I'm going to look at a '95

[justagirl]

I'm going to look at a '95
I'm going to look at a '95 that's $8900 and has 150k miles on it. It's a two owner soccer mom vehicle with unused diff locks that spent a year in CO, but the rest of it's life in SoCal. I'm inclined to buy it if it looks good to to me (with one autoshop class under my belt and a list of things to look for from PM's and the FAQ) and then just fix what needs to be fixed. I would expect to have to do things to it anyway. I will use the 3000rpm/bubbles in overflow to check the HG. But is there anything that that would be difficult to discover on my own that should make me run away and not look back?

To be honest, the only time I ever got a vehicle checked out before I bought it, it was the Range Rover that burned to a crisp. And that's kind of expected. Everything else I've bought used I just looked for major flags, checked the service record, did a quick psyhc profile on the seller, and then handed over the cash.

Thanks. Heather

 

[Romer]

Go through each and evry inch. Check to see if the original Toyota stickers are on each panel, that will tell you if it was in a serious accident. Check for rust on the underside. Check the fluid level and color. Low differential/Tcase fluid could indicate a future problem due to lack of care.

Check the grease in the birfs through the cap on the top. If its low or wet, you can at least use that as a negotiation tactic stating it will need a $1300 Front Axle job. Sounds like you would do this on your own after you buy it anyways.

Use the slee list from the FAQ and it might be good to have a 2nd person who is not emotionally tied to the purchase with you. Makes sure you don't miss anything and helps from a negotiation point of view if he/she hears you talking back and forth about things you see.

 

[KliersLC]

Check the body joints and look for irregularities in the seams. i.e. one fender sitting closer to the hood than the other, front markers that don't fit perfectly, and see if the doors sit at the same spot on both sides. Also if the rear gate has a bigger gap on one side. This stuff will reveal an accident that may or may not be on carfax. The price is a little low for a pristine rig, I payed 8500 for my 93 with prior front end hit, and that was about 3 years ago in National City.
Good Luck,
Dan

 

[justagirl]

Check the grease in the birfs through the cap on the top. If its low or wet, you can at least use that as a negotiation tactic stating it will need a $1300 Front Axle job.

That's good info. It helps to have a $ amount to associate with the job.

 

[peepers]

its always good to show up with some tools ready to check the fluid and such. i find that as soon as you ask them: hey, mind if i check the diff and tranny fluid? that they usually admit it has not been touched.... say, whats that? or say something like, no worries...you are going to find it bleeds mobile 1...

either way it shows you are serious and have something to bargain with...

 

[FJBen]

That's good info. It helps to have a $ amount to associate with the job.

Also check for "clicking" sounds in turns...that is an indication of worn birfs...also some bargaining.

make sure the tranny shifts smooth and not "slow" and doesn't "clunk" into gears.

Check the power steering pump as well...if it's all greasy that could be an indication that it's has or will go south...could just be hoses...BUT...that is a fairly expensive replacement...~$450 fomr the dealer.

 

[justagirl]

The price is a little low for a pristine rig
Dan

I thought so too. I think it's mostly us diehards out there looking for LC's right now. We're paying $3.00/gallon for gas right now, so I think there's less of a market.

 

[justagirl]

its always good to show up with some tools ready to check the fluid and such. i find that as soon as you ask them: hey, mind if i check the diff and tranny fluid? that they usually admit it has not been touched.... say, whats that? or say something like, no worries...you are going to find it bleeds mobile 1...

either way it shows you are serious and have something to bargain with...

I'm gonna take a pair of coveralls, too. Just for fun.

 

[gnx7]

Crawl under the front end with a flashlight and check by the exhaust manifold side on the block where the aluminum head mates to it. Look for leaking coolant back by #5/#6 cylinders making a discoloration down the block. It will be pretty clear as the others won't look like this. This at least one way that will help to tell you if the head gasket is on its last legs.

I assume it has leather? Good luck!

 

[justagirl]

So head gaskets, birfs, and body damage are the big $$$ repairs it sounds like.

I just mapquested them and found out they're 15 minutes away from TLC4x4. I'm hoping they'll let me have the truck for a a whole day so I can have TLC check it out.

 

[Brentbba]

So where in SoCal is this truck? Reread your last post, never mind. Up in the Valley. At least with only one year in CO and the remainder out here, likelyhood is that it will be relatively rust free. CO doesn't allow the use of salt on the roads IIRC (at least in the mountains).

 

[Nay]

So where in SoCal is this truck? Reread your last post, never mind. Up in the Valley. At least with only one year in CO and the remainder out here, likelyhood is that it will be relatively rust free. CO doesn't allow the use of salt on the roads IIRC (at least in the mountains).

There is no such thing as rust in Colorado. We have to read about it on the web.

'95's seem to be something of bargain deals...people either want '97's or they want to go all the way back to '94 before the OBD II and air bags and so they can post on mud that they have a "monster tranny", which sounds absolutely terrible out of context

 

[Beowulf]

I'm hoping they'll let me have the truck for a a whole day so I can have TLC check it out.

This is by far your best option. They should give you an objective opinion for a reasonable price (reasonable for TLC anyway.) Buying an hour of a knowledgeable Land Cruiser mechanic's time is definitely the way to go.

-B-

 

[bluto]

So head gaskets, birfs, and body damage are the big $$$ repairs it sounds like.

I just mapquested them and found out they're 15 minutes away from TLC4x4. I'm hoping they'll let me have the truck for a a whole day so I can have TLC check it out.

I was also thinking of going the TLC route. But...
This was from last year (email) before I bought my 95:

"Hello,Alan
Yes! We do a Buyers Inspection it costs $285.00 it is 8 pages long that
a full day to do. We have a Full Service Dept. we charge $90.00 per
hour .
Jay Myers
Service Manager TLC"

I ended up reading up on info here (what to look for) and just took my chances. Bought from Santa Monica Toyota (got them to replace oil and front brake pads) used. So far no HG issues (bought at 154K) with all the tests posted here.
Looking at axle service and leaking valve cover - I only drive it 2-3x a week though. Currently 162K miles. And very happy.

LC and MUD knowledge = power

Edit: With all the used LCs I was interested in the inspection fee would add up.

 

[SunTzuMD]

Man - prices are going down since I bought my 95 two years ago.

 

[bluto]

I bought mine for $8000 on the last day of the month with cash on hand. Ready to walk out if I had too. Last year April.

And the manager was not too happy - cut into their profit.

 

[fowldarr]

I paid 10,000 for my 96, with 160,000 on it 2 years ago. So 8 is a pretty decent deal, I say check it out, if you find anything that you are uncomfortable with it is worth the TLC time just to make sure you're not in over your head. But really it's a land cruiser how can you go wrong.

 

[landtank]

I'm gonna take a pair of coveralls, too. Just for fun.

Skip the fun!

Dress for Business


plunging neck line, high cut dress and a set of keys you can't manage to hang on to.


Then again if it's a chick maybe the overalls would work better.

 

[justagirl]

Skip the fun!

Dress for Business


plunging neck line, high cut dress and a set of keys you can't manage to hang on to.


Then again if it's a chick maybe the overalls would work better.

It's a "chick."

Aren't you betraying your gender by openly admitting that this kind of ploy works? Speaking for my gender: we would NEVER use our physical assets in this way. We would be enforcing antiquated, misogynistic stereotypes, and that would be wrong.

 

[Brentbba]

Ok - now this thread is useless without plunging neckline pics! hehehe