What website is the best place to get the most affordable but decent parts for your 3rd gen 4Runner? Like RockAuto or whatever places. And what AR or should I say are there many parts mechanical parts that are interchangeable with a 2000 4Runner limited like if there is a 98 4Runner limited is most of its mechanical parts are interchangeable with a 2000?

1] website to get most affordable parts

would depend if you want OEM parts or Aftermarkets.

2] what parts are mechanical parts are interchangeable?


That one is slighty harder. The chassis are all the same in the 3rd gens. Naturally the engines 4 or 6 cylinder and manual vs auto are different.. as well as 2wd vs 4wd slightly different.


The engines themselves in the same family are the same.

However for interchangeably. Think of them as 2 sub classes if you would.


Years 1996 to 1998 very similar with very similar electrical wiring systems.

1999 to 2002 years very similar with 1999 2000 being the crossover years to a lot more electronics. 2001 and 2002 extremely similar..


So your electrical systems can very if that makes sense.

For examples: a 1996 Tailgate will bolt on to a 2002 rig. However, you better take the harness out of your 2002 and put it in the 1996 tailgate if you want things to function properly.

Limited trim has slots in the doors. Rockers and side panels that the basic and sr5 do not.

They only made one collision manual for the entire generation though. So you know the chassis is really close.


Headlights changed in later years of the gen and the front bumper went fat lipped too.

Airbag systems changed along with the electronics.

Abs system 1996 to 1999 ish similar. Changed majorly in 2001 and 2002

So I look at the 3rd gens in 3 groups.

Early years 1996 to 1998
Transition years 1999 to 2000
Later models 2001 to 2002.

Hope this helps.





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Yes for the most part everything drive train and suspension wise from a 96-2000 limited would be interchangeable. Lots of changes happened over the years on cosmetics and interior.

Rockauto is my go-to, you've got to know what you're buying though, avoid cheap no-name brands. Stick to centric, moog, denso, beck/arnley, Victor reinz etc.

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and of course being in the USA you have any number of choices for online OEM Toyota parts. I have used Camelback Toyota out of Phoenix and Toyota of Dallas. Guys on here have mentioned other more local options as well but I don't know of them.

Rock Auto is great for us Canadians. The shipping is fast and reasonable.

I have a question about the electrical differences, specifically the headlights. I want to replace the original headlights in my 97. I'm not interested in spending too much so was looking to get the TYCs from Rockauto. The models for a 99 truck are considerably cheaper than the models for my 97 ($68 for a pair vs nearly $200 for a pair). Could I use the ones that come up for the 99 model year?

Headlights did change 99 to 02 and they bolt on. Actually that's a very common mod as the 99 to 02 headlights are much brighter then the glass ones of 96 through 98..

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By "bolt on" you mean it should be simple and straightforward to install the models indicated for 99-02 trucks and not the models indicated for the 96-98 trucks, correct?

They are 100% compatible. Bolt in the same place, fit the same, same electrical plug/bulb, etc.

edit: the only differences (in quality, etc.) will be due to OEM vs. aftermarket.

-Charlie

hey brillo_76, UnderFire and Kanoe, thank you guys for your feedback.

Thanks Charlie. I read the older multi-page headlight threads, and it seems that people who don't want to shell out big $ have been reasonably happy with the TYC replacements for 20+ year old OEM assemblies. I do wonder by there's such a big price difference between the TYC model intended for 96-98 trucks and the TYC model intended for 99-02 trucks, but glad to hear I can go with the cheaper one.

I've had extensive chats with the god of automotive headlights, Daniel Stern, about the 3rd Gen 4Runner headlights. He said that by FAR the best improvement is a set of new OEM Toyota headlights. He said that after 20 years, the reflectivity of the original headlights is reduced about 80-90% (see a photo of my old and new headlights below).

He also emphasized OEM instead of aftermarket - he said the pattern is much better. OEM headlights are not cheap (about $300 for the set), but they are a huge improvement.

Old:



New (check out the reflection in the faceted portions):

I saw your posts in the headlight thread earlier this year and I believe you/Stern that OEM is best. If this was a DD that I often used at night, I'd consider it. But I can't justify their cost for my use. It seems that @JZiggy and @gamefreakgc were happy with the cheap TYC upgrade/refresh, so I'm going to give it a shot.

Yup, can't blame you . Mine were a birthday present to me from my lovely wife (how did she know??), so who was I to complain .

Great job Charlie thanks for the assist to the user question.. As to the tip of OEM vs Aftermarket. :-)

Yup, love them still and no regrets. I did have one break but another $40 light solved that.

I also recommend looking at Rockauto's brighter headlight bulbs since they have them for super cheap. No wiring upgrades needed for these since they are only a 10W increase over stock low beams:

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