so did you find good write ups on this job...or you tube....is it really a 20+ hour job ? While I dont own a 4th gen ( do a 3rd gen) I want to make an offer on a 2005 4th gen, and I want to plan or at least be knowledagable on head gasket repair, and reading or watching what is involved will help me make a decision, as I sure cant afford to buy and then worst case pay a shop shortly after to do head gaskets. So want to see if this is something I want to tackle myself if needed.
4th gen buyers guide ?
- Thread starter 3bears
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so did you find good write ups on this job...or you tube....is it really a 20+ hour job ? While I dont own a 4th gen ( do a 3rd gen) I want to make an offer on a 2005 4th gen, and I want to plan or at least be knowledagable on head gasket repair, and reading or watching what is involved will help me make a decision, as I sure cant afford to buy and then worst case pay a shop shortly after to do head gaskets. So want to see if this is something I want to tackle myself if needed.
I would never buy a truck with that much rust. The brake shield looks like it is about gone and frame appears to be rusting out from the inside and nearly ready to break apart.
I think it likely is a 20 hour job. I think the labor guide said 14 just to do head gaskets but a complete valve regrind was over 20. I know I'll have 20 or more in mine and I'm a lifelong tech. Getting old now so I'm kinda slow though. I think most guys with some decent experience can handle it but I wouldn't recommend it for anyone with little to no experience. There are some pretty good videos out there that will help but they tend to make it look easier than what it actually is, IMO. If I didn't have a lift and a fully equipped shop I'd be reluctant to take it on.
WOW! I don't know if things are just that much higher in AK but that's ludicrous in my opinion. If we lived closer to each other I'd offer to do it for half of that, assuming you actually needed it.
im an old guy too....68..been twisting wrenches since....well when rocks were soft ( as my grandkids like to joke me) .dont have a lift....why would i need a lift. this is likely my last rig...want a good one....old working stiff so no budget.
well...current owner and i have been having trouble meeting up again. we are gonna meet tomorrow at 11am. he says has no fluids loss..no issues...but ive been there done that. I lloked into to arrange to take for a pre sale...but the few shops arund here cant get to it for at least a week. Im actually surprised its still for sale and that makes me wonder.
positive....it came from washington and has NO rust. has only been in alaska for 1 year. Maybe the current owner cant handle alaska and is moving back and does not want to drive car back....so he says he is moving and does not want to take.
might just bite the bullet and gamble..will take for as long as a test drive as he will allow. to get it up to temp and past that to see if it overheats etc......need a relaible rig like now...and my current 3rd gen is a rusted POS and dont trust it.
only other 4th gen for sale local is a 2005 for 14k. Anything newer or a 5th gen your into the 20's. This 2005 sport edition, 2nd owner is at 10 asking. Same owne ( and is 2nd owner)r for past 12 years.
Like I have posted ...I have a bunch of long trips I have to do...each about 800+ miles round trip....will a bad head gasket on these just leve me stranded in the middle of bum frick no place if it shows no signs now ? At least half the drive will have no cell reception and gas stations and homes few and far between. Ive had older rigs where I just threw in block seal and water to get me home.
the othr thing is my current 3rd gen that I have only owned for about 6 months, has 280k on it. ( this 4th gen is at 170k)..and this 3rd gen in need of a lot of work. I have the tools and knowledge to work on 3rd gens...can 4th gens be so much different ?
positive....it came from washington and has NO rust. has only been in alaska for 1 year. Maybe the current owner cant handle alaska and is moving back and does not want to drive car back....so he says he is moving and does not want to take.
might just bite the bullet and gamble..will take for as long as a test drive as he will allow. to get it up to temp and past that to see if it overheats etc......need a relaible rig like now...and my current 3rd gen is a rusted POS and dont trust it.
only other 4th gen for sale local is a 2005 for 14k. Anything newer or a 5th gen your into the 20's. This 2005 sport edition, 2nd owner is at 10 asking. Same owne ( and is 2nd owner)r for past 12 years.
Like I have posted ...I have a bunch of long trips I have to do...each about 800+ miles round trip....will a bad head gasket on these just leve me stranded in the middle of bum frick no place if it shows no signs now ? At least half the drive will have no cell reception and gas stations and homes few and far between. Ive had older rigs where I just threw in block seal and water to get me home.
the othr thing is my current 3rd gen that I have only owned for about 6 months, has 280k on it. ( this 4th gen is at 170k)..and this 3rd gen in need of a lot of work. I have the tools and knowledge to work on 3rd gens...can 4th gens be so much different ?
