i just bought a 98 4runner this week. it is limited with a locker 4x4 with/ 141k. I want to do some upgrdeing. do yal think a old air intake is worth it...? and if so what company is best? also thinking about upgrading lights? hids....leds....any thoughts. what would yal do?
noob questions
- Thread starter jimbob86
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Baja Runner
Member
HID's are blinding to other drivers unless you do it right. Please don't do!
Air intake's aren't worth it either.
Best thing to do is to do a full tune up and seafoam treatment! Clean your throttle body, and let the Toyota engineers do their magic.
Air intake's aren't worth it either.
Best thing to do is to do a full tune up and seafoam treatment! Clean your throttle body, and let the Toyota engineers do their magic.
T4R_Finally
New member
I would do what i am doing already. Make a checklist of what is needed to make sure it is and stays in good mechanical condition. The lipstick and rouge can come later. These things, as a whole, will last a long time but only if you take good care of them. Not all of the parts last as long though. Make sure the timing belt and water pump are within the replacement window, replace the radiator if it has never been done, and make sure all fluids are current. I find the headlights to be more than sufficient, at least on my 2000 model.
thanks guys for the advice. i think that is what ill do. ill do a run down and a good tune up. Should i stick with all oem parts? also i think i would like the stance a little bit better by taking off the running boards. so should i just replace the radiator if i dont know if it has been replaced or not? and should i do an external rad cooler?
T4R_Finally
New member
Jimbob, plenty of info in this forum to answer your questions. A great resource so you have come to the right place. As for your questions, i say yes to all and maybe about the cooler. You can decide for yourself based on your needs.
Baja Runner
Member
Yes, buy only Denso or NGK plugs. DO NOT USE BOSCH.
Before you walk out of the store make sure there are 2 electrodes on the plugs. These are required by our engines.
You can buy OEM style NGK spark plug wires for $30 on amazon.
Use whatever oil you like, and a decent filter.
Get an OEM Toyota fuel filter. (Start by spraying the connections with PB blaster to have them come off easily) The fuel filter is right beneath your drivers seat under the truck along the inside frame-rail.
I usually just stick to cheap paper air filters.
Clean your MAF with MAF cleaner or electronic cleaner. (This potentially will boost you 2+ mpg's if its dirty).
Before you walk out of the store make sure there are 2 electrodes on the plugs. These are required by our engines.
You can buy OEM style NGK spark plug wires for $30 on amazon.
Use whatever oil you like, and a decent filter.
Get an OEM Toyota fuel filter. (Start by spraying the connections with PB blaster to have them come off easily) The fuel filter is right beneath your drivers seat under the truck along the inside frame-rail.
I usually just stick to cheap paper air filters.
Clean your MAF with MAF cleaner or electronic cleaner. (This potentially will boost you 2+ mpg's if its dirty).
1985taylor1925
Senior Member
I have a Chilton manual and it basically explains how to do any repair possible
brian2sun
Elite Member
Read the http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/69744-tutorial-documentation-reference.html , it will help you out with a lot of stuff. You can go buy a Chilton's or a Haynes service manual, but IMO they really aren't very good. I use the Toyota FSM links on ttora.
TTORA - General Tacoma Information - Faq
Most stuff is the same on the 1st gen Taco and 3rd gen 4runner (and the front end is virtually identical (mechanically), but you can download the actual FSM for the 4runner also from that site.
TTORA - General Tacoma Information - Faq
Most stuff is the same on the 1st gen Taco and 3rd gen 4runner (and the front end is virtually identical (mechanically), but you can download the actual FSM for the 4runner also from that site.
I got my plugs from the dealer for like $18 (the wires were $77!!! FInd them online) and added an external cooler for the tranny. I suppose a new rad would be just as good, but a tad more costly. Get that baby running healthy and check out the above links for instructions for a lot of things. You can learn a lot here.
T4R_Finally
New member
A repair manual is nice but you would be surprised what you can find online. For example, take a few minutes and search this forum for MAF. You will probably find all you want to know and then some. I am finding, for the most part, try to stick to oem parts. Dont put something on just because the teenager at advance auto says the computer says it will fit. Mine tried to sell me a bosch o2 sensor for 170 dollars. Bought a denso online for 62 and it is the better part.
brian2sun
Elite Member
If it's nice and red and doesn't smell burnt, the tranny fluid is probably ok. But, since it's a new-to-you truck, if you don't know when it was last changed and/or if the filter has ever been changed, you might want to do that. If the fluid looks no bueno, but the tranny seems to operate correctly and smoothly, I'd consider dropping the pan, changing the filter, and also flushing it. So your options are (depending on the fluid condition)..
1) Just pull the drain plug on the tranny and fill it back up (you fill it through the dipstick). There is some discrepancy as to how much fluid to put back in when you do this. The manual says about 2 qts, but it seems that most of us get 4-5 quarts out. Mine drained almost 5 qts and it read full at hot temp on the dipstick (after taking it for a 20 mile drive and checking it in P w/ the engine running). It's best to make sure it's at the correct level before you start doing anything, and then measure what drains out and replace with the same amount.
2) Do #1 above in addition to dropping the pan and replacing the filter. I got about 6 or 7 quarts out total when I did this. It's a messy job though and no fun at all.. especially when ATF is dripping in your nose and mouth when you're under there scraping the old gasket off the tranny.
3) Do #1 and #2 above in addition to flushing it with the tranny's own pump. This DIY method works great and the write up will also answer just about everything concerning tranny maintenance..
Dropping Pan And Flushing Transmission
It took me about 16 qts of ATF to do the complete "#3".
4) Pay a shop to drop the pan and change the filter and/or flush it.
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SORRY NOT FROM CALI IM FROM GEORGIA. WHAT ARE 98 4RUNNERS GOING FOR OUT THERE? I BOUGHT MINE FOR $6000.
THANKS FOR THE INFO ON THE TRANNY ILL PROB PAY A SHOP I LIVE IN APTS AND DONT HAVE ALOT OF SPACE...ALSO THEY FROWN APON WORKING ON YOUR CARS IN THE PARKING LOT! IM ALSO HAVING TROUBLE FINDING HOW PEOPLE ARE SEAFOAMING THERE TRUCKS AND WHAT IS THE BEST METHOD? i HAVE READ SOME SAY PUT IT IN GAS TANK AND THE PCV SYSTEM AND THE OIL, AND RUN IT FOR 100 MILES! THEN I READ YOU SHOULD RUN IT FOR 30 MINS NO LONGER....SOME SAY JUST THE GAS TANK OR BRAKE BOOSTER???? ONFUSED CAN ANYONE SHED SOME LIGHT FOR ME?
THANKS FOR THE INFO ON THE TRANNY ILL PROB PAY A SHOP I LIVE IN APTS AND DONT HAVE ALOT OF SPACE...ALSO THEY FROWN APON WORKING ON YOUR CARS IN THE PARKING LOT! IM ALSO HAVING TROUBLE FINDING HOW PEOPLE ARE SEAFOAMING THERE TRUCKS AND WHAT IS THE BEST METHOD? i HAVE READ SOME SAY PUT IT IN GAS TANK AND THE PCV SYSTEM AND THE OIL, AND RUN IT FOR 100 MILES! THEN I READ YOU SHOULD RUN IT FOR 30 MINS NO LONGER....SOME SAY JUST THE GAS TANK OR BRAKE BOOSTER???? ONFUSED CAN ANYONE SHED SOME LIGHT FOR ME?
