Toyota Prado Problems

It would seem likely that the oil pickup has become blocked, starving the engine of oil. That's a problem with the turbo-diesel engine, caused by fuel leaking past the seal on the fuel injectors and contaminating the oil. The cracked dashboard is also a common problem. If you feel strongly about it you could approach Toyota with a request for a refund of the cost of repairs.

The quality of new-car batteries does seem to be falling but it’s more about car makers trying to save money. In my experience a quality charger, like the C-Tek one I use for my Toyota HiLux, helps by keeping the battery in the best possible condition for a vehicle that’s not in regular use.

Talk to your dealer about getting the latest version installed. The version you have was most likely the latest available when the vehicle was built or the GPS produced.

It sounds as if it has been running lean for some reason, and the obvious place to start is with the injectors. You say the dealer checked them and they were found to be ok, so the next step should be to go through the fuel system, the pump and the filters looking for something that has affected the fuel flow. I doubt that it is caused by dirty fuel as you have been told. While you are checking inspect the oil pickup in the sump as there have been problems with fuel leaking into the oil past the injector seals causing deposits to build up in the oil and eventually blocking the oil pickup. It's a long shot because it usually happens at very high kilometres, not 100,000km like yours, but it's worth eliminating as a cause.

I’m also putting out the call to Prado owners. This is a new problem, and the replacement unit is likely to be updated. But make sure it's logged in the service record in an unlikely event of future dramas.

I doubt that your engine had a problem with the cooling system; it sounds like a major meltdown, perhaps due to oil starvation, or a problem with the fuel system that has caused it to severely lean out and damage the pistons. I would suspect it's the latter. Whatever has caused the problem you are up for a new engine, and I would go for a new one over a reconditioned one. While it's more expensive your car has only done 118,000 km so it's still relatively new. I would suggest you remove the aftermarket computer chip and return the computer to factory stock. The chip could well be the cause of your problem. As for assistance you can only consult mechanics, in this case I would consult one that's experienced in Toyotas and Prados.

There is always a risk when buying a used car, particularly one as old as yours and having done so many kilometres that something could go wrong with it. You really have no protection under the law; you can only hope that the dealer looks on at your predicament favourably.

One thing you might care to explore is the possibility that the engine failed due to the oil pickup becoming blocked with an accumulation of carbon deposits and starving the engine of oil.

There were a number of instances of this problem happening on the 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine in the HiLux and LandCruiser. The failure of yours appears very similar to the earlier failures reported in the HiLux, but proving that this was the cause of your problem would be difficult, time consuming, and stressful.

The latest classy South Korean cars have been out only for a few years, so we have a while to go to match the Prados. But all the signs of good. As for lighter steel ... sounds like an urban myth.

Toyota Australia spokesman, Steve Coughlan replies: “From our records, Brighton Toyota has reported a very light vibration at speed consistent with when the torque convertor lock-up clutch engages. To fully understand the issue we will arrange for one of our Technical Field Managers to contact Mr Jeffrey and assess the vehicle. A member of the team will contact him to set up a meeting”.

The Sorento is a long-term CarsGuide favourite and one of the best things is the basic package is so good you don't have to spend big to get a car that will work well for the long haul. It definitely gets The Tick.