Late Model 4x4 Truck Durability

99AUXR · 02-05-2012, 09:03 PM

Working over the holidays at workshop and the garage does work and servicing for many major fleet less vehicles around.

I'm absolutely astounded at the faults some of these new trucks have.

Hilux with its "diesel bug issue" and dirty fuel filters every 7500km that are stuffed and full of metal fillings.

Nissan ST-X Seem to have horrible sump bungs, which at first was thought to be over tightning but the aluminum sump is crap and strips threads so tap out for better thread. vehicles of around 150000km that are serviced every 7500km. Nissan in the other day that blew diff.

The only one that we haven't had in allot are rangers so cant comment on those. But judging on the old mans wildtrak and the hard km on AA recovery etc it does very well.

Can't Comment on holdens offering as no one has brought any in what so ever.

As for ease of changing CV boots etc hilux is easiest due to wear the torsion bars are mounted with everything else taking a little more time. The hilux is definitely the quickest to service.

So what other problems have people had with their late model 4x4 Utes. judging by durability and what we have seen in work the strongest would be ranger?

stevz · 02-05-2012, 09:29 PM

I don't know what it is with the Hilux diesels, but I have seen several near new (ie. 6-12 month old) examples blowing abnormal amounts of smoke, chugging and rattling loudly as if they were about to blow up. They didn't sound very heathly at all, thats for sure.

**PepeLePew** · 02-05-2012, 09:46 PM

Common fault in late model Tritons 3rd gear synchro goes to hell in the manuals. Warranty, but annoying, and may well have been fixed in later vehicles. Otherwise mechanically pretty damn solid.

XR Martin · 02-05-2012, 10:22 PM

PK Rangers were doing 5th gears early on.
You do get ones that are pretty heavy on juice too.

99AUXR · 02-05-2012, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevz

I don't know what it is with the Hilux diesels, but I have seen several near new (ie. 6-12 month old) examples blowing abnormal amounts of smoke, chugging and rattling loudly as if they were about to blow up. They didn't sound very heathly at all, thats for sure.

Hilux Fuel system is really bad.

dave351cid · 03-05-2012, 12:11 AM

we had a `07 or `08 ? hilux at work . the engine in that thing rattled from about 1000km. sounded like all the rocker gear was going to fall out of it. toyota said that was normal . the rear diff bearings collasped at 90 odd thousand km. the clutch had already been replaced .

the hilux was replaced with a ranger and its got about 100 000km now with no big problems. and its nicer to drive as well even though the hilux seemed to have more power. the ranger only has a small fuel tank so we in storm season we carry a jerry can of fuel incase. the hilux had a huge after market tank.

rancidpunx · 03-05-2012, 06:31 AM

Im pretty happy with our Ranger although like all cars now the issues are more so down to quality control. Companies now are only interested in the bottom line so everything is made cheaply.
Theres no major problems with the Ranger but things to look out for are, rust on the spot welds in the upper window channels. 99% of PJ & PKs have it as the robots just havnt squirted enough paint up there.
The front and rear diffs do the job but are cheap. The rear LSD looses tension and acts like a open diff. The front is just small with no chance of lockers to help.
The crankcase breather like all turbos throws oil vapour into the intake piping. But the Ranger also uses Exhaust recirculating to lower the combustion temps with throws carbon into the intake as well. Mixed with the oil that makes black sludge that needs to be kept on top of.
Some guys have had dramas with the dual mass flywheel and 5th gear but its not to common.

Ours goes hard and to a lot of places on the stock suspension and a set of ATs, although we will lift it and put some bigger tyres on eventually.

**DJR-351** · 03-05-2012, 06:48 AM

SWMBO has had a Hilux 4x4 Extra Cab T/D (current model) for 10 months now and it hasn't missed a beat, runs like a dream.....

pottery beige · 03-05-2012, 07:33 AM

Hiluxs have really strong front ends.. do 100+ then just before you hit a big pothole.. slam in the brakes...... BANG!!!!.. they love it......

madwag · 03-05-2012, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 99AUXR

Hilux Fuel system is really bad.

