Purchasing a 1999 T4R

[a216vcti]

Hello all. I'm looking to buy 1999 4runner SR5 4wd as my first step into the Toyota world. I'd like to build a trail vehicle. I'm coming from the VW world. I was looking at a really solid looking 4runner. Very little rust and most suspension components looked solid. There is a valve cover gasket leak that seems to be the only things I've found wrong with the engine. I should be able to fix that by myself. I'm having it inspected before I buy it. It has 250k on the clock. The 4wd seems fine. It seems to have had the timing belt and water pump replaced recently. Also the hatch doesn't line up very well. May have been rear ended at one pint. The owner is asking $3300 and I talked him down to $3000.

My only concern is that the ECT button is missing. I was told that the ECT button is supposed to be on all automatics. I was wondering if there was a way to tell weather or not the VIN/engine/trans combo is correct. I know that normally the VIN can denote weather or not the car was built with a manual or auto but wasn't sure which digit would designate the vehicle being a manual. Also, I didn't see where in the dash the ECT PWR button would light up. My guess is that they took the dash from a manual. There are no check engine lights. I don't think they would swap out the manual trans for an auto. Any one wanna take a guess?

 

[hambob]

I had a manual and the ECT is on the dash it just never lights up(obviously). Manual to auto swap? Thats just crazy. That would be like a power window swap to a manual roll up window. Missing ECT button sounds like something funny has being going on. I would dig deeper.

Good luck

 

[TheDurk]

I have a manual and the hole is there. Here is an auto (ignore blue arrows):

You can't get auto/manual from the VIN, only engine, 2 or 4WD.

 

[a216vcti]

Here's a picture of the dash

 

[TheDurk]

That's just how my 5-speed looks. Definite head-scratcher....

 

[THatfield]

might have broke the trim installing the new radio and installed a new trim piece sans-ECT switch. why they didn't swap one over from the old one is beyond me. threw it away accidentally?

 

[a216vcti]

might have broke the trim installing the new radio and installed a new trim piece sans-ECT switch. why they didn't swap one over from the old one is beyond me. threw it away accidentally?

I was guessing that too because he had a broken center bezel in the trunk but he said something about the that bezel being for his father. It's hard understanding him because he doesn't speak english well and I'm not fluent in spanish.

The thing that gets me is, that whole section with the defroster, ECT switch and rear window switch are not part of the bezel. So I'm guessing that thing broke and he got the part from a manual. I'm still waiting on the inspection, it should be done tomorrow. I probably wouldn't get to open up the dash until I purchase it.

Would you guys make the purchase? It's well under kbb. I don't think there is too much wrong with it and I'm very impressed with lack of rust. I've seen 2 others that are in way worst condition rust wise.

 

[Socco]

The thing that gets me is, that whole section with the defroster, ECT switch and rear window switch are not part of the bezel.

Actually it is. When you remove it (to say, change the radio) its one piece from the top of the A/C vents down to where it meets the shifter boot trim panel. Now IIRC, the section with the ECT switch can be removed from the main bezel.