Nice looking, well maintained, corrosion free, smooth running, pleasure to drive
Sale price: US $1,000.00 Make an Offer
| Condition: | Used | Year: | 1997 |
| VIN : | JT3HJ85J6V0163831 | Mileage: | 287041 |
| Number of Cylinders: | 6 | Engine: | 4.5L Gas I6 |
| Model: | Land Cruiser | Transmission: | Automatic |
| Power Options: | Air Conditioning, Power Locks, Power Windows | For Sale By: | Private Seller |
| Drive Type: | 4WD | Fuel Type: | gasoline |
| Interior Color: | Gray | Exterior Color: | Gray |
| Vehicle Title: | Clean | Trim: | HJ85 |
| Safety Features: | Driver Airbag, Passenger Airbag, Anti-Lock Brakes | Body Type: | SUV |
| Options: | 4-Wheel Drive, CD Player, Sunroof | Make: | Toyota |
San Antonio, Texas, United States
Vehicle description
Well maintained 1997 Land Cruiser. The 1997 model was the first year for the passenger side airbag and the last year for the high torque, bulletproof six cylinder engine. I’ve owned and loved this Land Cruiser for 16 years and 160,000 miles. Now it’s time to move on to a smaller SUV that better fits my needs. Land Cruisers are known to be rugged and dependable and this vehicle has met every expectation as my daily driver. It is also a joy to drive on long distance trips because it cruises down the road in perfect “hands off” harmony. ThIs LC was originally bought in Texas and has been keep it in Texas (See title report). When I first got it, I had the body corrosion protected (WaxOil) plus undercoated. As far as I can tell, there is still zero rust or corrosion anywhere with the exception of some rust on the exhaust pipe and muffler. This vehicle has never been off-road as far as I know and the underside is clean without dents, dings, or scrapes. Topside, the rubber bumper/fender protectors are scuffed and nicked, a few rock chips in the paint, and a small dent above the right taillight. The exterior window rubber trim on the drivers side is in need of replacement and it is time to renew the UV film on a couple of windows. Clear coat is peeling on the windshield wiper grill. Other than that, the paint looks nice and shows well. Windshield is excellent as it was replaced a few years ago. The interior is also nice. Original Toyota floor mats throughout. The seats have some signs of distress but show well as you can see from the pictures. Some of the wood trim has delaminated and the plastic missing. Kits are available to replace it so the interior can be made good as new. The passenger seat needs new nylon gears (motor works). The gears are easy to replace but since the seat is in the rear position and I have no need to move it forward, I never bothered to fix. The passenger seat back does recline back and forth correctly. The driver’s seat operates as it should. Other than that, this SUV is nice, roomy and comfortable inside. I might add, driving this “old” LC a big step up from a lot of newer vehicles I’ve driven or ridden in. LC’s were built for the luxury market yet double as tough off-road capable beasts of burden. I never intended to sell my LC so over the years I’ve replaced mechanicals needing attention and have keep the receipts. The most costly maintenance so far was replacing the coolant down tubes at the rear of the engine. I had the Toyota dealer do this as parts needed to be sourced from Japan ($1900.90! ! ). Be aware the coolant system is a “gotcha” with high mileage Land Cruisers. LC forums are filled with stories about this. In any case, flush engine and change the coolant every two years and this new system should last at least another couple hundred thousand miles. Another expensive repair was steering knuckle replacements ($1316.12) at 201,866 miles. All and all, maintenance cost on a per mile basis have been quite low. Recent work includes a new starter, battery, four new shocks, and new rear brake pads. Turned out replacing the starter wasn’t needed. Despite being told my battery tested good and replacing the starter for $637.67, the starting problem persisted. The solution was a new battery ($181.46) and the engine has started easily since the battery was replaced. The original valve cover gasket was leaking oil and replaced about 500 miles ago. I’ve included a photo of the valve train. All visible wear surfaces look perfectly polished as they should be and show no wear. Recent oil, filter, and engine coolant change at 285,832 miles. Older Michelin tires all have good thread depth and were just rotated. There are two know faults I haven’t mentioned. The cruise control works but must be manually reset after not in use for some time. Takes about 3 seconds to recycle the lever arm under the hood to wake up the unit. I only use cruise control when I’m driving long distance so never did feel the need to sort out as it is easy to reset. The other item is the seat belt warning light. It cycles between on, blinking, or off. Seems to stay off in cold dry weather and act up in hot humid weather. Took it to my Toyota dealer and they were unable to scan what was wrong other than to say the clock spring is not broken and working fine. Sent me away with “sorry” and a $129 bill for diagnostic service. Soon after that the seat belt warning light worked normally. In January 2020, the vehicle passed the required Texas Safety Inspection, but now the seat belt warning light is up to it old ways again. This Land Cruiser is nice as is or with a little effort can be turned into a showroom vehicle. In either case, you are buying a good looking, smooth running, well maintained, corrosion free vehicle. Having driven this LC cross country many time, I have never had any concerns about long distance trips. Just check the tire pressure, fill the fuel tank and go. Bidders are encouraged to inspect before bidding so you can see just how nice This Land Cruiser is. Winning Bidder: Please remind me to show you the hidden keys and the kill switch that can be activated to prevent an unauthorized person from starting the engine even if they have a key.