Considering purchasing a 2003 Limited 4wd...what to look out for?

[CueBall]

Hi all. First post in this forum although I've lurked on and off since I began looking for a 4runner a few months ago. I found a silver/grey 03 Limited 4wd at a local Carmax that has 29k miles. The vehicle is in fantastic shape for the most part. The interior and exterior were flawless. I test drove it yesterday and noticed that a creaking sound was coming from the driver's side rear suspension. Carmax will service the car Monday morning and I'll take it for another test drive, but what should I specifically be looking for when evaluating this vehicle? I've read of drive shaft problems with the 03? I didn't notice the rotten egg catalytic converter smell....

AVIC z1 will be the first mod :bigok:

 

[Ghostface80]

When you take it for a test drive and resting at a light or stop sign, try holding down the brakes. Since turning the 4runner into electronic throttle, it seems early 4th gens seem to have a sinking brake that goes down to the floor or close to it with not much pressure. The master tech at Longo Toyota (biggest dealership in the nation) said this is completely normal and it's just a matter of "feel". The "feel" was changed in later model years to be closer to that of a hydraulic system. This is something that has bugged me since I got my '03 a couple months ago, just make sure that it is something you can live with.

 

[mikestang]

Try shopping in a city area and get one that's never been off-road. Mine had 39k miles on it and you could tell by looking in the wheel wells that it had never seen even a gravel road before.

 

[CueBall]

Thanks for the replies. Turns out the creaking sound was the suspension. Carmax actually sent the car to a local Toyota dealer to replace with OEM Toyota parts. I'll probably test drive it again on Friday.

 

[khaug]

-Make sure the catalytic converter has been replaced and the ECU reprogrammed (This was a recall to fix terrible sulfur odor from exhaust on hard acceleration).

-Early '03s had creaky seats, fixable by lubrication.

-Be sure to lube the 6 Zerk fittings on the drive shafts (slip yoke and u-joints) at each oil change.

For a first-year build, I've been hugely impressed with our '03. Problems have been very minimal.

Oh yeah, check to be sure the trailer hitch drawbar fits the receiver - a problem with very early '03s like ours.

We have 60K miles on our '03. What a great truck!!!!

 

[CueBall]

So, we picked the car up Sunday and we love it.

One question though. I've noticed that, after I come to a stop (at a traffic light for example), the car seems to shift a little hard once I take my foot off the brake and I'm in the process of stepping on the accelerator. It feels a bit "notchy". I can feel it through the pedal. Is this normal? My other car is a manual, so I don't know if this is normal for a 4wd SUV? At first, I thought it was the brake calipers releasing, but it feels like its coming from the center of the car. I can't tell if it's the transmission or one of the differentials. This only happens during a stop. During regular driving it's very smooth.

 

[khaug]

So, we picked the car up Sunday and we love it.

One question though. I've noticed that, after I come to a stop (at a traffic light for example), the car seems to shift a little hard once I take my foot off the brake and I'm in the process of stepping on the accelerator. It feels a bit "notchy". I can feel it through the pedal. Is this normal? My other car is a manual, so I don't know if this is normal for a 4wd SUV? At first, I thought it was the brake calipers releasing, but it feels like its coming from the center of the car. I can't tell if it's the transmission or one of the differentials. This only happens during a stop. During regular driving it's very smooth.

If what you're describing is an almost soundless "thud" when you come to a stop and then release the brakes, the first thing I'd do is get under the truck and carefully lube the slip yokes (one each on the front and rear driveshaft). Give each slip yoke Zerk 4-6 pumps, and use NGLI-2 grease containing Moly Disulfide. While you're there, give each u-joint a pump or two of grease. That's a total of six fittings that should be lubed.

Valvoline makes a synthetic grease with moly disulfide that's ideal for the slip yokes and u-joints. If the grease fittings don't get regularly lubed, the slip yokes will start binding, producing the "thud" I'm talking about.

If your slip yokes have been neglected for a long time, you may have to repeat the lubrication process once or twice after driving the truck to distribute the grease. Don't go wild and give the Zerks 10-15 shots at once, as this can "hydrolock" the slip yoke which produces the same symptoms as dryness.

Our '03 is as smooth as glass. Best powertrain I've ever owned.

 

[CueBall]

Thanks man. Between your post and the thread(s) in the maintenance subforum, looks like I'll be buying a grease gun (or two) and lith/moly lith grease on the way home today

 

[Ghostface80]

excellent advice khaug.. I sometimes have this "thud" also