The un-killable Toyota is an automotive trope for a reason. While its reputation for reliability has taken a hit recently, that reputation was fairly earned with off-roaders that finished the Dakar with ratchet-strap suspension and pickups that have lived through wildfires and a million miles of driving. So it’s not surprising that a Land Cruiser was able to start after being parked for years and looking like it was driven through the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
Australian YouTuber channel Steve’s Place Down Under specializes in startup videos of old cars and trucks that have been left to decay. Somebody told the host about a Land Cruiser that had been sitting for an indeterminate period of time, and with the owner’s permission, he got to work. You can see what it took to get the Land Cruiser running again in the roughly 16-minute video.
The Land Cruiser in question is a 1990 70 Series model with a gasoline inline-six. These have been a common sight in Australia since their introduction in the mid-1980s. Despite being a roughly 40-year-old design, it’s still being sold there today, in fact. Probably because they’re not exactly finicky.
Even though it’s the opposite of a rolling stone, a quick inspection showed no water in the oil and a fully intact cooling system. The engine even turned on the first try, although corrosion in the distributor prevented it from getting spark. Cleaning everything up and pouring some fuel into the carburetor didn’t work, either. The next step was to pull, check, and clean the plugs, followed by another spritz of fuel into the carburetor. That led to a brief moment of ignition and a small fire.
WILL IT START? 1990 Toyota LandCruiser Sitting For Years
After a few more tries, the engine cleared its throat and was running well, but only on the fuel being poured into the carburetor. The fuel pump was going on, but pumping stale gas from the tank wouldn’t have been a good thing. And the oil pressure seemed sufficient, so with a consistent fuel supply, the engine probably could have kept going.
Running is very different than driving, though. It’s still unclear if the Land Cruiser can shift into gear, or if the engine can handle an actual load, let alone the condition of the tires and brakes. But hearing this moss-covered pile run is the stuff reality show finales are made of.