Are 3rd Gens as Good as We Think They Are?

[theesotericone]

Nope. I'm not getting mad at all. It's a valid question that's gotten some very valid responses. The OP needed to have this addressed and the replies so far are far in favor of it being a very reliable rig. I'd be bummed to if something major went on my truck and I'd surely question whether I wanted to put the money into saving it. I know I would but I'd still ask the question to myself. Plus it's always good every so often on any site to ask the unpopular questions. I've never been a fan of purple kool-aid and prefer facts to emotions though.

 

[JayRolla]

I guess my words of mad was a little strong.

Just really ANNOYED BY IT. hahah

 

[LittleCaesar]

No angst here. It has merit. If one doesn't like the thread, don't read it.

Good luck to the OP and his wingman on replacing the latter's tranny. I'd imagine some yard close by has a used one for cheap.

 

[NoVAphotog]

Hey Dudes,

Maybe it's because I'm a frequent surfer of this forum reading about all the problems people have with these rigs, but are we giving these trucks more credit than they deserve?

The main driving factor to asking this question is my buddy [MENTION=102606]infamousRNR[/MENTION] recently broke down the other day and we just confirmed this morning that his transmission is toast. We were hoping it might be the flex plate so we removed the access plate at the bottom of the bell housing and tried getting a borescope camera in there to see but it was very difficult to get enough detail so we gave up. I had him start the engine and immediately knew it couldn't be the flex plate because I could see the flex plate spinning and there was no noise while the truck was in park. While I was under the truck, he put it in gear and I had heard horrible grinding noises coming from the trans. I know sometimes it's hard to detect where a sound is originating from but the noise was loudest right under the transmission pan so I'd say it's got to be catastrophic failure of something in there, maybe the planetary gear like some have reported on the 01 and 02 models. Anyway, Game Over Man!

This transmission failure is not only a bummer for Sean but it's a let down for me as well because I'm starting to doubt how bullet proof these rigs really are. Sean bought his rig used, as many of us did, so who know how the previous owner treated it and maybe the previous owners mistreatment led to this trans failure. Sean currently has 160,000 miles on his rig and that's much too soon in my opinion for a trans to implode, especially for a Toyota.

Tim, first off, I love your videos and would hate to see you guys get into something new with a warranty and stop making them and just taking your trucks to the dealer while eating egg noodles with ketchup. :hat:

Second, I think you are over thinking it. As others have said, the forum is not the best gauge as people will always share negatives on here. If you want to see positives on here read through the highest mileage threads! 300k is nothing on there for these trucks!

You have to also think about john q and jane doe third gen 4runner owner who just drive it and get the oil changed (or not). Think about how many you see on the road today. I can drive around and see at LEAST 5-6 every day. We are talking about a minimum 14 year old vehicle. STILL on the road. STILL taking the kids to school.

Unless Sean had maintenance records he bought a gamble truck regardless of how well you guys fixed it up. A lot can happen in 16 years. Read through my project thread man...I've basically turned this truck around as the 3rd owner. I've replaced virtually every single important thing. I've got zero issues and have gone on several long distance road trips with her, but for 11 years my PO just drove her and I doubt did very much, despite not seeing any symptoms, I always wonder about the condition of my valves, cams, head gasket, etc because I simply do not know. FORTUNATELY, it's a manual and I don't have to worry about pink milkshake...one of the reasons I would NEVER own an automatic 3rd gen without records of timing belt/water pump/coolant flushes and replacement(s).

That said, tell Sean to find another transmission and swap it out and keep on driving it. Will make a good video of the swap and it's a hell of a lot cheaper than stepping into a new rig with a car payment, higher insurance, etc. Plus count yourselves lucky you live in CA and don't have to deal with rust!

 

[mtbtim]

Anyone else getting more mad as this thread stays alive??

It needs to be deleted!!

Dude, take a chill pill. I'm on your side. Do you think I'm going anywhere with 30 DIY videos to date and a YouTube channel pretty much dedicated to maintaining and modding 3rd Gens. I'm keeping mine for a long, long time and will repair the shit out of it before I let mine go because it's more cost effective, it's a challenge, it's fun, and yeah, I love my truck as much as the rest of you love yours.

