Are replaced parts a red flag?

[Clemson]

Hello All,

I am looking exclusively for a 3rd gen 4runner. Budget is 7k. I found an ad for a nicely priced 00 with 162k. But take a look at the recent work. Is this a red flag?

New front rotors and brakes
New valve cover gaskets, cam seals, and intake gaskets
Timing belt and water pump done at 101k
New tires
Fresh wax
Interior is very clean
Exterior is good only has one dent on back gate pictured

 

[animator]

Sounds like basic maintenance. I'd only be a bit concerned if they didn't use good or OEM replacement parts. And even then, it'd only be a mild concern...

 

[csp]

Parts wear out and gaskets eventually leak.

I'd be concerned if you found a vehicle with 162k that didn't have wear parts replaced.

 

[thegipper]

The only replacement parts that would raise red flags IMO would be if they just recently replaced the radiator. It could mean that the radiator failed and had a pink milk shake (auto tranny only). Now this doesn't necessarily a PMS happened, but I would at least ask why they replaced it and look for signs of a PMS.

People do replace radiators because they crack or they are just old so it's not automatically a bad thing, you just need to ask some questions if it was replaced (or if they don't say anything about the radiator but you notice it is really new looking).

Other than that, those parts are all just maintenance stuff.

 

[Clemson]

Thank you everybody. I am a little nervous about these high millage vehicles. But they do seem to run for a long while. My plan is to try to get into a vehicle for 5-6k and ultimately plan on spending 7k by the time I replace a few things the first year.

I loved the limited trim, but those command a high price. I don't see those fall into my budget until the 175k mark. I know at that point there will be some additional maintenance expense fairly soon.

 

[T4R2014]

Sounds like a ticking time bomb. 4Runners never need maintenance.

 

[Clemson]

Sounds like a ticking time bomb. 4Runners never need maintenance.

Lol. My line of thinking was why spend money on repairs just to sell a vehicle on craigslist. Good point. Touche.

 

[MN4runnerman]

I think there should be a better acronym for pink milkshake. I mean PMS just brings out my inner snarky teenager......

 

[theesotericone]

Lol. My line of thinking was why spend money on repairs just to sell a vehicle on craigslist. Good point. Touche.

Believe it or not there are actually owners who spend money on preventive maintenance. It's a hard idea to wrap ones head around but I've seen it myself. They are few and far between but you might have actually found one of those people. lol

 

[TXLX1]

Thank you everybody. I am a little nervous about these high millage vehicles. But they do seem to run for a long while. My plan is to try to get into a vehicle for 5-6k and ultimately plan on spending 7k by the time I replace a few things the first year.

I loved the limited trim, but those command a high price. I don't see those fall into my budget until the 175k mark. I know at that point there will be some additional maintenance expense fairly soon.

Worry not, just getting broke in. 345k miles on mine and it's had a lot of parts replaced but not the engine or transmission. I don't think you are missing much with limited trim honestly. Get some good seat covers if you don't like cloth and drive on!

 

[scottydoo79]

Nothing looks odd to me. I just ordered up a radiator for my t4r. There wasn't anything wrong with mine but while I'm in there doing the timing belt its only a $100 investment for some piece of mind. I would say if your looking at a rig that nothing has been done to it then they might know that major maint is coming due or something is showing signs of neglect. And they are trying to sell it off before they have to spend $$$$. I saw this a lot when I had my auto shop. It was mostly euro cars that people would by and they couldn't believe how cheap they got the car for. Then they get the list of the repairs needed :redbrick:

 

[Clemson]

Nothing looks odd to me. I just ordered up a radiator for my t4r. There wasn't anything wrong with mine but while I'm in there doing the timing belt its only a $100 investment for some piece of mind. I would say if your looking at a rig that nothing has been done to it then they might know that major maint is coming due or something is showing signs of neglect. And they are trying to sell it off before they have to spend $$$$. I saw this a lot when I had my auto shop. It was mostly euro cars that people would by and they couldn't believe how cheap they got the car for. Then they get the list of the repairs needed :redbrick:

Thank you. I did not grow up maintaining/repairing vehicles. I sit at a desk for 10 hours a day. I am trying to learn as much as possible reading here and watching youtube videos. The last thing I want to do is buy someone else's problem.

10-4 on the Euro cars. My wife has a 328i and when something needs to be replaced it is never cheap. Luckily it has been trouble free for the most part.