Reliability in California (Surfing / Mountains / Road Trips)

Yes, but they are bargaining items. Ask when the clutch was last replaced, too (and if any of the other clutching maintenance items were touched)

 

I have a 99 that has served me well with trips from SoCal to Tahoe for skiing/boarding, Yosemite for rock climbing/camping, Joshua Tree and other places between SoCal and NorCal. I bought it new in 99 and just retired it recently because it’s slow and feels tired compared to my 2024 ORP. It has 248k miles and runs fine.

It’s now retired as my stepmom’s daily driver who drives to the store, Dr’s appointments and grandkids school drop off/pick up.

It worked well without problems on my adventure trips.

 

Since Carfax only reports what has beed logged as services by dealers and maybe large independent shops any DIY maintenance will not show up. Probably any insurance paid repairs will show up. So the info will be incomplete. Registered and legal owners should be listed showing where it truck was probably operated. Possible salty beach outings, icy road salt or deep rain flooding should leave trace clues for you or someone to spot. A careful exam inside cabin under seats & carpet and under truck in the hollow frame and other nooks is where I would look.

 

I picked her up yesterday and drove her back from San Diego! She drives like a dream

The guy didn't have any log books, so I have no service history other than what's on Carfax - but I checked the frame and followed the guide here : Everything sort of checked out, and she's a manual 5 speed so no need to worry about Strawberry milkshake problem

Drives straight, a little stray to the left, but not too aggressive. Clutch is pretty clean, no strange vibrations, no strange noises from the engine. No rust on the frame and the frame wasn't sprayed...

Also she has a sunroof? I didn't realise the 1998 SR5s came with sunroofs

Wasn't part of the lower ball mount recall but want to get her into a shop soon to get all the underside properly checked. I have some new oil filters so just need to pick up engine oil and do my first oil change

Here's the thread I posted this morning !

https://www.4runners.com/threads/picked-up-my-4runner-yesterday.44235/

Proud new 4Runner 3rd gen owner! Will be sharing more as I do more work on her!

 

Went on our first surf trip yesterday! Note the dealer protective mats in the rear there

Doggo did not know what to do with all the space during the drive, took her some time to relax into it but ended up loving the rear window!

 

It's going to need a timing belt and water replacement at 200k and you should probably change all the fan belts because they have to be removed anyway.

 

El Porto by any chance?

 

Yep - terrible waves but had to get out there

 

Even though belt was replaced at 180k?

Alright good to know - any recommendations on places to buy fan belts online?

 

Woke up at daybreak to inspect the engine!

Redid the oil - 200,150 mi replaced previous oil with 5.5 qts 10w30 - I counted 3 QTs coming out (based on refill of the 5 QT bottle!)

Posting this while doing a full coolant flush - running truck for 5 mins at operating temp now, then draining and refilling the coolant - the reservoir was also empty although quite a bit came out of the radiator!

Not sure how she made it up from San Diego or to Porto the other day !

 

Flushed and refilled the engine coolant system! Really took my time...and had a few hiccups, went to autozone a few times.

Flushed twice, first time with cleaner & regular water (oops). Second time with distilled water. Refilled with 45% coolant, 55% distilled water. Took...5 hours but learned a lot, hopefully will be less next time. Spent 30 minutes burping, first with radiator facing down, second with radiator as highest point in car

Followed this guide.