Buying a high mileage 4runner, verson 4,000,000

[TcH3rd]

I know this topic has been ask time and time again, but I want to ask anyway.

I'm thinking of buying a 2004 SR5 4runner with 151k miles. It is a 2 owner truck and was in one accident. CarFax and Toyota Service history are pretty good. I think there are Toyota service records up to 140k miles.

I looked at it in person and test drove and it all seemed good. I'm just worried about making a truck with 151k my daily driver. I've also watched the price drop from $7500, to $7422, to $6999. I'm very tempted to just offer $5500 and see if they take it.

Do I really have anything to worry about? My mind tells me there is plenty to worry about, especially the head gasket. There is also the 4x4 actuator, but what other big ticket items would start to fail? I figure that bushings and other suspension part will need to be replaced.

Could I get this truck to last another 5 years? If I drive about 15k a year we are looking at 226k by the end. I was able to get around 275k out of my old VW without too much trouble, but I bought that thing new.

Help me t4r.org, your my only hope!

 

[kcdehart]

Bought mine with 159k on it almost a year ago. It's at 172k now and going very strong still.

Do as many headgasket inspections as you can. Also be sure to check under it for rust. Particularly around the area where it was repaired after the accident.

Assuming there aren't headgasket or rust issues, I'm sure it'll last you 5 years.

 

[metramm]

I was just about to mention the head gasket issue. If it is 4x4 (assuming its a v6) make sure that it shifts from 2Hi to 4HI to 4Low without issues and that the center diff lock works as it should.

The visor has a card on how to shift it properly.

I wouldn't worry too much about the mileage on these. If it is well maintained, they will go for a long time.

 

[Inv4drZm]

I know this topic has been ask time and time again, but I want to ask anyway.

I'm thinking of buying a 2004 SR5 4runner with 151k miles. It is a 2 owner truck and was in one accident. CarFax and Toyota Service history are pretty good. I think there are Toyota service records up to 140k miles.

I looked at it in person and test drove and it all seemed good. I'm just worried about making a truck with 151k my daily driver. I've also watched the price drop from $7500, to $7422, to $6999. I'm very tempted to just offer $5500 and see if they take it.

Do I really have anything to worry about? My mind tells me there is plenty to worry about, especially the head gasket. There is also the 4x4 actuator, but what other big ticket items would start to fail? I figure that bushings and other suspension part will need to be replaced.

Could I get this truck to last another 5 years? If I drive about 15k a year we are looking at 226k by the end. I was able to get around 275k out of my old VW without too much trouble, but I bought that thing new.

Help me t4r.org, your my only hope!

150k miles would actually be considered low mileage for these machines. Many people on here daily drive trucks with more perfectly fine. With normal/minimal maintenance they are known to easily make it to 300k or more.

 

[TcH3rd]

I did see some rust in the area where the accident too place, but I didn't think it was that bad. Some surface and a little flaky. It was back where the bumper meets the frame and looked like it could be cleaned up with a wire wheel and repainted. Rest of the frame look clean, for a northeast truck.

 

[boondoggle]

Not sure if you're talking V6 or V8. But when mine (V8) had about 145k miles I pulled a 2900 lb camper through the Colorado Rockies, through the crazy altitude terrain of Utah, all the way to San Diego. And back.

Not a problem.

I'm at 165k miles and plan to drive mine at least another 5 years. Might just keep it until either I die or fuel technology makes it economically obsolete.

 

[4rs]

I used to go through cars like crazy. 7 in one year. Mine has 165k on it. Crazy to me. Since I would get rid of cars after 7k. I have the money to get whatever I want. But it's such a cool truck. Therefore I decided to overhaul it and change the entire look. Now I'm kinda curious seeing how many miles I can rack on it.

 

[TcH3rd]

I used to go through cars like crazy. 7 in one year. Mine has 165k on it. Crazy to me. Since I would get rid of cars after 7k. I have the money to get whatever I want. But it's such a cool truck. Therefore I decided to overhaul it and change the entire look. Now I'm kinda curious seeing how many miles I can rack on it.

I felt the same way about the VW I had. Once I passed 175k I wanted to see just how far it would go. At 250k the AC stopped working and I ended up sell it somewhere between 260 and 275. I was tempted to see if it would make it to 300k.

I found a kind of lower mileage truck, 124k. They just dropped the price from OK to REAL good. I'm going to take it to a dealer to get looked at and I'll probably buy it.

Thanks for all of the good advice.

 

[markymark191]

Basically what everyone else said, Rust being the most important for me, but being a salvaged title would scare me away. I personally wouldn't buy one that has been in an accident but thats just me. As for the head gasket and actuator both of those have happened to me which sucks, I'm putting off the head gasket but fixed the actuator. Hopefully those are the only things I have trouble with. I am at 208,000 miles. I don't know if you are planning on lifting it and putting bigger tires on, but if you are the phrase "shoulda got a v8" is very true. I wish I did. Goodluck

 

[RDOOGZ89]

Someone here already mentioned the transfer case issue, but I will emphasize it again. If you can't shift into 4lo you are most likely going to have to replace the actuator or the transfer case itself (although there may be work-arounds). An expensive fix.

I purchased mine with 99k on the odometer and it was nearly perfect (one owner, excellent service history, no accidents, rust free, etc.) except for this issue. Luckily, the dealer selling it was an old family friend and agreed to install a new transfer case for a fraction of what it would normally cost. But I know most people cannot be as lucky.

