IMHO..my 1995 toyota 4runner poorly designed..
- Thread starter rumme
- Start date
maybe thats the problem then..im not a soccer mom :}
well , I will try and get this starter back in....and if I have another mechanical problem that is gonna cause me more mental trauma , I may decide to put it back on craigslist...which is where I bought it initially...
payed $2200 for it...put back brake shoes on it...fixed rear window...got the elctrical problem fixed at dealer.. put on new plugs and now a new starter...so I got about $2450 and alot of cussing /work in it since I bought it 3 weeks ago......the motor does seem to sound good, and it is very clean
{ the motor} .....but im not gonna keep sinking my money and time in this thing....I was hoping to get at least 20,000 more miles out of it, with out much parts replacement { has 155,000 miles on it now}
well I guess its accroding to if you like to drink hot or cold drinks ...I never drink hot drinks { coffe, hot tea , etc} ...so in the in winter , with the heater on , it is gonna make cold drinks , become warm drinks in a quick timeframe...
but I understand that most people in the winter would be drinking hot coffee...and having that near the heater vents would be a psoitive for them.
RotaMan2
New member
My suggestion, before you work on something, Post or search on here. That way you will be well informed as to time, $$$, cuss is involved. and if you need more help PM me,i can give you my contact. I be glad to help you out and try to make your TOYOTA experience as more plesant one.
cool..I appreciate that....
I havent given up on this v6 dog yet....but I wont hesitiate to put it back on craigslist , if things keep going wrong with it. I do think the engine is solid, for having 155,00 miles on it...the engine sounds good and the old plugs looked good.....but these external engine problems are starting to add up in money and frustrations...I dont want to end up having over $3000 in this thing, and knowing I cant sell it on craigslist and come close to breaking even on it.
there did seem to be a very small head gasket leak around the one back plug on the passengers side...I put some Bars 1 step head gasket repair in the coolant, and I think it has repaired that small leak.
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hondaracer11
New member
hey man welcome !
Toyota dealer prices are freakin rediculous i had a front brake issue and this was before i learned all my basic maintenence but short of the story my mom told me to take it to toyota and leave it fro brake job.. they gave me a ride back home and picked it up later that night what the didnt tell me was that it was going to be $956.87 FOR NOT EVEN A TOYOTA CALIBER!! I GOT 1 NAPA CALIBER pads and rotors turned WTFFFFFFF!!! never going there again!!
and yes the gas isnt the best in these things but after i did all regular maintence i havent had many issues
i replaced my back brakes my self for 30 bucks! not thats better so far in less than a year of having it i put this in it so far
-pepboys starter $400.25
-toyota front brake job $956.87
-rear brakes $30
-new dunlop 31's all around and spare tire $624.95
fan bracket and spark plugs installed parts and labor $450
-and spark plug wires $40
so your not the only one in this boat im strting to not like my 4runner real quick less than a year brings me to $2509.07
BUT i could have saved money bye doing it my self but im only 17 there is only so much i can do. too me i wish i had done more research before buying but i hope i can atleast get some good miles out of it 162xxx on it right now.
fyi i paid 3300 for the 4runner its self..
Toyota dealer prices are freakin rediculous i had a front brake issue and this was before i learned all my basic maintenence but short of the story my mom told me to take it to toyota and leave it fro brake job.. they gave me a ride back home and picked it up later that night what the didnt tell me was that it was going to be $956.87 FOR NOT EVEN A TOYOTA CALIBER!! I GOT 1 NAPA CALIBER pads and rotors turned WTFFFFFFF!!! never going there again!!
and yes the gas isnt the best in these things but after i did all regular maintence i havent had many issues
i replaced my back brakes my self for 30 bucks! not thats better so far in less than a year of having it i put this in it so far
-pepboys starter $400.25
-toyota front brake job $956.87
-rear brakes $30
-new dunlop 31's all around and spare tire $624.95
fan bracket and spark plugs installed parts and labor $450
-and spark plug wires $40
so your not the only one in this boat im strting to not like my 4runner real quick less than a year brings me to $2509.07
BUT i could have saved money bye doing it my self but im only 17 there is only so much i can do. too me i wish i had done more research before buying but i hope i can atleast get some good miles out of it 162xxx on it right now.
fyi i paid 3300 for the 4runner its self..
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just runnin
New member
always gets me in, always gets me out
:trophy:This is my 4th runner and I'll never off-road in anything else. I have NEVER been left stranded on a trail and have been used as shade while my friends fix their Jeeps, Dodges and Fords. I drive them till they die at 300,000 miles, sell them to the junk yard for $750 and get another. It will fit between places your Dodge will never go and your Dodge would only see 300,000 if it was being towed behind a runner. You should have bought a 5 speed if you wanted power. Thats the only way you get it.
