Toyota Land Cruiser 2009 Problems

And the car industry is not immune from being saddled with these potentially damaging problems.Apart from Ford's recent problems with brake hoses and brake booster valves on E-Gas Falcons the other ‘big two’ carmakers have had their fair share of recalls.Holden has had five recalls for its VE Commodore and Statesman range since its introduction in 2006, involving things like fuel vapor lines, fuel lines and defective valves on LPG cars.ToyotaToyota had a range of recalls for its Camry, HiLux, RAV4, Yaris and LandCruiser over the past three years. Most, like a headlight dimmer switch on a Camry, have been minor. Others, like the potential fire hazard stemming from a poorly installed insulator pad on a Yaris, raised alarm bells among some customers.NissanLast week Nissan was forced to recall 11,743 Maximas and 4972 Muranos because of a vibrating air intake in the engine bay.AudiEven the luxury German brands are not immune. Last year Audi had to recall its TT for a piece of rear side trim in its cars that unless fixed, could potentially injure passengers.Mercedes-Benz This year Mercedes-Benz has recalled its M-Class off-roader for a possible glitch in its electric rear hatch. It was also forced to recall S-Class sedans fitted with active body control because of problems with the front lower ball joints on its suspension. On some high-mileage vehicles, the front suspension could fracture on rough roads. Faulty left and right windows in the Viano van also required the replacement.BMWOf the German carmakers, BMW has fared better. It has not had a official government recall since 2006.Volvo Volvo has had three recalls this year of its S80, XC70, V70 and new XC60 for engine cooling fan problems and windscreen wiper problems with the S80 and XC70.JaguarJaguar, once widely ridiculed for its poor quality cars, has come a long way over the past few years. Jaguars these days have no less, or no more, problems with recalls than some of the other luxury brands. Last year it experienced some minor problems with the XF range involving wiring and rear seatbelts.In all cases, recalls by carmakers are handled quickly and responsibly. If you want to check out whether your vehicle has had a recall, go to www.recalls.gov.au

Toyota's LandCruiser is a genuine 4WD, not just a people mover dressed up to look tough, but which is nothing more than a car underneath that supposedly rugged body. Highly capable off-road, the big LandCruiser is a longtime favourite with those on the land, in the mines or wanting a hard working tow vehicle.Cruiser has seating for up to eight people, though it is best if the occupants of the rearmost, fold-down seats aren't over large. With all passenger seats in place luggage room becomes relatively restricted. Toyota LandCruiser is unashamedly a large vehicle and can be a real handful at times in tight suburban running, particularly in undercover carparks. It’s not only the size of the LandCruiser, but also its large turning circle, that can cause hassles. It has been improved over the years.But try one for yourself if you've never experienced the potential parking hassles. Despite this, quite a few are used as family wagons, thanks to the spacious cabin and big luggage area. The LandCruiser has been around for years, but really took off in the sales race with the introduction of the 80-Series in 1990. It was replaced in March 1998 by the 100-Series then the 200-Series arrived in November 2007.LandCruiser 200 is a major evolution of the 100 Series rather than a completely new model. Its styling is slightly softer than that of the 100, but its genuine 4WD capability remains under that smoother skin.The LandCruiser 70-Series workhorse and LandCruiser Prado share little in common with the 80, 100 and 200, so will be the subject of separate articles. The added refinement and comfort of the 80-Series compared with its truck-like ancestors made it easier to live with, but even the 80 is getting on in years now so be sure of its condition before handing over the folding stuff. The LandCruiser is relatively simple for the inexperienced owner to take into the bush. Naturally with all the usual provisos of preparation and driver knowledge that apply to all who drive in off-road conditions. Interestingly, the LandCruiser 100-Series reverted to part-time 4WD in its more basic models. Most engines on used LandCruisers are straight sixes, though V8s became more common in later years. The petrol unit was originally a somewhat ancient 4.0-litre six-cylinder unit that was thirsty and not particularly quick.A 4.5-litre, twin-cam, multi valve engine was installed in the topline models late in 1992 and subsequently spread to the rest of the petrol range. It’s a modern unit with tremendous torque and impressive smoothness. A petrol V8 of 4.7-litre capacity, as used in the Lexus LX470, was offered as an option in the LandCruiser 100-Series from 1998 until 2000. It's quite thirsty, but beautifully smooth and torquey.Later developments of that 4.7-litre V8 engine were used in the LandCruiser 200, with the latest being a 4.6-litre unit introduced early in 2012. A petrol V8 with 5.7 litres is also on offer in the LC200. Diesel sixes are relatively common on older 80-Series and came with displacements of 4.0 and 4.2 litres. From 1990 the 4.2 litre diesel used a single overhead camshaft and two valves per cylinder. In 1995 it received a four-valve cylinder head, though it still had a single camshaft. Much better is the 4.5-litre V8 turbo-diesel used in the LC200 – it's reasonably economical, smooth and provides plenty of grunt. The turbo-diesel V8s are big grunt powerplants, making them particularly suited to heavy-duty towing.Five-speed manual gearboxes are offered in some LandCruisers, but most later models use automatic transmissions, with four speeds in the 80 series. There are five forward speeds in the 100 series, and either five or six ratios in the LC200 depending on the model. The LandCruiser has plenty of underbonnet and under-vehicle space so the knowledgeable home mechanic can do a lot of their own repairs. There are Toyota dealers in all areas of Australia, thanks to the company arguably having the most widespread of all networks.Servicing and spare parts are generally reasonably priced, though some parts cost a lot more than they should. Remember that these are heavy-duty, commercially-oriented vehicles so even things like tyres can cost considerably more than they do for a passenger car. Insurance is unlikely to cause real hassles as the working nature of the vehicle means most companies have favourable experiences with the vehicle, letting them keep prices relatively low.WHAT TO LOOK FORLandCruisers that have had severe off-road use – and plenty have – will probably have underbody, door-sill and bumper corner damage. Even those which have only had gentle use away from sealed roads are likely to have scratches in the paint on the doors.Look for dust in the cabin and boot. This may be caused by windows-down driving, but could also mean leaks around the door seals. Maybe even a twisted chassis due to off-road damage and/or a crash.Be wary of the engine’s condition if it has done harsh off-road driving and/or heavy-duty towing. Engines are generally long lasting but watch for a smoking exhaust when the engine is under load that may indicate it is near the end of its life. An oil light that’s slow to go out when the engine is started is another indication of engine wear. Manual gearboxes on older models are relatively heavy, even when new. The 100 Series and 200 Series are better than the older units. Crunching during downchanges to second and first gears is usually the first sign of problems. Transfer boxes are often stiff in operation even when they are working correctly. Be wary of one that’s too tight as they can be expensive to repair.Check for signs of salty sand as it can cause real rust troubles. Look for rust in the floor, especially if the Cruiser has had a lot of beach use. Have a professional inspector follow up your initial examination as a hard used example could cost big bucks to be put back together again.CAR BUYING TIPWhile we usually think of off-road use being tough on 4WDs, life in the suburbs with a mob of rough kids beating up the back area isn’t all that easy either. 

