tempestv8

The amount of oil that will bring the oil level from the lower dot on the dipstick to the higher dot is only 500 ml. The engine oil sump takes about 9.5 litres of oil in total. When the level is at the lower mark, this means that the engine has 9 litres of oil remaining. Basically not a big deal at all for the oil level to be at the low mark.

Just for the record, I never did find the position where the 6 mm pin would slide in to lock the tensioner into the rest position. I looked very carefully with a mirror to no avail and managed to do the job without utilising this pin lock feature. I did the same task on a Prado 120 Series V6 petrol 4.0 and there was a very easily identifiable pin hole which worked and made the task of installing a belt 10 times easier than on a 200 Series.

Go and register yourself on www.aulro.com and learn all about the Discovery 4. Once you get a feel for the common issues with the vehicle, the 200 Series may seem good value after all! With a Discovery 4 and the older 6 speed automatic gearbox you'll have to deal with gearbox shuddering after a certain mileage, rear suspension bolts failing suddenly, very expensive maintenance and parts pricing compared to Toyota, suspension arm bushes wearing out very quickly, air suspension pump failures, random electronic faults, wheel sizes too big for serious offroading, electronic park brake failures, premature turbo oil seal failures, very soft brake rotors requiring frequent replacements, and the diesel V6 engine uses timing belts instead of chains. Land Rovers position themselves as "technology innovators" but most of the innovations are electronic gadgets - and not enough quality is invested into the mechanical components to get the basics to be reliable. There is far too much electrical drain on the battery and so simple issues like a flat battery will leave you stranded at the worst possible time, and the plume of blue exhaust when accelerating hard is embarrassing and a fault which Land Rover still have not been able to fix since the release of the D4. The tow bar assembly is a poxy design after thought and a weight distribution hitch can't be used on it. The dash may look quality but there are little creaks and groans going over little undulations, compared to the Cruiser which feels as tight as a drum. The Discovery 4's fuel filter is in the most ridiculous location, making it all too easy to introduction contamination into the fuel system when replacing the filter. And the D4's GVM is even less than the 200 Series. To be fair, the D4 has proper seating for 7 adults, unlike the Cruiser's kiddies only seating in the 3rd row. And you can get a rear diff lock as a factory fitted option. Fuel economy is better than the 200 Series in just about all conditions. And it's got many international awards, so it'll be great to own and use as a daily vehicle whilst it's under warranty. The true cost of a Land Rover is not the purchase price but the ongoing maintenance and depreciation. A 200 Series may not have the character of the Discovery 4 but at least it's got the basics right, for example - you can fit 17" wheels and fit a plethora of proper offroad tyres. The engine is understressed and the automatic gearbox is strong. The transmission has a decent oil cooler and the fuel capacity is decent. Toyota is the true innovator - the TDV8 motor was developed for Toyota's Land Cruiser range, and not an adapted old engine from a sedan model from another co-owned brand. Same goes for the gearbox - it's not a sedan sourced gearbox, but one that is designed from ground up for the 200 Series. Toyotas are not cheap vehicles anymore, but at least they are quality products and reliable.

A realistic drive away price for GXL diesel with KDSS is $85K in Victoria. $90K for VX and Sahara will be around $102K.

The steering rack is known to leak for some owners - this is not entirely unknown. Since Toyota say its not an issue with other models, this implies that it is an issue with the 200 Series only. Perhaps try ACCC as its not old enough to fail so soon.

I wouldn't want to add a device which could compromise the safety of the vehicle. As you all know, Toyota are having safety issues regarding unwanted acceleration. Fitment of such a device could possible create this same situation!

Hmm, I have not experienced the dust issue with the tool kit, etc. In fact I had to show someone the tool kit and that was after driving on a dusty unsealed road. The interior remained spotless. Maybe it could be that Toyota have made some dust sealing improvements in the latest models? Mine is the updated model that was introduced mid 2009. What has your Toyota dealer done to address your dust ingress problem?

Hi Harry, If it's blowing black smoke it sounds like it's running very very rich. I suspect you may find your spark plugs quite sooty, although they won't be the cause of the problem. I would hazard a guess that you have a Mass Air Flow sensor that is no longer working properly. Typical if the vehicle has been used offroad and quite likely to have been damaged by water especially if you do not have a snorkel. Another thing that damages MAF sensors is the use of oiled air filters, like a K&N or Finer Filter. The oil stains the sensor wires and it no longer provides the engine with accurate flow readings. Get rid of aftermarket filters and stick to genuine paper filters. Given the age of the vehicle, I'd say this would be an item to replace anyway. There typically is NOT any error lights or warnings when the MAF sensor is out of spec. These are throw away items, so don't bother trying to clean the sensor wire. Just get a new one, and throw the old one in the bin or carry it around as a spare part which is potentially faulty. Of course, check to see that your air filter is clean. Check your auto transmission fluid condition - if it looks burnt, then you may be having transmission issues. Check your tyre pressures and alignment. Get rid of any unwanted weight or roofracks from your vehicle. And disconnect the caravan when you're just driving down the road for that loaf of bread. :D

There could be something legitimately wrong with one or maybe even two of the injectors, rather than the pump itself. Is there another dealer that you can go to, for a 2nd opinion? How loud is that noise? It's very hard to quantify a noise without actually hearing it and having another vehicle to compare with. Are you running regular diesel or bio diesel or winter diesel when this noise occurs?

I am also curious to find out whether your dealers have done anything to address the dust problem for those of you who have experienced the dust issue. Please feedback to the forum, otherwise your post isn't much help to others who may be experiencing this problem (I'm not one of them).

There was another poster to whom I responded to re the dust problem. ;) For those of you experiencing dust, can you confirm if you have the Toyota trailer wiring loom fitted to your vehicles? The reason why I ask is because so many installers are too slack to do the job properly and do not fit the rubber grommet that keeps the dust out.

Well, the 200 Series is the first Land Cruiser I've ever owned, so it's the best built one, by default! :D

Hi Graham, I have driven my 200 Series on a super dusty road where the rear window on the outside is caked with talcum fine dust to the point where it has really obstructed visibility. But the interior is squeaky clean. So I suspect you have a dust leak, and there is one very common entry point for dust that all LC200 owners should know about if the trailer wiring loom is fitted. This is my theory, so please take it at face value. There is a big rubber grommet that is part of the trailer wiring loom which 99% of the time is not fitted where it should go, and this is where dust is entering the vehicle. If you take off the plastic cover that hides the hydraulic jack, have a look in that cavity to see if there's lots of dust in that area. If yes, then its quite likely the grommet was not fitted, and so dust that comes off the rear wheels is being pumped inside the vehicle. Hope that your problem is as simple as this. Good luck in your investigations and let us know whether you have a trailer wiring loom fitted.... ;)