Final questions / decisions on 4Runner tomorrow.

[daugherty83]

Talked to the owner tonight who contacted the shop were the truck is at, and they replaced the battery with a new one. Truck had not been starting after sitting awhile, and looked to be a simple bad battery or alternator in the first place. Owner said the shop had checked alternator and starter, and said they can not find anything drawing from the battery when the Runner is off. I like the truck, and the shop where it was being checked is reputable, ASE certified, etc.. but it just confuses me as to why everything would be checked and so on, and the end result was a new battery being bought and placed in the truck. This would seem like the first thing to do, and if the truck is fixed, great. I do though have some small concern as to whether I will run into this problem in the future, although if the shop said everything is fine, I guess you have to take that as an ok and move on. The owner is not mechanically inclined so he could not go into detail about anything they checked, but he did mention something about a bad battery cell which would explain what the truck was doing. But 4 or 5 days at a shop, and the end result is a bad battery?! Driving up tomorrow, and hopefully coming home with it.

 

[toyota1999]

It would not hurt to drive the 4Runner and bring it to another ASE certified shop nearby and ask for a second check-up and/or opinion. You may want to call for an appointment ahead of time and pay for that second opinion.

Reading your post above, it seems to me that you already decided to buy it. Well, all the best to your purchase and keep us posted of the result.

Cheers,

Walter, Las Vegas, Nevada

 

[JohnsD90]

Driving up tomorrow, and hopefully coming home with it.

You said that about the last 2 or 3 trucks, and my truck had been sitting for months dead because of the battery and i think it still has a slow drain (but its the battery NOT the rest of the car) but i left it for a week in an airport lot and it started right up so you should be fine, that story sounds competely legit, its solid.

 

[Ray.Klefstad]

I personally would not buy it without having a mechanic check it out. When gas engines sit for a while (without being run), bad things happen inside.

Ray

 

[daugherty83]

You said that about the last 2 or 3 trucks, and my truck had been sitting for months dead because of the battery and i think it still has a slow drain (but its the battery NOT the rest of the car) but i left it for a week in an airport lot and it started right up so you should be fine, that story sounds competely legit, its solid.

John, you truely are a real piece of work :bravo:
Long story here so we can get you calmed down a bit. The truck had not been sitting for months as you stated in your sarcastic post that added no real help or value to this post. The owner bought a 09 Runner a few months ago. The 01 has been sitting and driven sporadically but not daily. They said they were having some problems when the truck had been sitting a few days, and after it sit the 10 days they were gone on vacation it would not start. I drove to the owners house, we jumped the Runner, it started up immediately and proceeded to test drive it for 30 minutes at night with lights and A.C. on. We dropped the truck off last week when we were done driving it together at a nice automotive shop the owner has always used for his 4Runner, as well as his 4 other 2003 and newer model Toyota's that are sitting in his driveway. As I said, I contacted him tonight, and he said he talked to the shop today. He told me he will be bringing the truck home tomorrow morning, and that they replaced the battery, and tested alternator, starter, etc. as well as checking for any draws on the battery when the truck is off. Everything checked out and the truck is ready. The owner is in his early 60's, is a partner in a lawfirm, and is the type of guy when something goes wrong he drops it off with the problem, and assumes it is fixed as most of us of do when the shop calls and says the vehicle is ready to be picked up. I have posted here and kept the forum up to date on the truck as well as various others because it seems like a great group of guys with a common interest in the T4R. I'm sorry that any previous information on the search for my T4R, what I have been finding, or the details of this buy has upset you. I will make sure and post up any details if I buy the truck, pass on it and continue looking, or own the vehicle for a week and run into some serious mechanical problems that put a real strain on my heart and bank account. I don't think we could bare the thought of you not chiming in with your witty and educational remarks. :lmao:

 

[JohnsD90]

the thing was none of my post was sarcastic in any way. i was trying to help, today i got back from a week to florida (and my battery didnt die), and if you wish to interpret my posts as sarcastic do so, but i wasnt joking in any way.

 

[daugherty83]

We got no problems bud. Sometimes things get taken out of context. I'm just glad there is such a great place for T4R owners to share information.
:cheers:

 

[DefJeff]

Make sure you pull the dipstick nd engine oil cap to make sure that thing doesn't have sludge. It will be creamy and smoking from the exhaust if it does. Just my .02 cents. Good luck with the purchase.

 

[daugherty83]

Truck runs and idles great. Pulled dipstick when I looked at it last. Oil looked good, no burnt smell. No smoke. Thanks for the help

 

[toyota1999]

Truck runs and idles great. Pulled dipstick when I looked at it last. Oil looked good, no burnt smell. No smoke. Thanks for the help

Daugherty83,

Did you end up buying your neighbor's 4Runner ? If so, how did it measure up to your expectation ?

Just asking. I get excited when a 4Runner is involved !

Cheers,

Walter, Las Vegas