Extremely worn out leather on Limited 3rd Gen

C

californium90

New member
Hello Guys, I just bought this beauty off eBay and plan on picking it up next week. Decent price for the way the vehicle sits and I am going to use it as a daily driver driving about 150 miles per day back and forth from work and back. I have looked up everything that I need to do for preventative maintenance as soon as I get the truck in hand. My concern is that the two front leather seats are totally worn out. What route would you guys suggest? Putting on seat covers and sucking it up or replacing the leather? I have a guy who can replace the leather if I can get it for him and in the process will put in heated seats in there for me as well!
Take a look and give me your suggestions please and can someone advise me as to where I can buy new leather for the seats? Thank You!
Here is the link to the vehicle I ended up purchasing!
1999 Toyota 4Runner Limited Sport Utility 4-Door
PS. I also have a 2016 4Runner Limited that the wife drives but this one just caught my eye and I think will be a great replacement for my 2003 mercury grand marquis daily driver!
 
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californium90 said:
Hello Guys, I just bought this beauty off eBay and plan on picking it up next week. Decent price for the way the vehicle sits and I am going to use it as a daily driver driving about 150 miles per day back and forth from work and back. I have looked up everything that I need to do for preventative maintenance as soon as I get the truck in hand. My concern is that the two front leather seats are totally worn out. What route would you guys suggest? Putting on seat covers and sucking it up or replacing the leather? I have a guy who can replace the leather if I can get it for him and in the process will put in heated seats in there for me as well!
Take a look and give me your suggestions please and can someone advise me as to where I can buy new leather for the seats? Thank You!
Here is the link to the vehicle I ended up purchasing!
1999 Toyota 4Runner Limited Sport Utility 4-Door
PS. I also have a 2016 4Runner Limited that the wife drives but this one just caught my eye and I think will be a great replacement for my 2003 mercury grand marquis daily driver!
Click to expand...

If you wind up having new leather put on, I'll buy the old seat bottom leather from you. Your seats are roached but they are still better than mine. Just fold them up and throw in a large USPS flat rate box (if they fit) and I'll take them.

Btw — why are there two trucks in that ad?

Oh and there was a guy on eBay in Montana I think making leather seats for 3rd gens. He was on this forum too. Not sure if he still is.
 
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If it were me, I'd get some good cloth seats from a lower mile runner and add some nice seat covers. Heated seats with leather are a must though!
 
StreetCreeper said:
If you wind up having new leather put on, I'll buy the old seat bottom leather from you. Your seats are roached but they are still better than mine. Just fold them up and throw in a large USPS flat rate box (if they fit) and I'll take them.

Btw — why are there two trucks in that ad?

Oh and there was a guy on eBay in Montana I think making leather seats for 3rd gens. He was on this forum too. Not sure if he still is.
Click to expand...

I ill be happy to do that. I thought there was only 1 4runner in that listing, how did you see 2 of them?
 
Also, do you guys think I did good with the price of the truck? Given the amount of miles and condition, I hope it holds up for a good daily driver for atleast another 100K miles!
 
californium90 said:
I ill be happy to do that. I thought there was only 1 4runner in that listing, how did you see 2 of them?
Click to expand...

californium90 said:
Also, do you guys think I did good with the price of the truck? Given the amount of miles and condition, I hope it holds up for a good daily driver for atleast another 100K miles!
Click to expand...

Awesome! Just let me know when you are ready.

If everything is as the ad says then I think it's a good deal. But I don't see a sticker for the timing belt being done and I don't see any pics of the dash or gauge cluster either with milage. Also no pics of the undercarriage. These are all worrisome. Have you run a Carfax or looked the vin # up on the Toyota owners website?

This is the first pic in the ad:

​

This is the last pic in the ad:

​
 
StreetCreeper said:
Awesome! Just let me know when you are ready.

