Pre-trip service advice...

[Sam]

My first LC practice trip is looming awfully close ... only about 5 weeks now!

It's all very exciting - but I'm not ready. Not even close. But I really don't want to rush the LC prep.

For at least 3,000 miles of this trip I will be on my own... dependant on the LC. I'm heading out with no fixed route or accommodation arrangements (so will probably end up staying in the LC a lot) - and it now seems I'm almost certain to run out of money half way home - just inside the French border. In France. I don't speak French.

I'm also planning to find an "alternative" fun route back through the Pyrenees for photo opportunities but with no backup or co-pilot - the LC's gotta be ready.

The MOT is due next month so I've decided to wait a week before going to see Mr T for the "service". Plan was to go and meet the "chief LC mechanic" at my local Mr T - you know, the special super trained Landcruiser guru specialist they keep in the cupboard just for occasions like this

I plan on taking him to one side for a chat to attempt to gauge if he was the type of guy I could put my trust in to check things out before I head off. A warranty will mean nothing to me 2000 miles away. All well and good then.... but I just had a quick check and it turns out I know as much about LC readiness as I do the rules governing PMT - and that's going to be obvious!

So. In a word. Help?

I'm giving them the truck to do a full service and replace all 5 tyres. That's probably a good start. What else?
I think I'm asking about the most obvious things to make sure are checked....

Anyone got 2p?

 

[Gary Stockton]

If its been nicely maintained by the po then not too much - full oil change including front and tear diffs. Check cooling system. Buy a spare serpentine belt to take with. Check brakes. Grease uj's / slip joints. Wheel alignment after you've done some miles on the new boots.

What mileage you on now?

 

[Sam]

Excellent - thanks for the input Gary

Just hit 55,500 today (so not bad for an '03) - was going to ask for an early 60k?

All services have been done early by Mr T (except the last one) - and it's obviously had more services than miles suggest it needs - but I don't want to get complacent and miss the obvious thing that trips me up - especially as it's leaves the ominous "big dark cloud" every now and then.... so I will be asking for a full injector check.

Writing your stuff down......

 

[Gary Stockton]

Yep go for the 60k - that covers diff oils and engine oil and brakes. Maybe new air filter and cabin air filter too if that hadn't been done for a while. Go for the carbon cabin air filter

 

[Graham]

Hi Sam,

I would agree.
Just take it to Mr Toyota, and book in for a 60k service.

What spares to take? all I took was an air filter and a fuel filter, and come to think of it, ,,,,,,I don't even know why I bothered to take them.
I had done a few " mega thousand mile" trips on an aging 225,000 mile engine.

Gra.

 

[AndrewT]

Make sure you fit new brake pads all round before you go or at least take a set with you. The. Mountains will be tough on the brakes as nobody uses engine braking on a 20km descent.

And don't forget the obvious bulb kit, high vis vest and two warning triangles for Spain

Most of all, remember your maps and camera

Safe trip

Cheers
A

 

[Sam]

Thanks guys - got my high vis jackets, triangles, fire extinguisher and breathalysers (must be French NF approved - UK ones won't do by all accounts).... still got to get bulbs though - good catch Andrew - It's on one of the lists but I'm drowning in them now and keep missing stuff - time for new "master" list

Gary - "carbon cabin air filter" - that special?

 

[Gary Stockton]

I reckon. Crispins mr T does them after discount for the same price as the regular ones!

 

[Sam]

Thanks again for your input chaps

Went to see Mr T this morning. Managed to get 5 minutes with the chief mechanic and then had a chat with the service manager. Both seem like pretty grounded chaps so going to take the chance.

Nothing much to report thus far then... booked in for Thursday - 60k service, 5 new boots (GG ATs) and an MOT. (ouch)

Talked about injectors and big clouds - but it sounded like either the injectors seals have been done... or if not - they would be

Chief chap was happy to take the job on himself and with 20 years with Toyota under his belt I'm hoping this is a good bet.

I will of course keep this post updated with details as I go - just in case anything of interest stands out

 

[Sam]

Toyota ordered me 5 new tyres

... only four turned up

... other one's coming Friday

LC is going in first thing tomorrow. Excited but ... already looking like £1200 quid so far.....

