School me on the 3.4/ auto

[Madhatter45]

I haven't been able to find a decent trade for a 1st gen, but have a line in a 97 V6 with an automatic. What, if anything typically goes wrong with this combination? It is fairly high milage, about 260.

 

[CdaleR4000si]

Tons of great info here

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/82033-3rd-gen-4runner-buyers-guide.html

 

[Madhatter45]

Thanks, great link!

 

[Madhatter45]

A quick follow up question: how concerned should i be with a truck with 260k miles, assuming its been regularly maintained and serviced?
The sticky was a great resource!

 

[4runnin83]

Theres some that have gone 500K+ miles and theres others that die at 200K. You'll have to be the judge of it when you drive it. If she feels strong, and your gut feels good then by all means pick her up. You should get it at a really good price. 10+ years ago people junked cars at 100k miles lol. Only recently have they been driving them to infinity and beyond.

The worst thing that happens with this engine is the "strawberry milkshake" episode. When the tranny fluid and coolant make a nice frothy mixture.

 

[t4r4life]

260k personally is too many miles for me.

 

[Atrox Caeda]

Theres some that have gone 500K+ miles and theres others that die at 200K. You'll have to be the judge of it when you drive it. If she feels strong, and your gut feels good then by all means pick her up. You should get it at a really good price. 10+ years ago people junked cars at 100k miles lol. Only recently have they been driving them to infinity and beyond.

The worst thing that happens with this engine is the "strawberry milkshake" episode. When the tranny fluid and coolant make a nice frothy mixture.

I am in full agreement with the comment "If she feels strong." When I was looking for my 3rd Gen I was just driving and testing all of them. I finally found the one I liked. Single owner, higher mileage however it was owned by a snowbird who went from Montana summers to Arizona Winters every year. Super solid feeling rig with no issues. Car fax showed the timing belt was done about 10k miles prior to me purchasing it. Good to go. The T4R will let you know what life it's led if you drive it. On another note. I have a 22RE powered pickup. It's awesome around town, but get above 55MPH and forget about it. The 3.4L will do 95MPH easily. Not that you would, but you could, and getting onto short On Ramps it's nice to have the power and torque that motor produces. Way better than the 3.0L and miles past the 22RE.