Other than that good luck.

 

[TcH3rd]

Good to know about the actuator.

I'm currently looking at 2 4runners.

One is a black 2004 V6 SR5 with 124k.

It has had the 4x4 actuator changed recently as well as 2 trans fluid changes, coolant and power steering fluid change. The bad is that the dash is cracking, the front bumper has paint transfer and is sticking out a little and the steering wheel shakes at 60+ mph.

The other is a white 2004 V6 SR5 with 151k.

It has had the cats replaced and has the third row option. The bad is that it was in one accident, has 151k and I think has the original trans fluid.

The black truck has had the price drop low enough that I can over look the few exterior flaws it has and can get past the dash. The rest of the interior is very clean. The frame also has very little surface rust for a north east truck.

The white one is very clean inside and out. The frame has some flaky rust where it was hit. The price is low, but not as low as the black one. I might try and see if they would go as low on the price, but I'd rather have lower mileage.

I'm hoping to take the black truck to a Toyota dealer soon to have a PPI. If that goes well I'll pick it up. If not I might try and get the white one to a mechanic.

 

[meeceboy78]

I bought mine with 120k miles. i bought FOR a daily... i now have 180k on it and its not only my daily, its the family trip vehicle as well. Anything out of town it gets used and never complains one bit. also on original trans fluid (afraid to change it now) and originally water pump ( i have it, just haven't installed it yet). The only thing that's given me an issue was the neutral safety switch when i first bought it, replaced it and it was fine after that.

 

[nghiS4]

I bought mine with 120k miles. i bought FOR a daily... i now have 180k on it and its not only my daily, its the family trip vehicle as well. Anything out of town it gets used and never complains one bit. also on original trans fluid (afraid to change it now) and originally water pump ( i have it, just haven't installed it yet). The only thing that's given me an issue was the neutral safety switch when i first bought it, replaced it and it was fine after that.

Don't be afraid to do a drain/fill. A bit of fresh fluid is always a good thing. Do another at 5K, then you can wait 30K for the next (unless you'd like to do another at 5K.) The idea is gentle thinning of the original with new fluid; not a flush.

 

[nghiS4]

Bought mine 4 years ago with 130K from a Toyota dealer. I'm the 2nd owner. Original owner always had regular maintenance from the dealer every 5K. I'm at 197K now, no issues whatsoever. I'm a firm believer in regular maintenance for long-life. I'd go with regular (documented) maintenance & clean history, over miles myself.

And yes, over there on the east coast, I'd pick less rust over more rust, especially if the 4R's been in an accident.

 

[TcH3rd]

I have an appointment on Saturday to bring the black truck to a Toyota dealer to get inspected.

Maybe I'll have a new toy this weekend!?!

Glad to hear you guys are DDing and using these for family trips. Mine will definitely be bringing the family upstate to go camping. Can't wait!

 

[meeceboy78]

Don't be afraid to do a drain/fill. A bit of fresh fluid is always a good thing. Do another at 5K, then you can wait 30K for the next (unless you'd like to do another at 5K.) The idea is gentle thinning of the original with new fluid; not a flush.

Thank you for telling me that. i never thought of it in that way. i think i'm going to try it now.

 

[4flyer]

"High Mileage".

 

[kcdehart]

Good to know about the actuator.

I'm currently looking at 2 4runners.

One is a black 2004 V6 SR5 with 124k.

It has had the 4x4 actuator changed recently as well as 2 trans fluid changes, coolant and power steering fluid change. The bad is that the dash is cracking, the front bumper has paint transfer and is sticking out a little and the steering wheel shakes at 60+ mph.

The other is a white 2004 V6 SR5 with 151k.

It has had the cats replaced and has the third row option. The bad is that it was in one accident, has 151k and I think has the original trans fluid.

The black truck has had the price drop low enough that I can over look the few exterior flaws it has and can get past the dash. The rest of the interior is very clean. The frame also has very little surface rust for a north east truck.

The white one is very clean inside and out. The frame has some flaky rust where it was hit. The price is low, but not as low as the black one. I might try and see if they would go as low on the price, but I'd rather have lower mileage.

I'm hoping to take the black truck to a Toyota dealer soon to have a PPI. If that goes well I'll pick it up. If not I might try and get the white one to a mechanic.

Both look good. I, personally, would go with the black one since it's got lower miles and no accidents. Maintenance seems good on it, but unfortunately you missed the free dash replacement by Toyota by a month or so :/

Have the mechanic check out the vibration in the wheel. Could be something simple like alignment or something more like tie-rods or wheel bearings (if they're really bad). General rule of thumb: If you can feel vibrations in the steering wheel, it's coming from the front of the vehicle. If you can feel em in your butt and not the wheel, it's the rear.

And if it's vibrating all over...get out of the Jeep and back into the Toyota

Also have em look for seized brake calipers. That's probably the most prevalent issue on 4th gens.

 

[kcdehart]

"High Mileage".

People thought I was crazy for buying a car with 159k miles on it as my DD. I didn't have a second thought since it was a 4 Runner...

 

[sr5owner?]

Not to high jack this thread but how does one know if 4lo actually ingages? Are the dash lights a good indicator?
I'm looking for a V8 so it's always in 4hi.

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