WERA988
New member
been reading alot for months. finally joined a bit ago. first post here. i've used the search feature....mucho info. great place!!
just wanted to run a few things by you guys.
i've got a new to me 97 runner limited, yes.....its got the E-locker and it works!! already modded it so i can use it whenever/however needed. thanks to this site.
she has 174,000 miles on her. appears to have the original t belt. looks as if the previous owner just put new tires, oil and gas when needed. the front driver's seat is split and in really bad shape. i've ordered some wet okole seat covers and actually just recieved the tracking number today. hopefully that will take care of that issue.
it has the thump thing going on. i'll be taking care of the drivetrain this weekend in an attempt to lessen/rid the truck of the problem.
i've put new rotors and ceramic pads already on her. i'll do the bigger calipers down the road. gotta take care of more important things first. the oil is fresh and good color. the antifreeze looked rough and a bit rusty. i've flushed and added new antifreeze.
the suspension feels weak, when making turns the truck feels top heavy and leans pretty well. i've already got a set of shocks/struts to put on this weekend for the front. the rear actually looks like they have been replaced but when going over a speed hump/bump it feels as if two cinder blocks were dropped in the cargo area. that normal for the third gens?
the t belt, water pump, drive belts and the t belt tensioner will be replaced next monday for a quoted price of 680. i thought that was a pretty fair price from what i've read on here.
now, gas mileage. if i didn't know better i would say i can actually watch the fuel guage needle drop as i drive down the road. i just got her on the road this week. i had just started to check my mpg's. i was almost on an empty tank and my wife put 30 dollars worth of gas in (almost had the magic number)......so i'll give it a try again in a bit. once again i'm willing to bet that the sensors before and aft the converter have never been changed, along with the maf sensor. is it worth spending just about 600 dollars to change those parts. i actually had to use high temp gasket maker to fix the seal on the rear sensor and a large hose clamp for a temp fix. all guiet for the time being. i'm guessing i can get the nuts for the threaded bolts on the exhaust from a yota dealer? one sensor is missing both nuts hence the heavy duty hose clamp.
a tune up is planned this weekend as well.
now my question to you guys:
-is it worth it to change out the maf and exhaust sensors?
-could the sway bar be causing the top heavy sway feeling?
-i'm thinking of going synthetic on all of my fluids. from what i've read thats a good way to go. i've never had a vehicle with such high mileage. i'm afraid i'll do the switch and a few miles later the trans will take a dump. anyone have experience with high mileage trans and made the switch....problems? none?
-anything else to check/adjust/replace. i'm taking the family on a trip in a about two weeks. i'm pretty sure i could take her as she is now but that t belt replacement will let me rest easy.
on a side note, this is not my first yota. i've owned an 84 ext cab 4x4, solid axle first gen runner, two 2nd gen runners (3.slow) one engine actually blew. this is my first 3rd gen so i have nothing to compare it to.
man, thats a big first post. lol.
just wanted to run a few things by you guys.
i've got a new to me 97 runner limited, yes.....its got the E-locker and it works!! already modded it so i can use it whenever/however needed. thanks to this site.
she has 174,000 miles on her. appears to have the original t belt. looks as if the previous owner just put new tires, oil and gas when needed. the front driver's seat is split and in really bad shape. i've ordered some wet okole seat covers and actually just recieved the tracking number today. hopefully that will take care of that issue.
it has the thump thing going on. i'll be taking care of the drivetrain this weekend in an attempt to lessen/rid the truck of the problem.
i've put new rotors and ceramic pads already on her. i'll do the bigger calipers down the road. gotta take care of more important things first. the oil is fresh and good color. the antifreeze looked rough and a bit rusty. i've flushed and added new antifreeze.
the suspension feels weak, when making turns the truck feels top heavy and leans pretty well. i've already got a set of shocks/struts to put on this weekend for the front. the rear actually looks like they have been replaced but when going over a speed hump/bump it feels as if two cinder blocks were dropped in the cargo area. that normal for the third gens?
the t belt, water pump, drive belts and the t belt tensioner will be replaced next monday for a quoted price of 680. i thought that was a pretty fair price from what i've read on here.
now, gas mileage. if i didn't know better i would say i can actually watch the fuel guage needle drop as i drive down the road. i just got her on the road this week. i had just started to check my mpg's. i was almost on an empty tank and my wife put 30 dollars worth of gas in (almost had the magic number)......so i'll give it a try again in a bit. once again i'm willing to bet that the sensors before and aft the converter have never been changed, along with the maf sensor. is it worth spending just about 600 dollars to change those parts. i actually had to use high temp gasket maker to fix the seal on the rear sensor and a large hose clamp for a temp fix. all guiet for the time being. i'm guessing i can get the nuts for the threaded bolts on the exhaust from a yota dealer? one sensor is missing both nuts hence the heavy duty hose clamp.
a tune up is planned this weekend as well.
now my question to you guys:
-is it worth it to change out the maf and exhaust sensors?
-could the sway bar be causing the top heavy sway feeling?
-i'm thinking of going synthetic on all of my fluids. from what i've read thats a good way to go. i've never had a vehicle with such high mileage. i'm afraid i'll do the switch and a few miles later the trans will take a dump. anyone have experience with high mileage trans and made the switch....problems? none?
-anything else to check/adjust/replace. i'm taking the family on a trip in a about two weeks. i'm pretty sure i could take her as she is now but that t belt replacement will let me rest easy.
on a side note, this is not my first yota. i've owned an 84 ext cab 4x4, solid axle first gen runner, two 2nd gen runners (3.slow) one engine actually blew. this is my first 3rd gen so i have nothing to compare it to.
man, thats a big first post. lol.
