2005 1kz with gremlins - to fix or not to fix?

[kingy717 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close kingy717]

Hi everyone, first post so please excuse ignorance. Hubby and I have been stewing over this for some time and have decided to ask for help from you knowledgable Prado owners.

We have a 2005 GXL 3.0L TD 1kz with about 210,000 km on the clock. We've only had her for 18 months but she is starting to show signs of age.

About 6 months ago she began intermittently starting rough and puffing white smoke. After months of testing this and that, changing batteries, glow plugs and injectors, busting a thermostat, then discovering loss of water into exhaust, we have finally discovered she's got a crack in the cylinder head. Have had a tablet called 'seal-well' put in the cooling system and this has stopped the rough starts and loss of water. (For now)

While checking all this out we also discovered that the oil gets very grotty very quickly (ie 2000km). Turbo is full of same carbon build up. Have also noted in the last few days a possible fault somewhere in the electrics (outside thermometer giving funny readings and secondary fuel tank not engaging. Oil level light came on a while ago before an oil change, level was fine but oil dirty. After oil change has been fine).

Our question is pretty simple - to fix or to let her go? Engine rebuilders have quoted us about the $5k mark to replace the cylinder head and give the engine a thorough going-over. They have also mentioned grotty oil is not a good sign of engine reliability. Previous owners towed very heavy loads on a daily basis which has got us wondering about how long she'll last...

Any experience would be much appreciated. Thank you.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Where are you based? There may be some PPers local to you that can give you advice.

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

Re build then u will have a great car for years to come. Where r u situated.

Hutch- Prado 150 with some TJM Kit.

[Madkore Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Madkore]

If only ########## was still here he would have replied by now.

I suggest sending a message to MickL to get his thoughts. Toyota trained too if my memory serves me correctly and currently owns a 1KZ. Very knowledge he is.

[raydes Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close raydes]

I would have a long think about it . Spending thousands on a car that is Ten years old ( next year). Depends-on how much you think the car is worth or its real salable value. I would be using the $5000 + to buy something a bit newer .

[Madkore Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Madkore]

The other issue is whether you can sell it in its current state and how you might get for it?

[macaroon1 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close macaroon1]

All of the above replies are valid. By saying

she is starting to show signs of age.

I'm unsure of the specifics! I mean if the upholstery is starting to go/wear badly, the steering wheel is cracking along with the dash (common for a lot of Prados and she's generally showing signs of having a hard life I'd be seriously thinking about moving her on. 5K is a lot of money for an almost 10YO car.

Also I'm unsure of the transmission, I know the autos hated towing heavy loads

Previous owners towed very heavy loads on a daily basis which has got us wondering about how long she'll last...

I understand the manuals faired a lot better and are 'mated' to the engine better??

If you don't know much of the service history, I may be letting her go. They are great little engines though and I wouldn't want a 'p' plater picking her up for a song knowing you've gone 90% of the way there (you've already done a fair bit) and all they've got to do is chuck a new head on...don't go OE head..go AMC head..TTR advice!
Hope it helps..

[kingy717 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close kingy717]

Thanks for the advice guys. To answer your questions we are in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne, and she's an auto.
Dash isn't cracked at all nor is the steering wheel. A little worn but really not bad for an oldish girl. We've got full service history but it's pretty vague. Tells us a service was done but not WHAT was done.

We are leaning towards trading her in, and hoping the warranty issued by the dealer covers the new owners for any mishaps. The mechanic that put seal-well in swears to me it's a permanent fix.... I'm dubious to say the least. We're rather emotionally attached to our Prado and would rather not see her go but I don't want to end up hating her, if you know what I mean. Pardon me for being female haha

[BlakMoth Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close BlakMoth]

I'd fix it. A new one is gonna cost an awful lot more.


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[Chaser Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chaser]

slap a head on it and all your issues will be gone mate. I tow a heavy camper and flog the guts out of mine everyday without fail and have done for 3yrs now. Keep it serviced with genuine filters and she will be all good.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

As your in Melbourne perhaps talk to #############, he knows a bit about the old 1KZ and is a vehicle technician with his own workshop.

You could trade it in but don't count on a dealer to do the right thing when issues arise, most likely will just do a bodgy job to see them through the warranty period. Aside from that you'll probably get a shock at how little a dealer will offer you for a near 10 year old car.

[kingy717 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close kingy717]

Thanks guys. We had a look at some new cars today and trade in price, Toyota were pretty keen on having ours as a trade in but geez your new Prado's aren't cheap! 200 Series drive nice but need a second mortgage for one of those :shock:

[zutta Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zutta]

5k isn't that much to bring a great 4wd like the 1kz back from the dead. Better the devil you know

A trade in on a used vehicle that will probably still cost you money. Unfortunately they all are money pits

5k will cover the injectors on a d4d, lots of ppl on here havnt traded them in?

I say keep it mate

I love my 1Kz, got 280k on it now and its running like a dream, Travelling aus atm and haven't has a single drama with it since we left. (touch wood) just doing the 5k oil changes, Ill be up for a bit when we get home but our rig will deserve all the maintenance required for getting my family around safely.

[kingy717 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close kingy717]

. Better the devil you know

This saying has crossed my mind a lot lately!!

Nice to hear yours is serving you well. What a great thing you are doing, enjoy

[ScoticusMaximus Member Find all posts View Profile Close ScoticusMaximus]

step 1: remove 1kz engine
step 2: install 1uz engine
step 3: smile every time you drive