40 Owner looking for an 09 to DD, what are the gotchas with 200s?

[alex e]

There’s ‘76 40 in the garage along with a 911 Carrera 4, and my low back, GF, Dallas “streets” and 6 year old son have requested a 4 door vehicle OFFICIALLY. I fell in love with an 09 Landcruiser on a road trip and have always wanted one. Seeing these in the $20s have piqued my interest big time. Mileage never scares me but 100-150k mi seems appropriate. Anybody care to point me in the direction of what to expect problem-wise during a PPI or “they all do that” once I get one an start caring for and feeding one?

I’ll be reading up.......and thanks in advance.

 

[40Man]

A lot of it is covered on the forum. With a 09 too, expect radiator leak, water pump and starter to go out if they haven't already between 100-150k. Check for the cam tower leak too. Searching for these terms will give you a lot more info.The cam tower leak is less common, but it does occur and can be expensive to fix.

 

[mcgaskins]

Best thing you can do is just read the forum and search. LOTS of new 200 owners here who have similar stories and ask the same questions, so you'll find many, many threads that answer your questions. As mentioned, the standard 3 items are radiator, starter and water pump, along with KDSS valves. Run some searches on those and you'll get more info than you ever wanted.

 

[alex e]

Of course! I’ll be reading away.....1 million thanks. Just want to prepare myself for what I’ll be looking for and fixing here at home.

 

[TeCKis300]

At the mileage, don't be surprised the the suspension, or more specifically the shocks may need to be replaced. That may be an opportunity too if your intent is to replace it anyways. Pretty cheap generally to replace. It does run the gamut to some pretty high end stuff too if that is your leaning.

Subjective item depending on your preferences, but don't forget about the Lexus Land Cruiser, aka LX570. It may be another potentially huge opportunity in cost/availability/features if you're open to that type of vehicle.

 

[Tripledave]

I've got an 08 with 130k on the clock. Only issue has been water pump. Make sure to check the climate control recirc door for damage. Radiator/starter/cam tower leak will need to be addressed at some point as well. Routine maintenance is a breeze. Also, with 100-150k, expect the suspension to need some attention started to feel soft and floaty to me at ~ 100k (good time for a lift). Other than the usual issues, find a well cared for rig and enjoy. Use Toyota Owners website with VIN to check service history as well as where the rig has lived. These things are almost plug and play, enjoy!

 

[Hammeredsole]

I would say the biggest thing to look at is underbody corrosion. Of course, this is pretty universal in cars/trucks, but the KDSS valve body in the LC200 is very prone to corrosion. The KDSS valve is located on the inside of the driver side frame rail in front of the rear lower control arm, and tucked under a sheet metal shield. The KDSS valve needs to be manipulated in order to service the suspension or upgrade to even the slightest lift. If it is rusted there is a high chance that the screws will not unscrew and you could end up with an expensive repair. I bought by 2014 with 55k miles, and while it was in superior condition from Texas, I did not know about the KDSS valve. I got lucky and only had a dusting of surface rust, so the valve opened up trouble free (but still tight). There have been other members who were not so lucky.

Like everyone else said, check radiator, water pump, etc etc. Most of those items are PM/regular wear anyways. The radiator cracks on the edge of the square print area right on top for everyone to see. Cam tower leaks seem to be mostly a Tundra issue. My 5.7 is totally dry.

Also, my 2 cents... budget in a suspension. The factory ride is superb, but rides like a Mercury Grand Marquis. It isolates bumps well and provides a very comfortable and quiet ride, but floats around something fierce. I did a Radflo 2.5 IFP coilover/shock upgrade with OME 2720 rear springs. With everything set to minimum height... Ride is great, and motion control is out of this world. Big whoops on roads/highways that would seriously upset the truck previously come across as a little bump now.