Should I buy it?

[A.Vern]

Hey all! Found a 4th gen 2003 limited V6 for sale and just checked it out. 225,000. It’s a Japan assembly vin code and the frame has almost no rust on it and it lives in the south so never been in the salt belt.

Ok… the goods…

Drives well
Lots of power
Fairly clean leather and interior with one tear in the drivers seat
Frame looks really really good.
Little rust at the back left but the rest solid
No white smoke and they said they tested for head gasket leak and it was negative.


The bads

VSC off
VSC Trac
Could be because battery was dead as someone left the parking lights on and we had to jump it. Might just be an easy reset. Or could be a $40 wheel sensor or??? No check engine light.



Torn CV boot front left, front right is good.
Some vibration when slowing down, but could be under inflated tires and not balanced
Leaking cylinder cover left side (pretty easy fix)
DAC not working, it just flashes, but that could be due to above VSC issue.
Right front blinkers not working but needs a bulb most likely, it flashes fast

Got him down to $5000 from $6900 after I told Him all the issues (used car lot)

Then we pulled the codes.

Looks like oxygen sensor is bad, but no check engine light. P136 and P156

What you think?

Frames good
Engine seems solid
Just need to fix all these little things. CV boot was pretty easy job

There is not much as far as maintenance records. It was traded in a 2 months ago.

What you think? Worth the risk?

 

[Cezar]

VSC off
VSC Trac
Could be because battery was dead as someone left the parking lights on and we had to jump it. Might just be an easy reset. Or could be a $40 wheel sensor or???

My understanding is the 2003 models can have the zero-point calibration reset from a code reader as it runs through its list of protocols and inadvertently triggers the reset. Could be a sensor or wiring issue, or could just need the zero point calibration reset.

The price is great imo.

 

[rdruss]

I have an '03 V8 and had to replace a wheel sensor last month because I destroyed it during a wheel bearing change, $314 from Toyota, you won't get it for less than $275, unless you but aftermarket junk.

 

[A.Vern]

Thanks guys!
Appreciate the feed back and the price point on the wheels sensor.

Russ, when your wheel sensor went bad, what were the symptoms?

This one the lights go out when you turn it off and back on… once you start to move the VSC off and VSC trac lights come on, but no check engine or ABS lights.

Trying to narrow down if it’s a sensor or just needs a recalibration after a dead battery and jump start.

 

[AuSeeker]

Thanks guys!
Appreciate the feed back and the price point on the wheels sensor.

Russ, when your wheel sensor went bad, what were the symptoms?

This one the lights go out when you turn it off and back on… once you start to move the VSC off and VSC trac lights come on, but no check engine or ABS lights.

Trying to narrow down if it’s a sensor or just needs a recalibration after a dead battery and jump start.

Do the recalibration first to see if that solved your issue.

You can get the sensors for a little less than stated at ToyotaParrtsDeal.

 

[MikeinNH67]

If I remember correctly when I had a bad wheel speed sensor, I think that also makes the ABS light come on as it's needed for it to work properly. O2 code can turn the lights you mention on. Are you sure the CEL actually works? Maybe that bulb is dead or even worse, defeated.

The zero point calibration can be done with a wire on the correct OBD pins. That is listed here in a sticky I believe.

 

[A.Vern]

Thanks Mike!

I verified that all lights worked when turning the key to on but not starting the car.

So sounds like it just needs a re calibration?

 

[ArthurKotb]

I've had 2 o2 sensors go out on my 2004 and the VSC lights came on. Shop said that any change to the vehicle's performance is perceived by the ABS and turns off the VSC since it wouldn't operate properly. Functioning as designed.

 

[VortepJ]

I'm somewhat new to the 4runner game, but basically every running 4th gen is worth $5000, from what I've seen. As far as the codes, the VSC will shut down if there is any kind of discrepancy anywhere else. Mine shuts down for a minor vacuum leak. It seems like you're on the right track as far as diagnosing it. You'll have to get in the live data to figure out if it's the o2 sensor or wheel speed sensor.

 

[Hungryhawk]

The under hood lubes & fluids are easy to examine for freshness.
The undervehicle diffs, drive shafts, transfer case & tranny fluids all need routine lube changes if you want to avoid replacing expensive things. So open fill plugs and use a syringe to suck out a couple ounces-examine for color & odor. Squirt back & note the fill level relative to bottom of plug opening. Replace plug
Did you purchase a Car Fax report on line with the vin#?
A record of legal and registered owners can be beneficial plus some maintenance gets listed too.
And importantly any insurance repairs can show up.

 

[mynamesrickgrimes]

what did you end up doing?