Greetings everyone, new here

[LakeTahoe94runner]

So today, Monday, October 24th, I purchased my 2nd 4Runner. My first being a slightly used 2005 from 2006-2008.

Last few years has been a Prius, but now I have received a couple salary bumps last few years where the difference in gas money isn't a factor any more.

Purchased a 2nd Gen 1994 4Runner SR5 V6 manual transmission in Sierra Beige , it has 170k miles. Two very trusted friends who know engines and transmissions came along since they can take these things apart blindfolded almost.
We all test drove the car, I let the 2 friends get both residential and freeway action. They both gave a excited 2 thumbs up, and I paid $3800.

The previous owner has paperwork from the toyota dealership saying the timing belt and water pump were replaced, I looked at his driveway and parking near his house and no oil leak evidence at all.

I will take better photos in the next few days, but here are the ones the previous owner sent me while negoticating the sale.

 

[gptoy96]

It looks to be in great shape. If they were that clean around here I'd love to have one of those parked in my driveway.

Welcome and congrats.

 

[LakeTahoe94runner]

So after 200 miles on the road I have found the following problems:

- Rear window located in the center console not working, but the window goes up and down with the key

- Lighter is not working, sure is fine, maybe its just gotten old and lost its ability for good connection?

- digital clock not working

- driver's side door jam switch controlling dome lighting not working, but all the other 3 doors are working

- dome light works when set on "door" setting but not when switched to the "on" position?

Another thing, a previous owner installed those wind deflectors on all 4 doors. I want to remove them and have read they can be damaging to the paint.

Anyone recommend a good adhesive remover friendly to auto paint? or anyone have a method that works?

 

[gptoy96]

I've never pulled off window vents so my theory is completely theoretical. But if it were me I'd heat the vents up first where the adhesive sticks to the doors with a hair dryer and slowly try peeling them off starting at one end and slowly lifting as I heated up the adhesive. After they're off any auto store will have some adhesive remover that would get rid of any residue.

I have no specific advice for the other issues, but being a 94 most of those items probably need a good removal/cleaning or perhaps replacement to get them all working again. Some of those issues may be at the connections of the switches etc.

Overall I still think it was a nice clean buy you got overall.

 

[leeak47]

wish i had two good friend when I bought mine 94 t4r... she didnt last very long 1 1/2 yrs. and she started to leak green water and oil..... yours look super clean great buy....

 

[LakeTahoe94runner]

So I went to start the process of titling/registering the Truck in California.

I made a day of it beginning in the morning going to the local oil change facility. I decided to do a full synthetic this time, as it is thinner, just to help me look for any leaks that may pop up with synthetic to give me a look into the future of possible leak areas.
Next oil change I will either go to a Blend or a Oil specific for high milage.
The air filter was replaced, and all 4 tires were about 8 lbs low. This place does like a 48 point check included with the 61.99 synthetic oil change. Topped off power steering fluid, things like that.

I went to the Smog guy in town I find best and he is able to do the test on the spot when I arrive to ask if he is available.
Carbon Monoxide & HydroCarbon levels at Idle and 2500rpm the tester said it was like a new car, he said it was almost surprising.
In Lake Tahoe Toyota 4Runners and Tacoma reign supreme due to the 500"+ of snow we get each winter, so this guy knows his Yotas.
So I asked him how much of a reflection emissions tests are for an engine's performance, and he said very related. He said for the results and what he thought of the engine from his inspection it was running "Tip Top"

After the SMOG test passed and I got my paperwork I went to the DMV. The truck was originally a California car, the original owner moved to Nevada 2 years ago and she traded it on a new 4Runner, the guy I bought it from bought it then. When I bought the truck from the 2nd owner we actually met at his house to test drive and check it out, we then went to the dealer to make payment since he still owed $1800.
Since the truck was traded by the original owner, and the 2nd owner was making payments, the Nevada dealer just held the California title in hand for Lien, and only having to switch it to Nevada once the truck was paid off and put into the new owner's name.
Since the 2nd owner signed off the truck to me directly the dealer just gave me the title and a Notary stamped paper saying the Lien had been completely paid off.
CAL DMV said that since the title had never left California and had been in Nevada that there were back registration fees that would have to be paid ($945) unless I get Nevada DMV to write a letter saying the truck had been Registered and not titled the last 2 years, and then those back registration fees would be waived. The DMV said this happens quite regularly since we are a border town with Nevada and all the people that move back and forth between states in the area and autos being traded between CA and NV residents.
So today of course turned out to be "Nevada Day" a state holiday where everything and anything is closed down, Think of a state's personal federal holiday.
So I will have to wait till Monday to get this taken care of. I am sure everything will be fine, but having a long weekend to dwell on having to pay $945 doesn't sit super great for me. I will feel better once I get some issued statement from Nevada DMV that the truck was registered the last 2 years in their state.

Super worst case scenario, if I pay the $945, on top of the great price I paid for the truck, in the long run it is worth it, and going to SMOG inspection and passing with flying colors and the 20year mechanic giving the big thumbs up really makes the truck with the money.

 

[LakeTahoe94runner]

Went to the Nevada DMV just a few miles away at a close border town and Good news, the truck had been registered in NV since 2004.

Then went directly to my local DMV and after about 40 minutes of waiting, turned in my paperwork from Nevada DMV stating the truck had been registered since 2004 in NV. 5 minutes later I was out of the door with CA tags in hand and completely switched into CA.

This really could have been a bad experience if I had lived hours away from the Nevada border, so if you live in CA and buy a Truck in NV, be very sure to look up the truck on the CA DMV website to see if that VIN has any fees associated with it.
California is a "buyer beware" state in which any fees associated belongs to the truck not any owner.

 

[Tahoe Jimmy]

Hey, I've seen that truck, at the Stateline Post Office, IIRC. Sharp. I'm up in Tahoe Village over on top of Kingsbury grade. Made countless Kirkwood, Mammoth and cross country road trips in mine, and the mean green machine has never let us down!

The rear window center console switch on mine had the same problem; was locked up solid and wouldn't move at all. Toyota mounted it in a bad location and it collects dirt/sand and gets gummed up, especially if your run with a four legged snow/beach trail beast. I took mine out, disassembled it (really easy), cleaned it and it works great now. (The switch, not the dawg) Eventually I'm going to relocate it to one of the popout blanks in the dash and get another coin slot for the hole left behind.

My lighter went out, too. I replaced the guts with one from the parts store for $5 and it works fine now. I read somewhere that there is a fuseable link in the wiring, but I didn't have to mess with it.

My center dome light is goofy. Once, it was out for about six months, and then started working again by itself. Wasn't the bulb. My rear dome light is currently on strike, although I haven't checked the bulb, yet.

Looks like your Toy has the tow package. Yours get the 4.88s too? Must be fun with a 5 speed.

 

[Kung]

Good deal man. I thought I got a good deal with my '00 for $7200 (and I did) but $3800 is a lot less than $7200. The ONLY reason I got a 3G is for the 3.4L V6, since it'll be less of a trail ride and more of a kid shuttle. LOL

However, I'm lusting after the 5speed - automatic is nice but I'll always be a manual guy @ heart. Nice ride.

 

[jirehn]

Hi Nice truck,welcome most in this great forum,Glad to have you here.

 

[LakeTahoe94runner]

Hey, I've seen that truck, at the Stateline Post Office, IIRC. Sharp.

The rear window center console switch on mine had the same problem; was locked up solid and wouldn't move at all. Toyota mounted it in a bad location and it collects dirt/sand and gets gummed up, especially if your run with a four legged snow/beach trail beast.

My lighter went out, too. I replaced the guts with one from the parts store for $5 and it works fine now. I read somewhere that there is a fuseable link in the wiring, but I didn't have to mess with it.

My center dome light is goofy. Once, it was out for about six months, and then started working again by itself. Wasn't the bulb. My rear dome light is currently on strike, although I haven't checked the bulb, yet.

Looks like your Toy has the tow package. Yours get the 4.88s too? Must be fun with a 5 speed.

I have never parked in the Stateline post office, but you know Tahoe and 4Runners, you can't go 1 mile without seeing 2 or 3 of them at anytime of day.

Will look into fuse able link you mentioned.

but my center console tailgate glass switch is just broken, it is in 2 pieces.

did you get a chilton guide for 4runner to fix it? or did you find a website explaining how to dissemble it?

also, is there illumination behind the A/C control area or floor/windshield and temperature and fan speed?

 

[Tahoe Jimmy]

Yeah, well, I probably saw it there before 10/24.

I knew that my console switch was stuck, wouldn't move at all, up or down, but the window worked with the tailgate key. Figured it couldn't hurt to take it out and try to clean out the dirt and sand. The console detaches with like four or five phillips screws and the switch unplugs and pops out easily. Once I got it out it was obvious how to disassemble it. Or in your case, replace it.

Forget Chilton and Haynes. The Toyota Factory Service Manual (FSM) is online here (everywhere, actually). The third permanent "sticky" thread in the Classic T4R forum has the links. Included free with your paid membership to T4R.org!

Yes, the climate control panel is illuminated. Maybe the bulbs are on the same circuit as you cig lighter and clock... Fuse? Is your ashtray lit?

Stands to reason that if the previous owner had the Timing Belt done at the dealership, they also took care of the factory recalls. The two major ones are the headgaskets and the steering linkage. Couldn't hurt to take your truck to Cardinale, or call with your VIN, and check, though.

Enjoy.

 

[LakeTahoe94runner]

Yeah, well, I probably saw it there before 10/24.

Yes, the climate control panel is illuminated. Maybe the bulbs are on the same circuit as you cig lighter and clock... Fuse? Is your ashtray lit?

Stands to reason that if the previous owner had the Timing Belt done at the dealership, they also took care of the factory recalls. Couldn't hurt to take your truck to Cardinale, or call with your VIN, and check, though.

Enjoy.

Well since the truck lived in Las Vegas and drove up to Reno 5 days before I bought it, unfortunately no you never saw it before. It just looks like the other million 4runners in the Tahoe area.

I already ran the VIN through the Toyota website where it does a recall search using VIN and nothing came up

The truck had an aftermarket alarm added sometime in it's life and I believe that is part of the problem.

Will check into the Toyota Service Manual you suggested.

Have you ever changed your rear wiper? It looks like you just screw off the main connection to the rest of the arm but seems different than most wiper connections

 

[Cali4Runnea]

Very nice looking truck! Congrats on the (new) ride! I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun up in Tahoe with her!

 

[LakeTahoe94runner]

so here is a picture of the broken interior rear tailgate window switch

anyone know of a website where I can buy an OEM replacement or another choice to replace this?

 

[LakeTahoe94runner]

So tonight, I got around to replacing the light bulb behind the heater, A/C controls. Nice to actually see the controls now.
Also replaced the Anti-Lock fuse and rear defroster fuse next to it that were missing.

I noticed that 2 sets of lights in the front of my truck are not working.

The headlights and turn signals work fine and high beams as well.

It's the set of corner lights that are yellow that many folks like to swap for clear lens. Are these another set of front turn signals?
Also another set do not work, they are lower in front and are rectangle in shape but they aren't the rectangle turn signals

Any Thoughts?

So still searching for a new interior rear tailgate window switch, ANYONE?

Also need a place to get a replacement switch that triggers the interior lights for the drivers side door?? ANYONE?

Will be going to Phoenix, AZ next weekend and if anyone knows any good pick-and-pulls between Lake Tahoe & Phoenix or close let me know please

I will take a picture of the front end later this morning and point out the lights not working

Think the lift work I will do will be a 2" body lift and a 3-4" suspension lift with 33" tires. I haven't made a decision of changing the rim size from 15" but any input would be great. Still exploring what to do and what others have done and are happy with.
Here is a photo I took Saturday night (few hours ago)