Help Needed: Fact of Fiction???

[wlmbusiness]

I so not maintain my own vehicles and know just a little about "cars". Recently purchased a used '79 SR5. Took it to the local Toyota dealer (I also have a new Sienna) for new brakes and small ticky tack items. One of those was an oil and lube.

When I got the car home I was checking under the hood (having just purchased the car as a second vehicle). Saw that the new filter was in place, but saw no evidence of a lubrication effort.

When I called the dealer, the guy at the service desk told me that the chassis parts that normally need lubrication on cars are "all sealed on the '97 4Runner". When I pressed him on it, I was basically told that the '97 4Runner does not need lubrication.

Can someone help me understand this? Is this for real, or was this guy just blowing smoke where the sun don't shine???

As always, the help on this board is great and I would appreciate all insights.

Bill

 

[toybox]

I so not maintain my own vehicles and know just a little about "cars". Recently purchased a used '79 SR5. Took it to the local Toyota dealer (I also have a new Sienna) for new brakes and small ticky tack items. One of those was an oil and lube.

When I got the car home I was checking under the hood (having just purchased the car as a second vehicle). Saw that the new filter was in place, but saw no evidence of a lubrication effort.

When I called the dealer, the guy at the service desk told me that the chassis parts that normally need lubrication on cars are "all sealed on the '97 4Runner". When I pressed him on it, I was basically told that the '97 4Runner does not need lubrication.

Can someone help me understand this? Is this for real, or was this guy just blowing smoke where the sun don't shine???

As always, the help on this board is great and I would appreciate all insights.

Bill

I would say he is telling the truth. Not much to "lube" on today's vehicles as far as chassis or suspension is concerned. But if you want to do your own check go see if you can find any grease fittings or"nipples".

I just noticed you are from Philly so I give a special welcome to you. What dealer did you take it to?

 

[wlmbusiness]

I work downtown, but live in Havertown (West of Philly). Take my car to Sloane in Devon.

Purchased this vehicle with 105K miles. The previous owner did get routine oil changes and tune ups. However, I do question how well beyond that it was maintained. While it looks good, looking under the hood and under the vehicle, it does looks it's age. Not bad, but not as clean as some of the other 8 year old 4Runners I looked at (but they were also selling for more $$).

Just trying to do what I can now to assure this thing lasts me a few years and that I don't get duped by a dealer.

 

[zduchene]

I work downtown, but live in Havertown (West of Philly). Take my car to Sloane in Devon.

Purchased this vehicle with 105K miles. The previous owner did get routine oil changes and tune ups. However, I do question how well beyond that it was maintained. While it looks good, looking under the hood and under the vehicle, it does looks it's age. Not bad, but not as clean as some of the other 8 year old 4Runners I looked at (but they were also selling for more $$).

Just trying to do what I can now to assure this thing lasts me a few years and that I don't get duped by a dealer.

One of the easiest ways to find out is to contact another dealer that is further away (not owned by the same guy) and ask the service advisor there if he knows. If he tells you something different the other guy is probably giving you the shaft.

 

[toybox]

Just trying to do what I can now to assure this thing lasts me a few years and that I don't get duped by a dealer.

The only thing I would think about is the timing belt and if it was changed. But 4Runners have proven extremely reliable so I would just keep up with the regular maintenance and it should last a very long time. I have sold more than one of my previous Toyota's trucks with more than 200k.

 

[zduchene]

The only thing I would think about is the timing belt and if it was changed. But 4Runners have proven extremely reliable so I would just keep up with the regular maintenance and it should last a very long time. I have sold more than one of my previous Toyota's trucks with more than 200k.

Lucky for us they never die, even after 200K+ miles.

 

[pat161]

They would be blowing smoke up you a** for sure. Every u-joint has two nipples to be lubed, so they are either idiots or lying. People go to dealers because they believe they know their stuff, this is usually a fallacy and you'd be better off taking a 97 to a local mechanic you trust. I work with a cleaning crew and we do a local Toyota dealer, I was looking at a slip for a refunded $84 diag fee, because the customer went to Aamco and they properly diagnosed what the dealer screwed up, so even Aamco is better that your average dealer.

 

[toybox]

They would be blowing smoke up you a** for sure. Every u-joint has two nipples to be lubed, so they are either idiots or lying. People go to dealers because they believe they know their stuff, this is usually a fallacy and you'd be better off taking a 97 to a local mechanic you trust. I work with a cleaning crew and we do a local Toyota dealer, I was looking at a slip for a refunded $84 diag fee, because the customer went to Aamco and they properly diagnosed what the dealer screwed up, so even Aamco is better that your average dealer.

Yeah but he said "chassis parts" not drivetrain parts. So again I say he is telling the truth about no lube for chassis parts.

 

[pat161]

Your just confusing this poor person. They admitted to knowing very little about maintenance and therefore I would say they are lumping the drivetrain in with the chassis. Per Webster's dictionary the chassis is the frame and the moving parts associated with it.

 

[wlmbusiness]

All,

Thank you for all of the insights and advice. Based on the above, aside from the maintenance manual you can get online at toyota.com, does anyone know where I can download an actual diagram that indicates where on the chassis and/or the drive train, lubrication should be applied on a routine basis or at major milestones?

It's true, I am not a mechanic, so seeing a diagram that shows the places to lubricate is better for me that just reading "lubricate drivetrain".

Is there such a diagram available online for a '97?

I sincerely appreciate all your expertise.

 

[toybox]

All,

Thank you for all of the insights and advice. Based on the above, aside from the maintenance manual you can get online at toyota.com, does anyone know where I can download an actual diagram that indicates where on the chassis and/or the drive train, lubrication should be applied on a routine basis or at major milestones?

It's true, I am not a mechanic, so seeing a diagram that shows the places to lubricate is better for me that just reading "lubricate drivetrain".

Is there such a diagram available online for a '97?

I sincerely appreciate all your expertise.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showt...age=15&highlight=driveshaft lube&pagenumber=2

Pictures and description are in this thread.

 

[wlmbusiness]

Awesome, thanks.

 

[toybox]

Although I believe that the truck in that thread is a 4th gen. things are going to be very similar to the '97.

 

[khaug]

I owned a '98 4Runner - same truck as your '97 for all intents and purposes.

If your truck has 4WD, you'll find six fittings on the driveshafts that need lube: Each universal joint has one, and each slip yoke has one.

The universal joints are at either end of the driveshafts. The slip yoke fittings are on the universal joint yoke at the front of the rear drive shaft and the rear (I believe) of the front drive shaft.

I don't believe the 2WD models have greasable u-joints, but it's easy enough to look and see: If there are grease fittings on the u-joints, they'll be in the center of the joints.

Toyota specifies NGLI-2 Lithium grease for the u-joints and NGLI-2 with moybdenum disulfide for the slip yokes. I used the moly disulfide grease on everything.

The 4WD models need to be lubed at each oil change. If you don't do that, the slip yokes will dry out and start producing a "clunk" when you've stopped for a traffic light.