Cheap 4Runner that Needs Wiring Harness

[Koko4]

I found a 4Runner about 1.5 hours away from me - it's a '97, Limited, with over 300k miles. The guy has had it since it had 90k, and has all maintenance receipts since that time. It's an automatic and a 4x4. The body and interior look good, BUT the problem is with the wiring harness.

The guy says that while his daughter was driving it, a clipboard fell between the passenger seat and door, onto the switch for the seat. She saw smoke coming up from the floor and shut off the car. Apparently the metal of the clipboard shorted out some wires, but did not trip the fuse. The father came, picked up the car, and drove it home - parked it and disassembled that part of the trim, to start pulling burnt wires. There are also melted wires going into the dash (per the mechanic).

Said his mechanic quoted him 20 hours to replace the entire wiring harness, but the harness was a relatively cheap part.

I may be able to get this for around $800, and trailer it to my home. From there, I *think* the easiest thing would be to find a donor harness and just pull-and-swap, one-by-one.

Am I underestimating the ease / simplicity of this job? It would have the be a very specific harness for the 1997 LIMITED, right (since it has the seat controls, and other nifty gadgets that came with the Limited package). OR did all the 4Runners use the same harness, and have the same connectors (just unused in other trims?).

If it were you, would you pull a donor harness or would you buy new? Should I even think about this project?

 

[wc11]

Have you verified that the burnt wires are all the way into the dash?
Seem unusual.
Also how many wires burnt? You may just be able to splice in new wires depending on the quantity.

 

[Koko4]

Have you verified that the burnt wires are all the way into the dash?
Seem unusual.
Also how many wires burnt? You may just be able to splice in new wires depending on the quantity.

Nope - I haven't seen it in person, I've just emailed him back and forth once and got that reply. I feel like that's a possibility, especially since it ran / drove after the "short" happened. Does this even seem plausible? I've never seen something like this before.

He said that before the short, the sunroof didn't work, and the radio was glitchy. Here's the ad:

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/4924298573.html

 

[MONTYMTB]

I saw this ad the other day. Something about it just sounds fishy to me. I know nothing about electrical or wiring, but don't really understand how that could happen by just a clipboard falling on the switch. Plus, who knows what other type of electrical gremlins you might be dealing with from this situation.

 

[Brveagle]

It's amazing how non electrical people can tear up a wiring harness so fast.

If that was local, i'd pick it up. Shouldn't be too difficult to find the culprit of the burnt wiring and go from there.

 

[UnderFire]

But, there's no exposed wiring in that area...

To answer one of your questions, the power seat wiring will only be there if the truck had power seats, that is not one of the things that was there regardless.

 

[LookAtThatDog]

Weird story?

Buy it, fix it, and keep us updated! op2:

 

[cfranck1]

Good thing that the VIN is from a 99 Camry too!

 

[Koko4]

I have never seen a Limited 4Runner, so I guess I just ASSUMED that what he told me was accurate. Is there ANY way that you guys know of to drop a clipboard in that area, cause a short, and burn up wires?

Sure sound weird to me, as well. And yeah, I tried running the VIN that was provided on Craigslist and it was for a '99 Camry..I emailed the guy to see if maybe he typed it in wrong.

What do you guys think? Too many holes / missing pieces in this story? Or is it worth a go?

 

[LookAtThatDog]

I have never seen a Limited 4Runner, so I guess I just ASSUMED that what he told me was accurate. Is there ANY way that you guys know of to drop a clipboard in that area, cause a short, and burn up wires?

Sure sound weird to me, as well. And yeah, I tried running the VIN that was provided on Craigslist and it was for a '99 Camry..I emailed the guy to see if maybe he typed it in wrong.

What do you guys think? Too many holes / missing pieces in this story? Or is it worth a go?

What would be the worst case? Engine is toast? So you'd have bought a blown motor shell for 800$? Tires look decent and I assume there's no rust since you're in Georgia. I don't hate the idea. I'd feel more comfortable at $500

 

[Koko4]

What would be the worst case? Engine is toast? So you'd have bought a blown motor shell for 800$? Tires look decent and I assume there's no rust since you're in Georgia. I don't hate the idea. I'd feel more comfortable at $500

I would feel more comfortable there also - he has it listed for $1,200 but said another guy offered him $800, who wanted to part it out. I'm assuming that's the lowest he would take, cash-in-hand if I showed up with a trailer.

 

[UnderFire]

I have never seen a Limited 4Runner, so I guess I just ASSUMED that what he told me was accurate. Is there ANY way that you guys know of to drop a clipboard in that area, cause a short, and burn up wires?

Sure sound weird to me, as well. And yeah, I tried running the VIN that was provided on Craigslist and it was for a '99 Camry..I emailed the guy to see if maybe he typed it in wrong.

What do you guys think? Too many holes / missing pieces in this story? Or is it worth a go?

Not a chance it was just typed wrong IMO, the vins are very different.

First 3 on the 4Runner are usually JT3, and the 10th would be V, not X.

That's at least 4 Typos right there, way too sketchy sounding for me, I wouldn't touch it.

 

[Nelsonmd]

Yeah, seems fishy to me. Those wires should have been covered by a hard plastic piece, I can't see how to slam a clip board in the door and short out all that stuff. And seriously, a couple burned wires and it's basically totaled? I don't buy it. Just splice in a couple new wires, no need to replace the entire harness.

 

[jeremyc74]

Yeah, seems fishy to me. Those wires should have been covered by a hard plastic piece, I can't see how to slam a clip board in the door and short out all that stuff. And seriously, a couple burned wires and it's basically totaled? I don't buy it. Just splice in a couple new wires, no need to replace the entire harness.

Not to mention the fact that the fuse should have blown way before the wires started melting. I'd say there's more to the story.

 

[kolelt]

Correct me if I'm wrong. I don't think engine harness is very expensive ? Around $250-$300 brand new. Or get used from car-parts.com.

 

[Brique]

I smell fish. Flood truck, maybe?

 

[Koko4]

VIN: JT3HN87R1V0076166

It was originally from Pennsylvania (corporate vehicle) then came to GA (fleet vehicle), then got a lien on it in 2001, reported STOLEN 12/2002, recovered 4 days later, purchased by current owner in 2003, and last registered in July 2013. Sounds like it's been off of the road since much longer than last Fall...

 

[Koko4]

Any thoughts on the CarFax info?

 

[wc11]

Starting to sound like a salvage scenario.
Maybe the harnesses were chewed up by mice?
Looks more and more like a stay away case.

 

[DocW8494]

If you have never done a wiring harness, stay away! I've done a harness on a ratrod, not too difficult, but add some power windows and other power items, and you might have yourself a nice looking T4R that just sits.
It's an undertaking not for the faint of heart.