95 4runner 4x4 158,000 miles

[mlgarza]

Hello everyone I just purchased a 95 toyota 4runner for 1,100 dollars. I live in phoenix az and took it for the first time up north and the truck had a very hard time climbing the hills (big rigs were passing me). Does anyone know what I can do to fix or make my 4runner less sluggish or what I should check?

thanks.

 

[OCMike]

It might be just the nature of the 3.0. I have the same problems when going over a mountain.

 

[rvschulz]

well, i don;t live in the mountains but have towed small trailers up hills. unless you are trying to go too slow to start - that's the way it is. mine will accelerate up to about 50 mph or so in 4th when i am climbing the biggest bridge in LA and hold that. if i am in lockdown and going less than 70, i lose 5 mph ... and will kick it down to keep going at a 'reasonable speed'

these are not very powerful engines. you could do a tune-up. if you are not throwing any codes and everything is hooked up correctly - oh well.

 

[Badwolf]

Hello everyone I just purchased a 95 toyota 4runner for 1,100 dollars. I live in phoenix az and took it for the first time up north and the truck had a very hard time climbing the hills (big rigs were passing me). Does anyone know what I can do to fix or make my 4runner less sluggish or what I should check?

thanks.

It shouldn't be that sluggish - I have a 1990 with a 3.0 and can negotiate I-17 from Phoenix up to Prescott easily without any hesitation. I think there may be a problem there. I have a 5 speed, and it runs well, but still...

- Badwolf

 

[bigbsvo]

5 speed vs Automatic

It shouldn't be that sluggish - I have a 1990 with a 3.0 and can negotiate I-17 from Phoenix up to Prescott easily without any hesitation. I think there may be a problem there. I have a 5 speed, and it runs well, but still...

- Badwolf

I am almost willing to bet that a manual 4 runner would accel better then the auto, I wish mine was a stick instead of the slushbox auto it has in it.

My gutless wonder acts just like the guy from Phoenix has described.

It runs perfectly, but lacks balls to go up hills and pass other vehicles.

give me a five speed anyday in the early t4r :bravo:

 

[kabelad]

would have to be an automatic. while my 3.0 isn't crazy powerful, it has no problem on it's weekly climb from the springs to my house, from 6000ft to 9350ft.

 

[mlgarza]

Thanks everyone for responding to my post. My 95 4runner is a automatic and i have had it tunned up and the tranmission fluied changed.