What do you guys think?

[Rolyat93]

Hi guys and gals, i'm new here. I've been looking around for a 4Runner for a little while. I finally found one to go look at, and I did just that today. It's a 1997 limited. ODO is 180k. AutoCheck (aka Carfax) is completely clean. I asked for service records from the dealer and he said he didnt have any. They are asking $5995

First thing I do when I show up is check out the body, interior, and engine bay. All very clean, minus some surface rust on the undercarriage, definitely nothing major. There is a sticker in the engine bay stating timing belt was replaced at 93k. The clock above the stereo deck doesn't work, which i read was a common problem. I checked all the piping to and from the radiator, no signs of rot. Went to crank it up and it didn't start, just clicked at a machine gun pace. The dealer brought out the mobile jump start unit and it fired right up. Took it for a spin and put it through its paces, drove around for about 15 minutes, mix of city, highway. Pulled over and checked the tranny fluid, clean and full. Started to test out the 4x4. Tried out 4Lo and it worked fine. Switched to 4Hi and worked fine. Took a little back and forth to get it back out of 4x4, but it worked. Everything else works fine, A/C, heat, sunroof, all windows including rear, oil was fine, etc, etc...

The only thing I am kind of weary of is the lack of service records in the dealers possesion. Will I have to replace the timing belt, since apparently the last time it was replaced was 93k? Do you guys think the reason it didn't fire up is the battery, or possibly alternator issue? Any insight into this would be great. I forgot to take pics of engine bay, it's really clean.

Pics:

 

[4Runner-Dan]

Welcome! From the pictures, it looks pretty good. I would say that the battery and TB issues are minor. Regarding the battery, the car may have sat on the lot for a while and not been fired up to charge it. You can easily check the voltage to see if the battery needs to be replaced or if the alternator is charging it

The TB is RECCOMENDED to be changed every 90-100K. You're right on the border. To put your mind at ease, you could always pull the top timing cover off and see how it looks.

If I were you and really wanted it, I'd get it. Good luck!

 

[3rzrunner]

pictures always hide a lot, but to me it looks pretty decent. I would see if you can haggle them down to maybe 4750. then it would be a steal. don't worry about the clock problem, mines dead too lol.

if you really want it you should jump, there are a lot of people looking for clean runners now-adays

Good Luck! :roll:

 

[SilverRidgeRunner1]

Get the D$% thing and mod the devil out of it ha ha .... Welcome, sense the timing belt has been changed at all would think thats a pretty good sign but if u decide to purchase run it by a couple of dealers, and see if they have anything in there sys if its a local. One thing I did when I car shop is check the glove box for the manual sometimes ppl stick service records there I've been luck a lot of times just some food for thought next time... I purchased a Rig once that looked like the rapture had happened and cleaned it up updated the service all the way up to its mileage point following the factory recommendation kept records etc of the works and turned around and sold it for a bite of a prophet nothing to dance around about it was a good rig for years.

 

[Rolyat93]

Welcome! From the pictures, it looks pretty good. I would say that the battery and TB issues are minor. Regarding the battery, the car may have sat on the lot for a while and not been fired up to charge it. You can easily check the voltage to see if the battery needs to be replaced or if the alternator is charging it

The TB is RECCOMENDED to be changed every 90-100K. You're right on the border. To put your mind at ease, you could always pull the top timing cover off and see how it looks.

If I were you and really wanted it, I'd get it. Good luck!

Yeah, even the dealer said it had sat there for a good minute without being started up, after he jumped it! lol. I'll have to see if I can look at TB when I go back.

pictures always hide a lot, but to me it looks pretty decent. I would see if you can haggle them down to maybe 4750. then it would be a steal. don't worry about the clock problem, mines dead too lol.

if you really want it you should jump, there are a lot of people looking for clean runners now-adays

Good Luck! :roll:

Haha yeah, it is pretty clean though, in retrospect I should've taken a pic of the engine bay :redbrick:

Get the D$% thing and mod the devil out of it ha ha .... Welcome, sense the timing belt has been changed at all would think thats a pretty good sign but if u decide to purchase run it by a couple of dealers, and see if they have anything in there sys if its a local. One thing I did when I car shop is check the glove box for the manual sometimes ppl stick service records there I've been luck a lot of times just some food for thought next time... I purchased a Rig once that looked like the rapture had happened and cleaned it up updated the service all the way up to its mileage point following the factory recommendation kept records etc of the works and turned around and sold it for a bite of a prophet nothing to dance around about it was a good rig for years.

Yeah I checked the glove box, nothing in it at all. I actually just looked on that toyotaowners thingy :spy: and found some service records at local Toyota dealers. I think i'm gonna jump on it, see if they'll take 5000!

 

[gamefreakgc]

Seems a bit high. Dealers will overprice them more than a private seller. That would be high even for California, and we've got the highest prices I've seen. See if you can talk them down, and you can use the timing belt change as a bargaining chip. Has to be done roughly every 100k (some have gone 150k), you'll know when it's time when the coolant starts to leak out of the timing belt cover. 97 isn't the best year for 4Runners but as long as you are happy with it then go for it.

 

[Rolyat93]

Seems a bit high. Dealers will overprice them more than a private seller. That would be high even for California, and we've got the highest prices I've seen. See if you can talk them down, and you can use the timing belt change as a bargaining chip. Has to be done roughly every 100k (some have gone 150k), you'll know when it's time when the coolant starts to leak out of the timing belt cover. 97 isn't the best year for 4Runners but as long as you are happy with it then go for it.

