New 2000 4Runner owner with lots of questions!

[dbsoundman]

Hi all, I'm new to the forum and to the 4Runner world. Over the weekend I purchased a 2000 Toyota 4Runner SR5 with about 147,000 miles on it. It's in really nice shape, spent its whole life in CO so little rust except where the back end got dipped into a lake (previous owner towed a boat occasionally).

Obviously it appears to have the towing package, as it has the hitch, but my first question is, what does the factory installed transmission cooler look like for the towing package, or did it even exist? I looked under the hood and it looks like there's a cooler in front of the radiator, but it's almost as big as the radiator itself so I wasn't sure if what I saw was actually a transmission cooler, or a radiator component. I'm fairly new to getting down and dirty with vehicles but I want to learn a lot more!

Second question, moving onto the radiator, I read about the dreaded strawberry milkshake issue, and was wondering if I should consider replacing the radiator fairly soon? Obviously if there's a transmission cooler that probably takes care of the main problem, but I wasn't sure if that was still a relevant concern, or just a standard maintenance operation anyway at this mileage.

Finally (for now), lower ball joints...I assume that they've been taken care of from the recall but I don't know for sure, so how can I find out, and should I consider also replacing those soon (I read that it is a recommended job at 150k, but I'm not seeing/hearing/feeling any performance issues so far)?

I've got lots of things I want to do to this runner in the future...short term I want to put in an aftermarket stereo (looks to be fairly easy), and do the Tundra brake mod (stock brakes on the T4R are one of the only things I don't like about it so far). Now all I need is a ton of money to pay for all those things, plus all the work my old CR-V needs, which is now the daily driver of my soon-to-be-wife...

I'd appreciate your guidance and advice!

 

[nissanh]

A) The big cooler with Aluminum pipes is your Air Condition condenser.

B) If you still have the OEM radiator, it is high time to replace it. It is a simple process to replace a radiator.

C) You can give your VIN number to a dealer (service department) and ask them to check whether the lower ball joints has been replaced. If not, you can get it done for FREE!!! at the dealer!

Welcome to the forum

 

[dbsoundman]

A) The big cooler with Aluminum pipes is your Air Condition condenser.

D'oh! Forgot about that part. Guess I'll add transmission cooler to the list...

B) If you still have the OEM radiator, it is high time to replace it. It is a simple process to replace a radiator.

Ties into the above...probably do both at the same time, though I'll have to find a friend to help with the transmission cooler install because I don't really know what I'm doing just yet and I don't want to screw it up!

C) You can give your VIN number to a dealer (service department) and ask them to check whether the lower ball joints has been replaced. If not, you can get it done for FREE!!! at the dealer!

Good call, I'm already working on getting records from the place I bought it (Lexus dealer), then I'm off to phoning the Toyota dealership for more info. Still I thought it said in the maintenance thread that the lower ball joints should still be replaced at 150k?

Welcome to the forum

Thanks! :hatsoff:

 

[blizz86]

A) The big cooler with Aluminum pipes is your Air Condition condenser.

B) If you still have the OEM radiator, it is high time to replace it. It is a simple process to replace a radiator.

C) You can give your VIN number to a dealer (service department) and ask them to check whether the lower ball joints has been replaced. If not, you can get it done for FREE!!! at the dealer!

Welcome to the forum

ive never seen any type of TSB or recall for the lower ball joint replacement free of charge.. can you show me a link for this?


to OP: congrats on your new purchase man!!

 

[dbsoundman]

ive never seen any type of TSB or recall for the lower ball joint replacement free of charge.. can you show me a link for this?


to OP: congrats on your new purchase man!!

From the 3rd generation 4runner buyer's guide:

2001 Toyota 4Runner Recalls & Problems - Motor Trend Magazine

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/problems-warranty-issues/71656-2001-lower-ball-joint-recall.html

From the screenshot of the VIN ranges in the link above, looks like this issue only affected 2001-2002 4Runners...

 

[blizz86]

From the 3rd generation 4runner buyer's guide:

2001 Toyota 4Runner Recalls & Problems - Motor Trend Magazine

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/problems-warranty-issues/71656-2001-lower-ball-joint-recall.html

From the screenshot of the VIN ranges in the link above, looks like this issue only affected 2001-2002 4Runners...

ahh, yes i guess i meant to say concerning the 2000 model :l ( you can probably guess why i was confused as im a 2000 owner too)

 

[4-Ripcord]

Welcome, OP.

No such thing as tow package on these trucks, there was an option for a trailer hitch though. We all have the same radiator trans cooling setup on the autos.

The recall was MOSTLY on the 01-02s, 99-00s also had a small stake in the recall. Stop by your local dealer and have them check. Thats really the only way to be 100% sure it was done or if its still pending or if you even qualify.

 

[dbsoundman]

Thanks for the info. I'll go by a dealer next week hopefully, I am currently working on getting the Toyota service records though so that may have some info as well. I'll be checking the fluids today to see how they all look but I'm assuming they'll all be clean. Is there any way to check the tranny fluid without draining it, to see if it's turning milky? I don't have any reason to believe that there's a problem but if I can check I'd rather do that first...

 

[4-Ripcord]

Also, register on the Toyota owners site and input your VIN. It should show it on there if its been done.

 

[dbsoundman]

Also, register on the Toyota owners site and input your VIN. It should show it on there if its been done.