I was chatting with Al from Terrain Tamer and he was telling me the exact same thing, but not only just with the HiLux. Its also to do with the injectors and i cant remember exactly but they are something like 10 microns wide (very small) so the filter must be good. Thing is the filter blocks up because it filters to much, so what Terrain Tamer offer is like a pre filter that they install to catch all the big bits, and he says it works a treat.

99AUXR · 03-05-2012, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madwag

I was chatting with Al from Terrain Tamer and he was telling me the exact same thing, but not only just with the HiLux. Its also to do with the injectors and i cant remember exactly but they are something like 10 microns wide (very small) so the filter must be good. Thing is the filter blocks up because it filters to much, so what Terrain Tamer offer is like a pre filter that they install to catch all the big bits, and he says it works a treat.

Correct we offer a secondary filter now that bolts to the side of the engine bay that catches stuff before OEM filter except the problem is caused, like south Canterbury Toyota haven finally admitted (after we have had 20+ vehicles in with the problem) they have a diesel bug in the plastic fuel cell and it can cause really extensive damage , the following link is from a 3 news article. http://http://www.3news.co.nz/Contam...6/Default.aspx.

So now whenever a hilux comes in for service it gets brand new fuel filter regardless. As we are not dealing with people who would try and say it was our issue.

99AUXR · 03-05-2012, 09:24 AM

Anyone had trouble with new rangers they look pretty tough.

something wrong · 03-05-2012, 10:22 AM

We have 10 Hiluxs here at work 4 petrol and 6 diesel, No issues with any of them, the oldest is a 2007 and the newest was delivered last week. They all have over 80,000km and besides servicing at regular intervals their has been no extra cost looking at our fleet records.

We used to have 11 Hilux but one go stolen and stripped the parts sent to WA. The cops only found the Block and part of the chassis at a workshop in Western Sydney. It looks like a couple of family members had a rebirth racket going, 2 in Sydney and the other 2 in WA.

Jim Goose · 03-05-2012, 11:43 AM

Late last year, new toyota Hilux (work ute) with less then 1800km on the clock.... brakes failed!

99AUXR · 03-05-2012, 01:58 PM

allot of this is poor design I definitely agree the older hiluxs were the strongest 4wd built maybe not the best though

SteveJH · 03-05-2012, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 99AUXR

allot of this is poor design I definitely agree the older hiluxs were the strongest 4wd built maybe not the best though

Leaving out the electronics for a sec, what about the "Granddaddy" of 4WD's, the Landrover Series 1/2/3/Defender?

99AUXR · 03-05-2012, 02:53 PM

Okay I'm 18 so dont pre-date that much (dont take offence) but yes you are right. However allot of the pommy stuff come through work they can't design seals that seal properly i.e leaking sumps etc. Thinks is holder stuff aswell.

One of our mechanics had replaced land rover camshafts at 20,000km

EDIT: just google series 1 defender lol, We had 3 of these in work. They have HORRIBLE BRAKES that barely work. One guys just spent well over 2k trying to get the thing to work again. And the other had a commodore I6 engine in it.

SteveJH · 03-05-2012, 03:10 PM

Oi! I'm only 24!

When I say Series 1....I don't mean the Series 1 Defender.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Rover_Series

Aluminium body...so no rust....

99AUXR · 03-05-2012, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveJH

Oi! I'm only 24!

When I say Series 1....I don't mean the Series 1 Defender.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Rover_Series

Aluminium body...so no rust....

lol I was taking the **** with the age a little mate as the car is pretty old vehicle.

Yea I do like that.... Project idea streams to mind

SteveJH · 03-05-2012, 03:27 PM

I've been wondering what you could fit in the engine bay....

If you stuck with diesel....the current Ford/LR-Jaguar V8TD would go nicely assuming it would fit......

Mr Hardware · 03-05-2012, 03:48 PM

I'm sure i've posted on here a number of times of how my 2008 work triton has been back for a recall once and warranty three times, including a respray of all four door frames.

99AUXR · 03-05-2012, 03:53 PM

respray for rust?

Mr Hardware · 03-05-2012, 03:58 PM

yep!!