Buying guide for Gen2 4R?

[Red]

Hi,

Im still on the hunt for my first 4Runner, I've looked at a few so far and Im about to go look at a 1993 SR5 3.0l 4x4 5speed.

Is there any specific areas of the truck I should inspect when I go to see it? any typical problems with 4Runners of that year?
I am going to test drive it of course but I dont think I'll be able to get it inspected until after I buy it (if I do) because the owner is in the hospital with no insurance on the truck at the moment.

anyways, I've heard it run and it fired up instantly with no hesitation and ran smoothly, no blue smoke out of the tail pipe.

anyways, if anyone has any tips, I'd appreciate it. Im just trying to find the best 4Runner I can for the amount of money I am spending because I plan on driving it for a long long time.

 

[Sidney]

The 3VZE engine used in about 60% of the 1988-95 Toyota 4-Runners and pickups.The 3VZE had the following problems:

1)headgasket issues
2)idler bearings (for timing belt) tend to seize
3)bad fuel economy,sluggish in city and highway
4)engine bay full with engine and parts so difficult to work in and around engine
5)valves/lifters need special tools to adjust and a bit difficult
6)engine not as reliable as 22R-E
7)ordinary replacement parts or modified performance parts are not as common as the 22R-E

First see if headgasket was replaced under the recall (Toyota calls it "service campaign or adjusment"),you can get full maintenance from any Toyota dealership for free provided the present owner signs a privacy disclosure agreement (Privacy Act of Canada).If headgasket wasn't replaced see links at bottom of this thread.

Check back fenders and frame for deep rust by taking a hammer tapping the back frame, do a fluid analysis on engine oil by buying a fluid/oil analysis kit from any Caterpillar dealer's parts dept or some heavy duty shops this test will tell you how healthy the engine is, if the engine oil and radiator coolant was changed regularly on those engines you can get at least 300 000 miles.

Remove the spark plugs look at them as a picture means a thousand words if it has a manual tranny park the vehicle on a hill facing downwards put the tranny in first gear and shut it off, don't use parking brake or foot break if the vehicle holds itself well in first your engines piston rings are great conclusion you have high compression (no leakage past the rings),also while engine is running remove oil filler cap and see if you have blow by, a healthy engine should have a vacuum effect when palm of your hand is placed on oil filler cap.

Finally if you have a portable air compressor perform a leak down test on the engine, for more info Google it.
By the way find out where the guy works which would tell you if it has highway miles or city miles.Pull the ECU codes.

Here are some good starters if you buy it:

1)Check all 6 spark plugs,rotor & distributor cap
2)Clean throttle body
3)Replace front (exhaust/front pipe)oxygen sensor
4)Replace alternator carbon brushes
5)Replace starter copper contacts
6)Lube brake bleeder screws,other parts including rubber suspension parts & spare tire assembly
7)Check 5 speed manual tranny pilot shift lever bushing & seat for excesssive wear and in auto tranny CHANGE THE FLUID to avoid shift solenoids from going bad
8)Sandblast frame specially back frames if you live in an area where it snows and road salt is used then coat frame with
http://www.por15.com

And in detail below are the above info:

Check all 6 spark plugs,rotor & distributor cap.Then clean the throttle body and replace the oxygen sensor.Also pull the ECU codes incase a part is an electronic sensor is faulty or bad wiring.
Usually excessive short trip city miles combined with low octane gasoline causes excessive carbon build up in the throttle body which does not allow sufficient airflow and hence the butterfly flap/accelerator plate to close all the way.

To clean the throttle body remove the air intake hose, examine the intake and throttle body for excessive carbon build if found then buy a can of throttle body cleaner labeled "safe on oxygen sensors,TPS's and catalytic converters" do not use carb cleaner make sure your engine is fully warmed up prior to using as when the throttle body is hot it dissolves the carbon easily and quickly.

The labels usually specify to park the vehicle at ground level (0 degrees,no inclination) and have the engine running but I disagree I instead park the vehicle on a hill facing down then shut the engine off, hold a rag below the lip of the throttle body poor the stuff and use a tooth brush.