:violin:You can buy a factory manual for chump change and get the easy way to do things. Yes the knock sensor under the manifold was foolish but the dealer needs to make money somwhere. The best solution for your repair problems is drive to the used car lot and trade it in. Dont buy a Vette, those plugs are a b....h!! BTW, does anyone remember the spark plugs on a Chevy Monza? You had to lift the engine to change them.
:banana:And yes, the cup holder was a very poor design. It makes hot things cold, cold things hot and spills things into your radio!! :banana:
:trophy:This is my 4th runner and I'll never off-road in anything else. I have NEVER been left stranded on a trail and have been used as shade while my friends fix their Jeeps, Dodges and Fords. I drive them till they die at 300,000 miles, sell them to the junk yard for $750 and get another. It will fit between places your Dodge will never go and your Dodge would only see 300,000 if it was being towed behind a runner. You should have bought a 5 speed if you wanted power. Thats the only way you get it.
:violin:You can buy a factory manual for chump change and get the easy way to do things. Yes the knock sensor under the manifold was foolish but the dealer needs to make money somwhere. The best solution for your repair problems is drive to the used car lot and trade it in. Dont buy a Vette, those plugs are a b....h!! BTW, does anyone remember the spark plugs on a Chevy Monza? You had to lift the engine to change them.
:banana:And yes, the cup holder was a very poor design. It makes hot things cold, cold things hot and spills things into your radio!! :banana:
just runnin
New member
Check with toyota on the VIN for the head gasket leak
:zoom:Re: your coolant leak!! Check with Toyota to see if the head gasket recall has been done on your runner by giving them your VIN. Call a couple of dealers to make sure you are being told a true story. If not they will do head gaskets for free no matter the mileage. If the heads are warped they will replace them under the recall as well. Its all under the recall. You may have voided that recall by putting in the Bars though. If the recall work hasnt been done flush the heck out of the engine to get the Bars out.
:zoom:Re: your coolant leak!! Check with Toyota to see if the head gasket recall has been done on your runner by giving them your VIN. Call a couple of dealers to make sure you are being told a true story. If not they will do head gaskets for free no matter the mileage. If the heads are warped they will replace them under the recall as well. Its all under the recall. You may have voided that recall by putting in the Bars though. If the recall work hasnt been done flush the heck out of the engine to get the Bars out.
these 4 bolts, above the A arm and to the right side of the starter..are they the 4 bolts that hold the motor mount to the engine ?
I just want to make sure these 4 bolts are the correct ones I need to remove...I see 4 bolts above the A arm...but it looks like they hold the motor mount to the engine.
4runner_kid
Senior Member
No, he is talking about the 4 bolt's where you can unbolt part of the wheel well to remove it to make easy to replace starter.
4runner_kid
Senior Member
Toyota charged you that much? They got you good. I would of told them to keep the truck.
Im glad you are happy with your 4 runners....
a factory manual would not change the fact that many of the designs on my 4 runner, are outright assinine. The V6 engine seems like a dog with 2 broken legs . The mpg is not even good.....
maybe for people who go 4 wheeling and mudding, the vehicle is perfect...but for my needs or expectations, it isnt doing much to impress me so far. If I chose to sell it, I would never go sell it to a dealer, like you advise . Get a better price on craigslist or the want ads.
oh...thanks...so it is the wheel well that needs to be removed and its only 4 bolts holding that in ?
hmmm...it didnt look like the wheel well was in my way....it looked like the damn motor mount was in the way.
4runner_kid
Senior Member
Not the whole wheel well, just enough of it to change the starter.
SCRunner12
New member
This is why I bought a 3rd gen and selling my 2nd gen. I loved the 2nd gen, but there isn't much appeal to it. The 1st gen had the 22re (yes the 2nd gen had it, but it is harder to find), solid axle and removable top. The 3rd gen has the 3.4, factory locker and is much more comfortable. I got mine because of my budget, but I wish I would have waited.
But the 2nd gen is amazing off road. I never got stuck and did really well with everything I took it through. The 3.0 sucks. No two ways about it.
But the 2nd gen is amazing off road. I never got stuck and did really well with everything I took it through. The 3.0 sucks. No two ways about it.
4runner_kid
Senior Member
The 1st gen also had the 3.0 and IFS in it to. IFS started in 1986 and the 3.0 was 1988, both year's of 1st gen 4Runner's. :biggrin2:
SCRunner12
New member
Yeah I know that. :rockthrow: I just meant the 1st gens had those appealing features about them. The only way I would ever buy a 3.0 1st gen was to swap a 3.4 into it. Which will happen in the distant future. :bluejump:
