Prepping to sell

[airbag]

Well, after a few months of thinking about it, I have finally decided to sell my 4runner. I'll keep the money until i see something else i like.

My 4runner is dirty but has fantastic potential for a 223k, 11 year old vehicle, since mechanically its in such good shape.

So my question to you all is:
What are some things that dont require much money that can get this thing pretty again? Im talking stuff related to washing since i already have a list of mechanical things im gonna take care of. I'm asking for advice on cleaning the engine bay, wheel wells, so forth. What really catches you eye when seeing a "clean" 3rd gen 4runner?


Heres a pic of what it looks like in its current state and a few of its blemishes:



















Thanks for the advice.

 

[Bossman]

Well, after a few months of thinking about it, I have finally decided to sell my 4runner. I'll keep the money until i see something else i like.

My 4runner is dirty but has fantastic potential for a 223k, 11 year old vehicle, since mechanically its in such good shape.

So my question to you all is:
What are some things that dont require much money that can get this thing pretty again? Im talking stuff related to washing since i already have a list of mechanical things im gonna take care of. I'm asking for advice on cleaning the engine bay, wheel wells, so forth. What really catches you eye when seeing a "clean" 3rd gen 4runner?


Heres a pic of what it looks like in its current state and a few of its blemishes:


Thanks for the advice.

When selling a vehicle privately or even trading it in to a dealer, the visual appeal needs to be considered.

Your paint job looks goods if it is original, so I would play that up with a good coat of wax. The little rough spot on what looks to be a bumper could be touched up with some color match paint.

Cleaning the engine bay, hmm, if I see one that is too clean it worries me - what is being hidden (e.g., oil leak, fluid leak?). I personally would not wash out the engine bay, but give it a good wipe down with a dry rag and maybe use a vinyl/rubber cleaner on the hoses, etc.

I would not personally worry about the wheel wells.

The driver's side floor mat could be replaced with one from an auto recycler - just the look of it says high mileage to me.

An auto carpet cleaning foam or spray could be used on the dirty spots of your carpeting.

Not much you can do with the wear on the rims, clean them as best you can and maybe dress the tires with a spray on cleaner.

 

[airbag]

i got started on it today. I pulled out the front seats and foamed the carpet trying to get the deep stains out. i know i'll have to do this again. I found all sorts of stuff under those seats. ancient chinese secrets, osama bin laden, and a tube of pogs.

It begins... so far a kayak paddle, husky tool box (empty), a suitcase, a high end Paradigm center channel speaker, my spare tire, two empty boxes i was able to use to throw more stuff in, cds, trailer hitch, and carpet mats.




then i began to fill the drawers... headrests, sudafed, bicycle tube, tube of pogs, box of Japanese pancake mix, roman candle. all had been scattered through and kept in all the compartments.



The potato chip is probably mine but i dont think the Dorito is. I dont really like Doritos.

 

[airbag]

When selling a vehicle privately or even trading it in to a dealer, the visual appeal needs to be considered.

Your paint job looks goods if it is original, so I would play that up with a good coat of wax. The little rough spot on what looks to be a bumper could be touched up with some color match paint.

Cleaning the engine bay, hmm, if I see one that is too clean it worries me - what is being hidden (e.g., oil leak, fluid leak?). I personally would not wash out the engine bay, but give it a good wipe down with a dry rag and maybe use a vinyl/rubber cleaner on the hoses, etc.

I would not personally worry about the wheel wells.

The driver's side floor mat could be replaced with one from an auto recycler - just the look of it says high mileage to me.

An auto carpet cleaning foam or spray could be used on the dirty spots of your carpeting.

Not much you can do with the wear on the rims, clean them as best you can and maybe dress the tires with a spray on cleaner.

You have a good point on all that. im not really interested in cleaning the engine bay luckily. so thats good. i am kind of considering rubber floor mats but im afraid if i start accessorizing im gonna want to keep it. thanks for putting my mind to rest about the wheel wells. i work on race cars primarily to a dirty wheel well just screams yuck at me.

 

[Bossman]

You have a good point on all that. im not really interested in cleaning the engine bay luckily. so thats good. i am kind of considering rubber floor mats but im afraid if i start accessorizing im gonna want to keep it. thanks for putting my mind to rest about the wheel wells. i work on race cars primarily to a dirty wheel well just screams yuck at me.

Basic cleaning, as you have started, is always the first place to begin. Get all that garbage out of there, empty ashtrays, vacuum it all out, wipe down surfaces, dashboard, etc.

I have never washed an engine bay in any of my vehicles, and likely never will. But if you look under my hood right now, it looks cleaner than most simply by periodic dry wiping.

