2000 SR5 - possible deal on a fixer-up? Thoughts...

[rockdaddy80]

Hello all,
I have a LEAD on a local 2000 SR5 4x4 V6, with 130X,XXX that the owner wants to sell, I know their family so I generally will trust what they say. Obviously, the low miles is really attractive here. I haven't seen the car yet, only know what they told me so far, and they haven't given me a price yet. Here's what I know:

-not original owners, but have had it for a number of years
-road worthy and currently inspected
-"ABS light is on" - not sure if red brake light is also on. I'm assuming just the yellow ABS light
-CEL is on and they said it's throwing Shift Solenoid E code - which I assume is P0770. Owners said they had all the shift solenoids replaced, still same code (all 3? I don't know). Owner also said it's shifting fine with no issues despite the CEL.

So buying this ride is a risk yes. But I've done shift solenoids in my '97 and it completely fixed my Shift Solenoid A code. I also don't know if someone did all 3 in this one, I didn't get a sense that the owner did his own work. He also said he didn't have his own scan tool, so I know he can't try to clear the ABS light himself.

I'm thinking if I can get this Runner for $2,000 - 2,500 it'd be worth the risk. I don't mind replacing the ABS module with a used unit. What concerns me most about this gamble is if it ain't the shift solenoids and is a bad throttle body or torque converter. I don't do that kind of work myself, and won't pay big money to fix it.

Any thoughts?

 

[sleepydad]

Hello all,
I have a LEAD on a local 2000 SR5 4x4 V6, with 130X,XXX that the owner wants to sell, I know their family so I generally will trust what they say. Obviously, the low miles is really attractive here. I haven't seen the car yet, only know what they told me so far, and they haven't given me a price yet. Here's what I know:

-not original owners, but have had it for a number of years
-road worthy and currently inspected
-"ABS light is on" - not sure if red brake light is also on. I'm assuming just the yellow ABS light
-CEL is on and they said it's throwing Shift Solenoid E code - which I assume is P0770. Owners said they had all the shift solenoids replaced, still same code (all 3? I don't know). Owner also said it's shifting fine with no issues despite the CEL.

So buying this ride is a risk yes. But I've done shift solenoids in my '97 and it completely fixed my Shift Solenoid A code. I also don't know if someone did all 3 in this one, I didn't get a sense that the owner did his own work. He also said he didn't have his own scan tool, so I know he can't try to clear the ABS light himself.

I'm thinking if I can get this Runner for $2,000 - 2,500 it'd be worth the risk. I don't mind replacing the ABS module with a used unit. What concerns me most about this gamble is if it ain't the shift solenoids and is a bad throttle body or torque converter. I don't do that kind of work myself, and won't pay big money to fix it.

Any thoughts?

2Cents

you can never really know until you get into it. if the rust is minimal and it's in great shape I think it's worth it. that truck should be cable of going another 200K without much trouble once it's all working.

 

[brillo_76]

All the ones I purchased had major issues and I got them very inexpensively. Frame issues, Engine transmission issues etc.

I do know they last a very long time if properly maintained and fixed up. Just like the other user suggested.

Issues like I stated kill their value extremely. As the cost of repair can exceed the value of the vehicle. Thus that's why I got them for the costs I did.

Sent from my SM-J337V using Tapatalk

 

[rockdaddy80]

All the ones I purchased had major issues and I got them very inexpensively. Frame issues, Engine transmission issues etc.

I do know they last a very long time if properly maintained and fixed up. Just like the other user suggested.

Issues like I stated kill their value extremely. As the cost of repair can exceed the value of the vehicle. Thus that's why I got them for the costs I did.

Sent from my SM-J337V using Tapatalk

I like the way you're talking.... kill the value as in how much? I know if there were no issues this Runner would be worth 5-6K (at least) on the market here private sale. ABS and tranny issues... what you thinking if it was clean body, no rust, decent tires, etc? $2k or even less?

 

[jross20]

Have a mechanic check her out first. But for $2500 that would be a crazy deal in my mind. 4x4 right? Does she drive okay? Did you also check the transmission fluid?

Mine was $8k from a dealer, extremely minimal rust, had brake issues, and the valve cover seals and steering rack were leaking. I ended up finding out that the brakes just had shoes that were NOT for a 4runner and that both leaks didn't exist. (There may be an oil leak but it's extremely tiny)
The rust, and I do mean minimal, I cleaned and painted over in about 10 minutes.

