minimart and I saw this Chinese monstrosity:
It immediately reminded me of the scene from the Trouble with Tribbles where the Klingon insults the Enterprise.
"There is nowhere I'd rather be than standing in line at the DMV"
(sung ironically). Over and over. Just that. That's the whole song.
The boys now laugh about it. But it helps to keep a sense of humor about it. We've had just about every issue you can think of, including errors in VINs, but generally, with enough perseverance the DMV can be persuaded. I learned this in the 1990's when I bought a model 80 with a reconstructed title.
Speakings of stories to share, today I was walking to the minimart and I saw this Chinese monstrosity:
It immediately reminded me of the scene from the Trouble with Tribbles where the Klingon insults the Enterprise.
Is that the result of an alley copulation between a jeep and H3 hummer?
- Thread starter
- #44
Well fellow 'Prodians', my cute little truck is either going for inspection tonight or tomorrow.
The last few items included a new control stalk, which fortunately was available new:
exhaust gaskets, etc.
Missing side light just aft of the passenger side front wheel well.
BTW, these side lights are one of the ways to spot Middle East market Land Cruisers. They all have them.
And this little bit of unobtainium:
This is the rear door lock for the swing away rear door. The part number specifies 'white clip' and so far no supplier I have found has it. I can't get it in a complete lockset and I can't get it by itself. Very annoying.
Anyways, the little truck is getting a quick bath before inspection--our understanding is that cleanliness is appreciated by the inspectors.
The last few items included a new control stalk, which fortunately was available new:
exhaust gaskets, etc.
Missing side light just aft of the passenger side front wheel well.
And this little bit of unobtainium:
This is the rear door lock for the swing away rear door. The part number specifies 'white clip' and so far no supplier I have found has it. I can't get it in a complete lockset and I can't get it by itself. Very annoying.
Anyways, the little truck is getting a quick bath before inspection--our understanding is that cleanliness is appreciated by the inspectors.
- Thread starter
- #46
Bit of a setback today. Flatbeded the truck to the testing station but it got bashful and would not start.
Here is the guilty party:
(Pretty sad. Now that I see it I would want to replace it in any event.)
Turned out to be a fuel pump issue. Went to Sharjah and picked up a similar assembly for the pump itself. The guys are going to see if it works tomorrow.
Delivering the parts at 10pm
(Thats the 105 daily driver)
30 bucks in Sharjah.
Here is the guilty party:
(Pretty sad. Now that I see it I would want to replace it in any event.)
Turned out to be a fuel pump issue. Went to Sharjah and picked up a similar assembly for the pump itself. The guys are going to see if it works tomorrow.
Delivering the parts at 10pm
(Thats the 105 daily driver)
30 bucks in Sharjah.
- Thread starter
- #47
There was some miscommunication and they did not put in the fuel pump. It will have to wait until Monday. With a little luck the little Prado will not get bashful again at the testing station.
- Thread starter
- #48
Fuel pump done and operating fine.
But a bit of another setback today. Inspection could not be done. A couple of issues surfaced:
This is the tow point at the drivers side, front. Someone must have pulled really hard. This needs to be cleaned up and re-bolted.
This is a pretty minor repair on the drivers side frame rail at the very rear. Needs to be cleaned up.
And most significantly--
It is a small hole and looks very localized and there is no sign of anything similar on the other side.
The owner of the garage messaged me to tell me about this and I had a real sinking feeling. I've been through this with other trucks. But his is very manageable. It can be cut out and replaced without compromising anything. The owner told me that he has seen this before in this era of Prados. But mostly just a little forward of this.
Have any of you seen anything similar?
And while we are dealing with this, we are taking the opportunity to change all the body mount bushings and hardware that we can--
All this stuff.
But a bit of another setback today. Inspection could not be done. A couple of issues surfaced:
This is the tow point at the drivers side, front. Someone must have pulled really hard. This needs to be cleaned up and re-bolted.
This is a pretty minor repair on the drivers side frame rail at the very rear. Needs to be cleaned up.
And most significantly--
It is a small hole and looks very localized and there is no sign of anything similar on the other side.
The owner of the garage messaged me to tell me about this and I had a real sinking feeling. I've been through this with other trucks. But his is very manageable. It can be cut out and replaced without compromising anything. The owner told me that he has seen this before in this era of Prados. But mostly just a little forward of this.
