Facelift for 150 series prado

[flatchange]

Finally had time to have a look at the new guard design, picture attached below. Also included a picture of an old style cracked guard.

I now understand why the cracking has been occurring and what Toyota have done to address the problem. My mechanical engineering design theory is pretty rusty but I'll try to give a brief explanation.

If you look under the guard you will see that the body, of which the guard is a part, is supported by a rubber mount at the front of the guard next to the radiator. The other mount is at the back of the guard just below the front door hinges. This in effect turns the guard into a 'bridge' and the battery creates a point load on the bridge (guard).

I have attached a diagram that shows what this looks like in terms of force and bending moment. The bottom diagram is the bending moment graph for the bridge, the one above it is the shear force graph.

The failure point on the guard is in tension and more than likely close to the point of greatest bending moment. The design of the bridge (guard) is not a problem in day to day driving but on corrugations or with sudden loads due to hitting bumps etc the force exceeds the capacity of the thin tensile section of guard causing it to fail. Microscopic examination would probably show some necking (thinning) around the crack, which precedes failure in this type of event.

The new guard solves this problem by changing the shape of the area under the greatest load, the bottom of the guard, and by providing double the strength in the high load area through the using of a spot/thermal welded backing strip.

Hopefully I haven't broken any rules by posting this here and in the cracked guard thread.

I have a facelifted Nov 2013 built Kakadu and it has the new strenghtened front mudguards
Dunno why some have got them and some haven't. But mine has.........

[Prone]

Hi Bretthar,

Just checked that dimmer control. Fully clockwise there is what feels like a switch function. If turned to it the LCD display and instrument lights go to full brightness irrespective of the headlights or park lights. Was a useful function if driving with headlights on during day.

Also interesting about guard, a friend has just purchased new 2014 model. I was also confused about talk of modification as he appears to have same metalwork as my 2012 model. It appears to be updated model in other details.

Cheers
Prone

[bretthar]

Have they removed the option of bypassing the dimming function of turning on the lights from the instrument dimmer control?

On my 2012 model turning the instrument light dimmer control fully one way (can't remember which way) bypasses the auto dim function of turning on the lights and allows full brightness of LCD screen and instruments with lights on during the day. Just have to remember to undo this at night or else be blinded by daytime brightness of LCD.

Cheers
Prone

Not sure I've found that knob yet, will go and have a look.
Ok found the knob and it only adjusts the instrument lights, no effect on the LCD or backlight on the aircon display

Interesting pictures of the guard, just checked my 2014 model and looks the same as the old one, nothing like the first picture. Bit strange a change like that wasn't done at the start of the new model, maybe they had a heap of old inner guards they needed to use up.

[Prone]

The single globe is in the same spot as the DRLs but it i sn't used as a DRL, as its only a low Watt parking light it probably wouldn't be bright enough to use as a DRL. As I said the GXL turns on low beam as soon as the engine is started, the only way of turning of the headlights is turning the switch to parking lights but when you do this it dims all the dash lights and the LCD screen making it almost impossible to see in the day. So not really an option, you just have to drive around all day with the lights on.

Have they removed the option of bypassing the dimming function of turning on the lights from the instrument dimmer control?

On my 2012 model turning the instrument light dimmer control fully one way (can't remember which way) bypasses the auto dim function of turning on the lights and allows full brightness of LCD screen and instruments with lights on during the day. Just have to remember to undo this at night or else be blinded by daytime brightness of LCD.

Cheers
Prone

[krypto]

So whats the difference with the guards, I've got a 2014 model and it looks the same as the pictures I see on here of the old model.

Finally had time to have a look at the new guard design, picture attached below. Also included a picture of an old style cracked guard.

I now understand why the cracking has been occurring and what Toyota have done to address the problem. My mechanical engineering design theory is pretty rusty but I'll try to give a brief explanation.

If you look under the guard you will see that the body, of which the guard is a part, is supported by a rubber mount at the front of the guard next to the radiator. The other mount is at the back of the guard just below the front door hinges. This in effect turns the guard into a 'bridge' and the battery creates a point load on the bridge (guard).

I have attached a diagram that shows what this looks like in terms of force and bending moment. The bottom diagram is the bending moment graph for the bridge, the one above it is the shear force graph.