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TejasRunner01
New member
My take on 4th gens coming from a 3rd gen. It is in every way, a step up IMO. I do wish I could have kept the 3rd gen along with the 4th gen though.
IMO if you are buying pre 2005, try to stick it out for a V8 and avoid the V6 head gaskets all together. The V8 is the silkiest smooth engine that I have ever owned, no more sluggish hill climbs like the 3rd gen. Although, I believe the 4th gen V6 can handle hills just fine.
I have had 3 4Runners, currently I have an 08 V8 4WD limited and don't think I will ever get rid of it. Just make sure to look for rust that is beyond surface rust.
Also, make sure the air conditioning works. My compressor went out and it was $1200 and I got a good deal. It is a full dash out job.
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IMO if you are buying pre 2005, try to stick it out for a V8 and avoid the V6 head gaskets all together. The V8 is the silkiest smooth engine that I have ever owned, no more sluggish hill climbs like the 3rd gen. Although, I believe the 4th gen V6 can handle hills just fine.
I have had 3 4Runners, currently I have an 08 V8 4WD limited and don't think I will ever get rid of it. Just make sure to look for rust that is beyond surface rust.
Also, make sure the air conditioning works. My compressor went out and it was $1200 and I got a good deal. It is a full dash out job.
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When rocks were soft, I gotta remember that one. I guess you don't have to have a lift but my old body doesn't like laying on the ground or rolling around on a creeper. Plus in my case I take the front wheels off and with the lift I can lower the front of the vehicle till the rotors are almost touching the floor. It makes it a lot easier to reach everything on the top side. But underneath there's not a lot to deal with; skid plate, exhaust, and the front oil pan to timing cover bolts, plus draining the radiator and changing the oil. But again, the likelihood of having a head gasket failure is still pretty small. Like I said, with mine it had 303K miles on it and honestly it was still drivable with virtually no symptoms. Good luck with whatever you end up doing.
thanks everyone for all the advice. I learned a lot on this thread and lots of hours of research on 4th gens.
however I missed out on it. Was supposed to meet up and a family issue came up, I knew others were looking...so he sold it to someone else.
funny however, another one in town is for sale, 2005. I asked if it uses fluids and the reply was ........"does not use an excessive amount of coolant"...
wonder what that means
Ill run from that one.
however I missed out on it. Was supposed to meet up and a family issue came up, I knew others were looking...so he sold it to someone else.
funny however, another one in town is for sale, 2005. I asked if it uses fluids and the reply was ........"does not use an excessive amount of coolant"...
wonder what that means
Ill run from that one.
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Unner
New member
4th gens aren't much different than 3rd gens as far as working on them. Both are very friendly for those of us who like to work on our own vehicles.
As an owner of a 3rd and 4th gen this is accurate. The 4th gen is so much more comfortable to drive. The V6 has plenty of power for hill climbs and such without downshifting multiple gears unlike my 3rd gen. I do agree that the V8 is very smooth though.
When I go back to the third gen it really is a step back in time, but that's ok. The 3rd gen is the off road truck now. The 4th gen is for comfort and road trips.
The right one will come up eventually. Can you trust the 3rd gen for the first few of your long trips? If you plan to keep the 4th gen for awhile I'd want to make sure you get what you want.
And yes, run from that one...
unner
thanks for the answers
and no I dont trust my current 4 runner to make the trips
so will continue to hunt for a good 3rd or 4th gen and drive this one local only, in the meantime I ll keep makeing repairs to it
eventually it will be good , it was just very abused before I got it, and in a front end wreck that was far worse then reported.
thanks for the answers
and no I dont trust my current 4 runner to make the trips
so will continue to hunt for a good 3rd or 4th gen and drive this one local only, in the meantime I ll keep makeing repairs to it
eventually it will be good , it was just very abused before I got it, and in a front end wreck that was far worse then reported.
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Appalascadian
New member
I recently bought my 05 SR5 and test drove a few during my search. I am no expert (or all that knowledgeable yet) on mechanical issues or quirks, but so far I can offer a thumbs up to 4th gens. But definitely worth holding out for the right one. I bent on mine a little because the price was too good and some upgrades I wanted were already made, but otherwise, I'd say be picky.
Best of luck!
Best of luck!
2021nightshade4x4
New member
Get you a 2009 Limited V8 with nav. Would that be the holy grail?
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I'm in the market for a 4th gen 4runner in NJ, and there seems to be a handful available, however they are either asking 11k for 200k miles, or they are just not very responsive. I'm looking for a 4runner, I don't really care if its v8 or v6, 2004+, and around 150k. What do you think is reasonable price to pay?
