Should I fear vehicles with Navigation?

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MichiganLandy

MichiganLandy

10 Year
Joined
Feb 22, 2015
Threads
6
Messages
83
Location
Metro Detroit
One of the first posts I read on here was how much of a problem someone was having with their Nav equipped pre 2003 land cruiser. I think it was an 02 or 03. Now during my search I automatically rule out the ones with Nav. My hunt for a NON-navigation 100 series Landcruiser has been tiring but I've been concentrating on finding a low mileage 1998-2002. I can't seem to find one of those at all that is up to my standards, plus I'm really starting to like the 2003-2005's for the added features.
Should I just get a truck with Nav? Is the climate control and nav combined center cluster reliable with few failures?

Thanks for your input!

Bryan
 
it is big news here when somebody has a failed Nav Sys. That should probably mean something. Or not.
 
e9999 said:
it is big news here when somebody has a failed Nav Sys. That should probably mean something. Or not.
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in addition to that, a search here (the same search that leads to the issue) leads to many options now to fix it besides a high-dollar, brand-spankin' new OEM replacement. :meh:
 
The integrated functions are reliable and easy to use. Use other factors for your decision. If you're looking in the Detroit area, service history, vehicle history, and rust are among the key decision factors other than cost.
 
MichiganLandy said:
I can't seem to find one of those at all that is up to my standards, plus I'm really starting to like the 2003-2005's for the added features.

Should I just get a truck with Nav? Is the climate control and nav combined center cluster reliable with few failures?

Thanks for your input!

Bryan
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Paranoia as to integrated nav and audio and climate controls here is only exceeded by AHC paranoia. Remember, you're reading posts mainly related to failures here; I'd estimate there are far more LC's and LX's here of the same vintage with no issues, like my LX.

All things equal, I'd go '03 or later for the 5-speed trans.

Steve
 
NO.

Plus, 5-speed trans is king.
 
The 04's have an issue with the MFD or Multi-Function Display. Do some searches on it. There are an assortment of fixes, it happened to me and was about a $900 repair. Once it's repaired I don't think it'll happen ever again.
 
Another no here.

Nav's & touch screens are notable today when they aren't present. It's akin to being afraid of fuel injection in the early 80's*...

*although early 80's EFI is worth being afraid of. SO MANY VACUUM LINES. In retrospect, this was a terrible example.
 
All my Yotas have nav. No issues.

Be not afraid! Use the force, Luke!
 
Seeing that I have an '04 with an MFD that has given me nothing but problems I say stay far far away from it. Looking back I wish I had never bought an '04 just for this reason alone. The MFD has been fixed twice using 2 repair methods (pin 60 issues) but I suspect it will keep failing. Every time we go on a drive I have a bad feeling in the back of my mind just waiting for the MFD to break again. It really weighs on me and my family's ability to just enjoy the rig. I'd pay good money to completely eliminate the MFD from my truck (the truck is super solid in all other aspects).

If you had to get one with Nav stay far away from the 04's and you'll probably be alright.
 
n55luvr said:
Seeing that I have an '04 with an MFD that has given me nothing but problems I say stay far far away from it. Looking back I wish I had never bought an '04 just for this reason alone. The MFD has been fixed twice using 2 repair methods (pin 60 issues) but I suspect it will keep failing. Every time we go on a drive I have a bad feeling in the back of my mind just waiting for the MFD to break again. It really weighs on me and my family's ability to just enjoy the rig. I'd pay good money to completely eliminate the MFD from my truck (the truck is super solid in all other aspects).

If you had to get one with Nav stay far away from the 04's and you'll probably be alright.
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Seems like you have an isolated case, for the most part. My 04 has NEVER had any issues. Knock-on-wood.
 
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Thanks for all the replies to my question. I really like the simplicity of the non nav models and the avaliability of aftermarket headunits. I just wanted to make sure if I find the right truck, and it happens to have the MDF, it should be fine.

With that said, if you or someone you know is looking to sell their 100, heve them contact me. Anything 2003ish and prior I think will fit in my price range.
 
Having both in the barn I would take a 03+ with Nav over an earlier non-nav. The 5 speed really transforms the truck. Crappy factory nav can easily be supplanted by a dash-mount Garmin. No much you can do to add a cog to the 4 speed.

That said, I do really like my DNX-571HD audio as well as round-dial climate. I'd still take the 5 speed though. Really need a better ratios between 1st and 2nd and between 3rd and 4th; 3rd is too much of an abrupt drop-down and 2nd is too tall of a step up from 1st.

Failures of the factory nav do happen but from what I've seen here, none have been fatal to the unit and have a repair costs within reason.
 
OregonLC said:
Having both in the barn I would take a 03+ with Nav over an earlier non-nav. The 5 speed really transforms the truck. Crappy factory nav can easily be supplanted by a dash-mount Garmin. No much you can do to add a cog to the 4 speed.

That said, I do really like my DNX-571HD audio as well as round-dial climate. I'd still take the 5 speed though. Really need a better ratios between 1st and 2nd and between 3rd and 4th; 3rd is too much of an abrupt drop-down and 2nd is too tall of a step up from 1st.

Failures of the factory nav do happen but from what I've seen here, none have been fatal to the unit and have a repair costs within reason.
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Thanks OregonLC. Yea, I should probably look for an 03+ ... Unless your getting tired of desert bronze....lol
 
DBM FTW!
 
MichiganLandy said:
Thanks OregonLC. Yea, I should probably look for an 03+ ... Unless your getting tired of desert bronze....lol
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Love the unique desert bronze. What I am getting tired of is getting power out of it. Have debated a number of times taking the 04 LX and swapping parts. I was pushing a 25 mph headwind on Monday for a couple hundred miles and anything above 70 it kept kicking out of TC lock or all the way into 3rd. Granted this is with the RTT, a loaded weight around 7k, and 34.5" tires. Getting a trailer at some point too which will only make it worse. Having a 5 spd ans leaving it in 4th would be a nice option.
 
I'm taking my Turtleback trailer 3500mi this summer up to the North Maine Woods and Quebec for some overland adventuring and expect to really have to feed the beast some fuel to get there. Was near $1000 in fuel roundtrip to Ouray and back (4100mi) without a trailer. We scaled in at 7400lbs and were at ~14mpg which I can't complain about. My short runs around the southeast have me thinking 12-13mpg with the trailer but we shall see!

SC or Turbo on a 200k mi vehicle sounds nuts but it has crossed my mind. Re-gearing did help some with the big tires.
 
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