"New" 4Runner!

[Brique]

Ok, so due to the need for a truck that could handle carseats, I recently sold "Billy", my beloved 1998 Tacoma (moment of silence, please). Since I didn't want to go with a 4 door Tacoma, the obvious choice was a 4Runner, and a 3rd gen at that, since I loved my 98 taco so much.

After reading the 3rd gen buyers guide (thank you so much for that, 4-Ripcord! :thanks and a long hunt, I finally found the perfect match for me: 2001 SR5 sport, in black.

As much as my heart will always ache for my tacoma, I am super excited about the new 4Runner. So, I'd love some advice about getting my "new" 4runner set up for years of awesome in its new home.

I've read other forums and I've seen folks recommend "baselining" their new 3rd gen; replacing fluids, plugs & wires, etc. I plan on doing that and would love your thoughts on what order to do those things, so I can have a plan to knock those things out as time and money allow. I'd love to do as much of it as possible by myself, but I'm not super mechanically inclined, so I'd also love to know which of those things a budding DIYer can do and which are too much of a pita and should be left to a real mechanic.

A few more details: Automatic transmission, 4x4, 180k miles. Previous owner was pretty faithful on maintenance and performed it at dealership. Timing belt was replaced at 100k, and it lived in MD before being traded in last year, eventually making its way here to Nashville.

An additional question: the truck needs some serious TLC on the exterior in terms of cleaning. What cleaning products do you guys like?

I've read the buyers' guide and done searches on the forum here, including using the google "site:" method recommended in one of the stickies, so I apologize if there's a post out there that outlines all this, but I wasn't able to find it.

Thanks in advance for all your help!

 

[morbidsanity]

:worthless:

 

[A.Wilson013]

I just gave my 4Runner some serious exterior TLC yesterday. Not that it needed it. =p

I started with a nice bubble bath consisting of a heavy dose (to remove the old wax) of Griot's Car Wash and their Sheepskin Wash Mitt.

Once the suds were all rinsed off, I moved on to the clay bar. My weapon of choice? Griot's Garage Paint Clay & Speed Shine.

Once the clay was done, and my paint felt like glass, it was time for the polishing. I used Griot's 6" Random Orbital as my applicator, and Griot's Machine Polish 3 as my polish.

Upon completion of polish, it was time for a wax. Enter, Griot's Best of Show.

I'll snap a photo for you tomorrow. It looks good though, I promise.

To be clear: The only reason I use Griot's products is because their flag ship store is local to me, and I enjoy going there. It's a neat place.

 

[Brique]

:worthless:

I'll try to get some pics tomorrow during daylight. In the meantime, just imagine a stock 2001 sport edition in black. Something like this (not mine, just found this pic on the interwebs):

 

[morbidsanity]

I'll try to get some pics tomorrow during daylight. In the meantime, just imagine a stock 2001 sport edition in black. Something like this (not mine, just found this pic on the interwebs):

nice sounds like a keeper! i hate it when people go on about there car and dont post pictures lol

 

[Bama_Runner]

Welcome. You will find all the information you are looking for on here. Get ready to spend some money. You can't be on T4R and see all the other modified Runners and not spend some on your own.

 

[dgoll75]

Congrats on the new ride.

 

[jmildoc]

awesome looking forward to seeing some good pics

 

[Brique]

Photos taken. On my ancient phone right now, so I'll have to post them once I can get to my pc. In the meantime, does anyone have advice on what order I should go about changing fluids, plugs, etc. to "reset" my 4runner, so to speak? I'm not focused on any enhancements (lift, etc) until I've taken care of the longevity things first.

Btw, I really like the look of your truck, bama. Nice and tasteful. That's the direction I want to go with mine eventually: modest lift, nice brush guard, good tires...

 

[kernel.panik]

IMHO:

I would focus on the fluids if it is running good.
One MAJOR issue I had was I got a tranny flush. The service on this truck from the previous owner was questionable (don't ask) so I thought it would be a good idea...NOPE.
I must have loosened some varnish with the flush, so about a month later my tranny gives up. I fought with the dealer (where I bought the truck) about it and ended up only having to pay about $1200 for a rebuilt factory tranny (installed). They run about $2500 plus installation.
That was 2 months after I bought the truck...

I would suggest a drain/refill or two.

You are creeping up on a timing belt service (every 90) and if you don't do it yourself, it's kinda pricey.
It's about $300 in parts for the DIY (and there are a few good write-ups on here) but a dealer is gonna get near a grand... My wife and I just spend $1400 on her timing belt, spark plugs and 90K service for her 07 highlander. It has an extended warranty that scares me if I try to do anything major to it.

 

[Brique]

IMHO:

I would focus on the fluids if it is running good.
One MAJOR issue I had was I got a tranny flush. The service on this truck from the previous owner was questionable (don't ask) so I thought it would be a good idea...NOPE.
I must have loosened some varnish with the flush, so about a month later my tranny gives up. I fought with the dealer (where I bought the truck) about it and ended up only having to pay about $1200 for a rebuilt factory tranny (installed). They run about $2500 plus installation.
That was 2 months after I bought the truck...

I would suggest a drain/refill or two.

You are creeping up on a timing belt service (every 90) and if you don't do it yourself, it's kinda pricey.
It's about $300 in parts for the DIY (and there are a few good write-ups on here) but a dealer is gonna get near a grand... My wife and I just spend $1400 on her timing belt, spark plugs and 90K service for her 07 highlander. It has an extended warranty that scares me if I try to do anything major to it.

So are you recommending for or against the tranny flush? I was gonna try following a write up and doing it myself. Good or bad idea?

As for the timing belt, that's definitely beyond my ability, so we'll be saving up to have that done. Water pump, belts and valve gasket cover will be done in that same service.

 

[5vzT4R]

Most recommend not doing a transmission flush without knowing the previous maintenance of the transmission. Because it can possibly loosen any particles that the flush did not "flush out" and start to circulate them around the transmission.
Just what I have read, no personal experience on that.

But I do recommend you buying a transmission cooler to avoid the "pink milkshake" that can destroy the transmission if not caught soon enough. Most will go with a B&M.

 

[Brique]

Ok, so here it is. As mentioned it's entirely stock at this point. My first order of business will be to give it some attention with the consumable maintenance items. Building will be later and fairly low key, I think.


<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/sJ-hEA4oYozXMeEJdpsBcJ9dR-s9mAOdgWYVgtJ2Dlk?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-rPK-vb6T1FU/Ul2KCNujjVI/AAAAAAAAAAc/r68oAZzWutk/s144/2013-10-14%252015.52.40.jpg" height="108" width="144" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/106118251263084777318/PhonePhotos10152013?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">Phone Photos 10-15-2013</a></td></tr></table>

 

[Brique]

Ok, another question on the transmission fluid: if a flush is not advisable, what about a drain and fill? Or should I just leave it alone?

 

[5vzT4R]

Most people just do a drain and re-fill every so often. That's perfectly good to do and better then nothing and a flush IMO.