Even a cheap set of rubber front mats would look better than that worn and tired driver's side mat you have now.

 

[airbag]

Basic cleaning, as you have started, is always the first place to begin. Get all that garbage out of there, empty ashtrays, vacuum it all out, wipe down surfaces, dashboard, etc.

I have never washed an engine bay in any of my vehicles, and likely never will. But if you look under my hood right now, it looks cleaner than most simply by periodic dry wiping.

Even a cheap set of rubber front mats would look better than that worn and tired driver's side mat you have now.

im liking the idea of the rubber mats... what do you think on that tan carpet? i really like black rubber mats but i have the ugly wood grain finish and i dont want the 3 major colors to look ridiculous. i want this thing to look NICE.

 

[Bossman]

im liking the idea of the rubber mats... what do you think on that tan carpet? i really like black rubber mats but i have the ugly wood grain finish and i dont want the 3 major colors to look ridiculous. i want this thing to look NICE.

I'm with you on the black rubber mats. When I got my T4R that was the first "mod" that I did ... switch out the grey factory carpet mats for all-season black rubber mats. I like the look. It is a truck after all

 

[chayos00]

I know your not keen on "cleaning" the engine bay, but I would say a good thorough hosing in the engine bay is about all that's needed, just wash off the built up dust and dirt.

If you are nervous about spraying water in the engine bay just don't blast the electronics, just a light spraying will do. I've done that on all my vehicles for the past 10 years and have had zero problems.

I will be honest, to me a fairly clean engine bay tells me how the person kept their vehicle, a dirty ass engine bay to me says "if I can't even hose out the engine bay while washing, what else have I neglected about my vehicle."

 

[4-Ripcord]

Most of the coin operated self car wash places have an engine degreaser setting. it works pretty well, gets all of the dirt, oil and grease (duh).

Should cost about a buck with rinsing it out with the water sprayer after the degreaser does its thing.

Doesn't polish anything though, so the engine just looks clean and not suspicious at all.

 

[96743runner]

I would clay bar then do a simple waxing. That would really make the paint stand out! If I were looking at a 4Runner to buy I would have a look at the undercarriage. If it looked abnormally dirty and rusty for its age/miles then it would be a no-go for me. Just give it a quick pressure wash under there and you'll be good (unless you have cancerous rust)

 

[99-4runner]

when I bought my 4runner I took a polishing compound, and a buffing wheel to it.. then washed and waxed it. paint looks like a brand new car. ALSO I would throw your floor mats away and buy some cheapos from auto zone.. that 20 or so dollars with REALLY up the first impression when they open the door to look inside it. I took all my seats out, and used a handheld power steam carpet cleaner and my carpet looks amazing. also, when i first bought the car i used chrome polish on everything chrome. BUT i think windex will give you a nice mirror finish for cheap.

try out the mothers wheel power ball. its a little polishing ball that you put in a drill and take it to your wheels, that or mothers also makes a wheel tire and grime cleaner that works wonders on nasty wheels.

 

[99-4runner]

OHH and also. try looking this up online. you can use an acid i forget what its called on all of the plastics and rubber hoses under your hood. it will make everything look brand new because it eats away at all the dirt and leavs behind brand new looking plastic and metal. just an old detailing trick my dad tought me growing up.

 

[Uneek]

Armor All will work too on hoses too... but for the new owner, he'll have to keep applying it.

If it's a car you're keeping, 303 Aerospace would be the preferred and much safer alternative to Armor All.

 

[MikesToy]

If you're lazy, most car detailers charge $80-$120 maybe more to do everything (clean engine, wash & wax body, steam clean carpets, detail interior and exterior including tires and wheels).

 

[airbag]

so i cleaned the crap outta my 4Runner. won $75 playing squares and used 40 of it on cleaning products and the rest is going towards brakes. brakes are really needing some love right now so i may have to address that before i spend any more time/money on cleaning stuff.

i was pretty set on turning my own rotors but the machine at our shop was not balanced or something. so i didnt mess with it. im thinking napa rotors and decent pads. i already have new some shoes boxed up, i just dont know when i wanna tackle that one. but ive been driving it lately so im gettin a little nostalgic.

 

[airbag]

I would clay bar then do a simple waxing. That would really make the paint stand out! If I were looking at a 4Runner to buy I would have a look at the undercarriage. If it looked abnormally dirty and rusty for its age/miles then it would be a no-go for me. Just give it a quick pressure wash under there and you'll be good (unless you have cancerous rust)

i bought one of these on your advise, but i havent started on the exterior yet.