 

[T4R2014]

Intermittent ABS light can be triggered by air needing to be bled out of the ABS pump.

 

[HiLife]

130k mile or lower miles would go for a premium price here I'm my area. 100k miles, if those still can be found here today, would fetch $8-10k in issue free condition.
Thing is what's fixing the abs and trans worth to them?

 

[rockdaddy80]

They also have a 2001 SR5 4x4 V6 with 160X,XXX with no issues supposedly in good shape and current. I'm thinking that they might take a bundle offer for both. Get both, fix up the low miles 2000, sell one. This could get fun. Currently waiting on a large local used parts yard to give me a price on a used tranny just in case the torque converter is shot on the 2000 and needs a new tranny. Obviously, I'd hope that a new set of all 3 shift solenoids and clean ATF filter & flush would solve the P0770 issue, especially since they say there isn't any shifting issues.

 

[clemwald]

Thoughts?

They also have a 2001 SR5 4x4 V6 with 160X,XXX with no issues supposedly in good shape and current. I'm thinking that they might take a bundle offer for both. Get both, fix up the low miles 2000, sell one. This could get fun. Currently waiting on a large local used parts yard to give me a price on a used tranny just in case the torque converter is shot on the 2000 and needs a new tranny. Obviously, I'd hope that a new set of all 3 shift solenoids and clean ATF filter & flush would solve the P0770 issue, especially since they say there isn't any shifting issues.

New to the forum. Been wanting to get a 4runner for a while but haven't seen anything worth while in my area. It would be a daily driver. There is one that popped up for 3800 with 87000 miles but it is only RWD. Deal breaker?

 

[rockdaddy80]

New to the forum. Been wanting to get a 4runner for a while but haven't seen anything worth while in my area. It would be a daily driver. There is one that popped up for 3800 with 87000 miles but it is only RWD. Deal breaker?

Depends on what you want it for. If I didn't hunt and didn't occasionally go on soupy dirt roads a 4x2 Runner would serve me just fine here in VA, but we only get snow/ice occasionally in central VA... I see you are in Ohio. If I lived in an area that got decent snow 3-4 months a year I probably wouldn't get a 4x2 unless I had access to another 4x4 or front-wheel drive vehicle.

Around here it isn't hard to find Gen 3 4x4 Runners for $4-5 grand that are between 200-250k miles. The hard part is finding one that has been properly maintained with decent service records. If they have been properly maintained, or at least some proof of maintenance (clear fluids, timing belt/water pump, radiator, etc) then I wouldn't hesitate at all to buy a Gen 3 over 200k miles. My daily driver now is a '97 Limited I got with 254K on her. All I've done to it is replace the radiator, new starter, and new valve cover gaskets... all common issues.

 

[clemwald]

so your saying you feel its worth going for higher mileage 4x4 instead of the lower mileage 4x2

 

[Kanoe]

I think he's saying it's up to you to decide what you want to do with the truck.

Personally, I'd have no trouble buying a 2wd for a dd. Simpler maintenance and potentially better fuel economy. Especially as this one is low miles.

I was looking for a 2wd 3rz 5spd for a long distance touring/travelling rig but couldn't find one. I found a 4x4 3rz and bought it.

 

[rockdaddy80]

so your saying you feel its worth going for higher mileage 4x4 instead of the lower mileage 4x2

Like Kanoe said, I wouldn't hesitate at all to buy a 4x2 Runner to drive around town and do stuff in, as long as I knew I would never NEED 4WD for any reason. and 80k miles is crazy low miles if you could get it for 3500 - 3800 bucks. I'd just get it to drive to work at that price and mileage, and I don't need 4x4 to go to work. But what I use my Runner for on weekends and trips I need 4WD. If you like to venture out in snow that matters too. I'd take a FWD car before a RWD SUV. If you even suspect that you might regret not getting a 4WD, then get a 4WD. IMO the miles on Gen 3 Runners don't matter nearly as much as how they have been maintained and what's already been replaced (documented) before you take it home. I'd buy one with 250K miles on it and great service records before I'd buy one with 150K on it with no history... I did just that, and the guy I bought it from had it from 40k miles up to 254k and had piles of service records and documented repairs/replacements, and had all his work done by Toyota.