on the quest for a Gen 4.

[RoyBell]

Hey all, I am looking for a Gen 4 4runner. I had an 01 Limited that I really liked. I traded up for trucks, and now I am looking for a 4R again.

I have pretty much narrowed my search to a 2006+ 4.7 model. I am really digging the Limited features over the sport model.

My question is, what are common problems with these vehicle I should look for when buying? I have drove a couple and all seem pretty good. The 2006 sport model I drove seemed to have the rear brakes hang up once in a while from starting from a stop. Perhaps from sitting on the lot a while they were starting to get rusty, who knows.

My budget is putting me in the neighborhood of 90-120K mile trucks. I know the timing belt should be replaced at 90K. Other than that, how do these vehicles run beyond 100K? My 01 got traded at 110K miles and was flawless minus for the small axle leak it started to produce.

I have found a cleaner looking one with 112K miles on it. I checked carfax and it shows regular maintenance done WITH the timing belt done. To me, that is worth a little more over a 90K mile truck without proof of the belt being done.

I am just wary of getting a higher mileage vehicle that starts nickle and diming me to death. I can do any repair on the vehicle, I just rather not. I have had many toyotas without many issues so I am not THAT worried, just figured I would ask and see what are prone problems. One issue I notice is the headlamps on all the 2006-2008s I have seen seem to be faded or moisture in them.

Suggestions welcomed. I want the 4.7 for the extra power and towing ability so I am not considering the V6 at this time.

 

[RoyBell]

I should note my budget is roughly $13-15K. I am looking out of state currently as the ones in Chicagoland are $2K high on average.

 

[Got2xlr8]

at that mileage make sure the Timing/Waterpump has been replaced, look for Diff/Transfer case fluids to have been replaced. Check to see if the plugs have been replaced. Get the Truck up on a lift and look for lines running from each shock, this will indicate if the truck has XREAS, not a deal killer if it does, but look for leaks. most people tear out and replace the XREAS by 140K. Listen while the engine is running for the headers, if they have fractured you'll hear it.

 

[NuclearN8]

:welcome:, now read this sticky http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-g...modifications-write-ups-quick-links-faqs.html

or use google (since the forum's search feature isn't the best), there's at least one thread a month on here asking the same question as you...

 

[RoyBell]

Thanks for the info. I did a search and came up with a mess of info from 2-5th gens.

Most issues were timing belt and water pump.

I rear up on the XREAS a little because I was considering a Sport. The system worries me to be honest. I rather not have it.

I wouldn't expect fluid or plugs to had been changed at 100K miles. Those are simple things I could do myself though.

My concern is buying a +100K mile vehicle for 13K vs an 80K mile vehicle for 15K. Prices seem to be all over the place and really drop once it hits 100K. If I can hold off on some items, maybe I would be better off spending the extra money up front to post pone those items.

 

[97BlackAckCL]

The XREAS is not the greatest, I traded in for an SR5 just to have the softer suspension

 

[NuclearN8]

Thanks for the info. I did a search and came up with a mess of info from 2-5th gens.

Most issues were timing belt and water pump.

I rear up on the XREAS a little because I was considering a Sport. The system worries me to be honest. I rather not have it.

I wouldn't expect fluid or plugs to had been changed at 100K miles. Those are simple things I could do myself though.

My concern is buying a +100K mile vehicle for 13K vs an 80K mile vehicle for 15K. Prices seem to be all over the place and really drop once it hits 100K. If I can hold off on some items, maybe I would be better off spending the extra money up front to post pone those items.

If I were deadset on the v8, I would find one between 100-150K miles that either had the timing belt and water pump already replaced at a dealer (with paperwork to prove it) or better yet find one that hasn't at a dealer and negotiate that into the sale price. You get piece of mind knowing it was done for sure and with that done you should be good for another 100K worry free miles out of the engine so long as you change the oil regularly. A transmission service would be good piece of mind as well with that mileage...as you say, you can and likely will do the rest of the maintenance anyway. Good luck.
My experience with XREAS has been positive thus far, it's the reason I have yet to install my lift sitting in my basement... I tend to think that if the 4Runner hasn't been wheeled offroad and the XREAS lines/ connections aren't corroded then it's a great system... be weary of it, but not scared of it, just inspect it real good if you end up finding one you like with it... Or factor in 500-1000 for redoing the suspension when it fails into the sale price. lots of options...a fully functional xreas system is pretty cool engineering in my opinion. I can definitely tell the difference in handling between driving my 4Runner (with Xreas) and my my wife's (non-xreas)... I would say if you're exclusively an onroad user then xreas is a bonus (heck I even like towing with mine better than hers).. for offroad use it's probably a liability as it will likely break sooner (usually a seal or connection busts in extreme articulation as it tries to push all the fluid to the opposite corner)... if you're buying it to wheel offroad though chances are you'll replace the suspension anyway eventually...

 

[RoyBell]

Thanks for the heads up.

The local one is a 2008, loaded up limited with nav. Looks like it has Air Supension. 90K miles.

They have come down to $19,000, which seems like A LOT to me.

Good maintnence on it according to carfax and "undercoated" from the factory.

I might take a look today for giggles.

What is Nav/Air suspension worth over one without? Should I be worried about the AS over 100K miles?