Yeah I planned on talking them down if I decide to move on it. I'll have to let them know if i'm the one thats going to have to pay to put a new TB in the thing that will come off the price. Curious, why was 97' a bad year for 4Runners? :moping: I'm new here.

 

[kingin]

5k for a 97 I'm pretty sure you can find a 99-00 for that money. 99-00 has the cup holder by the arm rest which is huge if you drink Lg ice coffee like i do. Hahaha

 

[SilverRidgeRunner1]

what part of Nc if i may ask

 

[Doc2012]

what part of Nc if i may ask

I second this. I'm in Jacksonville, and can meet up if you're close and help ya look at it.

 

[scrap metal]

if you go on toyota owners website you can create a login and enter the vehicle vin...

If it was ever serviced at a true toyota dealer the records will be there

 

[gamefreakgc]

Not a bad year, but no good cupholders (98 doesn't either) and the ECU and a few other parts were upgraded in 2000+. Engine and suspension are just fine, you just might have a few small quirks to attend to.

Also, be sure to drive it on a freeway! The pre-2000's have an older style steering rack guide and they tend to go bad. You'll notice it with the shakes at higher speeds. I replaced mine and took away 1/2 of the shakes, alignment did the rest.

 

[HTXRunner]

I just picked up my '99 Limited with rear locker option for $3400. Work that price down and see what they will do.

 

[MK1Power]

The price definitely seems high. You can find a similar one for 3k if you wait for the right truck. They definitely roll around. You might be waiting a while, but this truck is very high. At that price and mileage I'd expect full service history. I was seeing 00' Limiteds with rear lockers full service history's about 4500. I picked up my 98' Limited 4x4 with rear locker for 2500. Though I admit that was complete luck and a steal.

 

[MrRoo]

Looks clean! If you feel it is the one, get it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a 97. I have 97 and 98. My brother has a 2001. Just minor little differences. All 3rd gens are gonna be just as reliable as the other. Get the price down a little and you should be golden. Clean 3rd gens are worth the money. Hard to find clean ones anymore. Reason I jumped on the 98 I just bought.

 

[Rolyat93]

5k for a 97 I'm pretty sure you can find a 99-00 for that money. 99-00 has the cup holder by the arm rest which is huge if you drink Lg ice coffee like i do. Hahaha

Lol I do drink coffee that was one of the first things I noticed when I got in it, lol. :ranger:

what part of Nc if i may ask

I second this. I'm in Jacksonville, and can meet up if you're close and help ya look at it.

I live near charlotte

if you go on toyota owners website you can create a login and enter the vehicle vin...

If it was ever serviced at a true toyota dealer the records will be there

I did this, there are about 6 service records for the vehicle, including the timing belt at 93k and a "coolant system flush" at around 160k.

Not a bad year, but no good cupholders (98 doesn't either) and the ECU and a few other parts were upgraded in 2000+. Engine and suspension are just fine, you just might have a few small quirks to attend to.

Also, be sure to drive it on a freeway! The pre-2000's have an older style steering rack guide and they tend to go bad. You'll notice it with the shakes at higher speeds. I replaced mine and took away 1/2 of the shakes, alignment did the rest.

I know, the no cup holder thing would suck. Just the pop out ones above the deck. I got it up to about 50 and it was fine. That was the fastest I could get in town lol.

I just picked up my '99 Limited with rear locker option for $3400. Work that price down and see what they will do.

Dang, might have to look around a bit more of they won't come down. That's a good price for a limited, no?

 

[Rolyat93]

The price definitely seems high. You can find a similar one for 3k if you wait for the right truck. They definitely roll around. You might be waiting a while, but this truck is very high. At that price and mileage I'd expect full service history. I was seeing 00' Limiteds with rear lockers full service history's about 4500. I picked up my 98' Limited 4x4 with rear locker for 2500. Though I admit that was complete luck and a steal.

Yeah, sometimes I'm not very patient, but I might have to wait if they won't come down. :clock: the lack of service records with the truck was alarming but I did find a bunch on Toyota owners website. I've seen a few closer to 4500 around me with less miles.

Looks clean! If you feel it is the one, get it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a 97. I have 97 and 98. My brother has a 2001. Just minor little differences. All 3rd gens are gonna be just as reliable as the other. Get the price down a little and you should be golden. Clean 3rd gens are worth the money. Hard to find clean ones anymore. Reason I jumped on the 98 I just bought.

Yeah, it is really clean. Minus some surface rust on the under carriage. I'm going to try to get them down to like 4800 with the timing belt needing to be done and all. If they don't come down in price I might have to walk away because I feel that is overpriced, but I'm very impatient and tend to be sort of impulsive :llama:

 

[gamefreakgc]

Yeah, it is really clean. Minus some surface rust on the under carriage. I'm going to try to get them down to like 4800 with the timing belt needing to be done and all. If they don't come down in price I might have to walk away because I feel that is overpriced, but I'm very impatient and tend to be sort of impulsive :llama:

Think of it this way: if you can wait and pick one up in the $4000 range (assuming the dealer won't budge), you can spend that extra $500-$800 on all sorts of goodies for your 4Runner!

 

[Rolyat93]

Think of it this way: if you can wait and pick one up in the $4000 range (assuming the dealer won't budge), you can spend that extra $500-$800 on all sorts of goodies for your 4Runner!

Yeah that's where I'd like to be at, price wise so I can throw all my money at the cool stuff. :guitar2:

 

[Rolyat93]

Well, 4Runners must be very popular in my area, I've actually found a lot of similar vehicles from private sellers for a lot more money. I'm talking $6000+??? Most of them aren't limited either. :smashputer: