Problems that your FJ has given you.....

[Chugging Along]

Gents,

I was wondering if anyone has ever had "big" problems from their FJ. I am talking original OEM problems, not modifacations failing, or bad fabrication.

I feel that FJ's are tough but nothing is invincible. Are there any typical problems associated with the 40 ?

 

[alaska60]

Be easier to list what has "never" gone wrong or bad..........

 

[alaska60]

I'll be first....
'My steering wheel has never come off on its own.'

 

[flaa1a]

I'll be first....
'My steering wheel has never come off on its own.'

Good beer chuckle!

 

[Chugging Along]

Adding content, I feel that the hard tops were all designed to hold water and rust. However, try to find any Japanese car/ truck won't rust is like finding an atheist in a fox hole.

 

[wayne012]

i agree chugga and arond that back window frame on the utes i have been in the shed for 2 days repairing my one and rust in the front apron across the bottom..

 

[platypusREX]

Keeping gas in it.

 

[JohnnyC]

old wiring and grounds...when i 1st got my cruiser...chased alot of issues w/that

cleaned all the grounds...checked all the wire conectors (some fell apart )...cleaned fues block...dielectric greased most every connection

Keeping gas in it.

If you kept it in a barn and never drove it you wouldnt have that problem...and you can wait for some kid to come along and offer you 1/10th the amount you put into it from sweat and tears alone

I agree however...we drive FSP's

 

[bikersmurf]

Spun a rod bearing at 185,000 miles... Still drove it home.

 

[flaa1a]

old wiring and grounds...when i 1st got my cruiser...chased alot of issues w/that

cleaned all the grounds...checked all the wire conectors (some fell apart )...cleaned fues block...dielectric greased most every connection



If you kept it in a barn and never drove it you wouldnt have that problem...and you can wait for some kid to come along and offer you 1/10th the amount you put into it from sweat and tears alone

I agree however...we drive FSP's

I agree....I have spent a lot of time chasing wiring gremlins on my 55 and now the 40!!!!

Randy

 

[bikersmurf]

20 years, 80,000+ miles, and only once did I not drive it home... 42 year old block heater broke leaving a large hole in the block.

 

[matchan420]

Money/marriage

 

[Roboosfj40s]

left a lot of meat off of my knuckles working on it. Plus tried to grind the top off of my left thumb with a wire wheel once but no Major problems. Always drove it home unlike other vehicles I have owned.

 

[Rockets2000]

My shifter came off in my hand while I was driving. The whole thing just popped out of the tranny without notice as I was shifting into 3rd. I stuck it back in and shifted to 4th.

 

[ibinazbass]

I had my voltage regulator go out on the way to school and the amp meter used to spark when I would pull the 4wd range level to 4 lo... fixed that by switching to floor shift. And I've lost/dropped my rear driveshaft twice

 

[Chugging Along]

Money/marriage

So did she stay or did the FJ

 

[bsevans]

27 years and the SOB had the nerve to run out of gas - TWICE. That's why I had to put a 22gal aux tank in, I just could not trust my fuel gauge reading capability. Far more reliable than any of the Mercedes and Volvos I've owned. 27 years and this 40 has never broken down on the street or trail.

EDIT: Well there was this one occasion when the vehicle had sat for 6 months and I took it for a ride to blow the cobwebs out and found out at 55mph that the antifreeze I was using (the green stuff) had calcified on the thermostat and the vehicle started overheating. By the time I could pull over the temp gauge was at the second mark from the right which meant she was damn hot. I opened the hood and coolant was shooting out of the factory over flow bottle about 8 feet into the air. I was next to the exit for a concrete plant and a returning truck saw my problem and pulled over. He got his water hose and start spraying down my radiator. I took the chance to remove the radiator cap while the vehicle idled which was very exciting. We slowly put water into the radiator until it was full and I then opened the air purge I had installed to remove the air trapped in the head. Apparently the overheating also made the thermostat open all the way. About 1 to 2 months later the head gasket blew going home from work. I had the 40 hauled to my shop on a flatbed car hauler and pulled the head and had a complete rebuilt of the head with all Toyota parts with the exception of the Stellite valve seats. That original factory head gasket was a bear to remove and clean up. I've been driving it now for 9/10 years with no issues. I do not use the green s*** in my radiator any more. I've had a number of occasions when I was doing modifications that I drained the red antifreeze and pulled the hoses and there is almost no build up with the brand I currently use now. It is rated for a minimum 300K miles.

 

[mtntravo]

i had my gas pedal break about 10 miles from home on the trail. had to rig it with a piece of wire. also had the old single circut break system go out twice on the trails drove it home in 4 lo both times and just shut it off when i wanted to stop. no parking break.

 

[matchan420]

So did she stay or did the FJ

She stayed and so did the FJ, it was a difficult for a few years until her and I left the kids with family and did the Rubicon together...getting better and more interest on her side...almost time to get her a rig...

 

[Chugging Along]

Glad it worked out! I know the wife and I have had many a conversation on where the $$$/time is being spent.

Getting back to topic any notice the oem seats never hold up. Anyone know what the original material was?