Should I be worried that the owner's site doesn't recognize my VIN? :wow: It seems to recognize it as a valid VIN, but not one that they have on record...I don't think this vehicle was purchased outside the CONUS, and I can/did get CARFAX on it with no problems...didn't get a printed copy from the dealer though, just read it online. :ybrick:

 

[nissanh]

Soon after I bought the truck I changed the oil in diff's, engine, trans, transfer case and greased the drive line, just to make sure. Also get a TOYOTA air filter ($20) and oil filter ($5) from the dealer.

You are in CO, so you have a 4x4?

The trans oil flow in my truck is, Trans output oil goes in to the radiator and then to the oil cooler and then back to the transmission.

 

[dbsoundman]

OK, I've been working on a prioritized list of maintenance to perform, does this look all right so far? Anything I should add?

Flush/bleed brakes
AT Flush (should I flush or just drain/refill?)
Oil Change
Change Differential Oil
Drive Shaft Grease
Change Transfer Case Oil
Replace radiator and add Transmission Cooler
Replace Fuel Filter (if MPG dictates)
Tundra Brake Mod?

 

[blizz86]

OK, I've been working on a prioritized list of maintenance to perform, does this look all right so far? Anything I should add?

Flush/bleed brakes
AT Flush (should I flush or just drain/refill?)
Oil Change
Change Differential Oil
Drive Shaft Grease
Change Transfer Case Oil
Replace radiator and add Transmission Cooler
Replace Fuel Filter (if MPG dictates)
Tundra Brake Mod?

Don't forget to check your spark plugs and wires! And inspect your LBJ's (i still need to do mine)

 

[dbsoundman]

Don't forget to check your spark plugs and wires! And inspect your LBJ's (i still need to do mine)

Ahh, forgot spark plugs! I think I had it in my mind, but not on the list. I'm going to the mechanic today to get the brakes looked at (who can turn down a $50 brake flush/bleed?), so I'll ask them to look at the LBJs while they have it up.

 

[dbsoundman]

I'm also somewhat concerned about my fuel economy, I haven't gotten a good estimate so far but I'm noticing that the fuel gauge drops a LOT faster...I filled up last night and have since driven about 25 miles, and my fuel gauge is already sitting about halfway between full and 3/4. Is this normal on the 4Runner? I did read something about problems with the accuracy of the fuel gauge but I don't know if mine was fixed or not. I don't notice any performance issues, though, so I'm hopeful that nothing is amuck. I did pull the EFI fuse last night for about 30 minutes to try to reset it, no idea if I was successful though. I have read that changing the fuel filter is a good idea, and cleaning the MAF and throttle is also good. Later today I'm going to fill up at a gas station and see how many gallons I put in so I can calculate my MPG, and that will determine where any fuel economy improvements sit on my work list...

 

[man jerk]

Hey Dan B.

Fellow COS 4runner here. Just sold my 1st gen and I purchased a 2000 4runner about 3 weeks ago. I thought I was getting incredibly bad mileage as the gauge was dopping fast enough to see, but after filling up and checking the miles driven I got about 15mpg on my first tank. I have a pile of items to install and hopefully that number goes up. I do have a supercharger but I've been trying to drive like a grandma. Also I filled up when the low fuel light came on but it only took like 14 gallons to fill up so there was still 3-4 gallons left in the tank.

Hopefully this weekend I will do:
plugs
plug wires
Oil change w/ Mobile 1
fuel filter
clean throttle body and MAF
PCV valve
transmission cooler

Hopefully after that I see improvement.

 

[dbsoundman]

Hey Dan B.

Fellow COS 4runner here. Just sold my 1st gen and I purchased a 2000 4runner about 3 weeks ago. I thought I was getting incredibly bad mileage as the gauge was dopping fast enough to see, but after filling up and checking the miles driven I got about 15mpg on my first tank. I have a pile of items to install and hopefully that number goes up. I do have a supercharger but I've been trying to drive like a grandma. Also I filled up when the low fuel light came on but it only took like 14 gallons to fill up so there was still 3-4 gallons left in the tank.

Hopefully this weekend I will do:
plugs
plug wires
Oil change w/ Mobile 1
fuel filter
clean throttle body and MAF
PCV valve
transmission cooler

Hopefully after that I see improvement.

I'm certainly hoping I find the same soon. I'm about to drive it to Denver tomorrow to the airport, where I'll be leaving it until I return next week. Then the real fun will begin...I'm a car maintenance n00b but I want to learn more, I've got some coworkers that can help me out hopefully (especially since I don't have a lot of the specialized tools yet).

 

[blizz86]

Ive noticed that mileage on these suckers varies widly on whether you drive mainly city or highway.

Last week i had about 100 miles on the highway about 60 in the city.. going decently fast on the highway (70-85ish) and i ended up with about 19 mpg..

This week, im mainly driving city and im around 60 miles right not with the needle between half and 3/4

 

[dbsoundman]

Just got the maintenance records from the Lexus dealership that sold me the 4Runner...lots of interesting things on there. They did an oil change of course, oil filter, and removed the old rusty running boards the previous owner installed, but they also had to clean the contacts on the 3rd brake light and replace the bulb, and they also replaced both license plate bulbs because they were out. They had to clean out the left front marker bulb socket as well and replace it. Finally, they re-did the power antenna.

Should I be worried about how many lighting-related things they had to fix? Particularly on the back...I know the previous owner used this 4Runner to tow his boat, so the back end did get dipped in the water a few times, maybe that caused the corrosion on the sockets? Then again, I don't think the vehicle should have to be up to the license plate in water to dip a boat...

Any thoughts?