120 LC5 Air Con radio unit controls

[Tom118]

We're hopefully looking to purchase our first Land cruiser in the coming weeks and have always "stayed clear" of the LC5 models as I've read the LC3 and LC4 models are more simple with their coil springs and more simple radio head unit/air con controls. When SWMBO asked whats wrong with the LC5, then? I couldn't actually explain "why"... So, i thought well maybe an LC5 would be fine but I'm slightly apprehensive over the radio head unit controls for the air con etc. I cannot stand complicated screens and sub menu's, chapter 3, paragraph 2 sh*t...just to turn on A/C.

Can someone please, in layman's terms, explain exactly how one would have to adjust the temperature or air flow on the LC5? Or perhaps share an LC5 owners manual (i've tried looking but could only find LC4).

Secondly, if I wanted to change to an OEM look radio head unit, would I lose any air con control? No, i'm not interested in ANY of the chinese stick on units and would rather a screen half the size if it means it is OEM look/in keeping with the car.

Thank you

 

[GeekOKent]

You press a button to turn on the Aircon. There are physical buttons.

You can't replace the head unit if none of the Chinese true replacement ones are not desired.

 

[Juddian]

My LC5 is 20 years old, whilst its always in the back of your mind that the touch screen or audio could poo its pants, so far none of the LC5 specific stuff has broken or failed to perform as expected.

To be fair i barely touch the screen itself, once you've set the audio to your preferences (i never use the radio, only the multi CD changer) and the aicon is set up too, you don't need to use the touch screen at all in day to day use, temp adjust both sides is on buttons as are the main audio controls, the aircon comes on automatically i alter the settings maybe twice a year.
The satnav is such a faff to use by the time you've set it up you could be half way to your destination, i bought an updated nav disc probably 5 or more years ago and haven't used the nav once.
If it does fail i'll have to suffer one of the Chinesium thingies and find a 12 year old boy to wire the thing up and teach me how to use it.

Ideally i would have gone for an LC4 or more likely a Prado grey import for its probably rust free chassis, but the present steed was in such good underbody and overall condition i couldn't pass it by.

 

[Tom118]

ok thank you for that... excuse the ignorance but if you don't ever really need to change anything in the aircon settings and there are suitable physical buttons for A/C on/off, temperature left/right, fan speed.... what is it that people find frustrating with the LC5 compared to the LC4? The distribution of the air rather than just relying on the 'auto' feature?

Reference the LC5 radio head unit, i seem to recall a guy on youtube that had an updated system using a screen insert that used the OEM fascia... something similar to Dynavin but i can't seem to find it again. Does this exist or was that a bespoke job?

 

[Juddian]

The LC5 can have troubles with the height sensors for the rear air suspension, i've kept everything underneath bathed in ACF50 which, so far, has kept things working fine.
Obviously there's an air pump which can fail as can the airbags themselves, not had to change an airbag myself yet but have watched the most useful video yet of a bloke in the USA swapping them out on his Sequioa (speeling) easier than springs...the sensors are sitting high up in the chassis and would i expect be unpleasant or worse to swap out.
Many owners if there's a rear air issue say sod it and buy the full conversion kit and put the vehicle on steel springs and normal shocks.

Shocks is another thing, the electronically adjustable shocks fitted to LC5 are stupidly priced and OE only, i'm aware of Chinese copies on ebay now but would be reluctant to chance them, again you can swap to standard shocks and do away with the electronics, but there have been posts from several lads wondering whether the shocks for steelies will be sufficiently stiff for damping the existing air springs if wanting to swap shocks only, that's something i can't answer and hope not to find out the hard way.

I want to keep my air and shocks OE for as long as possible, the ride and the way the vehicle can be thrown about even in the wet is quite surprising.

Given the above and the worry about the intergrated aircon/audio you can see why LC3 and 4 tend to be the preferred choice as vehicles age.

Check the aircon works, front and rear if its important to you, the rear aircon pipes being alloy will corrode and replacing the whole system is seriously expensive, you can have the rear aircon blocked off which halves the cost. Anyone coming out with 'needs a regas mate', well lets just say it needs a bit more than a ruddy regas.

There's no button for fan speed or air distribution, or aircon on/off, those are on the touch screen, you can vary the rear aircon temp and fan speed and on/off via manual buttons sited at the back of the center console, but the rear will have to be switched on via the touch screen to get power in the first place.
It all works great to be fair, until it doesn't.

 

[karl2000]

LC 3 4 or 5? Which one has less rust?

 

[Tractionman]

The one that has come from warmer climes, comparing yours and mine Karl.

Didn't Tony Rodaway change head units on his 120 and then 150 ?

 

[GeekOKent]

That's it. Get the LC with the least rust and best condition. Be it a 3 4 or 5.

If you find two the same, get the 5