Crazy 2nd gen find

[OzarkCreeker]

I had been shopping for a vehicle a little more functional than my landcruiser and still 4wd. The cruiser is over the top and not practical for everyday driving. I ran across an old runner sitting outside this local used lot at about midnight , it wasnt out yet but i knew it would be curbside soon. I stopped in the next day and asked for the keys and gave him mine as collateral.

This thing was too good to be true, it only had 65k miles and a clear car fax with dealer servicing its entire lifetime. I guess grandpa owned it and kept it in the garage for sunday driving or deer camp once a year. It already had an aftermarket bocar Al winch bumper and an aftermarket rear with towing package. The engine fired right up and idled like a champ.

The bad:

Gears stripped in the antenna, loud!
k&n had an aluminum housing that was loud due to loose screws
tires were old
stock radio and blown speakers
loose shifter
hole in exhaust
alignment off

I took it to my buddies shop and threw it on the lift, and then had other buddies take a look at it just to be sure i didnt miss anything.

I ended up giving my other car for it, and havent looked back since.

here's some porn:
:girl:

 

[OzarkCreeker]

I took it on a 40 mile snow ride the week i got it, with no problems besides needing new tires.
In the downtime between rides i threw on a new exhaust and put in a new head unit.

I had a bad vibration that i thought was due to tire balance. I had them rotate and balance (HORRIBLE IDEA) the old duelers. a few days later on the way down the interstate i had a strange feeling about the vibration i was feeling and pulled off just in time. Within 5 miles of cruising slow i had developed a horrible gallop and found i had separated 3 tires!

Called the local tire shops the next day and had to get these special ordered in from little rock on my only day off.

more porn:

 

[ChoochCharlie]

I'm digging the Runner and the Cruiser. Sweet rides.

FYI, be prepared for the head gasket and other typical 4Runner issues that come with a low mile rig. Trust me, mine was 92k when I got it.

 

[OzarkCreeker]

I've heard some stories about it. What about power steering?

 

[Jamesd]

The head gasket is going to blow!!! Trust me it will!! Nice 4runner though. So you traded your 60 for a 2nd gen 4Runner? If so I think the dealer got the better deal from what I see. Good luck on your 4Runner but I think the 60 is/was bad-ass!!

James

 

[OzarkCreeker]

James sir, u may be a dumb @$$. I traded an old car for it. The 60 is still safe and sound in the shop, which pisses my wife off because her 5th gen runner sleeps outside. Now what's this head gasket talk, I know plenty of people with this same motor and haven't had problems, in fact I've seen them be pretty hard on them. That black one in the snow pic has 300k.

 

[ChoochCharlie]

Nope. The 3.0 will blow its head. Might as well plan the change now before it blows. It was a defect that was a recall for many years, but it's too late for you, and me when mine went.
The new replacement gasket is reinforced and works great. Just schedule and budget the shop time. DIY, it's a weekend for a skilled shade tree machanic. Shop repair, about $600-1000. Worth it though.
Better start reading this forum. Welcome to the club.

 

[OzarkCreeker]

.

thanks alot for the input. is there any possible way to get toyota to uphold this recall still? i remember when i found my 60 had a tank recall, the dealers looked at me like i was crazy when i asked for the new tank. I ended up having to buy a parted out tank and change it out while the old tank was full.. talk about fun.

I havent noticed anything unusual besides a very loud groany powersteering pump and a rattle in the cargo area that is annoying. anyone else had these issues?

Josh

 

[the_dingman]

This thread went south fast.

Nice truck, sorry people are bashing instead of helping.

The 3.0 head gasket is a known issue, and though the mileage is low, if it's been dealer maintained, it may have already been done. If not, from everything I hear the recall does not have a time limit and can still be done. Call or stop at a dealer and they can look it up with your VIN.

There's a lot of negativity toward the 3VZE here mainly due to how reliable the 22RE is and the head gasket issue. It's still a good engine, and maintenance is what will make the difference.

Keep us informed on what Toyota says.

 

[99blackSE]

This thread went south fast.

Nice truck, sorry people are bashing instead of helping.

