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MAIN3R

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Hey everyone,

After searching for some time I found, and put a deposit on a '03 V8 limited with 102k locally for $9,750, and I'm curious what you think about the price.

The vehicle is a one owner that's been completely dealer serviced. Mechanically it appears to be perfect, the t-belt hasn't been done, but the price hopefully reflects that. Exterior is pretty good, but there are a few scratches and dings which are expected from a truck this old. Interior is really clean and everything works as expected, and it's been garaged since day. I was hoping to find a newer one, but the fact that it was a one owner with amazing service history made me overlook that.

So do you think I did ok?
 
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As long as there's not much frame and drive train rust sounds like a good deal, you could easily sell it out right for 13k with a new timing belt. It needs a timing belt if it hasn't had one there due everything 100,000 or 7 years and your past both of those.

you can get a kit online searching for 03 4runner timing belt kit, amazon should have one for less than 400 you can buy the parts and do it yourself with a good Haynes manual (also on amazon for 20 bucks) or take the vehicle and parts to a technician and just pay labor.

be sure to engage 4l once a month to keep the actuators working, also engage and disengage your center diff locker once a month and drive around a little with it to keep all the transfer case components working properly. ( If its 4WD)

other than that just keep up the regular maintenance and you should see a few more 100,000 miles out of it.
 
Re: seevik - I feel good about it. I haven't seen anything that I've seen as a better buy, but you all are the experts, not me...yet.

Re: sundog - No not everything is rusty up here at that age.

Re: aha2988 - There's virtually no rust on it anywhere. It does need the tbelt service. I'll look into the kits online for sure. Do you see any reason why not to have a local indy do it as opposed to the dealer. I don't mind getting my hands dirty, not sure if the tbelt is the first thing I want to dig into. THanks for the advice on the diff. and the 4L.


Thanks for the help everyone. I'm excited to be here!
 
Maine is cold but along the coast doesn't really get a lot of snow. Only the Mountains do they get significant amount of snow.

Most vehicles these days don't rust like they did 25 years ago.
 
MAIN3R said:
Re: aha2988 - There's virtually no rust on it anywhere. It does need the tbelt service. I'll look into the kits online for sure. Do you see any reason why not to have a local indy do it as opposed to the dealer. I don't mind getting my hands dirty, not sure if the tbelt is the first thing I want to dig into. THanks for the advice on the diff. and the 4L.
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as long as you trust the mechanic working on your truck it should be fine. I would want someone who has done ateast one 4runner before. One of the toyota techs can correct me if im wrong but i believe the flat rate book puts the T-belt at a 6 hour job? labor rates are anywhere from 65 an hour to 95 an hour so try to find someone reasonable.

the main ordeal with the T-belt is you have to disassemble the entire front accessory drive assembly all the pulleys and everything that there running, off the front of the engine, as well as pull the radiator. Its not hard work or technical its just time consuming and somewhat of a puzzle.. this has to come out first these have to come out at the same time, this has to go back in before this does an so on... then put everything back like you found it.
 
aha2988 said:
as long as you trust the mechanic working on your truck it should be fine. I would want someone who has done ateast one 4runner before. One of the toyota techs can correct me if im wrong but i believe the flat rate book puts the T-belt at a 6 hour job? labor rates are anywhere from 65 an hour to 95 an hour so try to find someone reasonable.

the main ordeal with the T-belt is you have to disassemble the entire front accessory drive assembly all the pulleys and everything that there running, off the front of the engine, as well as pull the radiator. Its not hard work or technical its just time consuming and somewhat of a puzzle.. this has to come out first these have to come out at the same time, this has to go back in before this does an so on... then put everything back like you found it.
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When getting this service completed is there anything else worth taking care of while someone is in there? I feel like I read somewhere to replace the tensioner pulleys. I plan to keep this vehicle for several years so anything to help the longevity of the vehicle is worth it to me.
 