Now, where was I coming from with starting this thread and posing this question? From experience. I've now taken two vehicles from brand new to high mileages. The first was a Honda Accord that I abused the shit out of carrying myself and buddies to mountain bike races all over California and out of state as well. I donated it charity when the transmission started slipping really bad at 240,000 miles. I didn't know then what I know now about auto transmissions and the heat that kills them. No doubt I accelerated that transmissions demise by hauling 5 dudes, their bikes and all their gear up mountain passes going to races like Big Bear and Mammoth Mountain. The next vehicle is my 1999 Subaru Outback that currently has 325,000 miles and also has a badly slipping transmission. I also abused the crap out this vehicle and probably off-roaded it more than most people do with their 3rd Gens. This vehicle will also be donated soon to charity because I don't think it's worth my time and money to fix it with an engine that has a loud piston slap noise and multiple other worn out items. The Honda Accord and Subaru Outback were incredible vehicles that never left me stranded and I regularly did mountain biking road trips that took me 3 states away from home.

Is 160,000 miles too soon for a transmission to give up the ghost? Most definitely in my opinion if the transmission was properly maintained but we don't know if it was since [MENTION=102606]infamousRNR[/MENTION] bought his truck used. However, Sean's transmission isn't slipping from wear. Something snapped inside, maybe the planetary gear like some have reported. A gear snapping inside sounds like a design flaw to me and not from abuse from overheating the trans or forgetting to change the ATF for a long period of time.

When an expensive drivetrain component like a transmission or engine fails, many people will choose to scrap the vehicle because the cost of the repair is worth more the whole vehicle, especially for people who don't do their own mechanic work. If you've ever looked [MENTION=102606]infamousRNR[/MENTION] build thread, he's got a lot of time and money invested in his rig and an engine with only 160,000 miles on it, so he's definitely not going to scrap his truck. Will we rebuild the trans? Maybe. I've never rebuilt a transmission and don't know how involved it will be and any special tools that will be needed to do it. Maybe somebody has a good tutorial on it. I'm thinking we'll end up installing a new one and keep the old one to rebuild at a later date.

So in closing, yeah, my confidence in our 3rd Gens has been shaken a bit with Sean's recent transmission death. Like I said, I do lots of road trips for camping and mountain biking that take me thousands of miles away from home and I'd rather not break down in Bum F*ck Egypt. The good that will come from this is there will soon be a detailed video of how to remove and replace an auto trans from our 3rd Gens.

Peace out!
P.S. [MENTION=50342]JayRolla[/MENTION] don't you fret now. I'll take this thread down soon but I'm appreciating the commentary and feedback so far. Have a nice Christmas.

 

[StreetCreeper]

Anyone else getting more mad as this thread stays alive??

It needs to be deleted!!

I agree! The mods should shut this thread down, burry it in tofu and then burn it with flame from a thousand broccoli farts :flamethrwoer2:

We really don't need any more people knowing about how awesome these trucks are! It's bad enough trying to find used parts at a decent price now!

I'm already like the rouge zombie at the Pick & Pull fence banging on the gate all day — everyday. Cause I know that the second the next 4Runner hits the yard, all you other jackals come out of the woodwork and we all rush in to feed.

​

 

[JayRolla]

Dude, take a chill pill. I'm on your side. Do you think I'm going anywhere with 30 DIY videos to date and a YouTube channel pretty much dedicated to maintaining and modding 3rd Gens. I'm keeping mine for a long, long time and will repair the shit out of it before I let mine go because it's more cost effective, it's a challenge, it's fun, and yeah, I love my truck as much as the rest of you love yours.

Now, where was I coming from with starting this thread and posing this question? From experience. I've now taken two vehicles from brand new to high mileages. The first was a Honda Accord that I abused the shit out of carrying myself and buddies to mountain bike races all over California and out of state as well. I donated it charity when the transmission started slipping really bad at 240,000 miles. I didn't know then what I know now about auto transmissions and the heat that kills them. No doubt I accelerated that transmissions demise by hauling 5 dudes, their bikes and all their gear up mountain passes going to races like Big Bear and Mammoth Mountain. The next vehicle is my 1999 Subaru Outback that currently has 325,000 miles and also has a badly slipping transmission. I also abused the crap out this vehicle and probably off-roaded it more than most people do with their 3rd Gens. This vehicle will also be donated soon to charity because I don't think it's worth my time and money to fix it with an engine that has a loud piston slap noise and multiple other worn out items. The Honda Accord and Subaru Outback were incredible vehicles that never left me stranded and I regularly did mountain biking road trips that took me 3 states away from home.