The 3.0 head gasket is a known issue, and though the mileage is low, if it's been dealer maintained, it may have already been done. If not, from everything I hear the recall does not have a time limit and can still be done. Call or stop at a dealer and they can look it up with your VIN.

There's a lot of negativity toward the 3VZE here mainly due to how reliable the 22RE is and the head gasket issue. It's still a good engine, and maintenance is what will make the difference.

Keep us informed on what Toyota says.

I think the 22RE has its share of problems as well; lousy timing chain guides and they blow head gaskets themselves too.

 

[ChoochCharlie]

No bashin from me... at least I did not mean to. Sorry if it came across that way.
4Runners are the best, and even with the motor issues. It is just a reality check that the head gaskets will go, they all do. Mine was not honored with the recall, 15 years too late.

We're all family here. and we all love the Runners.

 

[the_dingman]

I think the 22RE has its share of problems as well; lousy timing chain guides and they blow head gaskets themselves too.

The chain guides weren't a huge deal, as if you were following the maintinence schedule, you'd replace the chain before they ever broke.

 

[Robdawg]

Charlie I just picked up a 92 3.0 with 317K and the guy mentioned the HG blown. I popped a fresh battery in and after 5 minutes of cranking she fired up but alot of white smoke!, I thought the nieghbors were going to call the F.D. I had a 93 3.0 that had 225K before that blew. I think you scored with your find! I'd keep them both:cheers:

 

[Jamesd]

James sir, u may be a dumb @$$. I traded an old car for it. The 60 is still safe and sound in the shop, which pisses my wife off because her 5th gen runner sleeps outside. Now what's this head gasket talk, I know plenty of people with this same motor and haven't had problems, in fact I've seen them be pretty hard on them. That black one in the snow pic has 300k.

I'm just letting you know the chances the head gasket will fail is pretty good. Do a search on here, Yotatech and TToRA about the head gasket. Recall is still good but if the dealer already did it then your SOL, you will have to pay to get it repaired. The 4Runner you see in my avatar had the head gasket replaced under recall and it went again just this winter so even if it has been repaired, it still can go.

James

 

[OzarkCreeker]

I called the dealer today and found that the hg was replaced @ 40k miles in 2001 the runner has 66k as of today. There is however another steering recall that I'll be getting fixed tomorrow.

Having owned a 60 for a while, working on vehicles doesn't scare me.

Josh

 

[Jamesd]

I called the dealer today and found that the hg was replaced @ 40k miles in 2001 the runner has 66k as of today. There is however another steering recall that I'll be getting fixed tomorrow.

Having owned a 60 for a while, working on vehicles doesn't scare me.

Josh

The 3.0 head gasket repair is not a hard job to do. The hardest part is the exhaust bolts since they snap or strip but that may not be a problem since you live down south and I live in salty NY.

James

 

[rumme]

I just bought a used 1995 4runner - 4w.d. auto V6 ....with 155,000 miles on it....the engine is clean as a pin...

I payed $2200 for it..

when I got it home, I called toyota with my VIN # ..they said my 4runner was made in Jan. 1995 and it did not have head gasket problem/recall...but it did have the steering recall [ and it was fixed under warranty in 2006}

so just because its a 1995 4runner, doesnt neccessarily mean it had the faulty head gasket problem...call toyota and give them your vin# and maybe you will get lucky like I did.

 

[ChoochCharlie]

Not really. It just means that yours isn't covered in the recall, like mine. Same call, same info from the service manager and the website, but my head gasket blew at 92k.
Just remember, these are 16 to 21 year old trucks we have. The recall is the least of our concerns.
Just be happy your truck is as sweet as it is, and the negative of the head gaskets is worth it.

 

[boscounderfoot]

Don't let guys like JamesD and the other naysayers rain on your parade, that's an excellent find. If the vehicle was properly maintained and taken care of, it should go a long time without any issues. 65k is nothing for that truck. My 3.0 has over 250k and NO head gasket issues, ever, and they've never been replaced either. If the recall was taken care of you shouldn't have any issues at all provided you continue to take care of the truck and maintain it properly. If the recall hasn't been done, you my friend have a free head gasket replacement awaiting you when it's needed.
..........On a completely separate note, I would highly suggest replacing the timing belt if that hasn't already been done yet.


Nice rig!!