Test-driving FZJ 80 in one hour (1 Viewer)

[dealmaker]

I'm a newbie to the LC and want to make sure I have the locker activation sequence right:
1. go into 4L (on dirt, acitvates when light stays lit)
2. turn locker knob, activates when light(s)? stay lit.

If lights blink, the respective locker isn't locked.
I may need to roll awhile and turn the steering wheel a bit.

And to unlock
1. turn locker knob to left, and go forward? backward? maybe turn the steering whel a bt? and lights go off
2. go into 4H, and center lock light goes off

Now, this vehicle is a '96 w/close to 100K miles, probably has never been locked up before. Is this thing going to go into lock and then not come unlocked?

Do I have this right??

 

[ginericLC]

Your procedure seems OK. If they don't go the first time just fiddle around and drive a few feet and try again. I think turning may make the front locker take longer to go in. Just do everything in slow motion and it will probably work.

 

[Gauge]

Yes - that's right. The thing to remember is that the lockers won't engage unless your in 4L and when they do lock they will stop flashing.

To unlock drive in a figure 8 and the lockers should come undone.

Regarding the lockers staying locked - I had that happen on a test drive once. The seller never used them and then thought I had broke his axle because they wouldn't unlock. Talk about an uncomfortable experience. It was the front locker too, which made it almost impossible to steer.

The way I see it, the seller should check to make sure these options work BEFORE selling the vehicle. I should be able to test the lockers the same way I can test the power windows.

 

[MTNRAT]

You got it. However if the lockers have not been used lately they may take a while to lock. When I got mine I had to go slowly in a circle on gravel to get them to lock. It took a while. When you go into 4lo the ABS light will come on as well. If you cannot get the fr and rr lockers to work, don't worry too much and use it as a bargaining tool. If it locks chances are it will also unlock, so do not worry about that. DO NOT drive on pavement with the lockers engaged.
Cheers,
Sean

 

[elmariachi]

I'm a newbie to the LC and want to make sure I have the locker activation sequence right:

Now, this vehicle is a '96 w/close to 100K miles, probably has never been locked up before. Is this thing going to go into lock and then not come unlocked?

Do I have this right??

So what if it won't unlock? Better to find out now than after you pay for it. Just be gentle on it and don't do it on hard pavement and it should lock and unlock fine. The one I just bought needed about 30 feet and a little back and forth before locking up the first time. After that it locked and unlocked instantly. Also...the center diff and ABS light might not go out for 50+ feet after you get back into high range, but that's normal.

Jim

 

[e9999]

you may want to have the owner do the locking unlocking in case it does get stuck. Then he can't blame you.
Also, it may well take a long time to lock which you can use as argument to lower the price...

 

[dealmaker]

Alright guys, thanks for the quick responses. I've actually been lurking here for a few months before registering today. ANyway, everything locked and unlocked without any drama. No akward moments or embarrasing situations! Don't know if I'll be joining the LC ranks or not as right now I am a very satisfied 4RUnner owner ('04 V8 4X4).

 

[Romer]

A lot of us have two rigs. Make one an awesome trail rig and use the other as a DD.

Or, buy the LC for the wife (if you have one)

 

[dealmaker]

A lot of us have two rigs. Make one an awesome trail rig and use the other as a DD.

Or, buy the LC for the wife (if you have one)

Well, actually I was trying to convince her to swap out the Odyssey for the LC. The Odyssey only has 45K miles and is in perfect condition. The LC has 95K miles, leather seats not maintained and cracked, lots of oil caked down by the oil pan and front axle. Power steering hums when you turn, and the engine whistles like its got a turbocharger when I reached about 3000 RPM. When I would go about 30 mph I'd take my foot of the gas, then step on it again and would feel a small jolt like there's some slop in the drivetrain (probably normal?). Body is fair to good, being that all four corners on the bumpers are scraped, and the body has a few scrapes, mostly at the wheel well fenders, and door ding chips (giving, not receiving). At least some of the hoses in the engine compartment are split and need replacing. BOdy probably hasn't been waxed mor than a few times. No rust.

The owner says the oil is changed out every 5K and has been serviced routinely by the same mechanic, but the vehicle doesn't show pride of ownership and is not the creampuff I was hoping it would be. This was a soccermom ride. Probably would need $1-2K of work to get it up to snuff. Although she sort of liked the LC, she wasn't in love with it, and doesn't see the rationale of selling one car w/45K miles for another one with twice as much. Then she'll look at me with crossed eyes and remind me that I already have a 6 month old 4Runner, she knows I up to somehting!

 

[KliersLC]

whistle is normal, small amount of drivetrain windup normal.
Did you let her drive it?
Also play the safety card, LC is much safer than an odyssey, don't tell her about gas mileage
my .02

 

[NorCalDoug]

I'd pass on the one you described and look for something else if I was going to try to convince my to trade an odyssey for an 80. The Honda is actually a pretty nice minivan -- if I had to get one, it would prolly be that one.

There are nice 80s out there -- they may not have lockers, but they're around.

Now...trading the 4-runner for an 80...I could see doing that

 

[elmariachi]

I'd pass on the one you described and look for something else if I was going to try to convince my to trade an odyssey for an 80. The Honda is actually a pretty nice minivan -- if I had to get one, it would prolly be that one.

There are nice 80s out there -- they may not have lockers, but they're around.

Now...trading the 4-runner for an 80...I could see doing that

I agree with Doug; there are too many used Cruisers to buy one with lots of issues and needing $2k worth of cosmetic fixup. You don't want to sour your on the truck and that's what will happen. Between eBay and Autotrader surely you can find one that is fits your budget and needs fewer repairs.

Jim

 

[alia176]

There's no way someone gonna convince a Mini van owner to go to a Cruiser! The car companies have done a great job of tailoring the min vans for moms and dads! Of course, I told my wife that we're never getting a mini van!

 

[dealmaker]

There's no way someone gonna convince a Mini van owner to go to a Cruiser! The car companies have done a great job of tailoring the min vans for moms and dads! Of course, I told my wife that we're never getting a mini van!

Yeah, who ever invented the minivan is kinda blowing it for me. Those things are too damn practical!

 

[alia176]

and now they got automatic doors, coolers under the seat...how the heck are we suppose to compete with that? !!!

 

[FirstToy]

Now...trading the 4-runner for an 80...I could see doing that

Doug, you're dead to me!

 

[NorCalDoug]

HA! I was wondering if you'd catch that one

 

[dealmaker]

OK, the oil leaks were checked out yesterday by the current owners mechanic and were described as a few minor leaks. I will call the mechanic tomorrow for more info, but would any of you seasoned vets care to speculate on the attached photo's? And no, the Odyssey won't be traded for the 80, and the Runner DEFINITELY won't be traded for the 80 ;p

Head gasket was replaced at 78K, the 80 now has 94K.

 

[Skim]

So how much does he want and were is it located?