Hello!! (1 Viewer)

[Spike555]

Hello guys and gals, I just bought a '04 Land Cruiser two weeks ago. She is a one owner, non smoker and brand new Michelin LTX tires.
155,000 miles when I brought her home.
I am a long time shade tree mechanic, grew up in small farm town USA.
I come from the Land Rover world, I had a '97 Discovery, also a one owner. Brought her home with 152,change April of '07 and just sold her last week with 245,change.
I used to moderate a Land Rover forum, I love off-roading, nothing to extreme as I need to drive my truck to work.
I have started going through my truck, the dealer changed the oil but I changed it anyway.
I've flushed the power steering fluid. I'm flushing the cooling system and replacing the thermostat as well as new plugs and gear oil in the diff's and t-case.
I also need to make sure the spare will lower and that it has air in it.
Whenever I buy a used car I go through it stem to stern and replace all fluids and filters as well as serpentine belt and coolant hoses.
Then I start it on my maintence scheduale with all fresh fluids and filters.
I still need to cruise the forum for the common stuff so I don't bore you all with my asked a hundred thousand times already questions.

Thank you for letting me in and I hope to make some friends in this community.

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

Spike good to see you on the Cruiser side of the world. I'm sure Bill and all the boys will miss you over at LRF.com...

I sold my D1 more or less for the new move and to lighten my load. The MUD guys are awesome and we will help you all we can.

If you haven't already, look at the Slee newbie guide. Good info there.

Slee Off-Road 100 Series Newbie Guide

Jason

 

[Spike555]

I have not been through that yet. Thanks for the link.

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

You'll also find that the MUD search function is much more advanced than other forums.

If you can't find something post it up and someone will point you in the right direction.

J

 

[Sandroad]

Hello guys and gals, I just bought a '04 Land Cruiser two weeks ago. She is a one owner, non smoker and brand new Michelin LTX tires.
155,000 miles when I brought her home.
I am a long time shade tree mechanic, grew up in small farm town USA.
I come from the Land Rover world, I had a '97 Discovery, also a one owner. Brought her home with 152,change April of '07 and just sold her last week with 245,change.
I used to moderate a Land Rover forum, I love off-roading, nothing to extreme as I need to drive my truck to work.
I have started going through my truck, the dealer changed the oil but I changed it anyway.
I've flushed the power steering fluid. I'm flushing the cooling system and replacing the thermostat as well as new plugs and gear oil in the diff's and t-case.
I also need to make sure the spare will lower and that it has air in it.
Whenever I buy a used car I go through it stem to stern and replace all fluids and filters as well as serpentine belt and coolant hoses.
Then I start it on my maintence scheduale with all fresh fluids and filters.
I still need to cruise the forum for the common stuff so I don't bore you all with my asked a hundred thousand times already questions.

Thank you for letting me in and I hope to make some friends in this community.

Welcome to another Michigan Mud member. I've got a pretty good list going of active members in Michigan and it's good to have one from the G.R. area. If you ever need any help with your '04, let me know. I happen to think it's the best year, but I'm biased.

 

[labcab]

Welcome! I too am a Land Rover convert. I traded my 94 Discovery for a 100 Series over a decade ago and haven't looked back. It's nice to spend your time wrenching mods vs. chasing issues.

Mudders have adopted the term "baseline" to describe the act of going through a rig stem-to-stem. A search for it will give you plenty for your to-do list.

I put together a consolidated list of everything on the maintenance schedule for my 98 that you might find useful:

Replace engine oil and oil filter
Rotate tires
Inspect brake linings/drums and brake pads/discs
Inspect nuts and bolts on chassis and body
Inspect steering linkages
Lubricate propeller shaft and re-torque bolts (4WD)
Inspect Ball joints and dust covers
Replace engine air filter
Replace engine coolant
Repack front wheel bearings
Inspect Drive shaft boots (re-torque flange bolts)
Inspect Exhaust pipes and mountings
Inspect Fuel lines and connections, fuel tank band and fuel tank vapor vent system hoses Inspect Fuel tank cap gasket
Inspect Steering gear box for leakage
Replace transmission, transfer and differential oil
Replace spark plugs
Inspect Charcoal canister
Inspect Drive belts
Inspect Valves (audible inspection), adjust if necessary
Replace air conditioning filter
Replace timing belt

 

[aljollano]

Hello guys and gals, I just bought a '04 Land Cruiser two weeks ago. She is a one owner, non smoker and brand new Michelin LTX tires.
155,000 miles when I brought her home.
I am a long time shade tree mechanic, grew up in small farm town USA.
I come from the Land Rover world, I had a '97 Discovery, also a one owner. Brought her home with 152,change April of '07 and just sold her last week with 245,change.
I used to moderate a Land Rover forum, I love off-roading, nothing to extreme as I need to drive my truck to work.
I have started going through my truck, the dealer changed the oil but I changed it anyway.
I've flushed the power steering fluid. I'm flushing the cooling system and replacing the thermostat as well as new plugs and gear oil in the diff's and t-case.
I also need to make sure the spare will lower and that it has air in it.
Whenever I buy a used car I go through it stem to stern and replace all fluids and filters as well as serpentine belt and coolant hoses.
Then I start it on my maintence scheduale with all fresh fluids and filters.
I still need to cruise the forum for the common stuff so I don't bore you all with my asked a hundred thousand times already questions.

