looking at a 2000 locked, MT this weekend, what to look at

[silver4est]

I have only driven one other manual 4runner 3 years ago. I have no clue but guessing the clutch is original.
how is the clutch supposed to feel?
Id also like to check out the control arm bushings and ball joints. should be obvious if they are bad eh
few wet spots underneath Im curious about as well
front tires look like they might be cupping, makes me wonder about bushings and alignment.

228,000 miles, clean carfax, 1 owner. Carfax states services but does not say what has been done nor does Toyota owners site. Fax did say that accessory and drive belts where done at 170,000 but does not say timing belt/water pump etc.
It was a recent trade in on a new TRD 4runner. Truck is from Colorad/Texas its whole life no rust.

photos of the underside:
2000 4Runner - MomentsPhotography

thanks
can't wait to get back into a 3rd gen

 

[Link12]

Looks to be in really good shape. I would say the valve covers are leaking from the oily looking skids. They usually are. The clutch should get closer to the top as it wears at least every other toyota I have owned has been that way.

 

[thecole1098]

I would jump all over that if I were you! As for the ball joints, don't even question them, just replace. From the pics, it looks like they are original. As for the leak, I agree that its likely the valve covers/cam plugs.

 

[CircuitCircus]

The clutch on mine starts to grab pretty much exactly halfway up the travel, and the bottom half is dead space. It feels harder to get into 4th gear compared to the others, and sometimes 1st. Not sure if that's a problem, or just how it is on these gearboxes. I'd be curious if you experience that when you test drive it.

 

[MOYotas]

I'd buy it if I were in your shoes. Interior is dirtier than I would like, but it could be cleaned. It'll need some maintenance but at that mileage that is to be expected.

 

[2ndhandyotaman]

It looks nice and clean, 5 speed w/ the e-locker. :thumb:

 

[Rayford]

Wow, cars in Wisconsin don't usually look that nice sitting new on the dealer's lot! The clutch on my 1997 SR5 is "unobtrusive". It doesn't like to go into 1st gear at anything over about 2 mph. It is slightly stiffer than the clutch on my first car, a 1963 VW beetle.

 

[2ndhandyotaman]

I did see a fresh layer of grey RTV at the rear diffy, I'd want to know what was going on with that.

 

[Scramble]

The clutch on mine starts to grab pretty much exactly halfway up the travel, and the bottom half is dead space. It feels harder to get into 4th gear compared to the others, and sometimes 1st. Not sure if that's a problem, or just how it is on these gearboxes. I'd be curious if you experience that when you test drive it.

I agree with the pedal travel. Mine was sticky getting into 1st, changed the master cyl & nothing. Switched to Redline MT 90 & now it's smooth as silk.

OP: These clutches are a dream. Should be smooth up & down. No force really needed to push down. The clutch has to be planted all the way to the floor for it to start. Good luck with her!

 

[Scramble]

I have only driven one other manual 4runner 3 years ago. I have no clue but guessing the clutch is original.
how is the clutch supposed to feel?
Id also like to check out the control arm bushings and ball joints. should be obvious if they are bad eh
few wet spots underneath Im curious about as well
front tires look like they might be cupping, makes me wonder about bushings and alignment.

228,000 miles, clean carfax, 1 owner. Carfax states services but does not say what has been done nor does Toyota owners site. Fax did say that accessory and drive belts where done at 170,000 but does not say timing belt/water pump etc.
It was a recent trade in on a new TRD 4runner in Milwaukee. Truck is from Colorad/Texas its whole life no rust.

photos of the underside:
2000 4Runner - MomentsPhotography

thanks
can't wait to get back into a 3rd gen

Are you the guy who posted this truck the other day? Someone did & I told them to buy it because of no rust. Now that I see it's 5speed w/ locker it's even more valuable. Do not wait! Buy it tomorrow!

Oh! This is the one with the dented rockers. Buy that *****!

.

 

[silver4est]

That was me me yeah.
I’d beleive the clutch being original but can ball joints really live this long? Going to check it out Friday, it’s on the other side of Lake Michigan from me. See how it goes, will be back!

 

[Scramble]

That was me me yeah.
I’d beleive the clutch being original but can ball joints really live this long? Going to check it out Friday, it’s on the other side of Lake Michigan from me. See how it goes, will be back!

I've seen OG LBJ's go for over 300K but I wouldn't recommend it. Just change them after you buy it.

 

[ToyotaBrah]

Solid truck. Would buy.

Posting a truck in that condition on here is kind of risky. You'll get feedback from people, but you've also unintentionally given a heads up to anyone else on here looking for a 4Runner. Hope you score it, though!

 

[Scramble]

Solid truck. Would buy.

Posting a truck in that condition on here is kind of risky. You'll get feedback from people, but you've also unintentionally given a heads up to anyone else on here looking for a 4Runner. Hope you score it, though!

I just found it online, took 5 min. Good price for the amount of miles. I though my TN truck was rust free, that truck has ZERO rust!

 

[Horsethief]

That is amazing!!! Here in New England, BRAND NEW vehicles sitting on dealer's lot have more rust than that!

 

[Mark_BC]

That is quite the clean underside

 

[silver4est]

im not too worried if someone else buys it, its a risk. I enjoy the combined knowledge here when looking at something and conversation and sharing. over 200,000 miles sounds risky, yeah trust these trucks, but not knowing history is unnerving at high mileage. I guess I would be smart to have it inspected first.

 

[muellernautique]

It feels harder to get into 4th gear compared to the others, and sometimes 1st. Not sure if that's a problem, or just how it is on these gearboxes.

sometimes, it will be hard to get in a particular gear if it's all bound up a certain way. i've noticed this if I brake really hard at a red light and then go to put it in first. it'll take a little more pressure or maybe two attempts. usually it's just first though. also happens sometimes after parking. i've just started putting it in second then going into first, solves the problem.

also op, unless you have a deposit in on that truck, it's super risky posting it up here. it's a total steal, doesn't matter the price. jump on that tomorrow.

 

[Mark_BC]

Funny, mine goes into 4th super easy. 3rd is a little rough when cold. First is hard to get into unless moving really slow. My friend's is had to get into second but that is easy for me. I guess it comes down to how PO's abused them.

 

[Scramble]

im not too worried if someone else buys it, its a risk. I enjoy the combined knowledge here when looking at something and conversation and sharing. over 200,000 miles sounds risky, yeah trust these trucks, but not knowing history is unnerving at high mileage. I guess I would be smart to have it inspected first.

Forget the mileage, it's a one owner truck so you know it was taken care of & loved. Finding a Limited with locker is hard enough but a manual w/ locker is even more rare AND ZERO TEXAS RUST! I would have bought this over the locked limited I just got with 217K miles. You aren't going to find anything in Michigan or Wisconsin that isn't a rust bucket even at 145K miles unless it's the rare old man garage kept out of winter deal. Have cash in hand or a nice deposit since it's a dealership. Take it for a test drive, pick out everything that's wrong with it & offer $5000.