Looking at a Gen-4 with 264K miles...

[Snyper82]

Just looking at the photo I wondering if it's a 2WD and not a 4WD because all I see for the badges on the door is SR5 and no 4WD, I know the 4th GENS have both badges for a 4WD but I'm not sure for early 2003s.



DO you have any photos showing the dash and the 4WD control switch?

Sorta, the pic of the dash (I cropped) isn't close enough to be sure, but the silver dial is there in the location it should be. Listed as "awd with push button"

However, I think the 4wd came off the drivers door, the passenger side has it. It may have been wrecked but not reported to insurance/Carfax.

Again, I'll see it Saturday and will know a ton more instantly.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

 

[AuSeeker]

Sorta, the pic of the dash (I cropped) isn't close enough to be sure, but the silver dial is there in the location it should be. Listed as "awd with push button"

However, I think the 4wd came off the drivers door, the passenger side has it. It may have been wrecked but not reported to insurance/Carfax.

Again, I'll see it Saturday and will know a ton more instantly.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

OK, it definitely looks to indeed be a 4WD, it just jumped out at me when I saw the photo of the driver's door and no badge.

Just so you know it will have the 5 speed transmission...but not the "sealed" version that came out later in 2004, so it will have a "normal" dipstick so be sure to pull the dipstick to see how the fluid looks and if it's low or not, it also uses type T-IV fluid and not the WS long life fluid.

 

[Snyper82]

...it will have the 5 speed transmission...but not the "sealed" version that came out later in 2004, so it will have a "normal" dipstick so be sure to pull the dipstick to see how the fluid looks and if it's low or not, it also uses type T-IV fluid and not the WS long life fluid.

Oh, good, thanks for the heads up. Any other suggestions?

Man, IDK that 06, though more expensive and higher miles, is looking better and better.

 

[AuSeeker]

Oh, good, thanks for the heads up. Any other suggestions?

Man, IDK that 06, though more expensive and higher miles, is looking better and better.

I'm not sure if I made you worry about the 5 speed transmission being "different" than the later sealed transmission but don't worry they are the same transmission the only real difference is the "sealed" part and Toyota changed the type of fluid to one that would last a "lifetime" which is a load of crap, there's no such thing as a lifetime transmission fluid or any other type of oil, any lubricate will lose some if not all of it's lubricating properties after a certain number of miles, also Toyota "may" have changed some other minor things since the WS fluid has a lower viscosity but the transmissions are basically the same with the exception of one having a dipstick and the other not, that being said the WS fluid was engineered to have a longer service life over older fluids but Toyota says can't be used in the non-sealed transmission because of the lower viscosity, that's why you need to use the T-IV fluid.

When you pull the dipstick and look at the trans fluid also smell it, even if it looks dark and not cherry red but smells more or less like new transmission fluid everything should be fine but it might be a good idea to do a fluid change, if it smells like it's been burnt the transmission might have over heated at some point but if it shifts fine when driving it there may not be any issues from it overheating but I would definitely change out the fluid in this case.

 

[weaves]

Also, do the plastics look aftermarket to you?

(sellers pic)

They're actually painted satin black. The '03 SR5 & SportEdition OEM fender flares were originally a charcoal gray plastic (unpainted) and also have raised ridges on them. The '03 Limited models had paint-matched fender flares.