Sold my 92 land cruiser and just picked up a 95 Montero SR ,ADVICE?

[Styyy]

RIP toyota. Just picked up a nice SR,3.5 DOHC with locking center and rear diffs. It has 148,xxx miles,maintenance records show regular oil changes,coil pack,belts,etc. and a timing belt done @ 100,000 miles. No rust,clean interior. Front end shimmy over 60 mph,3 year old tires with 5,000 miles on them? Few items need attention, sunroof motor works but roof dosent move? Weird buzz from the directional stalk when turning it on or off? No FM on the oem radio,engine maintenance light on,idle hunts between 700-1100? Few interior lights dont work, missing the moulding/ trim at the top of the windshield( need to source one ) ,cigarette lighter dosent work? Gas tank has a leak near the front( knew about this when I bought it). Going to basline the vehicle get it safe for the family.
Im excited as is my 5 yr old who cried when I sold the FJ 80. Any suggestions/advice etc would be appreciated.:snorkel:

 

[jeep-N-montero]

Here is what I do with a "nused" vehicle; make a list of all the issues, place them in order of need, then research one at a time online and fix it. Otherwise you end up with 30 different windows open at once on your computer and your mind is boggled as you lay in bed at night trying to sort it out, trust me on this.

 

[eurosonic]

Here is what I do with a "nused" vehicle; make a list of all the issues, place them in order of need, then research one at a time online and fix it. Otherwise you end up with 30 different windows open at once on your computer and your mind is boggled as you lay in bed at night trying to sort it out, trust me on this.

...multiply that by three different cars from different makes. FML

 

[eurosonic]

RIP toyota. Just picked up a nice SR,3.5 DOHC with locking center and rear diffs. It has 148,xxx miles,maintenance records show regular oil changes,coil pack,belts,etc. and a timing belt done @ 100,000 miles. No rust,clean interior. Front end shimmy over 60 mph,3 year old tires with 5,000 miles on them? Few items need attention, sunroof motor works but roof dosent move? Weird buzz from the directional stalk when turning it on or off? No FM on the oem radio,engine maintenance light on,idle hunts between 700-1100? Few interior lights dont work, missing the moulding/ trim at the top of the windshield( need to source one ) ,cigarette lighter dosent work? Gas tank has a leak near the front( knew about this when I bought it). Going to basline the vehicle get it safe for the family.
Im excited as is my 5 yr old who cried when I sold the FJ 80. Any suggestions/advice etc would be appreciated.:snorkel:

Sunroof - common issue on most monteros. Same woes with mine. Motors weren't designed well to move the big sunroof. Solution - grease up the rails, or replace new motor. Ill be welding my sunroof shut.

FM radio, really depends on the radio unit. Mine Infinity FM signal worked well even thought I had the antenna completely disconnected.

Cigarette lighter - check fuses.

Gastank leaking fumes or gas?

Engine maintenance light, you mean CEL?

 

[jeep-N-montero]

...multiply that by three different cars from different makes. FML

I own 5 different cars, 2 of which are Jeeps with different engines to make it even more interesting

 

[Styyy]

My winter project is restoring a 1970 Scout 800a and rewire my Jones brothers Cape Fisherman 20. My head is already spinning!! Researching the montys and their issues. I looked at the truck yesterday and drove it home today,no brainer,clean platform good bones with documented service history all for the price of a set of good tires! The gas tank is leaking fuel when parked on a hill or if filled over half a tank. Im hopeing the shimmy in the front end is just an alignment. Gotta check the fuses and check the diff lock to make sure its working.
The coating on the blacked out trim/mouldings around the windows is peeling,any easy fix aside from stripping and repainting? And as for the sunroof,I was aware of this issue before picking it up today(not a deal breaker) but I'd like to get it working.
thanks,
cheers,
Jerry

 

[Styyy]

Oh and its the engine maintenance light,not the CEL or check engine light. How do I reset it? Please dont tell me I have to pull the cluster to access the reset button?

 

[GFO]

Supposedly you just have to disconnect the battery for 5-10 mins and it will reset.

If you have to pull the cluster, it's actually very easy, I've done it a few times when I switched over to SMD/LED lights.

1) Remove three philips screws that hold the housing in place. 2 are in front of you, left and right side. Other is on the back close to the windshield, you have to pry off a small rectangular piece of molding, it's under that.

2) Lift the housing, be careful as it's a little flimsy. You'll have to disconnect (at least) one side of the harnesses to the cluster/dash switches. I found disconnecting the right side (rear window heater and hazards) to be easiest

3) Move the housing over to the left and out of the way, be careful as there's still connections on the left side

4) They'll be 4 philips screws holding the cluster in place. Remove these.

5) Lift cluster out and disconnect the wiring harnesses.

