buying a 1996 T4r Limited with 190,000 miles

[Drcoffee]

I pulled a car fax and it has some of the best maitenance records I've seen on a vehicle. Everything has been done at the stealership including the starter motor just 20k miles ago. The TB & water pump was changed at 135,000 so I've got lots of time on that still. The question I have is at 135,000 miles the dealer flushed the transmission and radiator. I know that can be a red flag for strawberry milkshake transmission but the seller tells me it was just routine maintenance. I guess I believe her for two reasons. If it was a broken radiator, it would have said replaced radiator with everything else. And the truck has been driven another 60,000 miles with no mention of transmission issues since the flush. Does that logic make sense?

Will these trucks go beyond 200K miles or is that the odd truck that goes longer? What else should I pay close attention to when I go inspect and drive the truck?

Thanks for helping the new guy out. This will be my first Toyota although I'm not new to vehicle maintenance. I do as much as I can DIY. In fact one of the first items will be a new radiator and Taco ball joints. What brand of radiator do you recommend. I looked at "Becool" and they don't have an application for the 4runner.

 

[Bigmikelakers]

Hmmm that does sound fishy. You cant really trust people in this day and age. It could have had the milkshake but who knows. But, if it has 190k miles it may not have had it because usually the transmission goes out between 10-15k miles after the milkshake from what I read on this forum and others. Anyway, I hear guys who replace their radiators tend to get Koyo Radiators. In a few weeks, I'm just going to get a new OEM radiator though.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

At 190,000 with good maintenance history, it's still a baby. It'll go for a long while to come.

Look for rust, then look for rust and then look for rust again. Look everywhere, frame, body, bumpers, engine bay, pinch welds on the body panels, door jambs under the weather stripping, etc.

You know the maintenance history already so just check all the fluids to make sure they look and smell right. Listen to it when you test drive it.

You actually only have about another 30K miles before it's due for a TB/Water Pump again.

Check the back of the back wheels for signs of an axle seal leak. Check the ball joints and tie rods for play. Check the steering rack for leaks and noise. Check the rear heater lines for leaks. Check all the switches and electronics.

All in all, they're great trucks. Just spend sometime looking it over, make a list of things to check and take it with you.

 

[Drcoffee]

I don't have the owners manual. Does it recommend a flush at 130,000 miles? I'm curious if the factory/dealer suggests a flush of the trans and radiator at a given pitstop. Could someone look at there manual for me?

The only rust I'm aware of is forward of the front left wheel coming from under the fender flare. Its about 2" in size so a little attention right away to slow it down will be needed.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

If the flush was at 130K and it's at 190K now, I wouldn't worry too much about it. I doubt it would go another 60K after the milkshake and if it has, it's fine.

 

[AZ4FNER]

The mileage didn't scare me away from mine, I bought with 197K and just flipped 200K last weekend.

I did some preventative maintainence over the holidays...

Koyo radiator 1998A
B&M tranny cooler 70264
Replaced OEM LBJ's - thought about the Taco mod, but decided not to spend the extra for OTR's.
Fuel Filter

I would have done the TB/water pump if it had not been changed at 150K.

I'm expecting to get 300K out of mine, should be no problem if you keep up the maintainence.

 

[Ian97]

I flush my tranny fluid and radiator every couple of years just to be on the safe side and I haven't had the pink milkshake yet....just preventative maint on my part....people still do that these days....it just makes your 4Runner last longer in my opinion....mine has 172k one owner miles on it.....still runs like it should....

-Ian