Sovereign bar chassis pin wearing through radiator plastic tank

[Hoody Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hoody]

guys,

this is probably part warning, part call for answers.

its hard to explain, however bear with me.

up at Fraser Island for a week, and noticed some coolant leaking from radiator - a slow drip only.
I just caught it not long after it started as I had only lost about 300ml or so from the resovoir, and the car didn't indicate over heating.

found the leak eventually - something had worn through the side plastic tank.
it’s a small metal part that sits flush in the metal brackets either side of the radiator on each side.

Supposed to have a ‘close pin’ on the rear of the metal part to stop it from sliding through against the radiator, but these were missing either side (or snapped off, but it seems odd that both sides are missing)

So it has worked its way towards the radiator and locked in, started rubbing the plastic.

You can clearly see the wear on the metal ‘thing’ in the attached images – they seem to have no purpose?
have a look under your 120's and make sure these have pins on the backs to stop them sliding through to touch your radiator for a start.

you should all check this part to make sure it is in order.

does anyone know what purpose these things have? now I need a new radiator thanks to a small 5/10cent close pin missing.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Do you have a sovereign bar(Toyota alloy bar) fitted to your Prado, or more to the point have you had one removed?

Those are the chassis pins for the Sovereign Bar, if the bar is still fitted there should be 2 long bolts, one each side going through the front of the bar and screwed into these holding them in place.

If you no longer have that bar then you don't need them, so take them out.

Cheers Andrew

[Hoody Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hoody]

Do you have a sovereign bar(Toyota alloy bar) fitted to your Prado, or more to the point have you had one removed?

Those are the chassis pins for the Sovereign Bar, if the bar is still fitted there should be 2 long bolts, one each side going through the front of the bar and screwed into these holding them in place.

If you no longer have that bar then you don't need them, so take them out.

Cheers Andrew

Hi mate, thanks for the reply.

I have the sovereign bar - was a factory fit from new I assume. I bought this second hand 18mths ago and never had the bar touched.
There are no long bolts on these. Looks like someone either put it on poorly in the first place, or had it off for something and left these bolts off when putting back on.

Will get underneath and take a couple more pics, but I've never seen long bolts running from these to the front bar. Anyone got pics of theirs for reference?

Cheers, mike

[Guest Close Guest]

Certain dealers have not been installing the long bolts when performing the recall of the bullbar mounts. I have the required fasteners to fix the problem but you'll need to go back to the dealer and ask them why they haven't fitted the long bolts. This step is in the updated fitting instructions for the bullbar post recall.

[Hoody Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hoody]

Certain dealers have not been installing the long bolts when performing the recall of the bullbar mounts. I have the required fasteners to fix the problem but you'll need to go back to the dealer and ask them why they haven't fitted the long bolts. This step is in the updated fitting instructions for the bullbar post recall.

Yep, definitely NOT fitted and not done properly. Nothing to hold these things in place.
Really not happy - according to log book, services all done at Toyota dealers so no excuse really.

Now I have to limp home from holiday and fork out for a new radiator.

[Guest Close Guest]

Get the dealer to replace it, unless you bought the Prado after the recall was done, then you will have to chase them down and get your local dealer to do the work for you but the charge will be borne by the dealer that made the 'mistake'. Sounds easy in theory....

[OldGreyFart Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close OldGreyFart]

Just about to pick up my 120 after the same fault was found during installation of recovery points. What is the purpose of the part? My radiator person has removed it.

[Guest Close Guest]

Just about to pick up my 120 after the same fault was found during installation of recovery points. What is the purpose of the part? My radiator person has removed it.

It creates a mounting point deeper into the chassis to secure the Sovereign bullbar. If you don't have a Sovereign bullbar anymore, it can be removed.

[pjorek Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close pjorek]

amts and AJ are on the money. I had my sovereign bullbar brackets upgraded via the recall and these metal bits were left in. One of them was rubbing on the plastic just like the picture shows. Luckily i caught it before it started leaking, went back to toyota and made them write a letter saying it was their fault and if the radiator leaks it will be their fault.Nothing happened/no leaks in over 2 years so far so good. But yes, if you had your brackets replaced via the recall take a quick look underneath the car. Obviously a wrongly written/poorly written work instruction hence these are left/not installed properly.

[Guest Close Guest]

pjorek,
Yours probably still has the circlip installed on the chassis pins on the circular end which would prevent it travelling towards the radiator.

On Hoody's photo, the circlip is missing which makes things worse.

[wsp Member Find all posts View Profile Close wsp]

So what might be a dumb question my car never had a bar on it until i put the arb one on, Do i have to worry about these brackets? Or dont i have them?

Cheers Wayne

[Guest Close Guest]

wsp,
The Chassis pins are part of the install kit for the Sovereign Bullbar only. as far as I know, all other bullbars don't use this pin.

[wsp Member Find all posts View Profile Close wsp]

Cool Andrew thanks for that you saved me rolling around on the floor looking for something that isnt there

[OldGreyFart Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close OldGreyFart]

Cost me $760. Radiator was $418.18; coolant $36.37 plus some clips and clamps - 2 hours of labour $218.18

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

[IMG][/IMG] I have exactly the same but I still have my bar on as well and I have had the recall done. [IMG][/IMG] This bolt must have some thing to do with it Im presuming as its in line with this pin ??? Has some masking tape or some form of tape over the tip of it ??? maybe was used to hold in place or some thing ???....... But doesn't seem to be any movement that is visible and definitely no clips or anything as you can see on the outside and doesn't look like there ever was ??? So should these pins not be in place or some thing ??? Sorry for all the ??? but I don't want the same issues.....Cheers Steve