I don't recall seeing a switch or button on the back of my 97, but I really wasn't looking for one so maybe I missed it. Someone had also previously removed the maint-light from the cluster; when i replaced it, it didn't light up.

 

[WorldTraveler]

Oh and its the engine maintenance light,not the CEL or check engine light. How do I reset it? Please dont tell me I have to pull the cluster to access the reset button?

Yeah. There is a reset button on the back side of the cluster. Not too difficult to remove. Just be careful when unplugging the wiring in back so you don't mess up the circuit board sheet. I'd replace bulbs while in there if necessary, too.

 

[Styyy]

Wheres the best place to get suspension parts,bushings,end links,etc? Plan on dropping the fuel tank this weekend. Also I tried searching for the free download of the FSM,I came across it here a few days ago but cant find it now? Anyone know where it is?
thanks
Jerry

 

[Styyy]

Thanks for the info!

Supposedly you just have to disconnect the battery for 5-10 mins and it will reset.

If you have to pull the cluster, it's actually very easy, I've done it a few times when I switched over to SMD/LED lights.

1) Remove three philips screws that hold the housing in place. 2 are in front of you, left and right side. Other is on the back close to the windshield, you have to pry off a small rectangular piece of molding, it's under that.

2) Lift the housing, be careful as it's a little flimsy. You'll have to disconnect (at least) one side of the harnesses to the cluster/dash switches. I found disconnecting the right side (rear window heater and hazards) to be easiest

3) Move the housing over to the left and out of the way, be careful as there's still connections on the left side

4) They'll be 4 philips screws holding the cluster in place. Remove these.

5) Lift cluster out and disconnect the wiring harnesses.

I don't recall seeing a switch or button on the back of my 97, but I really wasn't looking for one so maybe I missed it. Someone had also previously removed the maint-light from the cluster; when i replaced it, it didn't light up.

 

[Styyy]

Well there is a switch on the back of the cluster,but its no where near the maintence light ? Am I supposed to flip it or opposite where it is now or flip it twice so it ends up where it started?

As for the front suspension shimmy over 60 ,I found the electric connector/plug to the drivers side shock disconnected. I had to find the female end and reconnect it. Will see tomorrow if its the issue after a test drive.

I also pulled all the fuses and only replaced1 the 15 A for the cigarette lighter, nothing was labeled ,courtesy light or rear cargo light?
Anyone know which fuse they run off??

thanks

 

[off-roader]

Well there is a switch on the back of the cluster,but its no where near the maintence light ? Am I supposed to flip it or opposite where it is now or flip it twice so it ends up where it started?

yes.

As for the front suspension shimmy over 60 ,I found the electric connector/plug to the drivers side shock disconnected. I had to find the female end and reconnect it. Will see tomorrow if its the issue after a test drive.

could also be some of ur front end steering or suspension linkages simply ravaged by time.

I also pulled all the fuses and only replaced1 the 15 A for the cigarette lighter, nothing was labeled ,courtesy light or rear cargo light?
Anyone know which fuse they run off??

thanks

Not 100% sure but maybe an accessory fuse. You can pick up a fuse tester with replacement fuses pretty cheap and then just check all the fuses. Also download the FSM if you haven't already. The electrical volume will show it for sure.

 

[off-roader]

Wheres the best place to get suspension parts,bushings,end links,etc? Plan on dropping the fuel tank this weekend. Also I tried searching for the free download of the FSM,I came across it here a few days ago but cant find it now? Anyone know where it is?
thanks
Jerry

for shocks, either the OEM adjustables (preferred but $$$$$$) or a set of mono tube shocks like KYB (OEM manufacturer for Mitsu), edelbrock, or ARB shocks. Don't use Monroe, Rancho, procomp, etc as they just aren't properly set up for Montero's and the general feeling is they don't seem to last anywhere near as long. Example my OE 3-way adjustable shocks that were made by KYB are finally showing signs of their age at 288k!

the rest of the suspension parts will be from a dealer. Try mitsubishiparts.com.

the FSM will be at mitsubishilinks.com

also check out 4x4wire. They have a fairly extensive FAQ post at the top of their Mitsubishi forum.

hth

 

[Styyy]

checked all fuses and ,all good,gotta download the fsm

steering /front and rear suspension Definatly seems loose or sloppy, lots of rattles, but seems well dampened soaking up the bumps,gotta crawl under and get a better look,also seems like theres play in the steering wheel,mabey there are rack bushings and a steering shaft bushing I can look into changing to tighten things up? gotta get a FSM downloaded!!

thanks for all the input
cheers,
Jerry

yes.


could also be some of ur front end steering or suspension linkages simply ravaged by time.


Not 100% sure but maybe an accessory fuse. You can pick up a fuse tester with replacement fuses pretty cheap and then just check all the fuses. Also download the FSM if you haven't already. The electrical volume will show it for sure.