Offroad-Express

Hi,

Im looking at a 96 prado tx 3.0 tdi on sunday and wondered outside of the usual checks when buying a car is there anything to look for, I know about the problems they can have with heads & radiators but is that it?

its on 203'ks, cambelt is done, imported but think the K's since are genuine, the person owning it is unlikely to have been offroad much & its living at a town address.

Is there anything different with the 96 to say the 97,98,99 models other than it not having the extra rear seats?

Mike.

Rear seat are an option (and I may have some for sale real soon )
They have a weak ctr diff, so don't plan on any proper wheeling adventures in in it, safari type trips won't be a problem however.
I keep hearing about the 1kz head issues, never had one (mine has 280 000 ish kms on it and I got it with 60 000kms 7 years ago), but don't let it get too hot I guess. I have trailered my POS around with mine through some challenging roads (5.5t all up) and while I won't say it was easy, it wasn't too much for it either.
As a preventative thing I would change the front outer ball joints when you get it and through some new bushes in the steering rack. Not a major job, but a major problem when the ball joints let go, (ask me how I know ).
These are reasonably cheap now and still a good all rounder wagon, just be aware that it is nearly 20 yrs old.

Thanks for that, yours an auto?, heard there ok for towing so long as you dont use O/D but might fit a trans cooler if I get it.


Would be a weekend tow wagon, boat, or horses and this time of year ski feild roads will be on the cards so wont need the ball joints to fail!

I aggree they are a reasonably cheap truck, my budget stops at $15 so unless its a high k late ute there arent many options in the same size / power range.
Will be replacing a faithfull 95 terrano as its not got enough grunt & find the trunk is a bit to small really.

My main concern with these is they have been serviced properly and not had an odo switch, which I doubt this owner would have done.

I should have a trans cooler, but just too lazy to put one in it. I didn't bang a service (filter and oil) through the trans until it had done 260 000 kms. It hasn't failed (fingers crossed), but a trans cooler is a good idea with any auto that is hauling weighty trailers.
I was going to get rid of it and buy one of those new double cabs you speak of, but at $60k ech, I would rather get a bigger digger or work truck that will work harder for it's keep at the moment, so I was thinking about chopping mine down to a wellside ute (just because it's different). Idea is 95% approved, the last 5% involves picking up the grinder, and I haven't quite got there yet .