Toyota Land Cruiser 1998 Problems

Torque converters have been known to seize and, if that’s the case, it could stall the engine because there’s no slip to allow the engine to idle while the car is stationary. You need to have this checked by a transmission specialist who may have seen this very thing before. Either way, the vehicle won’t be going anywhere under its own power.

Even if the gearbox itself had frozen solid, the torque converter should still allow enough slip to let the engine idle. So that’s definitely where to start the investigation.

The two vehicles you’ve mentioned are, in fact, fundamentally the same vehicle. The only difference in the rear bumpers of each was that the base-model Prado’s bumper was finished in grey plastic, while the upmarket Grande’s was body-coloured for a more integrated look. So, yes, the two bumpers should be physically interchangeable.

The only difference in any of the Prado’s side mouldings was that the entry-level model, the RV, with its skinnier wheels and tyres, didn’t have the wheel-arch flares, so the moulding that joins the rear bumper to the rear part of the wheel arch would be different on the RV compared with the other Prado trim levels.

By 1998, the LandCruiser had gained bigger brakes and a bigger wheel and tyre combination, making these later versions the best for towing. Pre-1995 versions were limited to towing 2500kg, but the upgrade took that limit to 3500kg which is still competitive even today. The transmission makes no difference to this limit.

The engine used in the 1998 model was the 1 HD FT, which doesn’t suffer the big-end bearing problems.

I know people who run big Toyotas on gas but the maker has never recommended gas conversions on any of its vehicles. Does that help?

It's the LandCruiser every time if you're heading into the outback. The truck itself is just about bulletproof and gets The Tick from me. Toyota's service and support in the bush is legendary and could make all the difference if you strike trouble.

Our LPG experts say it's unlikely to be air in the tank because the installation was done some 18 months ago. The most likely cause is a heat source influencing pressure in the tank, so check for modifications to the exhaust system etc.

The 1998 Landcruiser is a popular candidate for the installation of LPG and people who have installed LPG typically save about 50 percent on their running costs. In typical use, and with the government rebate, you could expect to recover your investment within 12 months. The engines operate well on LPG and without premature degradation, however as a precaution it is recommended that you have valve clearances checked every 50,000 km rather than manufacturer's recommendation of every 80,000 km. The worst-case fuel consumption, dependent on whether it's an auto/manual, would be approximately 25 L/100km.