Hi Everyone: I am thinking of buying a 2003 4Runner Limited and am not sure if I looked at everything I should have. I took it for a test drive yesterday and everything seemed to be ok. According to Carfax, it is a one owner, 86k mile,accident free vehicle. I had a 99 T4R that seemed to drive much more "trucky" than this one. There are a lot more bells in this one than the 99. I just want to make sure I am not overlooking anything. It did lurch when it was in low 4WD. Thanks...
Buying 2003 T4R
- Thread starter jm47
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V8Man
Member
Where is Home?
What part of the country are you located. Different areas seam to have comman things to look for depending were you area or where the truck is from.
What part of the country are you located. Different areas seam to have comman things to look for depending were you area or where the truck is from.
03v8raleigh
New member
wow that is extremely low mileage for the age. I'm guessing around $15,000..? anything that low miles would be sold instantly in my area (Raleigh).
If it's a V8, they need a timing belt job (~$800) at 90,000 miles so ask if that's been done. Irrelevant if a v6. Having a mechanic look at it/drive it will be the best bet so that's good that you are doing that.
If it's a V8, they need a timing belt job (~$800) at 90,000 miles so ask if that's been done. Irrelevant if a v6. Having a mechanic look at it/drive it will be the best bet so that's good that you are doing that.
No worries, it takes a bit of time to find your way around. It sounds like a good option! Hope you found a good one, the key in my opinion is past mainenence.
Thank you
Thanks to everyone for all your input. I am located just north of Boston. The seller is asking $10.5k (firm) for the vehicle. I found it on Car Gurus. It's a V6 so it won't need a timing belt. The tires are Bridgestones(I think) with a decent amount of tread. Not a whole lot of history with service records on the Carfax. Pics are available if you google Atlantis Auto Framingham Ma. I've put a refundable down payment on it. I bought my '99 in '08 with about the same amount of miles for $8500. It was a great truck until someone blew through a stop sign and totaled it. That truck was nine years old when I got it. This one is thirteen. That is a concern. Edmunds has a bunch of reviews for 03s and everyone seems to love theirs. I also had a brand new '90 until the rust got to it at 250k miles...
Thanks to everyone for all your input. I am located just north of Boston. The seller is asking $10.5k (firm) for the vehicle. I found it on Car Gurus. It's a V6 so it won't need a timing belt. The tires are Bridgestones(I think) with a decent amount of tread. Not a whole lot of history with service records on the Carfax. Pics are available if you google Atlantis Auto Framingham Ma. I've put a refundable down payment on it. I bought my '99 in '08 with about the same amount of miles for $8500. It was a great truck until someone blew through a stop sign and totaled it. That truck was nine years old when I got it. This one is thirteen. That is a concern. Edmunds has a bunch of reviews for 03s and everyone seems to love theirs. I also had a brand new '90 until the rust got to it at 250k miles...
Read up on the 4th gen V6 head gasket issues in the early 4runners (2003 - 2005). Lots of folks on this forum have had their head gaskets fail on them in their early build 4th Gens.
Ensure that there are no check engine lights on. Perhaps get a code reader and check the system for any stored error codes. P0306 comes to mind.
If everything else checks out, you could always pick it up cheap and then just have a side budget just in case it fails.
Ensure that there are no check engine lights on. Perhaps get a code reader and check the system for any stored error codes. P0306 comes to mind.
If everything else checks out, you could always pick it up cheap and then just have a side budget just in case it fails.
BRUIN8124
New member
WOW! I SAY GO FOR IT!
My 03 has been great!
Most of the 03's seemed to have avoided the V6 Head Gasket and Back window shatter issues that seem to plague the later 4th gens.
Make sure to check underneath for rust. If it was incredibly rusty, that would be a deal breaker for me.
Good luck!
My 03 has been great!
Most of the 03's seemed to have avoided the V6 Head Gasket and Back window shatter issues that seem to plague the later 4th gens.
Make sure to check underneath for rust. If it was incredibly rusty, that would be a deal breaker for me.
Good luck!
Thank you again
I will mention to the mechanic that's going to look at the vehicle about the head gasket and the rust. What I saw under the truck didn't look too bad. The only mechanical issues were a very slight ticking sound when the truck was started which went away as the engine warmed up. The other issue was the lurching in low 4wd on drive pavement which I probably shouldn't have done. Again, thanks to everyone for all of your great posts!
I will mention to the mechanic that's going to look at the vehicle about the head gasket and the rust. What I saw under the truck didn't look too bad. The only mechanical issues were a very slight ticking sound when the truck was started which went away as the engine warmed up. The other issue was the lurching in low 4wd on drive pavement which I probably shouldn't have done. Again, thanks to everyone for all of your great posts!
DisguisedRope
New member
The V6 does have a characteristic tick to it from what I've read and heard on mine.
Kaptainswanky
New member
Best bet would be to hold out for a 2005+ (refresh model) and a v8 if you can find one!
Pics
www.atlantisauto.com/inventory Its the third one down. I don't know how to hyper link. Sorry. Let me know what you think. Thanks...
www.atlantisauto.com/inventory Its the third one down. I don't know how to hyper link. Sorry. Let me know what you think. Thanks...
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2003-4x4runner
New member
I agree with BRUIN, I also have a 03 with just over 167K miles on it and runs great. From what I've seen and read about the V6 Head Gasket issues is that they were mostly on the 04, 05 and a few 06 model years. But you should have your mechanic check it out just in case.
I have a 2003 V8 with 160K. It drives as well today as the day I drove it off the dealer lot. I think the engine is bedded in now and I'm planning for another 160K. As long as it checks out with your mechanic, and the rust is under control, you should be fine.
If it has XREAS, plan to replace that at some point.
If it has XREAS, plan to replace that at some point.
