My brother and I just went and test drove a 1996 LX450. It looked like pretty clean truck, but the price was kind of high and it had a few issues.
First, the AC was not working well. The compressor was turning on an off. This started once it was turned on. I think it may have been low on R134. It must have a leak because the dealer said he had it recharged a few weeks ago.
Also, when we went to test the low range and lockers they did not work. Well, the low range worked, but there was no center diff light. I never saw the center diff light. Not when I started it. Not when it was shifted into low. What is the chance that this is just a burned out light? How can we find out if it is just the light, or if it is a problem with the center diff lock? Any way to test it?
And one more problem. The diff locks never engaged either. The lights would flash and flash, but they never stopped flashing. I know that they could be frozen, but could this also be related to the center diff problem? If the center diff does not engage will the diff lockers still engage? Or is it more likely that the actuators need to be rebuilt??
The dealer wants a pretty high amount. 14k. The mileage is good-- 125k, but with all these issues it seems overpriced. What do you guys think? What can we tell him it would cost to have a dealer fix the diff locks? And what should we do about the center diff lock issue?
Thanks
Jared
First, the AC was not working well. The compressor was turning on an off. This started once it was turned on. I think it may have been low on R134. It must have a leak because the dealer said he had it recharged a few weeks ago.
Also, when we went to test the low range and lockers they did not work. Well, the low range worked, but there was no center diff light. I never saw the center diff light. Not when I started it. Not when it was shifted into low. What is the chance that this is just a burned out light? How can we find out if it is just the light, or if it is a problem with the center diff lock? Any way to test it?
And one more problem. The diff locks never engaged either. The lights would flash and flash, but they never stopped flashing. I know that they could be frozen, but could this also be related to the center diff problem? If the center diff does not engage will the diff lockers still engage? Or is it more likely that the actuators need to be rebuilt??
The dealer wants a pretty high amount. 14k. The mileage is good-- 125k, but with all these issues it seems overpriced. What do you guys think? What can we tell him it would cost to have a dealer fix the diff locks? And what should we do about the center diff lock issue?
Thanks
Jared