Thank you for letting me in and I hope to make some friends in this community.

Welcome to mud and to the addiction!!

A.J

 

[WatchTimes]

Metro Detroit here!

2006 LX470, just got her a couple days ago.

Just came to the 100 world and selling my JK Rubi UL, couldn't be happier!

 

[Ratman]

Welcome to the cruiser club. I have a 2001 cruiser and live in Cadillac mich during the summer.
Go to rio grand valley in southern Texas for winter. The cruiser has made the 1500 mile trip each way twice.
Only thing I have found is when you need a part it is always found a long way away and has to be shipped in.
Good luck with new cruiser. Jim

 

[Spike555]

Thanks for the welcomes everyone.
My wife is from Traverse City Ratman, we go up there not often enough, inlaws still live up there.

Where in MI do you live Sandroad? Once I've gone through my truck I'm hitting Silver Lake for a day.

That's what I do to every used car I get labcab, so far I've flushed the cooling system and replaced t-stat and radiator cap.
Flushed power steering fluid.
Replaced spark plugs and cleaned throttle body.
Tires are brand new Michilen LTX M/S2, brakes have over 50% life left. Parking brake does not engage.
I've changed the oil and greased the prop shafts, all 6 fittings.
I'm planing on doing the diff's and t-case next week with el'cheapo gear oil and then again with full synthetic gear oil a week or so after that.
Then it's the transmission fluid and filter.
Air filter is new. PCV is also on the list. As well as a cargo mat. It already has nice floor mats front and rear but the cargo bay is just carpet. I'm removing the rear seats after the 4th.
I have left the factory skid plate off, not sure if I'll put it back or not.

 

[Sandroad]

Thanks for the welcomes everyone.
My wife is from Traverse City Ratman, we go up there not often enough, inlaws still live up there.

Where in MI do you live Sandroad? Once I've gone through my truck I'm hitting Silver Lake for a day.

That's what I do to every used car I get labcab, so far I've flushed the cooling system and replaced t-stat and radiator cap.
Flushed power steering fluid.
Replaced spark plugs and cleaned throttle body.
Tires are brand new Michilen LTX M/S2, brakes have over 50% life left. Parking brake does not engage.
I've changed the oil and greased the prop shafts, all 6 fittings.
I'm planing on doing the diff's and t-case next week with el'cheapo gear oil and then again with full synthetic gear oil a week or so after that.
Then it's the transmission fluid and filter.
Air filter is new. PCV is also on the list. As well as a cargo mat. It already has nice floor mats front and rear but the cargo bay is just carpet. I'm removing the rear seats after the 4th.
I have left the factory skid plate off, not sure if I'll put it back or not.

I'm in the Lansing area. The parking brake issue is the result of frozen levers just outside the rear brake drums. If they are not too badly corroded you can clean and lube, but most on here have replaced the parts. There's a link to the process in the FAQs. Silver Lake is a blast. I've had some great times there and I'll be going back this fall after the crowds thin out. It's crazy busy in the summer. No need to drop the transmission pan normally. I'd suggest just a series of 4 drain and refills from the regular plugs, with some driving in between. Takes about 16 quarts total and gets pretty much all new fluid (World Service) into the trans. That keeps you from having to drop the pan and risk contamination/leaks. You might want to go ahead and replace both upstream O2 sensors. Unless they have been done, they will be giving up on you pretty soon. Oh, and flush the brake fluid with Toyota DOT 3, using the procedure in the FAQs.

 

[Spike555]

The parking brake lever pulls up easily but they don't grab.
I'll look it up.

 

[PabloCruise]

The parking brake lever pulls up easily but they don't grab.
I'll look it up.

You probably need to adjust the cable tension.

 

[Spike555]

That was my thought too, the cable is either disconnected, the shoes are worn to thin or the cable is stretched and needs adjusting.

 

[cwininger]

Welcome to another Michigan Mud member. I've got a pretty good list going of active members in Michigan and it's good to have one from the G.R. area. If you ever need any help with your '04, let me know. I happen to think it's the best year, but I'm biased.

ran a search for "michigan" and this post came up. i'm north of pontiac. looking to buy a 100 series in the next couple of weeks if i can find the right one. mind if i hit you up with some questions some time soon @Sandroad?

 

[ihadmail]

The parking brake cable adjustment is on the rear of the rear axle. It's a simple turnbuckle that's easy to get to, if it's not rusted like mine is. A new cable that includes that portion is less than $75 if needed.

You may not have enough age on yours to be a concern yet, but the bushings on most of our suspension parts are beginning to be compromised.

• Rear upper and lower control arms
• Shock mounts (upper)
• Front upper control arms
• Front diff mount (mounts driver side axle tube to diff cross member)
• Front and rear sway bar link bushings
• Front and rear sway bar to frame bushings
• Steering rack bushings

Hope this expedites your inspection and refresh some.

 

[Sandroad]

ran a search for "michigan" and this post came up. i'm north of pontiac. looking to buy a 100 series in the next couple of weeks if i can find the right one. mind if i hit you up with some questions some time soon @Sandroad?

No problem. Just shoot me a private message anytime.