Looking at buying 3rd gen. 2x4 better than 4x4? advice, suggestions?

Not really what you are looking for but a really nice example of a clean 4Runner- Remember this is not a Limited but a SR5 truck so you can see the differences in them.

 

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...ius=0&minPrice=4000&listingId=408942164&Log=0

A Cool Red one....

 

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...ius=0&minPrice=4000&listingId=418609170&Log=0

This is a nice color combo- but something tells me there is alot of rust under this one. Look at the rear brake drums and also the throttle body.... Take a look at the t case shift lever- that is the multi mode I have been talking about. That is the AWD set up on this 4Runner. It is really nice and rock solid when it rains hard.

Blue

 

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...ius=0&minPrice=4000&listingId=420382522&Log=0

Its pretty clean and lower mileage too. Looks o have a little lift in it also.

 

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=65802&endYear=2000&listingType=used&listingTypes=used&maxPrice=20000&trim1=4RUN|Limited&mmt=[TOYOTA[4RUN[4RUN%7CLimited]][]]&vehicleStyleCodes=AWD4WD&driveGroup=AWD4WD&modelCode1=4RUN&photosOnlyActual=true&showcaseOwnerId=1392888&makeCode1=TOYOTA&startYear=1999&firstRecord=0&searchRadius=0&minPrice=4000&listingId=393383027&Log=0

A really nice one too....

MG and son serviced it sonce new. One owner. I called them and its really nice too.

 

Thank you blue for all your help! Unfortunately I need a truck as soon as possible. So local is the only way I can go. I would love to get the one in Maine but I have a 8k budget

 

Got it!

 

Find you an old man further out of the city. Ornery old men, particularly veterans, are the absolute best people to buy cars from. Their cars are meticulously well kept. They usually won't budge on their asking price, but it's only because they know exactly what it's worth. Look out towards one of these little Podunk towns around here. These big city ads on Craigslist are scams.

 

where is the link to the 3rd gen buyers guide?

 

Man Brian,

You are spot on. Ive had 3 3rd gen T4R and my 2000 sr5 sports radiator went at 250k and almost destroyed my transmission to a point I fixed it and sold it. Perfectly good trans gotten eaten up by the antifreeze fairly quickly. I was fortunate that I caught in time where the trans was salvageable and could be flushed numerous times and was able to sell it. Yeah I have a 2002 with 130kand am ready to change out the radiator. Also engine seepage. The valve cover gaskets go at about 120k which is one of the easier fixes, but the axle leaks is another one I will be doing in the spring. Very good advice, the man knows his 3rd gens.

Keith

 

I know a thing or two about 3rd gens. I'm strait forward. It's how we ran our shop also.

Blue

 

riddle me this sir. ive got a 2000 sr5 with a stutter, while driving along i thought it was a clogged fuel filter i replaced it. Its still there the stutter is most noticeable at about 1600 rpm about 50mph i then added transmission fluid and problem persists the cel is not lit though it has made an appearance before im a horrible diagnostician and am at a loss

 

Dose it feel like its a miss fire happening?

An easy thing to do that I missed at one point when I was chasing a weak fuel injector was this. First pull each plug one at a time and look at them. I had one that was cracked and there you go. A lot of times with Fuel issues it will not trip the CEL in the 3rd gens trust me it has pissed me off enough in the past I know.

Try this as a cheap Diag. Pull the plugs and look at them. If all look good and fuel is getting to the rail and you KNOW for a FACT that you have good pressure then start looking at the SPARK part of it. Before you go diving into the spark part of it go to the local O'R or Zone and get a bottle of Chevron Techron. That is about the only fuel injector cleaner that's worth a shit. Run a big bottle in half a tank of fuel. Repeat for about three tanks and see if that doesn't clear it up (if it's a weak injector-You should feel the change if that's it)

I"m not going to say you do not have a weak coil but that also may come into play at some point to. If it dose then you will see the CEL and it make it a bit easy because you will know what Cyl it's having issues on.

Keep us posted.

Blue

 

Maybe I should me messageing you at this point but I got a cylinder 3 misfire code so I'm changing spark plugs and by the looks of them it's about due. Also there is oil between boot and plug could this be valve cover gasket?

 

This is the boot