The Toyota LandCruiser is the biggest and, in some people's minds, simply the best four-wheel drive vehicle there is. Toyota's big 'Cruiser has long been the benchmark when it comes to four-wheel drives, and while it has been challenged in recent times it remains the leader of the off-road pack.Other four-wheel drives offer more comfort, more refinement and more fruit, but few, if any, outperform it once the black top stops.The LandCruiser built its reputation for toughness way back in the 1950s when it showed what it could do working on the Snowy Mountains Scheme, and remains the car by which all others are measured when it comes to toughness.But in today's world toughness isn't enough for many owners who also want their share of creature comforts in their four-wheel drives. Toyota attempted to address those wants when it launched the 200 in 2007.MODEL WATCHThere was plenty that was new with the 200, it was bigger, stronger, more fuel efficient, roomier and more refined, but at the same time it still promised the traditional 'Cruiser off-road toughness that had made it the benchmark in the class.The LandCruiser has always stood alone with its own no-fuss tough-as-nails look, but the 200 had a softer look with a smoother shape that cut through the air with greater efficiency. It was also bigger than the 100 Series it replaced, being longer and wider, with a much roomier cabin.Inside it had three rows of seats, able to seat eight adults, with more room in each row for greater comfort. For such a big, tough wagon the 200 Series was surprisingly quiet and comfortable on the road. But it remained true to its tough roots with its old-fashioned truck-style design with a body perched atop a separate frame, although the suspension was by coil springs front and back.Toyota offered two engines in the LandCruiser, an updated 4.7-litre DOHC petrol V8 and a twin-turbo 4.5-litre diesel V8. When on full song the V8 produced 202 kW at 5400 revs and 410 Nm, while diesel produced 195 kW at 3400 revs and 650 Nm from 1600 to 2600 revs. The V8 was linked to a five-speed auto, the diesel to a six-speed auto, both with full-time four-wheel drive.There were three models in the range, beginning with the GXL entry model, the VX and the fully-equipped Sahara.IN THE SHOPGenerally the 200 Series is robust and reliable as Toyotas mostly are, but owners have complained about the problems of engaging sixth gear on diesel autos. Sixth gear wouldn't engage below the highway speed limit, which made it rather ineffective on local highways. Toyota developed a software fix and many vehicles were updated, but it's possible some owners never found out about the revision and didn't have their cars reworked. It's worth driving the vehicle on the highway at around 100 km/h to observe if sixth is being engaged or not.Being the tough off-roader it is you should expect vehicles to have been used offroad, so check for damage sustained in the bush and watch for a lack of proper maintenance.IN A CRASHMass is a big part of the LandCruiser's safety equation, and there's no doubt about its massive size, but it also boasts a host of current safety features from active electronics to an impressive array of front, side and curtain airbags.UNDER THE PUMPCarsguide reader Brian Holland's twin-turbo V8 diesel 'Cruiser has averaged 14.18 L/100 km over the 50,000 km he's done since buying it in 2008. When tested by Cars Guide the twin-turbo V8 diesel 'Cruiser averaged a little better returning 13.2 L/100 km. Toyota claimed the diesel would return 10.3 L/100 km and the petrol V8 14.5 L/100 km.OWNER'S SAYBrian Holland has done 50,000 km in his 2008 twin turbo diesel LandCruiser 200, including some "serious" offroading and the only breakage he's had in that time is a broken shock absorber. His complaints are that you can't engage sixth gear at a legal speed, but says Toyota has installed a software modification that allows him to activate it manually, it was using oil, but has improved since Toyota replaced the vacuum pump, and dust entry is a problem.He also reckons that for a car costing $80,000-plus it doesn't have enough fruit. There's no trip computer, no drivers seat height adjustment, no radio controls on steering wheel, no rear power outlet etc. But having said all of that, he says the 'Cruiser is by far and away the best four-wheel drive he has ever owned. As a keen four-wheel driver he says it is simply brilliant off road.LOOK FORBig and beefySupreme offroad capabilitySurprisingly smooth on roadSafe and secure handlingDiesel gruntRoomy cabinTown-friendly looksSixth gear engagement.THE BOTTOM LINEBigger than ever, but still the best in the bush.