Looking to buy a used 3rd gen 4Runner, need advice!

[usracer900]

What are some of the weak points on these vehicles or what should I be looking for specifically when evaluating one?

How about comparing the 5 speeds vs. auto in terms of reliability and gas mileage? Is the 5 speed that much more reliable when the miles get high (130K +) Can I expect that much better mileage as well?

I'm currently look at a 99' SR5, V6, 140K miles, 5 speed, 4wd. Couple questions specifically on this. It has a button that locks the diff. When the button was depressed the light would come on, but when depressed again it wouldn't go off. Is this normal? Also, when in 4 wheel low, I turned it in tight circles and the front wheels would hop and bind a little. Is this normal as well? At what intervals should the timing belt be changed?

Thanks for your input, I really appreciate it!

 

[usracer900]

Sorry, left out a few questions

I can buy the truck for $5900, is this a decent price?

There are a couple things wrong with the truck. Power antenna is broke, is this a costly repair? Gas gauge is highly inaccurate, could this be a sending unit? Expensive?

Thanks again!

 

[RonMAIDEN]

That's a very good price for a '99 even with it's few issues. '99s got all the mid generation upgrades including the cupholders removed from the dash.

Did you ever get the rear diff to unlock? Sometimes gong in reverse then forward unlocks it. Power antenna can be replaced with a fixed unit that can be inexpensive.

Even on high mileage Runners the trannys don't seem to be an issue but a 5 speed will present less problems that could arise.
Manual trannys by nature will net you a couple more miles per galllon easily;I did with my '97 5 speed.

Binding in 4lo is normal especially if the rear diff is locked but obviously this won't be an issue off road.

Timing belt should be done every 90k miles but if it has been longer and it does break it won't destroy the motor but just leave you stranded.

3rd gen gas guages have always been kinda inaccurate and my advice is just learn the guage and when you shpuld fillup since even if it's not prefect it still should be consistent.


I have over 130k on my '99 and outside of normal maintenance all I've had fixed was leaky rear axle seals (which really isn't uncommon) and I had a small problem with the Throttle Position sensor but every other things works perfectly on my truck.