Toyota Commercial Range

If the central locking is working via the interior switch, then it’s fair to assume that the problem is only with the exterior lock mechanism. About then, a locksmith will go looking for a faulty or deceased door actuator switch or mechanism, as this is often the cause of this condition.

But it could be a case of dirty or dry electrical contacts on the mechanism in question, too, so don’t rule that out as a first (and cheapest) possibility.

The short answer is yes, these are very good vehicles. Obviously, a commercial vehicle like a HiLux may have been worked into the ground by a previous owner, but if the body and chassis are good, then you have a lot less to be concerned about. And that 4.0 V6 engine is an incredible piece of gear, able to clock up, in some cases, half a million kilometres without major work. Perhaps more.

In the case of the HiLux 4X4, the trick is to find one that hasn’t been beaten to death on bush tracks and blazing deserts. But a well-maintained HiLux, especially with this engine fitted (which runs on petrol and has none of the hassles of modern diesels) is a great long-term prospect.

Failed axle seals in Toyotas of this vintage are not unknown, but I’m not sure that they’re any more common than in any other make or model. And you’re right, replacing the seals in this model requires an awfully big hydraulic press and some pretty specific tolerances to be observed.

But the bigger question is why the seals keep failing and, more specifically, why two seals would fail simultaneously. Often, an axle seal will fail because of wear or play in the wheel bearing it helps protect. But to have two to fail together (one being a new-ish one) suggests a problem with the rear axle’s breather system. This is designed to allow pressure to escape as the axle unit heats up and internal pressures rise. If the breather isn’t allowing this to happen, the pressure can increase to the point where it will cause the seals to fail. So that’s where I’d start looking. A blocked breather fitting or crimped breather tube could easily be the cause.