Have any of you seen anything similar?
And while we are dealing with this, we are taking the opportunity to change all the body mount bushings and hardware that we can--
All this stuff.
Last edited:
@John Young do you know if the frames on these 90 series are especially prone to rust, like if they were used on the beach for instance?
I don’t mean to derail your thread, but I’m wondering what you’ve observed over there. The 3rd gen 4Runner frames are known to rot aggressively here in the US and I think the 90 series may be on the same chassis.
I don’t mean to derail your thread, but I’m wondering what you’ve observed over there. The 3rd gen 4Runner frames are known to rot aggressively here in the US and I think the 90 series may be on the same chassis.
- Thread starter
- #50
Hi Ozark. I don't have much knowledge to add. The 98 is literally the only 90-series Prado I've ever been under. I'm a real nubie on the series. The owner of the garage was quite specific in that he has seen a lot of serious rust issues just forward and on the side of the frame rail from the hole in my frame.
The owner of the garage went under it with me yesterday and he pointed to these areas as places where he has seen bad rust problems on Prados of this era. He also was pleased that the rust-through was not more extensive.
The rust issue seems pretty manageable to me.
Here in the desert, some of the issue is that the sand has some salt in it and it is actually a very hot and humid environment. I have no idea why this particular spot rusted out but I've seen pretty weird stuff. I also had a 2000 model 100 whose frame completely rotted out, so you are good to be concerned about Mr. Toyoda's frames from this era. There was a recall on some years for this.
The owner of the garage went under it with me yesterday and he pointed to these areas as places where he has seen bad rust problems on Prados of this era. He also was pleased that the rust-through was not more extensive.
The rust issue seems pretty manageable to me.
Here in the desert, some of the issue is that the sand has some salt in it and it is actually a very hot and humid environment. I have no idea why this particular spot rusted out but I've seen pretty weird stuff. I also had a 2000 model 100 whose frame completely rotted out, so you are good to be concerned about Mr. Toyoda's frames from this era. There was a recall on some years for this.
Last edited:
D21FJ60
#LiveLaughLove.
crusty 2.0 
- Thread starter
- #52
The guys have dropped the chassis out of the little prado to make repairs easier.
First they disconnected the main harness:
And then they lifted it up.
First they disconnected the main harness:
And then they lifted it up.
- Thread starter
- #53
Here is another photo of the little Prado having gone topless
That is someone else's exhaust pipe lying on top of her. I don't know whose.
I am going to take the opportunity to pressure wash the chassis and also to clean up the underside of the body and possibly put some rust proofing on.
That is someone else's exhaust pipe lying on top of her. I don't know whose.
I am going to take the opportunity to pressure wash the chassis and also to clean up the underside of the body and possibly put some rust proofing on.
- Thread starter
- #54
Here are a few photos in case any of you are wondering what it looks like under the body.
This is above the spot where the little hole is located:
Other side:
I'm not familiar with this transmission/transfer case combination:
Passenger side rear:
Driver side rear:
This is above the spot where the little hole is located:
Other side:
I'm not familiar with this transmission/transfer case combination:
Passenger side rear:
Driver side rear:
- Thread starter
- #55
Rear corner
Clutch slave cylinder looks a little sad:
What do you think? Should I replace it?
Clutch slave cylinder looks a little sad:
What do you think? Should I replace it?
- Thread starter
- #56
You don't often get a view of the rear of the engine...
And here are a few photos of the underside of the body. Interesting original color.
And here is why the running board is all wonky:
And here are a few photos of the underside of the body. Interesting original color.
And here is why the running board is all wonky:
- Thread starter
- #57
Here is a video showing the issue with the gearshift lever:
Here is a strange dangling wire:
And a couple more photos
Here is a strange dangling wire:
And a couple more photos
- Thread starter
- #58
I was looking over the little Prado again today and noticed this when looking outwards from the engine bay:
The AC was working fine, but it is just a matter of time. I'm adding this to the list.
The AC was working fine, but it is just a matter of time. I'm adding this to the list.
D21FJ60
#LiveLaughLove.
Are you doing all the hoses on the backside of the engine while the body is off?
- Thread starter
- #60
That is a good thought. I will order them tomorrow.
