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How's this maintenance list looking? Anything I'm overlooking?

Discussion in '3rd Gen 4Runners (1996-2002)' started by jbr948, Apr 26, 2025 at 10:16 AM.

  1. Apr 26, 2025 at 10:16 AM
    #1
    jbr948

    jbr948 [OP] New Member

    Joined:
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    Member:
    #46778
    Messages:
    2
    Hey guys,

    Looking to do some maintenance work on my girlfriend's 2000 Limited 4x2 3.4l v6 4Runner this coming summer. She inherited it from her father and it sits at about 150k miles. No real history of maintenance outside of brakes and oil changes.

    It has a few quirks, like the AC control buttons not working unless depressed a very specific way, or not being able to change the re circulation vs fresh air button.

    On to the list of problems:

    • Rough ride, I drive an old truck myself but it's especially bad. Shocks are blown and leaking.
    • Valve cover gaskets leaking.
    • Coolant fails strip test.
    • Brake fluid fails strip test.
    • Oil cooler leaking.
    • Oil pan leaking.
    • Gas pedal cable is binding and has abnormal amount of play (stiff gas pedal)
    • No history of timing belt.
    • No history of fuel filter.
    • No history of diff fluid.
    • Door locks slow, only work sometimes.
    • Rear main seal is somewhat wet. Hoping and praying this is just runoff/drip from the other oil leaks.
    Planned maintenance:

    • Radiator cleaner into a coolant flush after doing the timing belt.
    • Seafoam on a low tank.
    • Power steering flush.
    • Steering rack bushings.
    • New front end (control arms, upper and lower ball joints, front struts, rear shocks, sway bar links, sway bar bushings)
    • Don't worry I got OEM LBJs and new bolts.
    • Oil pan gasket reseal (thanking God that it's rear wheel drive).
    • Valve cover gaskets, following Timmy the Toolman's guide (Spark plug tube seals, throttle body gasket, camshaft plugs, intake plenum, spark plugs, spark plug wires, semicircular plugs, PCV)
    • Timing belt & related components (got that recommended eBay kit for around 400 with the crank pulley bolt, water pump crankshaft seal thermostat belts pulleys etc)
    • All 4 door lock actuators with the replacement motors not the whole new assembly.
    • Brake fluid flush.
    • Rear diff fluid.
    • Oil cooler reseal.
    • New throttle cable.
    • Fuel filter.
     
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    #1
  2. Apr 26, 2025 at 10:25 AM
    #2
    jbr948

    jbr948 [OP] New Member

    Joined:
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    Member:
    #46778
    Messages:
    2
    Here's a few images from under the car and in the engine bay. No frame rust as it is a CA truck.
    PXL_20250208_213310520.jpg PXL_20250208_212906014.jpg PXL_20250208_212918658.jpg PXL_20250208_212926290.jpg
     
  3. Apr 26, 2025 at 3:35 PM
    #3
    negusm

    negusm New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2019
    Member:
    #11745
    Messages:
    2,241
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2002 4Runner SR5 4WD
    I don't recommend seafoam. It's only ok for carbureted setups as that's what it was designed for. It does nothing for modern cars and just causes problems.

    If you are replacing rear shocks, replace the rear control arm bushings. They are not the best design and go out at about this time.
     
  4. Apr 26, 2025 at 3:37 PM
    #4
    negusm

    negusm New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2019
    Member:
    #11745
    Messages:
    2,241
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2002 4Runner SR5 4WD
    New throttle cable?

    Why?
     

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