22 Toyota head gasket & oil sludge recall sites:

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=216122
http://www.brian894x4.com/V6headgasketrecall.html
http://www.off-road.com/toyota/4runner/topqs.html
http://www.yotatech.com/~corey/4runner_faq.htm
http://www.alldata.com/recall/make/Toyota_Truck.html
http://www.alldata.com/TSB/60/94601650.html
http://www.yotarepair.com/Campaigns.html (3.4L,V6,headgasket recall)
http://home.off-road.com/~bibelheimer/3.4v6_headgasket.html (3.4L,V6,headgasket recall)
http://home.4x4wire.com/erik/t100/3.4v6_headgasket.htm
http://www.yotatech.com/f116/special-service-campaign-90-95-4runners-89-95-trucks-93-98-t100s-66901/
http://www.jasperengines.com/pdf/5SFECoolantLeaksTB.pdf
http://www.nordicgroup.us/oil.htm#Toyota Sludge
http://www.toyota.com/about/news/product/2002/04/03-1-consumer.html
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2002/04/04/toyota-sludge.htm
http://www.petitiononline.com/TMC2003/petition.html
http://groups.msn.com/ToyotaOwnersUniteforResolution/headgaskettsb.msnw
http://groups.msn.com/ToyotaOwnersUniteforResolution/headgaskets.msnw
http://www.babcox.com/editorial/ic/ic100052.htm
http://www.autosite.com/content/own/service/index.cfm/action/recalls
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9241475/

Sidney

 

[Red]

Wow Sidney,

Thats a great response to my question, I'll be sure to check all of those when I go over there to see it again. I'll just print off that post you did for reference.

I notice you're from Nova Scotia! my whole family is from Cape Breton, great people come out of that province. Thanks again for the help, I'll feel much better buying this truck after checking those things.

Take it easy, look forward to getting my 4Runner and getting some pictures up on the forums.

 

[Red]

"provided the present owner signs a privacy disclosure agreement (Privacy Act of Canada)"

Could you go into a bit more detail about this? If I find out the truck hasnt had the head gasket replaced due to the "service campaign" does this mean that after I buy the truck from this person I could go to Toyota and have them replace the head gasket for free?

Is the Privacy Disclosure Agreement only for me to find out if the head gasket was done or not before he sells it to me?

I'd just like to make sure that I do everything right incase the head gasket hasnt been done yet so I could get that done for free afterwards.

Thanks Sidney

 

[Sidney]

"provided the present owner signs a privacy disclosure agreement (Privacy Act of Canada)"

Could you go into a bit more detail about this? If I find out the truck hasnt had the head gasket replaced due to the "service campaign" does this mean that after I buy the truck from this person I could go to Toyota and have them replace the head gasket for free?

Is the Privacy Disclosure Agreement only for me to find out if the head gasket was done or not before he sells it to me?

I'd just like to make sure that I do everything right incase the head gasket hasnt been done yet so I could get that done for free afterwards.

Thanks Sidney

To find out if the headgasket was done just give your local Toyota dealership the VIN (serial #) they will not ask who you are or to show proof of ownership or anything like that,they will quickly tell you if the headgasket was replaced or not.

If the headgasket/s was not replaced and falls under the recall then the dealership is required to replace it for free for you or the old owner (present owner) and give you a free rental car while you wait.If they refuse call the Toyota Regional Customer Care Center in your area and file a complaint they will force your local dealership to comply within 48 hours:

Toyota Canada Inc
5330 Skyline Way N.E.
Calgary, Alberta T2E 6V1
Ph: 1-800-263-7640

I suggest you read the headgasket recall sites first.To get a maintenance history of the vehicle I suggest you call your local Toyota dealership and find out exactly what Privacy disclosure form they "may" want the present owner to sign,that way they can print off all of the maintenance records for that vehicle FREE of charge and you could see what was done to it.

I still say buy a 4 cylinder 22R-E instead.

Sidney

 

[Sidney]

When inquiring about headgasket recall,ask if the steering component recall was done as well.If there is a headgasket recall have them replace both idler bearings,timing belt and water pump you only pay for parts NOT LABOUR as the are replacing headgasket.
I recommend you purchase your parts from:

http://www.1sttoyotaparts.com

as they have the best prices in USA and probably the whole world.Roger is the parts guy and is an honest and decent guy.I bought a set of spark plug wires ($43.55),distributor cap ($10) and rotor ($6) for my 1995 4-Runner,4 cyl where as all Toyota dealerships in Canada wanted:

Spark plug wires=$95.10
Distributor cap=about $20
Rotor=about $14

Sidney

 

[CraigK]

I am about to purchase a Gen2 4Runner, and am looking at vehicles for sale. One nice looking example lists this info in the ad: "

SR5 4WD V6 Automatic. 116K Miles, NEW = less than 1 year old- rotors/brakes/timing belt/v-belts/exhaus/head gaskets-(due to an external leak)+MUCH MORE. ). The oil and filter were just changed as well."

The vehicle is in excellent shape, but I'm worried about potential engine damage done during the "external" leak. Seems the seller goes out of his way to specify an "external" leak. From my reading on this site, these leaks were not necessarily "external". Is there a way to quickly test for this kind of damage? Bearings?

Also, what kind of gas mileage might be typical for a 95 with AT vs. manual? Thank you.

CraigK

 

[saltrig]

If anyone has had their HG recall done within the last six months could you list the dealer that did it. I'm struggling to get my done and I think it would help my case if I could show that dealers were still honoring this recall. Thanks all.