New 100 owner.

[RyanC317]

Hey all!
Glad to be a new 100 owner. (Kinda)....
I am from Indianapolis and I have been looking for an 80 or early (no nav no ahc)100 LC for quite some time. I've seen everything from mint show queens for 13k+ to rusted rough runners for 6k. I wanted something that wasn't rusting out but that was used enough I could consciously off road it. Well this past weekend I saw a 2000 in a bronze metallic with 213k while I
I was up in North Chicago at Great Lakes Naval Base. The under body was absolutely perfrct. Not even a spot of rust under the rocker lip. It was at a small wholesaler lot so I was skeptical. She had three different brands of tires and last timing belt change was at 90k. She drove ok and everything worked interior wise. I was short for time and made a deal. The next day I drove her the three hours home. I averaged 70mph on the way home and gas mileage was spot on with expectations.
I was getting off the interstate and the battery light came on. As I excellerated it went away. It did this for a while until the light just stayed on. Today it totally died and I just threw in a mid grade wally world battery to get home. Whike running my volt meter says 12v so it looks like the alternator took a crap.
Also there is a noticable whine/buzz coming from what seems to be the front diff. Loudest between 35 and 65 mph. If i swerve ir accekerate the pitch changes?? ?? I am hoping this us attributed too having two different tires on the front axle. Or doing so has worn out some driveline parts. All in all I am stil excited to be a LC owner. Cant say the same fir my wife thoug.

 

[RyanC317]

Some more pictures

 

[Riviera]

Welcome to the club!

 

[D21FJ60]

Nice color, what tires are you looking to get?

 

[HiFiGuy]

If you need an alternator, which your story seems to indicate, that can be done for around $400 including remanufactured Toyota alternator and labor. Everyone I talked to suggested either an original Toyota new unit, which would be spendy, or a remanufactured original. It is apparently fairly straightforward to replace yourself, if you're handy, but I don't have time to do that kind of thing, and paid a local indy mechanic $100. Done.

Are your tires mismatched sizes?

 

[aging fleet]

Congrats on the new LC.

The best advice I can give is to come up with a plan and start chipping away and the deferred maintenance items. Sort out the alternator and maybe do the timing belt job while you have the alternator out, check the fluid levels in your diffs and transfer case, check for play in the front bearings and get a matching set of tires installed. Hopefully after that, you'll be left with smaller items that can be addressed at your convenience or when the wife/budget allow.

 

[Ca lc]

Congrats on the 100. I recently bought my first 100 too.

My wife wasn't excited about it either when I first got it. After a few months worth of work she loves it. She drives the lc more than she drives her car.

 

[MichLC]

Congratulations on starting your new addiction! Once you have a Land Cruiser it seems you want to collect the whole set.

Any 'issues' are simply an opportunity to personalize your Cruiser.

 

[RyanC317]

Nice color, what tires are you looking to get?

Thanks! Right now it's nick name is the brown frown! It has me in the dog house lol. I'm not looking at anything crazy expensive. From what I've found 285s are way easier to find and a bit cheeper. My money needs to go elsewhere in maintenance right now.

 

[RyanC317]

Congrats on the new LC.

The best advice I can give is to come up with a plan and start chipping away and the deferred maintenance items. Sort out the alternator and maybe do the timing belt job while you have the alternator out, check the fluid levels in your diffs and transfer case, check for play in the front bearings and get a matching set of tires installed. Hopefully after that, you'll be left with smaller items that can be addressed at your convenience or when the wife/budget allow.

I am picking up my alternator tomorrow. Taking the bad one out today. My last two vehicles were a 2001 Cherokee and 2000 Silverado so I'm no stranger to wrench time. She isn't a daily so I'm going to push the timing belt (fingers crossed). Hopefully save up and do it this winter. This 100 will see about 5k miles a year. I have some generic 285s lined up just to get me on the road and I am taking her in for a physical at my local garage. I will keep you all up to date.

 

[RyanC317]

If you need an alternator, which your story seems to indicate, that can be done for around $400 including remanufactured Toyota alternator and labor. Everyone I talked to suggested either an original Toyota new unit, which would be spendy, or a remanufactured original. It is apparently fairly straightforward to replace yourself, if you're handy, but I don't have time to do that kind of thing, and paid a local indy mechanic $100. Done.

Are your tires mismatched sizes?

Not mismatched sizes. All 275/70. Front right and back left are 30% tread Michelins. The other two are different types/tread/and deapth. All 4 are dry rotted

 

[lt1fire]

Nice buy, good to have a good co-driver on those long trips also

I've had mine for about 4 months now and we love it.

 

[D21FJ60]

Awesome. I get excited for new Cruiser owners...don't have my own yet but when I do i'll likely be in the same boat as you.

 

[4Beast]

Congrats on the new rig, looks great! Set aside a coupe weekends to read all the tire preference threads, haha (I like my KO2s, btw!).
If you haven't done the alternator yet, there are a couple easy upgrades (search for threads on Sequoia alternators).
As far as the wife not liking it, that probably means you're on you way to a great truck! I've found that very few women seem to like a modified Cruiser (so few that I think the Olympics should skip the fancy genetic testing to determine if someone is really female and show them a picture of a cruiser with a lift and bumpers on 35s. If they think it looks ugly, they are free to race!).

 

[2001LC]

Congrats & welcome to the addiction!

I like to put on full charge and clean & grease battery post before making the call on alternator! It is so common installers forget to grease the post & clamps, it's important.

I start all post purchase evaluation by pulling engine cover and both undercarriage shields. Then photo graph everything as I inspect for leaks, missing parts and damage. Once photo shoot done I clean bottom up (undercarriage, engine and suspension). Once spotless it time for second photo shoot, using first pictures as guide as what to shoot. This helps pin point leaks, and trouble areas.

Once under control, keep up the maintenance SMG recommends every 5K miles up to date. Don't forget to swap out the old heater tee's.

Read through my signature for tip, common areas and procedures.

 

[RyanC317]

Alternator was bad. New one in and good to go! Because I can't leave good enough alone I went ahead and flushed the coolant and will be going to a dealership and picking up toyota's special super secret coolant today. Next will be a physical at my mechanic and tires.