What would you guys do? 4runner has problems

[tvbuster1]

Hey guys, I have a 1996 4runner with 198,000 miles on it.

It has a few problems right now:
-- AC evaporator is broken so i have no ac, i had a quote to get it done for $650 but i'd rather live without AC.

-- Just yesterday my power steering started whining real loud and I found that it's a line that is leaking. Right now it's not too bad so I can just keep topping it off but eventually it will need to be fixed. Don't know how hard it is or how much it would cost yet.

-- I think the two bottom engine mounts are rotted and broke because when I'm driving I feel some shaking on the driver side and the passenger side down by my feet. also, if i start the engine with the hood open it seems to shake a lot when it never used to shake that much... Although I don't know that this is a definite issue or if these mounts are expensive to replace.

-- lastly the moon roof motor broke

There engine and underside of the truck look in pretty good shape and that is all of the issues it currently has.

I'm just wondering what you guys would do? Fix the power steering? Start looking for something new while the truck will still have some trade in value? I'd like to hear some opinions from fellow 4Runner owners.

Thanks,

Tvbuster

 

[shadow247]

These are all normal issues with an older vehicle. All of them can be fixed yourself. 650 seems crazy to change the evaporator and recharge the A/C. We charge 160 plus 30 for freon to evac and recharge the A/C. If you have no charge now in your A/C system, you can change the evaporator yourself. It's quite a bit of work, but totally doable with a little bit of elbow grease and mental grit.

As for the Power Steering line, looks like they are pretty expensive. Where are they leaking at? I bet you could just cut off the bad sections and use some brake line to fix it.

Moon-roof motor - again it's an expensive part from the dealer. You can probably get a junkyard sunroof and just bolt the whole thing in for under 250 bucks.

 

[Jc12]

pfff my god... i should list my issues, this thread makes me feel sad. Haha as mentioned these are issues of an older vehicle, keep looking online for the motor.. i doubt its a real pressing issue and youll find something sooner or later (craigslist/ebay). Do you know if it is the high or low pressure line for power steering? And ya the A/C.. replace the evaporator for under 100 yourself and then have it recharged and your off wooooooo!

 

[tvbuster1]

Cool, i like these motivating comments. But as for the power steering line it's the lower one... i forget if it's the high pressure or low pressure but the mechanic I went to recommended doing them both while I'm at it. That's an interesting idea about cutting it and just replacing the middle.

But yeah they are insanely expensive from the dealer.

How about the engine mounts? is that anything to worry about? I think they broke but I'm not positive because i feel shaking under driver side and passenger side whenever I'm on the throttle.

 

[Stick Figure]

Cool, i like these motivating comments. But as for the power steering line it's the lower one... i forget if it's the high pressure or low pressure but the mechanic I went to recommended doing them both while I'm at it. That's an interesting idea about cutting it and just replacing the middle.

If its the high pressure you will need to repair it w/ more than adding some simple hose to it. Pull it and find a hydraulic shop, they should be able to remove and replace the hose section for a pretty cheap price.

 

[Baja Runner]

As stickfigure said, the high pressure line should be taken to a hose shop or hydraulic shop to have fixed. It cost me about $75 to get mine repaired.

 

[agloukhoff]

Even if you do want to sell it, I would fix the easy issues first. You'd get lowballed into oblivion with the issues you have now regardless of how simple most are.

For the PS lines, hit up a junk yard or eBay. Junkyard lines can be picked up for under $10, eBay for under $60. Easy to replace, but bleeding lines is never fun.

Sunroof motor I would definetly get at a junkyard, probably less than $50. Just check to be sure that it's the motor first and not a switch/fuse etc.

Engine mounts are dirt cheap and fairly straightforward to do. Not exactly "easy" as getting everything to line up is often a pain, but straightforward.

I have no idea how hard the evap is to do on a 4runner, the part itself is never over $150 though.

 

[combatmedic]

I have a 3rd and 2nd gen, my 3rd gen has 349k miles and has the same issues, no AC, moonroof wont open. Who cares, it still gets you from A to B right? As far as the powersteering goes get that fixed, hopefully its just a line you can replace.

 

[shadow247]

I have a 3rd and 2nd gen, my 3rd gen has 349k miles and has the same issues, no AC, moonroof wont open. Who cares, it still gets you from A to B right? As far as the powersteering goes get that fixed, hopefully its just a line you can replace.

Boy do I feel lucky. I've got 343k on mine. Sunroof works, A/C will freeze your face off (it's actually better than my wifes 2006 Mazda). The only "issues" I've got is CD changer doesn't work, got a pretty good lifter tick coming from the left valve cover, and the drivers side weatherstrip for the door is totally shot.