If everything is as the ad says then I think it's a good deal. But I don't see a sticker for the timing belt being done and I don't see any pics of the dash or gauge cluster either with milage. Also no pics of the undercarriage. These are all worrisome. Have you run a Carfax or looked the vin # up on the Toyota owners website?

This is the first pic in the ad:

​

This is the last pic in the ad:

​
Click to expand...

I don't see the last pic in the listing that's on Ebay, I don't know where that popped up when you saw it. I did run an auto-check on the unit. Clear title, 1 owner. I told the guy to text me pics of the undercarriage and the dash and more pics of the inside. As far as Toyota owners website is concerned, do I just add it as a vehicle in my owners list with my other 4runner to see if there are records for work done to the car?
 
I added the vehicle on to the owners area on Toyota owners, shows me some records from 07, nothing after that, that was at 128k miles. Where would the timing belt sticker be at and would a pvt mechanic also put on a timing belt sticker if not replaced by the dealer?
 
after redoing mine with another used set it didn't last long. I just replaced them with a set of corbeaus. Wish I would have done this in the beginning. Love the new seats and they are good for a dd and off-road.
 
californium90 said:
I don't see the last pic in the listing that's on Ebay, I don't know where that popped up when you saw it. I did run an auto-check on the unit. Clear title, 1 owner. I told the guy to text me pics of the undercarriage and the dash and more pics of the inside. As far as Toyota owners website is concerned, do I just add it as a vehicle in my owners list with my other 4runner to see if there are records for work done to the car?
Click to expand...

californium90 said:
I added the vehicle on to the owners area on Toyota owners, shows me some records from 07, nothing after that, that was at 128k miles. Where would the timing belt sticker be at and would a pvt mechanic also put on a timing belt sticker if not replaced by the dealer?
Click to expand...

That second 4Runner is the very last pic. It's pic #11.

That's good he sent you pics. Hopefully they are pics of the truck you bought and not another one.

As for the sticker, it is typically on the timing belt cover towards the passenger side next to the upper radiator hose. See pic below. Any reputable mechanic would put a sticker there or somewhere near. Even a shade-tree mechanic should at least write it down in there somewhere. But I could see a friend of the owner or a mechanic neighbor doing the work and not noting it somewhere obvious.

Ask the previous owner if he has any documentation on this. If he says no, I would just assume it was never done and prepare to have it done in the future. Or just wait till it fails I guess. Won't hurt the engine but it could be dangerous depending on if you are driving at speed when your truck shuts down. Inconvenient for sure.

At the very least you could peel the timing cover back a little and peek in there. It should be obvious if it was done within the last 30k but that won't tell you if it was done properly or what all was done like the water pump.

​

Ya know, now that I look closer at that pic of the engine, that doesn't look like a 99 to me. The brake fluid reservoir looks like the old style and the cables aren't right either I think for a 99. The EVAP canister shouldn't be there either. I believe they were underneath by the fuel tanks by the time the 1999 trucks came out.

Perhaps others with 99s can look at that closer. I'm just speculating as I own a 97 and that engine looks like a 96-98 engine to me.

I'm starting get a bad feeling on this truck. I could be totally wrong though.
 
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I'm putting black covers, in my 2000 SR5 / with discount code, paid $135 for durable front bucket skins.
Coverking Ballistic Canvas Seat Covers - FREE SHIPPING

The Heavy-duty Coverking Ballistic Canvas Seat Covers handle kids, pets, job sites and action adventures with ease

Crafted from Cordura-Ballistic fabric for maximum durability

Treated fabric resists UV damage, stains, mildew and rot

Available for first, second and third row seats (depending on vehicle)

Easy to install—quality designs make for a quick fit with no tools needed

Like your favorite pair of jeans, Coverking Ballistic seat covers mold closer to your seats with age

Ultra-Durable material resists slippage even after extended use

Precision-CAD patterns are custom made for your vehicle
 
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The cabelas brand seat covers are the only ones I found that were reasonably priced for heavy duty nylon. Everything else was either super thin and cheap crap, or stupid expensive.
 
