Buying an 80 warning/advice

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Option, on the early 100's til traction control came out.
 
Interesting though, I set out to buy a 97 80 series for Katherine, finally got fed up with all the overpriced/abused trucks, said something to Nolen about it. He suggested that for basically the same money I could pick up a 100 series. Bingo. Personally I prefer my 80 series but I can very much see that the 100 is a more sophisticated vehicle. A better daily driver, and if set up right a capable wheeler. Still, I like my 80 better.

TJK
 
Prior to getting a FZJ80, I bought an owners manual. It gave me a good idea of what to look for and where. When I went to buy the 80, I was able to bluff my way through the purchase as being somewhat knowledgeable. :D
 
That is so funny about the dude that said he had lockers and pressed the lock unlock button... I have been looking around for an 80 but i am hopeing to buy one before christmas...Thats for this post it was helpful, hey junk if you want to sell tell Al for me..
 
So whats the chance that a 93 will have lockers on it...slim to none.....or did they not even have the option of adding lockers?

lunyou
 
IIRC, approximately 1 in 10 cruisers came with diff locks.

Later
 
LandyLover said:
IIRC, approximately 1 in 10 cruisers came with diff locks.

Later
1 in 10...
7%...

which ever...
not that many...not enough.
 
lunyou said:
So whats the chance that a 93 will have lockers on it...slim to none.....or did they not even have the option of adding lockers?

lunyou
Front/rear lockers optional from 93-97, center diff lock standard all years.
 
Kaderabek said:
When I bought my wife's now ex 80 (Sangamo's truck now) the lady who owned it said it had lockers. Drove over to Columbia (SC), no lockers, CDL switch only. Good truck though, extensive service records, suited me just fine with that one exception. So she knocked $1,000 off the price and made me lunch and I bought it. Good truck, still a good truck, now with an Aussie locker in the rear. Just rambling.

TJK

This is a good story, but you missed the essential, how was the lunch?
 
toylndcrusr said:
I bought one on Ebay from Fort Worth Texas, the Arabs promised lockers. Drove out there from Florida, no lockers and the truck was trashed, in the shop and not even running. Got home and found one on Ebay in Cleavland with lockers. Called to verifiy and was back in the truck driving to Cleavland. Got there, the truck had lockers, bought it and drove it home. That was last May. Still haven't gotten the title. WTF????? Love the truck, but would sure like the title. Fixing to add the CDL switch (thanks Dan!!!) and hope to lift, blow, snorkle, arb, kaymar, slider etc. the truck before I die!


Have you tried to contact the seller per the title? I wouldn't have left Cleavland without it.
 
Okay, you guys are FREAKIN' me out...LOCKERS!?!

Okay, my new purchase...1993 FZJ80, has the K294 # on the VIN tag / Has the Locker Rotary Dial to the left of the wheel....
Put the truck in LOW, before I even turned the dial the DIFF LOCK & ABS lights came on and stayed on.
Turned the diff lock dial, no real noticeable noise but you could tell she was in LOW. Lights stayed steady.
Then, took her out of low, diff lock light stayed on until I drove about 100 feet then a noticeable "CLANK" and the lights came off.

What do you guys think...?

1) Do I have the locker or did someone steal the harness or axles?

2) Do they work?

3) Am I paranoid?

:confused:
 
Whitey said:
Okay, my new purchase...1993 FZJ80, has the K294 # on the VIN tag / Has the Locker Rotary Dial to the left of the wheel....
Put the truck in LOW, before I even turned the dial the DIFF LOCK & ABS lights came on and stayed on.
Turned the diff lock dial, no real noticeable noise but you could tell she was in LOW. Lights stayed steady.
Then, took her out of low, diff lock light stayed on until I drove about 100 feet then a noticeable "CLANK" and the lights came off.

What do you guys think...?

1) Do I have the locker or did someone steal the harness or axles?

2) Do they work?

3) Am I paranoid?

:confused:

You are paranoid! :D

When you put it in low the center diff and ABS should blink until the center diff locks (it may be immediate) then remain on until you put it in hi, once it disengages the lights will turn off, sometimes it can take a little while after you shift into hi before it disengages.

Front/rear diff lock only works when lo is engaged, turn the dial while driving very slowly ie. 1-2mph the light will blink until they engage then remain steady once they are engaged. If they haven't been used it can take a little while to engage, turn the steering wheel lock to lock might help get the "dogs" lined up and engage sooner. Once you are completely locked if you turn the wheel and try to make a tight turn you will feel that it is harder to make a tight turn.

NEVER ENGAGE LO OR FR/RR DIFF LOCKS ON DRY PAVEMENT ONLY ON LOW TRACTION SURFACES.

Now go see if it works :)
 
Whitey Turned the diff lock dial said:
Hmmm...when you turned the rotary dial, did you see two other blinking lights come on? If not, nice dial, but no lockers.

Also, take detailed pictures of your front differential housing...the pumpkin between the wheels and post up. The actuator will be there and we can point it out. Maybe it's retrofitted incorrectly.

Just trying to give hope. :crybaby:
 
Just tripped over this thread in the FAQ (Thanks, Romer!).

Been shopping for an FZJ80.

See one on Criag's List, em-mailed the guy asking if it had lockers. Answer - "It doesn't need lockers, it has full time 4WD."

Saw another, e-mailed the same question. Answer, "what are lockers?"

Most of the owners of these trucks have never engaged low range. Just a pretty SUV to them.

M

Former FJ40 driver, Now an FJ60 driver. Soon an FZJ80 driver.
 
Asking if it has lockers is a worthless question in almost every case.

If they know what they are, they are telling everybody.

If they don't, asking about them doesn't help unless you guide them through the process. 93% of 80s didn't come with lockers. 99% of the owners don't know what the term means.

Ya gotta ask about the knob or the door sticker. Then ya gotta have somebody who knows what's up check it out.
 
do not ask about the lockers directly, dang it!
you're ruining it for the rest of us!
can't have the sellers know that these things are valuable....

just ask for the tag number or the knob in an uninterested way at the end of the questions! :)
 
Data Plate

What is this and how do I get information off of it? I am looking at lot's of 80's and will be purchasing one in the not too distant future. I've got the switch thing down but I am not too keen on other ways of gaining the most needed information...does it indeed have lockers?
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom