Starter woes
- Thread starter rule303
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rule303 said:
Dude, how many of "those crappy CV joints" have you seen fail? Can they fail, ofcourse, but unless the boot is ripped it's usually ~200K miles before they have any issues at all.
If your 100-series needs starter contacts then go get contacts in it...if you can open a can of beer you can change the starter contacts on a 100-series, just allow a day or so...not hard, the writeup on here is stellar, I used it and added pictures to it.
I know many people that are sucked into the warranty zone...where they think every vehicle they own needs to be under warranty so there are no repair costs...or you could just buy a vehicle that needs no repairs...the Cruiser is one of the vehicles closest to that holy grail...IMO...
Jim_Chow
V8_Fan
rule303 said:
I've heard of people getting the 4runner v6 4x4 for fleet prices around $26K, and this was before the year end sales, so shop around. In reality, a 4runner will probably last just as long as a 100. My old 4-cyl runner is going on its 20th year, and so far, I'm still on the original starter/contacts, alternator, CV's (manual hubs...big advantage in wear reduction), tranny, all bearings, etc., and getting 24mpg w/ 2" lift (combo city/hwy). Only maintenance was PM or mods. Oh, yeah, everything is manual (tranny, windows, seats, mirrors, etc.), so no fancy electronic gizmos to break.
The new 4L V6 has the advantage of a timing chain over the V8's belt...makes me wonder if toyota is admitting that the t-chain is more durable than belt by switching back to the chain? Some people have complained about the moonroof making noises (wind noise vibrating some piece of metal), so if you don't use a moonroof, don't pay the extra grand for one. That's one more electronic gizmo that can break. I'll need a vehicle when the 4runner is about to die (probably a used LX), but so far, it just keeps going.
What I do like about the 100 over the 4runner is the availability of aftermarket accessories (but the 70 and 80 have a lot more suspension options than the 100). I'm sure that in time, there will be stuff available for the 4runner like with the Taco, though. Last, the 4runner will probably go to 98% of the places a 100 can go, and maybe even more places (narrow trails where the 100 is too wide). That's one nice thing about those 70's over the 80 or 100...
- Thread starter
- #24
Its not JUST the starter contacts crusierdrew. Trust me I'm not panicing. lol. Those of you familiar with the story of the LC I bought know that I have also had the TPS problem, and alternator failure as well as several other issues. All in 4 months!!!. Not knocking all Land cruisers. I'm knocking MY Land Cruiser. Its a lemon, and I don't have confidence in it. Believe me I know cars. There's almost no repair I can't do. But I didn't buy a Toyota with the idea of working on it constantly. Kind of counter productive for me to spend 6-8 hours replacing starter brushes when I can earn in excess of $100 hour in my electrical contracting business. For what I bought the LC for and the money I've put in it, I could have bought a new 4 runner anyway. $3 gallon gas is just the push I needed to buy a little smaller vehicle. Will save me a $1000 year over the LC. With a new vehicle, the goofy starter location is Toyotas problem not mine, as it will be under warranty for the next 3-5 years.
Timing chains are almost always better than rubber. I didn't know the 4 runner engine had a chain, good to hear, that's another $600 I won't have to spend down the road.
As for the minivan CV joints, tell it to TWO of my employees who needed new ones before 100k. I'm not talking about LC joints. Minivans are not trucks and are not built as tough or in my opinion, for longevity. They won't tow anything, won't go on even a moderate dirt road and so they are not for me. I need that ability from time to time. I loved reading about Siennas dragging their asses on gas station entrances when loaded. And the trailer hitches hitting the road with a trailer hooked up.
Timing chains are almost always better than rubber. I didn't know the 4 runner engine had a chain, good to hear, that's another $600 I won't have to spend down the road.
As for the minivan CV joints, tell it to TWO of my employees who needed new ones before 100k. I'm not talking about LC joints. Minivans are not trucks and are not built as tough or in my opinion, for longevity. They won't tow anything, won't go on even a moderate dirt road and so they are not for me. I need that ability from time to time. I loved reading about Siennas dragging their asses on gas station entrances when loaded. And the trailer hitches hitting the road with a trailer hooked up.
Cruiserdrew
On the way there
rule303 said:
I should stay out of the 100 section, but you might be suprised by a minivan. I have the 2004 Sienna of which you speak. It's my second 2004. The first was destroyed when an old man ran a red light at 45mph and broadsided my wife who was turning left across the intersection. This sheared off the driverside wheel, the front end, and the radiator was lying on the street. Oil and ATF were everywhere. All the airbags on her side went off. There was not one bit of intrusion into the inside of the van, and other than bumps and bruises, my wife was not injured at all. From inside the van, you almost could not tell there had been a collision. I guess my point is, if you really want family safety, a minivan will be your best choice. Check the government statistics. As far as economy-25mpg consistantly and that's with a vehicle that probably has 50% more interior space than a 100 series Land Cruiser. All that and it drives like a Lexus. I've never dragged the tail loaded up, but it could happen, I guess.
As for the CV boots-we had another minivan that went to 120k miles and the CV boots held up just fine. I also towed a small pop up trailer a few times-no big deal. You're right about dirt road though, pavement pounders for sure.
Still-I'd fix the 100, it can't need that much, and when done you'll have a really nice vehicle. Any other option will be much more expensive. I daily drive a 21 year old Land Cruiser and it's NEVER left me on the side of the road.
I too think that you should keep the 100. With gas prices the way they are, you may have a hard time getting what you want for the truck anyway. I feel for you that you've had all of these problems in 4 short months, but by now you are really almost better off just keeping the thing. By the time you get the contacts replaced, you will have covered just about all of the common problems on this vehicle.
I often feel like giving up on a car that has problems too, but in the end when I do the math it always turns out better just to keep the old car and keep fixing it. Just my 2 cents.
I often feel like giving up on a car that has problems too, but in the end when I do the math it always turns out better just to keep the old car and keep fixing it. Just my 2 cents.
Make an adventure of next Sunday, drive to beautiful Greenville and I will spend the day with you we will knock that mother out. (Got a beautiful shade tree to work under!) I think it will take a long time to recoup the gas charges, even at 3.00 a gallon, with the used car market they way it is. With Donald Trump wanting to negotiate the gas crisis for us, we could all be paying a mere .75 a gallon soon!
I feel your pain though, but I think that a car dealer is going to cut you preatty bad on the trade!
Scott
I feel your pain though, but I think that a car dealer is going to cut you preatty bad on the trade!
Scott
If I hear ONE MORE solid axle person dog CV joints..... 
mscott said:
mscott- that's a pretty typical SUV owner's thought process. What you are forgetting is that your LX's center of gravity is also *much* higher than that of a Sienna. In emergency handling or in an accident, your LX is much more likely to rollover. In that situation, all that "beneficial" weight you are talking about will be placed upon a relatively flimsy roof, making it far less safe than a Sienna or Odyssey. Ever see photos of rolled Cruisers? It ain't pretty without a rollcage. Either of those minivans have close to the highest safety ratings possible in front, side-impact, and offset tests, AND are much less likely to rollover. You get the picture. Off-topic or not, I think it is an important point to bring up safety-wise because we are talking about a family-hauler here.
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Cruiserdrew
On the way there
ShottsUZJ100 said:If I hear ONE MORE solid axle person dog CV joints.....
I hope you are not referring to me. If anything, I was saying the ones I have had held up fine. The boots on my Subaru were a different story. I am expecting 150k service at least out of my Sienna, and maybe more since it gets the best maintenance schedule you can imagine.
That's not to say I don't blame you for having an inferiority complex about the CV joints....
- Thread starter
- #31
I was talking about GM and Chrysler CV joints failing. If I was going to buy a minivan, it would be a Sienna. But they are quite dear if you like them well equipped. But I go on just enough bad roads and tow every now and then, so a mini won't do. Plus, its just real hard to feel that pride of ownership in a minivan. I can't see me out in the driveway washing and waxing that baby. I'd consider an older used minivan I could pick up cheap, but I've yet to see many nice older minvans. The owners usually trash them.
Thanks for all your offers to help but like my neighbor said, " Once you lose confidence in a vehicle, you'll never feel comfortable again in it." The check battery light was flashing on and off and flickering intermittently today. Its laughable. When we take it in to be looked at it always works perfectly! I'm not superstitious, but if a car was ever jinxed, this one is. My wife has zero confidence in it. I can't blame her. It doesn't go a few weeks without something failing. They all make lemons and who knows what happened to it before I owned it. Sometimes you have to just drop back and punt. I get almost physically ill I'm so disgusted with the vehicle. Mainly I'm mad at myself for not checking it out better. The penalty for a hurried life.
I drove a v6 4runner today. Nice, but a little small for a family of 5. The starter is easily accessible and within plain sight when you open the hood, so the guy who said it was like the LC is wrong. The alternator and AC are also in a more logical place.
Thanks for all your offers to help but like my neighbor said, " Once you lose confidence in a vehicle, you'll never feel comfortable again in it." The check battery light was flashing on and off and flickering intermittently today. Its laughable. When we take it in to be looked at it always works perfectly! I'm not superstitious, but if a car was ever jinxed, this one is. My wife has zero confidence in it. I can't blame her. It doesn't go a few weeks without something failing. They all make lemons and who knows what happened to it before I owned it. Sometimes you have to just drop back and punt. I get almost physically ill I'm so disgusted with the vehicle. Mainly I'm mad at myself for not checking it out better. The penalty for a hurried life.
I drove a v6 4runner today. Nice, but a little small for a family of 5. The starter is easily accessible and within plain sight when you open the hood, so the guy who said it was like the LC is wrong. The alternator and AC are also in a more logical place.
rule303 said:
I think you're referring to Cruiserdrew, but he was not referring to the location of the starter, but rather the design of the starter, meaning the "starter contacts" problem (really a maintenance item, but I see how it is the last straw after all your other problems) could just as likely affect that type of 4Runner.
I think you're doing the right thing in dumping your 100. It sounds like a lemon, and you never know just how much juice is left to squeeze out of it.
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- Thread starter
- #33
I don't mind changing a starter at all. Its spending hours getting to it that I hate about the 4.7 engine. You can tell it was Toyota's first effort at a V8 engine. AC, alternator, starter, even the throttle body, all awkward and difficult to get to. Most serious off road vehicles in the past were designed so they could be worked on in the field. Ask any rock crawler. Something is always breaking. You inline six guys have plenty of room in the engine bay. The 100 is a fine driving vehicle I'll give them that. And to have that good an off road ability as well is amazing. But if you are mechanically inclined like me, vehicles with poor designs in terms of service and repair make me crazy. I noticed the 4runner had good serviceability in the engine bay. I'd bet $1000 the next generation V8 from Toyota won't have the same issues.
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- #35
There's always a redneck on every auto forum.
- Thread starter
- #36
Hey Jp, have you ever even owned a vehicle that you could afford to pay someone else to fix? While I realize you can justify using your day off from Wallmart to repair a starter, frankly I can make a hell of a lot more with my time in my business than any Toyota mechanic would charge me. The point which was obviously above your intellect was that it's stupid to design a vehicle with the starter in that location. Have you ever changed a starter in any vehicle? I doubt it, because if you had you'd realize that its usually an hour job, if that, in 90% of the cars out there. If you can't take any criticism of your precious toyota,that you build your whole life around, I suggest you join the Toyota Land Cruiser circlejerk forum. Where everyone just sits around and tells themselves how great they are. Get yourself some piss on Chevy stickers for the rear window while your'e at it. Redneck.
I agree with you on the lack of consideration from the Toyota engineers with regard to the starter location on 100's...I guess they convinced themselves their starters are 100% reliable.
I wanted, when I did my second battery system, to upgrade the starter pos cable to larger guage...gave up until such time the starter actually needs to be serviced.
I wanted, when I did my second battery system, to upgrade the starter pos cable to larger guage...gave up until such time the starter actually needs to be serviced.
jp213a said:
jp- there's nothing wrong with a little healthy criticism. Why are you so defensive when rule has a good point? Yes, changing the starter contacts is easy, but that's not his point. His point is that getting to the starter is difficult and will add a lot of time to the job. This is true. I would love to see you do the starter contacts job from start to finish (remove starter, replace contacts/plunger, reinstall starter) in 10-15 minutes. If you can do this, please make a video- that would be guiness book stuff.
Starters and alternators have the highest failure rate of any automotive components. As such, they should be easily accessible, and they aren't in the 4.7. It sucks, but it is the way it is. If I'm not mistaken the 4.7 is a copy of a Mercedes designed that Toyota knocked off. Or maybe that's the straight-six?