StreetCreeper said:
That second 4Runner is the very last pic. It's pic #11.

That's good he sent you pics. Hopefully they are pics of the truck you bought and not another one.

As for the sticker, it is typically on the timing belt cover towards the passenger side next to the upper radiator hose. See pic below. Any reputable mechanic would put a sticker there or somewhere near. Even a shade-tree mechanic should at least write it down in there somewhere. But I could see a friend of the owner or a mechanic neighbor doing the work and not noting it somewhere obvious.

Ask the previous owner if he has any documentation on this. If he says no, I would just assume it was never done and prepare to have it done in the future. Or just wait till it fails I guess. Won't hurt the engine but it could be dangerous depending on if you are driving at speed when your truck shuts down. Inconvenient for sure.

At the very least you could peel the timing cover back a little and peek in there. It should be obvious if it was done within the last 30k but that won't tell you if it was done properly or what all was done like the water pump.

​

Ya know, now that I look closer at that pic of the engine, that doesn't look like a 99 to me. The brake fluid reservoir looks like the old style and the cables aren't right either I think for a 99. The EVAP canister shouldn't be there either. I believe they were underneath by the fuel tanks by the time the 1999 trucks came out.

Perhaps others with 99s can look at that closer. I'm just speculating as I own a 97 and that engine looks like a 96-98 engine to me.

I'm starting get a bad feeling on this truck. I could be totally wrong though.
Click to expand...

So I ran a autocheck by putting in the vin listed on ebay and it auctomatically populated a 1999 4runner limited 4X4. I would agree with you on the timining belt sticker. When I looked at the online app for ebay the white 4Runner does show up but when I look at it on the laptop, it only shows 10 pics, the white one is not in there. Wierd. I dont know whats happening either. I will wait for all the pics and the proof of work done to the vehicle in the form of bills.
 
Beaumont67 said:
I'm putting black covers, in my 2000 SR5 / with discount code, paid $135 for durable front bucket skins.
Coverking Ballistic Canvas Seat Covers - FREE SHIPPING

The Heavy-duty Coverking Ballistic Canvas Seat Covers handle kids, pets, job sites and action adventures with ease

Crafted from Cordura-Ballistic fabric for maximum durability

Treated fabric resists UV damage, stains, mildew and rot

Available for first, second and third row seats (depending on vehicle)

Easy to install—quality designs make for a quick fit with no tools needed

Like your favorite pair of jeans, Coverking Ballistic seat covers mold closer to your seats with age

Ultra-Durable material resists slippage even after extended use

Precision-CAD patterns are custom made for your vehicle
Click to expand...

I believe I will be going with these once everything is set up. Do you have the Discount Code?
 
HammerHead said:
after redoing mine with another used set it didn't last long. I just replaced them with a set of corbeaus. Wish I would have done this in the beginning. Love the new seats and they are good for a dd and off-road.
Click to expand...
More info please.

Looks like my 99 engine bay.

Local upholstery shop for new seats is what would do in your situation.
 
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californium90 said:
I believe I will be going with these once everything is set up. Do you have the Discount Code?
Click to expand...

Received autoanything email today: 20% OFF Program Code = JOY
CALL 888-665-7273 or Click Live Chat for the deals we can't advertise!
- I first ordered seat covers in Charcoal colour / looked like silver...hated the color
- so I mailed them back, and ordered Black / my SR5 has the tan interior, its just too light
 
Last edited:
Beaumont67 said:
Received autoanything email today: 20% OFF Program Code = JOY
CALL 888-665-7273 or Click Live Chat for the deals we can't advertise!
- I first ordered seat covers in Charcoal colour / looked like silver...hated the color
- so I mailed them back, and ordered Black / my SR5 has the tan interior, its just too light
Click to expand...
How'd they fit?
 
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