About to buy '04 4Runner 4.7l V8

[n0ekt]

All -

New here, and apologize in advance if this is ground that has been covered too many times already. I've done what research I can, prior to posting this, on the potential issues a 2004 4Runner with the V8, two wheel drive, can have; and what I come up with are the following:

Timing belt on the V8 instead of timing chain on the V6... more frequent maintenance.

Potential for cracked exhaust manifold, right side.

Require attention to lubrication of u-joints on driveshaft.

Does that about sum it up? Anything else to pay attention to, specifically, while looking it over?

Can anyone speak to the frequency of the exhaust manifold issues?

Thanks!!

 

[NJshadow93]

Brakes. Front calipers seize up. Very common problem on all 4th gens, both sides were seized up on mine and had them replaced yesterday. You pretty much covered it. Enjoy that V8! And lets see the pics when you get it.

 

[flnycus]

I have the 06, agree with the above. My front calipers seized at like 45,000 miles!

 

[n0ekt]

Thanks everyone for the help! Ok, that's good to know about the calipers. Remans look like they run about $75-100, and I can't imagine install is much different than anything else. Had a few seize up on my 01 Dodge 2500CTD, and later on the wife's 325i (which is what I'm trading in... all done replacing window regulators [and everything else]).

Very much looking forward to something I don't have to work on all the time just to keep it running.

NJshadow93 - will post pic as soon as acquired... hopefully this weekend.

Thanks again!!

 

[One04FourRrunner]

I replaced all my calipers and rubber brake lines font and rear just for piece of mind. Also timing belt is due again at 135k but I will put that off until summer. Not that hard to do. Also the drive shafts do require lube or you get a clunk. No big deal. Only problem with mine now is the front Uca bushings clunk. But that is not a big deal. I will take the power and torq this truck has over a 4.0 any day. Fuel econ in winter isn't good in some peoples minds, but I knew that when buying it. I don't mind 14mpg.

 

[Timbarry013]

2004 limited

Hello everyone. I just recently purchased a 2004 limited 4runner. I bought the car with 33,500 miles and now I am just reaching 42,000. I went to the dealership yesterday to have the oil replaced and they told me my timing belt needs to be replaced. I know it's suppose to be done at 90k or 9 years I believe. Any suggestions? Should I be doing it immediately or do you think I have some time? Thanks.

 

[One04FourRrunner]

Hello everyone. I just recently purchased a 2004 limited 4runner. I bought the car with 33,500 miles and now I am just reaching 42,000. I went to the dealership yesterday to have the oil replaced and they told me my timing belt needs to be replaced. I know it's suppose to be done at 90k or 9 years I believe. Any suggestions? Should I be doing it immediately or do you think I have some time? Thanks.

My first time was at 65k, I now have 135k and may do it again this summer with water pump. At 42k I don't see how it is worth it?

 

[Timbarry013]

2004 limited

I don't understand how 8 years 10 months is ok but once it hits 9 years they suggest doing it? Did you do the timing belt yourself?

 

[n0ekt]

One more quick question... I've seen a few accounts in various places of warped heads due to the aluminum head/iron block configuration.

Is that a common issue, or pretty rare? Anyone know?

 

[n0ekt]

Picture attached, thanks again for everyone's help!

 

[M1911]

At 9 years I suggest that you get the timing belt replaced. This is not something that you want to cheap out on.

 

[n0ekt]

ABSOLUTELY. Already done, had the dealership pull maintenance records before I went down to Long Beach to pick it up, they couldn't find record of replacement, so I had them do it before I made the trip. Last thing I want is a destroyed engine block!!

 

[M1911]

Nice color -- same as mine.

 

[n0ekt]

Thanks! Yeah, couldn't be happier with the thing. I've owned quite a few different vehicles, and never been as impressed with the build quality as I was after just three hours of driving it home (And it has 100k mi. on the odometer). It is very obvious that it's a solid, smooth, well engineered and put together machine. Pretty sold on Toyota at this point, first I've ever owned, or at least Toyota trucks/SUVs. Apparently they're pretty hardcore about how they make these: Tahara plant - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I love my truck, but the only thing well built about it is the engine (5.9ctd), transfer case, and Dana 60 and 80 front and rear axles. Maybe the frame too I guess.

Makes me sad because the 4Runner isn't even mine... got it for the wife.

Tried to research what kind of transmission these 04 4Runners have, and get some technical specs on them (torque ratings, etc...), and there doesn't seem to be a lot of information about that. Took a while to find that it's an Aisin A750E (as far as I can tell, anyways), but I cant find much except service procedures, rebuild info, etc. I'm so used to having transmission information available all over the place for my Dodge truck, because the transmissions they come with in the 2nd Gen are barely up to the task of sitting behind the Cummins engine... and it occurs to me, maybe there aren't a lot of posts or information about these transmissions... because they aren't much trouble. I know Dodge ended up using an Aisin transmission for the later 6.7L... maybe this is why =)

In any case... anyone actually know the torque rating for these things? I'm curious how close it is to the maximum output of the 2UZ-FE, or whether it's pretty well overspec'd.

I'm getting all geared up to learn as much about this thing as possible since I'm used to doing the work on whatever vehicles we have... but looks like that might be a futile gesture if they don't break much =)

 

[Dexter Morgan]

Welcome and congrats, I too have never driven a vehicle that's as old as mine (7 years with 112k) that feels just about like a new truck. Impressive.

 

[M1911]

I haven't read a lot of gripes about the transmission.