1999 4runner - How concerned should I be about this rust?

TXGymGuy · Jul 10, 2020

Per the title, I'm looking to buy a 3rd gen that is in otherwise great shape (under 100K miles). It's a NY car and shows some rust issues that I'm not used to seeing down here in Texas. Granted it's a 21 year old truck, but curious to hear everyone's thoughts on whether this rust is typical or would be a deal breaker.

MN4runnerman · Jul 10, 2020

That’s considered clean and rust free where I’m from. Idk check it and see if it was painted over or not

thegipper · Jul 10, 2020

MN4runnerman said:
That’s considered clean and rust free where I’m from. Idk check it and see if it was painted over or not

Exactly what I was thinking assuming it wasn't recently painted over (it kind of looks that way).

See if you can get some better pictures of the axle area and the frame. Should be easy enough to tell if it was painted over or not.

Bad Luck · Jul 10, 2020

Try to look inside the frame if you can

LittleCaesar · Jul 10, 2020

They still have the original spare. They either never drove it in winter or rarely drove it, possibly undercoating it with something like Fluid Film.

Unless you or can have someone put hands on it, caveat emptor.

TXGymGuy · Jul 10, 2020

Well, I did a little digging and the seller bought the car at auction and this is what the bumper looked like before (it has since been replaced). Based on this, I'm guessing the undercarriage has been painted over. I'm 2000 miles away otherwise I'd check myself.

Kanoe · Jul 10, 2020

See all that rust under the hood? That's a bad sign. and with that bumper? I'd bet the undercarriage is rusted to Fck. It looks like it has been oil sprayed which wets out the rust and hides it pretty well.

I'd only have a look if it was right next door.

Bad Luck · Jul 10, 2020

TXGymGuy said:
Well, I did a little digging and the seller bought the car at auction and this is what the bumper looked like before (it has since been replaced). Based on this, I'm guessing the undercarriage has been painted over. I'm 2000 miles away otherwise I'd check myself.

Why are you even looking that far away? I'd try autotempest.com if you haven't already.

TXGymGuy · Jul 10, 2020

Bad Luck said:
Why are you even looking that far away? I'd try autotempest.com if you haven't already.

I was intrigued by the quality of the interior, manual transmission, as well as the low mileage (37K miles).

market525 · Jul 10, 2020

Rusted bumper definitely does not match the undercarriage. Some cover up spraying has occurred there .... almost positive. I'd say hard pass on that one.

TXGymGuy · Jul 10, 2020

market525 said:
Rusted bumper definitely does not match the undercarriage. Some cover up spraying has occurred there .... almost positive. I'd say hard pass on that one.

Yep, too good to be true. Seller definitely seemed shady too.

ArmArak · Jul 10, 2020

Looks like the pumpkin and the spare have been painted over. The engine looks pretty good though, I don't see anything other than some rusted mounts and brackets. The frame is really the important part imo. In my case my rear pumpkin and spare tire are fairly rusted (I've seen a lot worse though), however, my frame is actually in great shape. I also have some similar rusty mounts and whatnot in the engine bay. The only real problem I have faced so far from that is that the battery holder bolt snapped on me. I just put a helicoil in and problem solved.

As for my rear diff rust, I coated it with FERTAN RUST CONVERTER, which is supposed to convert surface rust into a zinc layer. It looks like it worked pretty well, but I really should have brushed it on instead of sprayed because it really dripped on me. I just need to paint it with an undercoating and it will work great for a long while, (or until I swap in a locking diff axle :lmao

Ron Burgandy · Jul 10, 2020

These frames can be a little misleading, I wish they wouldn’t box them in like they do, a thicker C-channel would be better. here’s what the frame looked like on one i just bought. obvious some rust damage on the bottom.

And after i tapped it with a hammer it got way worse.

also, just cause there’s some rust doesn’t mean you have to turn away. Obviously the price has to be right but rust can be fixed. I just bought a running/driving 5speed for $500 cause the frame needs work, but for less than $100 in metal i’ll have it back to new again.

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jgue467 · Jul 10, 2020

Check the trailing arms, user a screwdriver to poke (hard) into crevices and holes, if it goes thru - walk away. Yeah I'm from Texas too, does look 'light' but like others said it also looks too shiny underneath given how it looks under the hood, suspicious at the very least.

TXGymGuy · Jul 10, 2020

Thanks everyone for the responses. Here's the eBay listing if anyone is interested. I'm going to pass on it since I'm unable to see it in person and the seller lied about the previous bumper not rusting through (I found those auction pictures on my own).

1999 Toyota 4Runner SR5 4WD 4X4 5-SPEED MANUAL! LEATHER! 37K Mls! | eBay

Kanoe · Jul 11, 2020

Walker exhaust is never done as a performance upgrade, and the bellcranks have been replaced. This truck has rust issues and that is most certainly not a good deal.

Chicago3rdgen · Jul 11, 2020

That sprayed on rubber coating is a nightmare.

The 4runner I bought has it. The sad thing is my 4runner has a solid frame and they just covered up surface rust. I checked with hammer and screwdriver before buying. Also checked later with a snake camera to confirm no major rust issues.

That coating will trap moisture and make the rust worse. I'm Going to have hours and hours removing it all and putting real under coating on it.

I feel sorry for the person who gets stuck in that trap for a possible low mileage truck.

brillo_76 · Jul 11, 2020

If this came from Philadelphia area. This I'd possibly a city truck. Lots of these have an extreme smout of idle time and low miles because it's all city.

Normal low miles wouldnt have Walker exhaust and completely rotted out bumpers.

I wondered for years why all vehicles dont have hour meters as this engine could have had the equivalent of 400 to 500k miles on idling as the exhaust never could dry out thus it rotted out needing replaced.

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1999 4runner - How concerned should I be about this rust?

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