New 3rd Gen Highlander Owner

[PowRunner303]

Hello!

I used this site a lot when trying to learn about 4Runners during my hunt for one, so I figured that I should become a member now since I am finally an owner. I am a previous owner of a 1983 Volvo 240 (560,000 miles/retired) and a 1982 Volvo 242 (coupe/ 380,000 miles/still going strong). So, naturally I wanted to find a truck that had the same reliability with much more off-road capability - hence the 4Runner.

The search was long, but at last I was able to find a 2000 4Runner Highlander with a 5-speed manual transmission with only 130k miles. On top of that, it only had one owner from Colorado (no rust) and he was an older gentleman whom passed away, so it probably hasn't been worked too hard off-road. Unfortunately, Toyota did not offer the rear E-Locker in year 2000 in combination with the 5-speed manual transmission for the Highlander specifically. I don't know why that is - correct me if I'm wrong. But, overall a very solid and clean ride!

"Mods" so far:

Working OEM Keyless Fob Remote - $35
Used Yakima Powderhound Ski Rack - $40
Interior Detail - $125

Any suggestions on mods I can look into? Im not trying to overhaul the entire vehicle (I like to keep it as close to stock as possible), but I'm open for suggestions on how to make it perform a little better off-road and get it mountain ready before the ski season kicks off again. Anyone familiar with an ARB Air Locker on a 4Runner?

Thanks!

 

[Tyota89]

Awesome find man.. And welcome to the forums.

 

[NoLight]

Welcome!!

 

[PowRunner303]

Thanks'

Anyone from CO?

 

[PowRunner303]

Welcome!!

Awesome dog in the pic! GSD? I have a one year old East German working line GSD. She is absolutely loving the rear window on the runner!

 

[NoLight]

Awesome dog in the pic! GSD? I have a one year old East German working line GSD. She is absolutely loving the rear window on the runner!

Yes she is Czech comes from an excellent bloodline on the dads side and a really good from the mom..

 

[paddlenbike]

That is technically not a Highlander as all Highlanders had the smaller black fender flares, but what you have is ever-bit as good.

I have a factory e-locked 5-speed and plenty of others here do too, but they are a very difficult find. You got a great truck and you'll be amazed how far it will go in stock form, even without a locker. These gen 4Runners are the best. (And it won't drop fuel pump relays, vacuum hoses and have random electrical problems like my wife's volvo 940--which was a great car, but the 4Runner is proving to be better.)

 

[PowRunner303]

That is technically not a Highlander as all Highlanders had the smaller black fender flares, but what you have is ever-bit as good.

I have a factory e-locked 5-speed and plenty of others here do too, but they are a very difficult find. You got a great truck and you'll be amazed how far it will go in stock form, even without a locker. These gen 4Runners are the best. (And it won't drop fuel pump relays, vacuum hoses and have random electrical problems like my wife's volvo 940--which was a great car, but the 4Runner is proving to be better.)

Thanks for the input man. Is your wife's volvo still kicking? I swear those things are the best! Im definitely excited to get this thing on the mountain. Luckily I have a few months before it starts dumping snow again haha.

Anyways, I could be interpreting the brochure wrong but, there was no officially named "highlander" trim in year 2000. There was the base, sr5, and limited. However, the sr5 did come with a "sport trim" a.k.a the highlander version (which is only printed on the window sticker). With that sport/highlander trim you could get a manual or automatic - only automatic versions included the rear diff locker. I think you might be referring to the 1999 highlander where the flares were black only. In 2000, they offered the vehicle with color keyed bumper, grill, and flares.

Here is the link http://www.top4runners.com/runhist/3rdgen/2000_4runner.pdf

There was a 2000 5 speed,with e-locker at the shop I was buying from (they actually had two of them in case anyone is looking (2000 and 1999) - PM me for details)). But I figured that an aftermarket ARB air locker would probably function better with this vehicle than buying one with a 15 year-old e-locker considering that vehicle had been off-loaded pretty heavily.

 

[paddlenbike]

Nope, the Volvo is currently dead with an unknown electrical issue at 230,000 miles. I'm sure it would keep going for a while longer if they could track the problem down. I had a Volvo 850 turbo and it was a POS compared to the 940....it really is true that the last good volvos are RWD.

I guess what I was trying to say is that your 4Runner is not officially a Highlander, as Toyota only used that name in 1999 and associated with a very specific vehicle. Here is a Toyota ad where the Highlander name is used.

What you have is at least equal to a Highlander, but officially it's an SR5 with the Sport Package. My truck is optioned exactly like yours but is not a Sport Package because I don't have a hood scoop and I do have a 5-speed with the e-locker, which is officially an SR5 non-Sport but with the top "Extra Value Package #5" that includes the locking diff on 5-speed models. I find it interesting from your link that the e-locker was not available as part of the Sport Package on manual transmission models unless you ordered it as stand-alone option.

 

[PowRunner303]

Totally understand what you are saying. It's super weird that Toyota had the official "highlander" in 1999 then it disappeared the very next year, only to bring it back again in subsequent years as a branded model of the 4Runner- not quite sure what happened in between. Either way, "official highlander" or not, the truck is literally no different than an "official highlander" aside from the fender flares as far as I can tell. What perplexes me, if it's true, is why they would not offer the rear E locker with the "sport" package in 2000 with the 5 speed. It also sucks that they lowered the height of the vehicle in 2000. 1999 had a slightly higher stock suspension I think. Oh well.

What would you say about these upgrades to start with?

1) TRD Supercharger
2) ARB air lockers
3) some coil overs, still trying to find something I like - any recommendations?

 

[paddlenbike]

I agree, what you have is no less of a vehicle than a Highlander (actually I like the larger flares better), but the name Highlander went away because Toyota started selling their smaller SUV named the Highlander in the year 2000. Subsequent 4Runners with that package were badged as Sport Editions in 2001 and 2002.

I'm super happy with the supercharger, but having a rear locker is almost mandatory for the trails I have in my area. I say get both.

 

[PowRunner303]

Check this link out:
Toyota 4Runner Highlander Information

If you don't mind me asking, how much should I expect to pay for the supercharger installed? Or did you do yours yourself?

Any lift on your runner?

BTW, awesome truck you got there. If I could have chosen a color it would have been white. But either way, if anyone is using thier 4Runner the right way, they should all be the same color

 

[paddlenbike]

If you don't mind me asking, how much should I expect to pay for the supercharger installed? Or did you do yours yourself?

Any lift on your runner?

I installed mine myself. I am somewhat mechanically-inclined but I work super slow. The supercharger arrived on my doorstep at 7:00pm and I was out test driving it by 1:30am. Toyota/TRD just discontinued production of the supercharger, so you might want to look soon and see if there are any left. Otherwise, used is your only option.

I do have a small lift; it's the Sonoran Steel 7.2. Good luck with your build!