Advice needed please - Mechanical/Squirrel/Lease

[hitmike]

I need some advice please. I have a leased 2014 SR5 4 Runner Premium. I have 2 months left on the lease LOVE this truck and based on its reliability and said love have been planning on buying it out and keeping it basically forever.

So far so good but I have had 2 incidents in the last 4 months of squirrel's nesting in the engine compartment. No joke. The first time it was a $1000 repair to the harness. It just happened again last week and now it is a full on $5500 engine harness replacement (insurance will cover it). I was told it will take 22 hours and may involve the removal of the engine, dashboard etc...

I have now arranged for indoor parking so in theory this shouldn't happen again. My question is this - Given the severity of the repair should I run for my life or is it still worth while buying this truck? Will I be now looking at reliability issues down the road?

Thanks

Mike

 

[RedSled]

Damn, they went to work on that wiring, i do not know about the reliability, but it seems if they replace the complete harness you should be ok. Holy crap, i would be pissed.

 

[gundrted+t4r]

I've never seen that issue so I cant say. What does your gut say?? A lot of times it comes down to you and what you feel is best.

If you don't keep, don't give it back to Toyota. Sell it and keep the money for what ever comes next. Unless you have a ton of miles on it, you should have positive equity. Also be mind of dealers trying to get a get car for a steal. I would suggest a good auto broker.

 

[jasxn]

sorry i can't answer your question with reliability but what i do have to ask is..... did you drive around while the squirrel was possibly nesting in your engine?

i hate squirrels. i bought a bb gun to shoot them/kill them. death to squirrels!

 

[nglayton]

I think given that it has happened twice......I would get a new 4Runner on lease and let this baby go. Start fresh with a 2017 model and then go with your plan of keeping it forever.

I think some place there was other stories/talk of soy based wiring looms and class action lawsuits over this issue. Try googling 'soy based wiring looms" if you are curious.

 

[mvt4r]

sorry i can't answer your question with reliability but what i do have to ask is..... did you drive around while the squirrel was possibly nesting in your engine?

i hate squirrels. i bought a bb gun to shoot them/kill them. death to squirrels!

Rats with fuzzy tails. A friend of mine had gone on vacation and a squirrel broke into his tiny place and trashed it, urinating and defecating over everything.

 

[4Roamer]

Years ago, I had the same thing happen to an Isuzu Rodeo... twice :uzi: . I did not have the option of indoor parking. I hung a small cloth pouch in the engine compartment with a few moth balls in it. No more squirrels. Even after the bag was gone for some time.

If the work was done by a reputable shop and you have a warranty, I don't see why you shouldn't keep the truck. It will be cheaper than buying new and you know the first owner!

 

[philsey]

Unfortunately, no one here knows the future. It could get fixed permanently, but then again maybe not. No telling if there's other damage.

Sadly, preventable, as you didn't learn the first time. I think I'd have been checking underhood daily after that.

It's a crapshoot, but my inclination would be to play it safe and bail out.

 

[flyrv9]

I'd bail too - it's not worth it. Every time you have an issue you're going to think the squirrels were the cause, making any future problems a pain.

 

[hitmike]

Thanks for all the good advice. Seems like selling it will be the way to go. It only has 14,000 miles and a pretty low buy out so a no brainer to flip. I will miss her though. My favorite vehicle ever.

Mike

 

[KEWW Pro]

It is amazing to me that you got a picture of that little F'r looking at you, as if you were bothering it in it's home haha.

I agree with most here, given that the T4R has such a high resale and only 14k miles...sell that thing outright and put it into your new ride.

 

[nvbirdman]

A good sized snake in the engine compartment should solve your squirrel problem.

 

[sandcrawler]

let it go and buy a new one outright. work with the Internet Sales Dept at several different dealerships, use their prices against one another, and walk away with a brand new 4Runner for a better overall price than the leased one you and the squirrels have now.

 

[Atlanta_man]

The smallest physical electrical problem is unfixable by most shops, even dealers. Been there done that (with a Pontiac).

 

[JSparky]

Gah, that's awful. If it was me I'd probably search for a different 4runner but I get the sentimentsl attachment aspect. I still miss my 2013 for this reason. I'd probably still side with my logic in this one though and not take the risk unless thevprice was right. Perhaps invest in a 10/22 for pest control .

 

[Inked]

Wow! I'd let this one go and start fresh. Bad squirrel mojo! You'll rest easy at night knowing you've got new memories to create with your new runner!

 

[4RunnerAquasport]

Makes me want to buy a Cat, a Pellet Gun, and Python. Might not be worth the risk to keep it. Bad JuJu......