 

[Gary Stockton]

I take it that includes the tyres? If so, not too bad - but still hurts

 

[Sam]

Yup - includes:

60k Service
5 x General Grabbers AT's at £172.50 each
Air Filter
Fuel Filter

Bottled out of stepping up to the BFG 70's. I'll do that when I get back and save enough for the lift etc.

Hopefully they'll be checking everything else too... with a magnifying glass

 

[Gary Stockton]

Not positive, but I think that's a very good price on the tyres ....

 

[Sam]

I thought so... priced them up from a few places and the absolute cheapest I could find them was £125 each + Vat. Factor in delivery and fitting etc. and Mr T haven't done a bad job at all

 

[Sam]

Probably being worked on right now.... as I type...

m..mm.must r..r..resist... cant sneak in, pretend to be a shadow and watch (a spanner maybe )

It's been said It's "just a car" and I shouldn't be walking about like a caged animal....
They won't say that again!

 

[Sam]

All done. Serviced re-shod and ready to roll

Firstly, well done Mr. T.
Patient, professional and they didn't over push it on the pricing.
Even got a couple of above and beyond bits chucked in.

Service guys were great - and the fella who did the work found time to talk to me before and after to talk stuff through.

So bottom line then:

- 5 x GG AT's fitted, valved & balanced
- Full 60k Service
- Engine Flush (additive to the oil before draining?)
- Full Air Con Service & Bacteria Treatment
- Diff Oils Changed
- Props & Bits Greased
- Air Filter
- Fuel Filter
- Pollen Filter
- A good measure of putting up with me and my questions

£1200 - happy with that I reckon.

Brake pads weren't replaced. They were confident they would take the wear of the trip more than comfortably.
I think the quote was that they would easily last 3 services so would be more than up for the trip

Now, the important bit

I wanted absolute confirmation about these little injector seals.
Spoke with the service manager before it went in and they noted it on the form that I wanted to either drop the sump and check the pick-up - or remove the injectors and check/replace the seals. I said I was happy to pay for the check.

The result.... drum roll.... they did neither!

I clearly looked a bit worried so an explanation quickly followed.

They were reluctant to drop the sump because it would require dropping the diff and other troublesome bits and that would cost lots (over 6 hours IIRC). They were also reluctant to take the injectors out to check the seals because that would mean 2-3 hours labour cost and the seals would then have to be replaced anyway.

So instead they used research tactics and counter measures to reassure me. Firstly they did a lookup with my chassis number and found no outstanding re-call type issues. That wasn't enough for me because as we know the re-call was half-assed. But there was more.... apparently the problem seals were introduced AFTER my '03 LC was built. 3,000 - 4,000 units were produced after mine before the dodgy seals were used. "They might still be copper, yes, but they aren't the risky ones".

Hmmmm... I wasn't convinced. But then came the assurance that the way this LC has been serviced by the PO (more than regularly - this 60k service went in the 90k box) means that any clogging of the oil wouldn't get a chance to be a problem.

Add to that the fact that "just in case" they did an engine flush (adding anti-junk stuff to the old oil and running it up before draining it) - and I think I'm happy. If there was any clogging it should be flushed. There's a chance the seals are fine anyway. And the oil has now been changed right at the last moment before the trip. If there's going to be a problem it shouldn't be any time soon.

So that's it. Unless anything rings alarm bells with anyone?

Thanks for everyone's time and advice on this. Much appreciated.

And again, well done Lancaster Toyota Romford - actually felt like they gave a sh*t

 

[Steve]

The only comment I would make is the sump is easy to drop to inspect the oil pickup only takes 1/2 hour tops to remove inspect and refit. It doesn't need to be compleatly removed to inspect the pickup.

 

[Sam]

Cheers Steve - I wasn't convinced by the timings they gave but I'm going with the theory that if I'm going to get caught out it should be after I get back. I'm assuming that regular checks of the oil should show up any problems anyway.

Here's hoping

 

[Gary Stockton]

Sounds like a good job - just hope they didn't bodge anything on the detail like making sure the tyres were all pumped to the same pressures - oh - hang on a sec!!

Nah - seems good and the price was right too. Enjoy your hols!

Cheers