DIY Toyota Land Cruiser 100 basic maintenance

All vehicles need regular maintenance, and your Land Cruiser 100 Series is no different.

Here is a list of some of the basic 100 Series Land Cruiser maintenance that you should be doing at regular intervals:

• Oil and filter changes
• Fluid checks: coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid
• Tires: check the pressure and rotate as needed
• Filters: cabin air filter, engine air filter, fuel filter, and transmission filter
• Battery: know the life span of your battery
• Warning Lights: know what they mean
• Belts and hoses: check for breaks, wear, and loose fittings
• Timing: check the Land Cruiser 100 service manual for replacement recommendations
• Lighting system: check lights and turn signals; replace dim headlights
• Wipers: replace worn wipers before they are useless
• Electrical: check fuses and keep spares on hand; listen for window motor noises
• Plugs: your Land Cruiser 100 manual will have tune-up recommendations
• Brakes: make it a habit to check your brake pads, rotors, calipers, and lines

Refer to your Toyota Land Cruiser 100 service manual for more information on the Land Cruiser 100 maintenance schedule.

Maintenance Is Required for Vehicles with Mileage Exceeding 100,000 Miles

The Land Cruiser is known for its dependability, and there are countless examples of engines having over 300,000 miles on them. This is in part because Land Cruiser owners use a 100k-mile maintenance checklist to ensure that all of the moving parts continue to move.

Based on the Toyota 100,000-mile service recommendations, here’s what you should do when you hit the 100,000-mile mark:

Oil and filter change

you should be doing this at regular intervals.

Hose and belt check

look for cracked hoses, worn teeth on belts, loose pulleys, loose connectors, and anything else that may cause these parts to fail.

Timing belt

replace your timing belt/chain at this time.

Fluid level check

at 100,000 miles, you may need to check and change the transmission fluid, brake fluids, coolant levels, and power steering fluid. If you’re using a fluid with an additive in it, the additive may have broken down by this point. This could be the most important part of your 100,000-mile checkup.

Tire wear check

check the tread on your tires for excessive wear that may indicate brake or steering issues. Replace worn tires with new ones and rotate them regularly.

Brake check

check for pad wear and fluid leaks. If there is a pulling or noise in the brakes, then do a complete brake check on the vehicle.

Spark plugs

you will want to replace your spark plugs and maybe do a tune-up.

Filters

from cabin filters to engine filters to transmission or fuel filters, these all become clogged with mileage and need replacing. Your 100,000-mile checkup is a good time to do this.

The 100k mile maintenance cost is minimal compared to what it would cost to replace an engine or transmission. Toyota has built the LC 100 to last, but you still have to take care of it. Once you’re done, you could be good for another 100,000 miles.

Intake System Cleaning Procedure

The intake system gets fresh oxygen to your engine for the combustion. A dirty intake kills the performance of your Land Cruiser.

Air Filter

depending upon the composition of your air filter, you may be able to reuse it after you have cleaned it.

1. Remove it
2. Use a cleaning solution on it
3. Rinse it out
4. Let it dry
5. Oil and replace it

MAF

you can replace this part, but cleaning it is less expensive.

1. Unplug the sensor
2. Remove it
3. Clean it with the proper MAF cleaning solution
4. Reattach it

Throttle body

the throttle body affects the engine performance, so clean it out.

1. Disconnect the air duct
2. Spray throttle body cleaner in the air duct and scrub
3. Put a drop of oil on the throttle shaft
4. Clean up your work area
5. Reconnect the air duct

Intake manifold

with age, this part can get gunked up with carbon. Your LC 100 will run better with a clean intake manifold.

1. Remove the manifold
2. Use a degreaser and scrub it clean
3. Reattach the manifold

You can clean the intake manifold by using a spray intake system cleaner, which means you won’t have to take the manifold off. Spray cleaners and intake cleaner kits can be found in auto parts stores and online. Follow the instructions on the bottle. While they are not the most efficient way to clean the manifold, they are the quickest.

How to Replace the Water Pump on the Land Cruiser 100 Series

The water pump is a critical part of your engine’s cooling system. A 100 Series Landcruiser water pump failure can mean serious engine problems.

How to do a 100 Series Landcruiser water pump replacement:

1. With a cool engine, remove the belt drive components and disconnect the water hose on the pump. Be prepared for coolant to leak out.
2. Remove the old water pump
3. Remove the old seals or gaskets
4. Clean the mounting surface
5. Check for other worn cooling system parts like hoses and the thermostat
6. Replace the gaskets and seals with new ones and use a small bit of sealant if recommended
7. Install the new water pump
8. Reattach the hose and belt, and refill the coolant

You should do a visual check once you have everything installed and make sure that you can manually rotate the pump. There may be some fluid leaks from the new pump that should go away.

When To Replace the Valve Cover Gasket on the Land Cruiser 100

Obviously, you would do a 100 Series Land Cruiser valve cover gasket replacement if you saw oil leaking out of it or you smelled burning oil.

Land Cruiser valve cover gaskets should last between 20,000 and 50,000 or more miles, so plan on changing them regularly.

How to Clean the Throttle Body on a 100 Series Land Cruiser

Keeping your engine running at its peak means that the air intake system is clean and it is getting all of the oxygen it needs to fire the cylinders. Some of the dirty throttle body symptoms include a rough idle, stalling, slow acceleration, and terrible fuel mileage.

What does a throttle body do? It regulates the amount of air the engine gets when the driver presses the gas pedal.

When you’re ready to clean your throttle body, here are the instructions:

Disconnect the air duct

1. Spray throttle body cleaner in the air duct and scrub
2. Put a drop of oil on the throttle shaft to keep parts moving smoothly
3. Clean up your work area
4. Reconnect the air duct

The throttle body cleaning cost is minimal compared to what it would cost to replace a damaged engine.

How to Recharge the AC in a Land Cruiser 100

If you happen to notice some 100 Series Land Cruiser AC problems like blowing hot, you may need a recharge, but it could also be a leak in an O-ring seal or hose. The Toyota Land Cruiser air conditioning system consists of major parts like the compressor and the condenser, as well as the evaporator and heater.

There are two ports in the Toyota Land Cruiser air conditioning system. One high-pressure port and one low-pressure port; you will use the low-pressure port with a home Land Cruiser AC recharge kit. Check with your owner’s manual to see what the recommended pressure should be.

1. Open the hood
2. Check your refrigerant type located in the manual or under the hood
3. Start the LC
4. Turn the AC to the coldest setting and maximum fan speed
5. Remove the L cap and connect the recharge kit to the low-pressure port – the recharge kit will only connect to the low-pressure port, so you can’t make a mistake
6. Shake the can and release the refrigerant into the system until you hit the recommended pressure.

This is a quick fix and may not offer a long-term solution to an AC blowing warm, so if this doesn’t fix it, you may want to take it to a Toyota technician for a professional evaluation.