Picked up a 99' TFR SR5, 320K MILES. Where should I start.

[Odin_]

Sooo I was planning to move out to Colorado so i picked up thisT4R for a steal. its gorgoues and got it for $3.5k. I am very very happy, I am so in love with this truck its unreal lol. Its been well maintained as far as oil changes go, i have a bunch of history of reciepts for it but everything else looks like it needs work or replaced. Water pump and timing belt need to be changed, i wanna swap out the radiator, it doesnt look to healthy, my steering rack has a broken seal and is leaking, not horrific yet, its a veeeery slow leak. When i break i have a surge and the steering wheel wobbles, kinda like if i had a warped rotar? (anything else it might be?) And lastly is my transmission, idk when the last time it had anything done to it. I was doing some reading last night because i wanted to do a full flush and fill, a lot of people were saying that was a bad idea if the last maintanence ce on the tranny is unkown and also if it has high miles it should just be filled to proper levels.I love this truck and i want to make it healthy and strong again. im sure there is other stuff im missing thats vital to this trucks health, i want to catch them before anything major happens to were i cant do anything about it. I just dont know where to start. I am mechanicly inclined, ive done work on all my cars(all 4cyl), nothing of this size or this beasty. I need guidance and help pleeeease :vader: . Where do i start? And what more information will you gurus' need to have a better understanding of the condition of my beast. Thank you soooo much for giving me your time and for reading ^_^

 

[JayRolla]

Start off with stuff that fails.

1st. would be the radiator. Research "pink milkshake". I would replace radiator and bypass cooling system with external tranny cooler.

2nd. would be lower ball joints. The LBJ's are prone to fail above 150k miles. Replace with OEM parts.

3rd. I would do the timing belt with an entire full oem part kit. You can find good ones on ebay. I would get the one with all the tensioners, belts, waterpump, ect.

4th. spark plugs, wires, fluids, tundra break upgrade, suspension, steeringrack, and so on. I had to do all this on my 200+ miles one and its pretty solid now.

 

[Odin_]

Okokok, so i read a couple threads on why you should by pass the factory cooling system, found a bunch of threads on why or why not but nothing explaining how to do it. And what do i do with an external tranny cooler? And no reciepts on the LBJ'S just oil changes. I dont think any mechanical work has been done to this truck, everything looks really worn but not busted or phucked up really. Still solid but i can start to feel the wear and tear of it being an everyday driver ( first owner had it up to 300k, 2nd owner had it at 312k, i put the last 8k on it) the second owner basically had it garaged, the first owner was not a mechanic person, he drove it from sacramento to LA for a very long time. So its mostly freeway miles.

LBJ'S getting replaced asap, anything else i can test while im doing work in the area? And is the tundra break upgrade a kit? Do i have to find parts for the tundra then install them on my 4R?

Thank you! I love this truck, i want it to be bullet proof like know it can be. I want to know how this truck works and what it needs like my own person >_< my first question is what does 5VZ mean? Ive seen it a couple times on this site and dont understand. I dont think that the tranny cooler has been by passed. How can i verify? And where would the larger external cooler be located?

 

[jreask]

First off congrats!
These 4Runners are tanks especially when some basic stuff is tended to. First thing I would do is search those receipts for Lower Ball Joint replacement. These things have a design flaw - just google Lower Ball Joint failure for the 4Runner. If they have not been done do them ASAP and only with OEM parts only.
After that swap out all your fluids. Do your timing belt, water-pump, and drive belts. This is an interference motor so if the timing belt goes....bye-bye 5VZ.
I would also verify that the stock transmission cooler has been bypassed and that a larger external cooler has been added. The cooler in the bottom of the radiator is prone to crack and toast the tranny.
After all this put the front end in the air and push and pull those tires around to see what front end component flexes. I'm betting a few bushings and she will ride like new. (Inner tie-rod ends are my suspect for the wobble, or just a warped rotor)



If you want - I did this to mine - do the Seafoam clean https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58sj81ejhM0

These are NON INTERFERENCE engines. If the belt breaks, you are walking but the engine should be fine.
Also, IF you don't want to add an external cooler, replace the radiator and you should not have any problems for at least 100K miles. It probably needs replacing anyway. This way you don't have to worry about using the radiator and the cooler or just the cooler and bypassing the radiator. I don't know about the LBJ's. I have never had one fail and I have owned over 20 3RD generation 4Runners. Hope this helps.

 

[Odin_]

Yeah i took a look at the radiator and it had a bunch of aphids stuck in it from driving by the massive corn fields. Never had my temp gauge go above operating temp so it isn't defective. Yet. Thank you for your help!

 

[jreask]

Yeah i took a look at the radiator and it had a bunch of aphids stuck in it from driving by the massive corn fields. Never had my temp gauge go above operating temp so it isn't defective. Yet. Thank you for your help!

The problem with the radiator is if the lower part which cools the transmission fluid fails, you have coolant mixing with the antifreeze (inside the transmission).
Not good, it ruins the tranny most times. There is really no way to tell if the radiator is going to give up the ghost. It's just better to get it replaced before something bad happens. Most replace their radiator somewhere between 150 and 200K miles. Just a word of warning. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

 

[ocreptileguy]

Maintanence before mods

I would change all fluids. Run synthetic oil, I use royal purple and that's all I have used in any of our vehicles since 2004. Flush cooling system. Valve cover gaskets PCV valve, lower ball joints, check steering and suspension bushings and change out if necessary. Check brake system and replace pads/ shoes if necessary and flush brake fluid. Lube drive shafts etc. Check and replace filters
Keep maintenance up and you will enjoy your rig for the rest of your life should you choose to keep it that long.
Decide what you plan on doing with your rig and mod accordingly.

 

[Odin_]

Maintanence before mods

I would change all fluids. Run synthetic oil, I use royal purple and that's all I have used in any of our vehicles since 2004. Flush cooling system. Valve cover gaskets PCV valve, lower ball joints, check steering and suspension bushings and change out if necessary. Check brake system and replace pads/ shoes if necessary and flush brake fluid. Lube drive shafts etc. Check and replace filters
Keep maintenance up and you will enjoy your rig for the rest of your life should you choose to keep it that long.
Decide what you plan on doing with your rig and mod accordingly.

Awesome! Thank you so much ocreptileguy! How often do i have to change oil with the synthetics? I work a lot and im saving up for tools and repairs, i will have the radiator and water pump kit soon, i dont want to risk a tranny. i have buddy with a shop who can flush the fluids for me. Thank you so much again for the check list, im happy to be part of this forum ^_^ Sorry if my replies are slow, ill get back to ya'll sooner or later >_< and yes, i do plan on keeping this truck, im hoping this is the last vehicle im going to be buying for a very long time haha, it is an absoloutly amazing piece of machinery . Its already saved my butt a few times where a car would have not been as lucky, and a few other people ive had to help xD do you know about the tundra break upgrade the other member mentioned and what i would have to do for that? It has my interest, after my basic maintanence of course.