Kinda feeling like i got ripped off with my 4R.

[Shawn5800]

I know i post here alot *****in and complaining about prices and things like that. But i cant help but feel that my 4R is just not running like a typical Toyota. I bought it about a month ago and since, things that were not apparent when first looking at the vehicle are now coming out.

My brakes are completely screwed. So thats about $300 if i can do it myself with no problems, It has a nasty whining sound from what i think is the fuel pump, i changed the fuel filter first. The sound still persists, just a very loud and annoying whining coming from under my seat. So for a pump, sending unit, and some new lines to repair most likely rusted lines...Looking at ....$500? And, i probably should mention that the truck has a pretty strong smell of fuel when i get out of it but there are no leaks to be found fuel wise. ..Is a bad pump known to reek of fuel?

Now, this is just recent..After having my remote start installed, the truck is kind of revving up to 1200 rpm, then back down to around 600 rpms when sitting at lights in D, P and R. It constantly does this, almost like the AC is on but its not.

Not to mention those rear coolant lines that run up to the rear heater busted on me and just poured all over my face when undercoating my truck, so $40 later and some tube bending i fixed that. Which if someone can clarify for me which lines go where i would really appreciate it.

I pulled them both off from the engine bay, and underneath the pass side fram rail without marking which ones go where. And i had to kind of take a guess as to where the new lines hook up to. Im guessing its just a loop system. But if i hooked a supply to a return or something of that sort, thats probably not good. It has not overheated at all, but im wondering if the rpms going up and down could have something to do with this..

I paid $5700 for this truck, 98 with 105k on it. Decent deal. But i have not had a strong feeling of reliability with it either. After i dump a grand into it im hoping that it will run strong for a long while with regular maint.

Sorry for the rant guys. I just need to feel some hope with this truck. I love it so much but i want it to run like my old toyotas did.

 

[MAD 69]

You might have to bite the bullet and take it to either the Toy dealer or a mechanic who is familiar with 4Runners/Toys and let them check it out once and for all and let tell you exactly what needs to be done to make it run up to par.

Even putting another 1K$ into it and you have a solid running truck and your ahead of the game.

 

[J-money$$$]

that crazy idle is likely the IAC valve on the throttle body, or could be a dirty MAF. or even a tps, but that would cause a code to go off.

i think $5700 for the 98 is a little high to start with( not really a bad deal, but cant say its good either), even with low miles its old. The stuff you are mentioning are regular issues that come up.

 

[Shawn5800]

that crazy idle is likely the IAC valve on the throttle body, or could be a dirty MAF. or even a tps, but that would cause a code to go off.

i think $5700 for the 98 is a little high to start with( not really a bad deal, but cant say its good either), even with low miles its old. The stuff you are mentioning are regular issues that come up.

What i actually meant to say was, I talked the dealer down to $5700 from $5900. Then i traded in my old Prizm in which i paid $500 for, he gave me $900 for a trade in so i made money on that. So what i paid out of pocket at the time for the truck was actually $4800. Not a bad deal. My truck actually is in really great shape body and interior wise especially for a 1998. Around my area here its hard to find a 3rd gen with less than 150k for under $5k.

I guess i just need to bite the bullet, im going to buy new plugs, wires, air filter, do an oil change, Tundra brakes, and while im at it i will buy the B&M tranny cooler. Anyone have the writeup on how to install the cooler?

Thanks for the input guys.

 

[jksmyers]

Here's a tranny cooler write-up...

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/63553-writeup-tranny-cooler-install.html

*Edit - forgot to mention, this link references a write-up on YotaTech, but it also includes some good info. The YotaTech write-up link is given in about the third or fourth post.

 

[the great him]

i think your idle problem has to do with the coolant lines... why did they burst rupture? where do you live? -back east... rust? anyhow yeah ive noticed that toyotas like to vary their idle when low on coolant dont know why, but its just been my experience. buy a Haynes and/or Chilton manual for your rig they are worth the cost and will save you lots of time and $$$ -id say buy both, its sometimes nice to have two different views on one task, ie one will take pics of serton things the other doesnt or have different pics that might help clarify, and its always nice to have different wording as well, its has saved me some headaches by having both. as far as your fuel smell idk, that might be something you have to take to a shop to trace down or maybe its something as simple as the last owners spilled gas from a gas can they hauled in the back of it... idk. overall i think you got a screaming deal, i paid $5500 for mine 6months ago with 203K on the clock and think its worth every penny of it....

 

[jksmyers]

I'd have to agree with the kid on your deal. That's a great price, at least by North Texas standards. I read posts on here from time to time - and in particular in the classified section - with guys torching somebody over how much their asking for their rigs, or how much they paid. I'm not about to post what I paid for my 2000 limited with 117,xxx on the clock for fear of the same treatment. But they are hard to come by here. Not many for sale and most that are have been beat to h*ll. To me it was worth every penny. I've always loved the 3rd gens. Sorry to hear that you're having some issues, but like I said, that price is great by TX standards.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

Dude, you still paid $5700 for it, doesn't matter how you try to justify it. That's a fair price. They're getting old and will need maintenance, don't get discouraged with it.

 

[doubleA]

5700 is a fair price...

 

[BrianSD_42]

dude ... expect to spend $750 a year on maintenance alone as the truck get older. Things break and you can't expect it to run maintenance free all the way to 300k miles. $5700 sounds fair to me.

 

[Baja Runner]

I personally feel that the 96-02 4runners, (and same year Camry's) are the most reliable vehicles Toyota ever made. More so than the 22re's.

So after the remote start was installed, it has had a surging idle? Sounds like that was a problem in the installation, and not Toyota.

Does the surging idle happen all the time? Have you checked your coolant level? If its low, the IAC will not get a correct temperature reading and throw off the idle.

More information the better, so others can help. And taking it to a Toyota mechanic is an obvious answer, but the whole point of forums is for those who want to save a buck and do it by themselves, and others help out.

 

[Shawn5800]

Well guys, i took your advice and checked the coolant levels. Apparantly after my coolant lines broke alot more emptied out onto the ground than i had thought!

I check my coolant level today and it was close to the empty line. Filled it up and she idles puuurrfect


Now, i just need to straighten out my brakes, still not 100% sure on the exact parts to buy for the Tundra upgrade but ill figure it out.

One more problem that NEEDS to be fixed is my headlight assembly. When i switch from high back to lowbeam my lights will shut off for a good 2-4 seconds making it very dangerous at night on these backroads. Sometimes they flicker off when hitting turn signals to...Any ideas?

Thanks for all your help guys, by far the the most helpful forum for vehicles i have signed up for!

 

[A.Wilson013]

I paid $10,500 for my 4Runner with 98k. I don't want to hear about the price =p