3rd Gen 4Runner Buyer's Guide

[4flyer]

Used 2001 Toyota 4Runner SR5 in Woodinville JT3HN86R510348360

Wow. Talk about pricey but wow! 32K miles. How do you only rack up 32K miles in 16 years?

 

[Rcaf2008]

One sold in Florida last month with only 10k miles!

 

[Roland_007]

AM I BUYING A LEMON? Help.

Greetings all, I am a new member here so bear with me. I am interested in a 1999 4Runner, SR5, automatic, 4wd, 211k miles. Timing chain done at 190k. It will need control arm replacement soon, makes a funny noise (torque converter?) at about 2500rpms and usually when I mash the gas. I cannot get the rear wiper, defrost, or window to operate. Other than that it is very clean. They were asking $5995. After I addressed the above mentioned issues they went down to $4850. Is it worth it? Any advice is welcomed and appreciated.

Cheers

 

[marcelaacvd11]

Greetings all, I am a new member here so bear with me. I am interested in a 1999 4Runner, SR5, automatic, 4wd, 211k miles. Timing chain done at 190k. It will need control arm replacement soon, makes a funny noise (torque converter?) at about 2500rpms and usually when I mash the gas. I cannot get the rear wiper, defrost, or window to operate. Other than that it is very clean. They were asking $5995. After I addressed the above mentioned issues they went down to $4850. Is it worth it? Any advice is welcomed and appreciated.



Cheers

[MENTION=167435]Roland_007[/MENTION] I bought my 2000 4Runner SR5, Automatic 4WD at 190k miles and some work needed for $3250.00 8 mos ago. Just an FYI.

 

[Rooty]

clean gen 3 '01 needs a new home.

I have a very clean '01 with 209,000mi., almost new rubber, radiator/cooler replaced; rear bumper replaced; all suspension is sound, everything works. I am retired and also own an '08 4 runner which my wife wants to keep so I don't really need this '01 any longer. I ned help finding someone who will appreciate this vehicle and recognize the value. I am hoping this forum point me in the right direction? I have service records and pictures for proof of condition. Thanx, all.

 

[ZoneOne]

Does anyone have photos of the intake silencer removal mod?

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f130/intake-silencer-removal-mod-3rd-gen-4runner-2000-a-75168/

That post is from 2005, while it's extremely informative and I think I can manage... there's a reason the Denny's menu has pictures of the food. As former Infantry, I need pictures.

Any help would be appreciated as that's one mod I'd like to do while I tune up my brand new 1997 4Runner Limited w/ 170k miles ;-)

 

[geocook717]

Great post 4-RipCord. I feel like information overload but in a really good way. I am new to the forum and to the 4Runner world. This one post just learned me so much, LOL. I appreciate you taking the time to compile all of this in one place, not to mention all of the accompanying links to other forums, discussions, videos, etc.

A newbie's dream I must say. I look forward to exploring more as this forum just seems to go on and on.

 

[socalkid]

as someone new to the forum, x100 to 4-Ripcord for this thread (and SV_Dude for the info thread - http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...ormational-threads-must-read-new-members.html - ive been in the market for a little while now for a 3rd gen Runner/1st gen Tacoma and threads like these are invaluable and one of the many reasons why forums and communities like these are great.

 

[socalkid]

I know this post is useless without pics, but happy to say I'm back in the Toyota family... I'm the proud owner of a 98' 4Runner, 78k miles, original owner, 3RZ, 5spd... only bummer is 2wd but will still allow me to do 80% of what I want.

changed her oil and brake fluid, all others look good for now till I take her to a shop next week, having her balanced and aligned right now (has been pretty much sitting for the last year), will post pics tonight/tomorrow after I wash her down and vacuum.

thanks all so much for your help, and let me just say I'm STOKED! aside from the 2wd, it's identical to my old 98' Tacoma I sold (white with blue/grey)... who says you can never go back?!?

 

[Bandit6139]

Seriously Considering

https://omaha.craigslist.org/cto/d/toyota-runner-limited-diff/6238806521.html

2000 Limited. 180k mi. Timing belt done at 110k. Transmission cooler. Little to no rust. Newer rear shocks. Moving back to the states after a tour overseas, and considering a sight unseen purchase. Would love ya'lls opinion on the truck and whether or not an SGS inspection is worth the money (or if I should go with a different company). Thanks.

 

[fishandhike]

2017 fmv

Hi everyone, this is my first post though I have been been on here for a few weeks now just trying to learn. I love to hike and fish and miss having 4wd which I lost 5 years back in an accident.

I'm curious to hear opinions about a 4Runner I am thinking of buying. It is a 1998 limited with locker and ~148k miles. I know from auto check and carfax I am buying from second owner who has owned it for only 10 months. It was driven around 12.5 K miles per year in southern CA until around 2012 at which point it's annual mileage dropped to about 3K miles. Since purchasing the car, the owner has only put on about 3K himself in the 10 months.

Almost zero rust in undercarriage. The car was in an accident in 2015 and has been driven a little over 6k miles since then. All I know is that the airbags did not deploy, it wasn't totaled, and I had a mechanic (not sure how great he was) look at it in his shop and he couldn't tell it had been in an accident. One of the mud flaps is not sitting just perfect and looks like it may be a replacement and it is missing the running boards. Inside back is in great condition. The leather is a little beat up in the front as in starting to crack and there is a tear on the passenger seat. Otherwise all the electronics work including for the moonroof, windows, back window, etc. I wasn't able to really test the 4WD, but I drove on freeway, and did pull off onto a gravel lot and engage the 4wd and felt it kick in. It needs a new antennae mast, windshield wipers and a few other small things.

It also needs timing belt, water pump and all drive belts for certain. Valve gaskets are weeping lightly. It could probably use a transmission drain and fill, as well as a fluid change in both differentials and the transfer case. I can do minor things like drive belts, alternators, starters, etc. But I am pretty busy and would have to most of it done at a mechanic. Immediately I would do the timing belt and water pump, drive belts, and do the fluid flushes in transmission, cooling system, differentials, and transfer case. For now I think I'd leave the valve gaskets. They were first noted in 2011. Minus the valve gaskets, dealership was in the realm of 3/4 shops I called. About $1,500.

Seller is firm on $6,000 after putting brand new tires on it, so after taxes and maintenance I am looking at $8,000 for a 98 limited with 148K miles. Most similar years on cl are much higher mileage and asking at least as much, usually more and are unwilling to negotiate. I really like the car and want it, but the accident, low miles driven the last 5 years and the fact that the current owner is trying to sell it after 10 months makes me nervous. What do you all think? Thanks!

 

[DK327]

Hi everyone, this is my first post though I have been been on here for a few weeks now just trying to learn. I love to hike and fish and miss having 4wd which I lost 5 years back in an accident.

I'm curious to hear opinions about a 4Runner I am thinking of buying. It is a 1998 limited with locker and ~148k miles. I know from auto check and carfax I am buying from second owner who has owned it for only 10 months. It was driven around 12.5 K miles per year in southern CA until around 2012 at which point it's annual mileage dropped to about 3K miles. Since purchasing the car, the owner has only put on about 3K himself in the 10 months.

Almost zero rust in undercarriage. The car was in an accident in 2015 and has been driven a little over 6k miles since then. All I know is that the airbags did not deploy, it wasn't totaled, and I had a mechanic (not sure how great he was) look at it in his shop and he couldn't tell it had been in an accident. One of the mud flaps is not sitting just perfect and looks like it may be a replacement and it is missing the running boards. Inside back is in great condition. The leather is a little beat up in the front as in starting to crack and there is a tear on the passenger seat. Otherwise all the electronics work including for the moonroof, windows, back window, etc. I wasn't able to really test the 4WD, but I drove on freeway, and did pull off onto a gravel lot and engage the 4wd and felt it kick in. It needs a new antennae mast, windshield wipers and a few other small things.

It also needs timing belt, water pump and all drive belts for certain. Valve gaskets are weeping lightly. It could probably use a transmission drain and fill, as well as a fluid change in both differentials and the transfer case. I can do minor things like drive belts, alternators, starters, etc. But I am pretty busy and would have to most of it done at a mechanic. Immediately I would do the timing belt and water pump, drive belts, and do the fluid flushes in transmission, cooling system, differentials, and transfer case. For now I think I'd leave the valve gaskets. They were first noted in 2011. Minus the valve gaskets, dealership was in the realm of 3/4 shops I called. About $1,500.

Seller is firm on $6,000 after putting brand new tires on it, so after taxes and maintenance I am looking at $8,000 for a 98 limited with 148K miles. Most similar years on cl are much higher mileage and asking at least as much, usually more and are unwilling to negotiate. I really like the car and want it, but the accident, low miles driven the last 5 years and the fact that the current owner is trying to sell it after 10 months makes me nervous. What do you all think? Thanks!

How about some pics? At any rate, I personally think if the seller is firm, it might be a good sign that they know what the truck is worth and no major issues so no reason to negotiate really. If I were selling mine, after paying $5K and another $5K just for maintenance, I'd be firm too.