Is 160,000 miles too soon for a transmission to give up the ghost? Most definitely in my opinion if the transmission was properly maintained but we don't know if it was since [MENTION=102606]infamousRNR[/MENTION] bought his truck used. However, Sean's transmission isn't slipping from wear. Something snapped inside, maybe the planetary gear like some have reported. A gear snapping inside sounds like a design flaw to me and not from abuse from overheating the trans or forgetting to change the ATF for a long period of time.

When an expensive drivetrain component like a transmission or engine fails, many people will choose to scrap the vehicle because the cost of the repair is worth more the whole vehicle, especially for people who don't do their own mechanic work. If you've ever looked [MENTION=102606]infamousRNR[/MENTION] build thread, he's got a lot of time and money invested in his rig and an engine with only 160,000 miles on it, so he's definitely not going to scrap his truck. Will we rebuild the trans? Maybe. I've never rebuilt a transmission and don't know how involved it will be and any special tools that will be needed to do it. Maybe somebody has a good tutorial on it. I'm thinking we'll end up installing a new one and keep the old one to rebuild at a later date.

So in closing, yeah, my confidence in our 3rd Gens has been shaken a bit with Sean's recent transmission death. Like I said, I do lots of road trips for camping and mountain biking that take me thousands of miles away from home and I'd rather not break down in Bum F*ck Egypt. The good that will come from this is there will soon be a detailed video of how to remove and replace an auto trans from our 3rd Gens.

Peace out!
P.S. [MENTION=50342]JayRolla[/MENTION] don't you fret now. I'll take this thread down soon but I'm appreciating the commentary and feedback so far. Have a nice Christmas.

I know this is why it was so hard for me to read this coming from you. 99% of these threads are a Jeep guy trolling us. It was a VERY HARD PILL to choke down when I read this.

Nothing is BULLETPROOF. NOT EVEN BULLETPROOF ARMOR!

That being said I was not mad at you. But just mad at what the thread was about because its usually a trolling thread.

 

[amalik]

Can't judge by a truck that has unknown PO history IMO.

How many 3rd gens have we heard of with 400k+ on OG tranny and engine?

Every single vehicle is prone to some issues, it's a complex mechanical system with hundreds of moving parts.

It's all about relativity!!!!!!!!

Compare T4R to a Jeep or Chrysler product.

I was shocked as [MENTION=50342]JayRolla[/MENTION] to see Tim created the thread, but I do understand where he's coming from.

Guilty as charged, I sometimes overlook all the issues with my 3rd gen due to how much I love the design of it, and I'm sure many of my T4R brethren here are in the same boat.

 

[mtbtim]

I agree! The mods should shut this thread down, burry it in tofu and then burn it with flame from a thousand broccoli farts :flamethrwoer2:

We really don't need any more people knowing about how awesome these trucks are! It's bad enough trying to find used parts at a decent price now!

I'm already like the rouge zombie at the Pick & Pull fence banging on the gate all day — everyday. Cause I know that the second the next 4Runner hits the yard, all you other jackals come out of the woodwork and we all rush in to feed.

​

Hey Woody, speaking of visiting the local Pick and Pull, Sean and I recently did some raping of a 3rd Gen at one of the San Jose locations. We've taken both plenums, the right front fender, both CV axles, both lower control arms, both steering knuckles, the radiator fan, and a dust cover for the front axle.

It's pretty fun ripping apart a vehicle but you have to watch your shit. There are some sketchy dudes trolling the isles and many aren't carrying any tools which leads me to believe they might be ripping off people's tools while a person is busy pulling parts off a vehicle. We brought the GoPro on our last trip and are going to make a video of the "Pick and Pull Experience".

 

[mtbtim]

I know this is why it was so hard for me to read this coming from you. 99% of these threads are a Jeep guy trolling us. It was a VERY HARD PILL to choke down when I read this.

Nothing is BULLETPROOF. NOT EVEN BULLETPROOF ARMOR!

That being said I was not mad at you. But just mad at what the thread was about because its usually a trolling thread.

Just for you buddy I'm closing the thread but will leave it up another day before deleting it. The comments were good and maybe some more people would like to read it before it goes into the trash bin.

I feel better now. Thanks everyone for the comments. There's lots of good dudes on this forum.