Potential new owner questions

[mcr_driver]

Heya everyone,

Looking in to buying a 2nd gen 4runner and wanted to ask what are some good things to look out for when purchasing?

I owned a 1990 toyota pick with a 22RE 5speed 2x4 but am now looking at a 1993 toyota 4runner V6 4x4 5 speed. Two totally different animals as far as I'm concerned.

I come from the BMW world (an E46 and about 4 E30's) and am not afraid to get dirty but limited space and tools to do some of the bigger jobs. The one in particular I am looking says the clutch is worn out and will probably need replacing.

Any tips and advice is welcome and appreciated, thanks guys.

 

[92-SR5]

If you can find a 22re, get that over a 3vze IMO. Headgaskets are the weak point in the 3vze.

 

[mcr_driver]

I've been looking on craigslist but no such luck, that was the only prospective deal. It just had it's engine rebuilt however as a plus.

 

[slowpoke99]

regardless of the engine, be sure to get under whatever you decide to buy and inspect the frame for rust, cracks, etc.. also check if any maintenance records were kept by the previous owner.

 

[dubs283]

+1 on everything mentioned above, find out who rebuilt the engine and if they are reputable - did they rebuild it or just swap out a junkyard longblock?

check under the truck, cv shafts, rear coil springs, rust, cracks, leaks, bushings, etc...

check the wheel bearings, tune-up stuff - to replace the clutch your gonna have to drop the transmission so make sure you have the space/equipment for that

 

[2ndGen4runner4x4]

I love my 4runner but will never buy another 3VZ-E unless I got a smoking deal on it or absolutely know the history of the vehicle.
Beware of a 3VZ-E with tons of oil leaks... it's a $lippery $lope!

 

[Footofgod]

I love all the 3.0 bashers, really. The 3.0 is fine. If maintained it is a solid long lasting engine proven time and again, it just lacks any real power. It does produce more HP than the 22re and the gas mileage is almost as good. The 3.0 has far more power with a manual transmission than it does with the automatic.

The issue with buying any new vehicle is to look at it and drive it. If it feels questionable, it probably is. Look at it. Is it clean? Does it have leaks? Any vehicle with over 150k on the odometer is going to have issues, just make sure they are issues you can deal with. Look for rust like was mentioned above. Rust can eat these Runners from the inside out.

What are your plans for the car? Offroad (rock crawler/mudding)? Daily driver? Camping/hunting rig? Think about this when deciding.

 

[2ndGen4runner4x4]

I guess I do come across as a 3.slow basher at times too. In reality it's a very durable engine as long as you don't overheat it too much.
I manually shift my auto tranny in order to keep it from shifting to soon. The truck builds speed much quicker that way. Good luck!

 

[Footofgod]

I guess I do come across as a 3.slow basher at times too.

That's ok, I come across as the world's ONLY defender of the 3.0.

 

[mcr_driver]

Thanks for the responses, Yea I should be checking it out on sunday, I saw a DIY clutch job and given how huge it is compared to my e30's 5speed gearbox I may have to bite the bullet and find a shop here in LA that can do it for a reasonable price.

As for the purpose it'll be an all purpose truck/daily driver no crazy off roading but it will see mud from time to time.

Coming from the rust world of e30's are there any specific points on the chassis that are prone to that delightful car cancer? How bad is the timing belt (read: annoying to do) job for the v6's?

 

[Footofgod]

Thanks for the responses, Yea I should be checking it out on sunday, I saw a DIY clutch job and given how huge it is compared to my e30's 5speed gearbox I may have to bite the bullet and find a shop here in LA that can do it for a reasonable price.

As for the purpose it'll be an all purpose truck/daily driver no crazy off roading but it will see mud from time to time.

Coming from the rust world of e30's are there any specific points on the chassis that are prone to that delightful car cancer? How bad is the timing belt (read: annoying to do) job for the v6's?

STAY OUT OF THE MUD!!!!!! The fenders over the tires tend to be rust spots. Check the frame as well.

 

[Steven94]

I have a 94 3.slow automatic and it is a pretty good truck, but when I bought it it had some issues. I have fixed the front wheel bearings, coolant temp sensor, oil cooler leak, rear main seal leak and a few other things. It also has a issue where the coolant isn't flowing to the coolant temp sensor properly, so it takes a while for the engine to heat up. I have only put about 7 or 8,000 miles on it and have changed all the main fluids (oil, coolant, transmission fluid) who knows how many times while working on the engine. I say the 3.0L is a fine reliable engine if maintain it well, but as everyone else said it isn't the fastest with a auto trans.

Have a mechanic look it over before you buy if you can. These trucks can last a long time, but still try and get one with lower milage on it. Interior on these trucks are usually not in the best shape, but look for one that has everything there because it can be expensive to replace. All in all just use common sense and if you don't know a lot about the particular truck try and bring someone who does to look it over.

Good luck and let us know what you get!

 

[mcr_driver]

I have a 94 3.slow automatic and it is a pretty good truck, but when I bought it it had some issues. I have fixed the front wheel bearings, coolant temp sensor, oil cooler leak, rear main seal leak and a few other things. It also has a issue where the coolant isn't flowing to the coolant temp sensor properly, so it takes a while for the engine to heat up. I have only put about 7 or 8,000 miles on it and have changed all the main fluids (oil, coolant, transmission fluid) who knows how many times while working on the engine. I say the 3.0L is a fine reliable engine if maintain it well, but as everyone else said it isn't the fastest with a auto trans.

Have a mechanic look it over before you buy if you can. These trucks can last a long time, but still try and get one with lower milage on it. Interior on these trucks are usually not in the best shape, but look for one that has everything there because it can be expensive to replace. All in all just use common sense and if you don't know a lot about the particular truck try and bring someone who does to look it over.

Good luck and let us know what you get!

Autotragics out of any pre-2000's era cars are abysmal in general however it is funny I was about to post if anyone in the los angeles area would be willing to lend a hand and come help me check out this truck tomorrow to message me.