Buying a new truck

[zgensler31]

im hopefully gonna go check out this 4runner tomorrow morning and get it. ive been on the forum since november when i got my last 4runner and have learned a ton from everyone on here. love this place. i checked out the buyers guide, thanks a ton to 4ripcord for that btw, but couldnt find a few things. so now i have a few questions for you.

heres the ad: **** Toyota 4runner Limited 4x4 W/ low miles****

1. the runner im going to go check out has an e-locker. i have never owned or driven anything wiht a locker so its a new subject, however i do understand what it is and how it works. but shy of going off road how does one go about testing to make sure its working properly?

2. ive read up a little on the lbj's but is there a visual test to check them out? or something i could do without it being in a shop?

3. the previous owner said he got it from a toyota dealer who had used it to deliver parts and guranteed him that it had been maintained amazingly. they marked when the timing belt/water pump was replaced, but he doesnt recall anything about the radiator. are there any visuals to see if it has been or not.

4. any other advise would be much appreciated.

thanks guys.

 

[Hatteras-surfer]

im hopefully gonna go check out this 4runner tomorrow morning and get it. ive been on the forum since november when i got my last 4runner and have learned a ton from everyone on here. love this place. i checked out the buyers guide, thanks a ton to 4ripcord for that btw, but couldnt find a few things. so now i have a few questions for you.

heres the ad: **** Toyota 4runner Limited 4x4 W/ low miles****

1. the runner im going to go check out has an e-locker. i have never owned or driven anything wiht a locker so its a new subject, however i do understand what it is and how it works. but shy of going off road how does one go about testing to make sure its working properly?

2. ive read up a little on the lbj's but is there a visual test to check them out? or something i could do without it being in a shop?

3. the previous owner said he got it from a toyota dealer who had used it to deliver parts and guranteed him that it had been maintained amazingly. they marked when the timing belt/water pump was replaced, but he doesnt recall anything about the radiator. are there any visuals to see if it has been or not.

4. any other advise would be much appreciated.

thanks guys.

Nice build good find you will enjoy

1: Put in 4Low push Elocker switch and drive forward.
lock will kick in you will see Elock notification in dash stop blinking.

2:Jack it up check for play in the tire, side to side & top and bottom.
If plays bad so are they.

3: the radiator more then likely hasn't been replaced so the first project on your list is to invest 120.00 into KOYO replacement.

 

[Nelsonmd]

You gotta search a bit, these answers are all out there already. Read the tutorial and documentation reference sticky, it has lots of info on these topics.

 

[IanB]

The LBJ's can't REALLY be tested if they are good or not, it's one of those things that if you can't prove they have already been done, you do them. It's your safety at stake here, if you read through some of the threads on LBJ failures you'll see they cause far more damage than what it costs to change them, and if it happens at high speeds it could be deadly very easily.

Change the rad as well if it's never been done, it's a lot cheaper than replacing the tranny. If you can do the work yourself it's only about $500 in parts for new OEM, plus coolant, etc. Build it into your budget. Or install an external tranny cooler and know your tranny is safe, and hope your engine doesn't overheat if it fails.

 

[JayRolla]

Good deal. I have the same truck and got it two years ago. I paid $5k and you got a lot better one. Mine has no E locker and was at 180k. But it was the best deal I could find in CO at the time. They sell for so much out here.

 

[zgensler31]

So after two weeks of talking to this guy, explaining the whole totalled my truck situation and bs, receiving a number oh photos about the truck I finally get my insurance check yesterday and make arrangements to see it this morning and planning to offer what he's asking barring anything serious finds, I get a call on the way out, hour and ahlaf drive btw, that he got an offer last night and is going to sell it. I'm so pissed right now.

 

[KHoffRunner]

So after two weeks of talking to this guy, explaining the whole totalled my truck situation and bs, receiving a number oh photos about the truck I finally get my insurance check yesterday and make arrangements to see it this morning and planning to offer what he's asking barring anything serious finds, I get a call on the way out, hour and ahlaf drive btw, that he got an offer last night and is going to sell it. I'm so pissed right now.

I know how this feels, total bs. My dad had a 98 picked out and told the guy he was gonna buy and the dude sold it right out from under us for no better price... I was pissed.

 

[WS4Runner]

Looks like a great find man, hope it works out for you!

 

[Hatteras-surfer]

So after two weeks of talking to this guy, explaining the whole totalled my truck situation and bs, receiving a number oh photos about the truck I finally get my insurance check yesterday and make arrangements to see it this morning and planning to offer what he's asking barring anything serious finds, I get a call on the way out, hour and ahlaf drive btw, that he got an offer last night and is going to sell it. I'm so pissed right now.

Bummer man sorry to hear.

 

[zgensler31]

Ok. So like three hours later I get a call from the guy. He apologizes and explains that the other guy had already seen and driven the rig and that he was begging the seller not to sell. He apologized like a hundred times and said that he hadn't heard from the other buyer yet ans was done with him, he apologized and said he would lower it to five grand, which was my goal price,

So...........

 

[PitbullRescuer]

Congrats! Glad it worked out for you.

 

[zgensler31]

yeah ill post a bunch of pics soon. but im checking out stuff for it already. lol
oh and i suppose i ought to update the signature. lol