Hi, new here

[looking4vr]

I've come to the boards hoping for some encouragement so I don't drive my wifes 4Runner off a cliff. We bought our 00 3 years ago and something about it never quite seemed right...
For starters, it seems to be so slow a child can outrun it (I know it isn't a race car but c'mon, it struggles to get out of its own way), the trans has made noise from day one (which we had back to the dealer twice for the noise while it was still under warranty - no problem found) and now the rear end is shot according to the dealer.

I'm frustrated. I need help. Did I mention its a 5 speed?

I love the truck but its driving me nuts.

 

[Sloan]

sounds like you should have never bought it in the first place.

take it to any other shops to have a look besides the dealership?

 

[looking4vr]

sounds like you should have never bought it in the first place.

take it to any other shops to have a look besides the dealership?

I know, right?

Unfortunately no. It was just in the shop at the stealership for timing belt, tune up etc. and it runs like crap. The pinion seal went and they replaced it but now the rear howls like a banshee and they say we need a new rear to the tune of $1700.00. After putting 850 into the tune and chains
Is there a known issue with the rear or are we just that unlucky?

 

[techno]

Unfortunately I suspect you are just plain unlucky if the rear end is shot.
Given your performance report, I assume you have the 2.7lt engine, right? A solid donk but certainly not inspirational. The 3.4lt V6 is a much better performer, but its no racecar either, however the optional supercharger changes that.
BTW, if you do choose the 'cliff' option from your 1st post, get the wife to do that..... that way you can kill two birds with one stone!!! (no offence....)

 

[Kmvreter]

I know, right?

Unfortunately no. It was just in the shop at the stealership for timing belt, tune up etc. and it runs like crap. The pinion seal went and they replaced it but now the rear howls like a banshee and they say we need a new rear to the tune of $1700.00. After putting 850 into the tune and chains
Is there a known issue with the rear or are we just that unlucky?

Not sure about the other items but there should be a reputable shop that can do your rear gears for less than what the stealer is planning to hose you on it. What was the time frame between the pinion seal and the bad gears? They should have detected the bad gears at that time. Not sure but maybe the seal fix done badly could have wrecked the gears? Can others give an opinion on this?

 

[looking4vr]

Well, we took it in for the noise in the rear and there was some fluid showing in the diff area so I knew the seal was bad but they changed the seal and put new fluid in it and its worse now than it was before...to the point I don't like her driving it. I found some useful info using the search so I'm thinking of sourcing one from a junkyard and replacing the whole rear...anybody else been successful doing this?