Hello, friends need advice on 3rd gen, before purchase

Going to purchase a 1998 4Runner, I’m very new to this and needed some advice. I’ve done a lot of research, took the car for a road test, inspected what I needed.

everything was amazing however, when I checked the trans fluid it looked very new. On the carfax it said transcooler service done about 50,000. Before the current owner. So my question is wouldn’t the fluid be darker? Thank you guys for all your help.

 

Welcome from Wisconsin! Maybe it's one of the things not done in the past on a regular frequency and it was time. As far as it being clean, that's not a bad thing, as long as your test drive checked out OK. Did you make a mental note as to how the trans. shifted?

 

Thank you for replying quickly, I’m extremely excited, i legit woke up thinking about this. The car shifted amazing. Idol was great. No rust. No wobble at high speeds even. The car needs some work, all manageable stuff that I anticipated. I just couldn’t sleep thinking about the trans fluid.

 

Welcome. I agree with it could've just needed to be services again. And really only services done at shops with the reports to Carfax will show up. DIY or small independent shops won't be on a carfax report when service is done.

I change my oil in my garage and only write it down in a ledger. I don't report it to Carfax.

If the shifts were smooth with no leaks , count the new fluid as a plus and attention to detail, I'd say.

 

Welcome!

 

Check the shifting action and note how it behaves cold vs. hot for both 2WD and 4WD modes. Like others who have noted this, I don't see the color being fresh an issue if the transmission is functioning OK. I'd also look into when the vehicle's timing belt, water pump, .. were last replaced if you've not done so already.

 

Thank you guys so much, the support in this community is amazing.

 

pay attention to the drive train, last time timing belt was replaced, and potential corrosion underneath..