MAIN3R said:
When getting this service completed is there anything else worth taking care of while someone is in there? I feel like I read somewhere to replace the tensioner pulleys. I plan to keep this vehicle for several years so anything to help the longevity of the vehicle is worth it to me.
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Yeah, when you buy the kit you'll have the option to get a kit with just the t-belt or you have the option to get a kit with the: t-belt, idler pulleys, auto tensioner, auto tensioner pulley, water pump, water pump seal, thermostat, new drive accessory belt, Its a good idea to replace all these items above because there all in that timing case so while your in there you do it once instead of waiting for something else to go out only to go back in..

its also comes with new cam shaft seals and front crank case seal but you can just put those on the shelf as its not a common issue for those seals to go bad. I haven't heard or seen of one yet. An if you ever had a crank case seal or cam shaft seal go out you'd have them on the shelf ready.

also, have them clean the throttle body and MAF sensor. not sure when the spark plugs were changed last but new plugs are a good thing for these engines. also change out the differential fluids, transfer case, and transmission fluids if they have not been serviced in the last 30,000
 
aha2988 said:
Yeah, when you buy the kit you'll have the option to get a kit with just the t-belt or you have the option to get a kit with the: t-belt, idler pulleys, auto tensioner, auto tensioner pulley, water pump, water pump seal, thermostat, new drive accessory belt, Its a good idea to replace all these items above because there all in that timing case so while your in there you do it once instead of waiting for something else to go out only to go back in..

its also comes with new cam shaft seals and front crank case seal but you can just put those on the shelf as its not a common issue for those seals to go bad. I haven't heard or seen of one yet. An if you ever had a crank case seal or cam shaft seal go out you'd have them on the shelf ready.

also, have them clean the throttle body and MAF sensor. not sure when the spark plugs were changed last but new plugs are a good thing for these engines. also change out the differential fluids, transfer case, and transmission fluids if they have not been serviced in the last 30,000
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So I'm assuming this is the type of kit you're talking about. Amazon.com: Aisin TKT-021 Engine Timing Belt Kit With Water Pump: Automotive

Is there any reason to get a different brand (like Continental), or is this one on par with OE? And thanks so much for you advice, it's greatly appreciated.
 
MAIN3R said:
So I'm assuming this is the type of kit you're talking about. Amazon.com: Aisin TKT-021 Engine Timing Belt Kit With Water Pump: Automotive

Is there any reason to get a different brand (like Continental), or is this one on par with OE? And thanks so much for you advice, it's greatly appreciated.
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That looks like a slightly different from the kit that i got, the one i purchased came with a few other items. well all the items in this kit:
Timing Belt Kit Toyota 4 Runner 2003 2004 V8 2UZFE 4.7L on eBay!

I paid 350 shipped to my door. notice the link i showed you has a thermostat, a few extra seals and a new drive accessory belt. And yes all the kits are on par with OE what people on amazon and ebay do is buy up a bunch of products from the company that makes them (Aisin makes a ton of the OE parts on these trucks.. the hydro assit brake booster, transfercase, etc..) Then they sell them for cheaper than parts stores can because they bought the right quantity to get the price down. hope this helps.. I'm fairly certain though the water pump i purchased wasn't an aisin as the water pump i pulled out of the truck was w/ a plastic impeller. The new one i put in has a metal impeller and a better gasket seal aswell. The factory seal is metal with a rubber seal ring, (which mine was actually seeping coolant) the seal i put in was cork material and much thicker. IMO I would think any kit you find should work.

edit: Now its completly up to you though. If you want more popular name brand parts then you'll have to purchase parts individually as when you purchase a kit they box up the brands they have and ship them. Gates would be the number one name in timing belts, Timken bearings are top notch(as far as which bearings the pulleys are made with), and I couldnt really tell you who makes the best water pump I'd imagine the ones with metal impellers are a little tougher.
 
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Another Maine 4Runner Nice! keep her clean so she dosent rust and you should be fine. And that is a nice price btw.

Cheers
Maineiac
 
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