I think you're right on the money by stating $2K for maintenance....IF you did all the work yourself. If you're having mechanic do it, I'd double that amount. Again, just my opinion, especially since you'll be asked to buy OEM stuff which costs more than generic aftermarket junk. Things to immediately replace, in addition to the ones you mentioned like timing belt and water pump, and valve cover gasket would be the usual suspects, the front end stuff like upper lower ball joints, inner outer tire rods, sway bar link ends and bushings, steering rack bushings, the radiator, coolant flush, transmission, transfer case and rear differential fluids drain and refill, replace (and extend optionally) the rear breather above the pumpkin, replace the thermostat (jiggle valve @ 6pm) and gasket, all radiator hoses, oil change & filter, fuel filter, air filter, radiator fan clutch, lube the drive shaft, suspension stuff like springs, shocks, how about the brakes, tundra brake upgrade, in-line trans cooler...

It gets to be a big list, double quick. Don't underestimate the time and money you'll spend AFTER getting the vehicle to get it up to par as far as proper maintenance goes.

 

[fishandhike]

Hey DK thanks for the reply, I seriously appreciate it.
So the $2,000 is based on a printout from the local Toyota dealership on parts and labor. It included timing belt, water pump, tensioner pulley, all 3 drive belts, coolant drain and refill, transmission drain and refill, both differentials drain and refill, and transfer case drain and refill. Total was $1650. I was thinking I could do the new radiator and hoses myself for another $300 in I included a separate transmission cooler, and maybe $200 if I did not. I know all the other stuff you mentioned will have to be replaced eventually but I was hoping I could get 40-50K trouble free miles out of it if I drop the $2,000 on above named maintenance. Or at least until next summer when I have the time to work on it myself. I am pretty sure it was a SoCal freeway driver based on carfax. Purchased and serviced in orange county.
You sound like you think his price is fair enough. If I weren't a full time student and part time worker I'd do it for certain. Right now I am still considering whether or not it is worth the risk. I've always wanted one and I would use the 4wd, but it is a risk. Thanks again!

 

[fishandhike]

What does this do?

Hi everyone, there is a white rectangular part on the drivers side underneath the bumper. I only see it on the drivers side. I am wondering what it is. It is visible in the pictures here:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/43166-fender-flares.html


Thanks!

 

[DK327]

Hi everyone, there is a white rectangular part on the drivers side underneath the bumper. I only see it on the drivers side. I am wondering what it is. It is visible in the pictures here:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/43166-fender-flares.html


Thanks!

I think it's air vent to equalize cabin pressure.

 

[fishandhike]

Awesome thank you, it needs to be replaced on the 4Runner I am looking at and I was hoping to figure out what it was so I could check price and order it. Thanks again!

 

[ocmsrzr]

It appears that 4Runners.org is now defunct. I was able to resurrect the Clean MAF / TB procedure article using the wayback machine. It is available here (for now)

If anyone wants to pull an article from that site here is a procedure that works for me. First go HERE. This is the most recent (archived) version of the site. Then click on the article you want to read. You might get redirected to a working version of the article. Or you might get nothing.

If you get nothing, the wayback machine will say something like "the wayback machine does not have that page archived", and give a link that looks like this: http://writeups/dist/index.html. Copy that link, starting with the second forward slash, go back to the previous page, and paste into the top box. Presto.

If what you now have is a page that is loaded, but incomplete (photos not loaded), you will see a box on the top of the screen showing captures. Click around on the different captures. You should be able to find a capture that shows the complete page.

 

[fabioast11]

3rz-fe question!

Hello there,

I have a quick question, I have a 98 3rz-fe manual transmission engine on my 4runnner, well I need to change it, since it is already dead. I've been looking for this engine and found a year 95 3rz-fe for a tacoma. My question is, does this engine is the same as the 98 or does it have any differences that I should know off before buying it.

Any info will be appreciated!!!

 

[xdustin]

It appears that 4Runners.org is now defunct. I was able to resurrect the Clean MAF / TB procedure article using the wayback machine. It is available here (for now)

If anyone wants to pull an article from that site here is a procedure that works for me. First go HERE. This is the most recent (archived) version of the site. Then click on the article you want to read. You might get redirected to a working version of the article. Or you might get nothing.

If you get nothing, the wayback machine will say something like "the wayback machine does not have that page archived", and give a link that looks like this: http://writeups/dist/index.html. Copy that link, starting with the second forward slash, go back to the previous page, and paste into the top box. Presto.

If what you now have is a page that is loaded, but incomplete (photos not loaded), you will see a box on the top of the screen showing captures. Click around on the different captures. You should be able to find a capture that shows the complete page.

Thanks for the quick write-up, as a newer member, hoping to capture some of this stuff, as well as some of the older photobucket tutorials and save them. That stuff is so invaluable to someone like me, so, may as well put in a little work to let it live on...

 

[SCTRD]

Would you jump on a black 02 sport edition 4x4 with 131,000 miles for $9500? It's super clean, with fresh timing belt change, new exhaust, and rust free. Thoughts?