The failure point on the guard is in tension and more than likely close to the point of greatest bending moment. The design of the bridge (guard) is not a problem in day to day driving but on corrugations or with sudden loads due to hitting bumps etc the force exceeds the capacity of the thin tensile section of guard causing it to fail. Microscopic examination would probably show some necking (thinning) around the crack, which precedes failure in this type of event.

The new guard solves this problem by changing the shape of the area under the greatest load, the bottom of the guard, and by providing double the strength in the high load area through the using of a spot/thermal welded backing strip.

Hopefully I haven't broken any rules by posting this here and in the cracked guard thread.

[fido666]

The aftermarket side steps

RWO already picked the "odd man out" bit a few posts back. With all that fine ARB bling on it you think they would shout it some AT tyres at least.

[flatchange]

It does look the same but did you notice they say it's for the GX and GXL and a VX/Kakadu version will be available soon? I have a suspicion that they've just made a cut into the bar itself to accomodate the lower part of the grille. Given the GX and GXL only have a single globe in the DRL part of the light perhaps ARB figured they could cover the rest up?

Also did anyone else notice something wrong with that pic on the FB page? I'm not going to make it too easy but have a look and see if you can spot something out of place.

The aftermarket side steps

[bretthar]

So whats the difference with the guards, I've got a 2014 model and it looks the same as the pictures I see on here of the old model.

[krypto]

I would be interested to know if these new stronger inner guards fit the old 150, might be something worth investigating for someone who has the cracking issue?

Fido666: The grandtreks look out of place, that's all I can come up with?

A mate who has the cracked guard is hoping to get them replaced with the new design. It's a pretty big job and based on past experience seems like Toyota won't be very supportive.

The whole issue is pretty messed up when you consider that a $70k car becomes un-roadworthy, a Prado with cracks has a defective crumple zone and hence wouldn't pass an inspection, after just 50-70,000km and 3 years. Toyota really need to stand by their product instead of rolling out excuses, the Toyota reputation for reliability was one of the main reasons that I bought a Prado.

[fido666]

Fido666: The grandtreks look out of place, that's all I can come up with?

Well done RWO, you get the Elephant Stamp LOL. Just seems a waste on such a finely kitted out Prado.

If you look closely you can also see the number plate sits over the winch, appears to be on a hinge which as far as I know is illegal.

[rwo]

Good to see that they have finally updated the guards to stop the cracking issue. Strangely I saw a few of the new model with the old style guards and some with the new stronger guards.

I would be interested to know if these new stronger inner guards fit the old 150, might be something worth investigating for someone who has the cracking issue?

Fido666: The grandtreks look out of place, that's all I can come up with?

[bretthar]

The single globe is in the same spot as the DRLs but it isn't used as a DRL, as its only a low Watt parking light it probably wouldn't be bright enough to use as a DRL. As I said the GXL turns on low beam as soon as the engine is started, the only way of turning of the headlights is turning the switch to parking lights but when you do this it dims all the dash lights and the LCD screen making it almost impossible to see in the day. So not really an option, you just have to drive around all day with the lights on.

[fido666]

The single globe is the parking light in the GXL, the so called DRL in the GXL is just low beam headlight.

OK, seems I have been misinformed in earlier posts then. Still the rest of my theory stands re the covering of the lower grille, since the GXL doesn't have the row of leds in that spot.

[fido666]

The antenna.

Nope :-)

[bretthar]

It does look the same but did you notice they say it's for the GX and GXL and a VX/Kakadu version will be available soon? I have a suspicion that they've just made a cut into the bar itself to accomodate the lower part of the grille. Given the GX and GXL only have a single globe in the DRL part of the light perhaps ARB figured they could cover the rest up?

Also did anyone else notice something wrong with that pic on the FB page? I'm not going to make it too easy but have a look and see if you can spot something out of place.

The single globe is the parking light in the GXL, the so called DRL in the GXL is just low beam headlight. Bit hard to tell from the photo but looks like the bar may cover the bottom part of the parking light globe. In my opinion the GXL should have either come with LED DRL or nothing at all, bad design I think unable to turn off your halogen headlights