1997 4runner

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irowiki
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1997 4runner

Post by irowiki »

So dad picked up a beat up 1997 4runner, and we completely redid the front end, control arm, tie rods, cv axles, etc. New tires!

Then he decided he doesn't want to deal with all the little issues on a vehicle with 270k miles.

Like the rear window just randomly going down at any time including highway speed :lol: (Unplugging the control module on the rear hatch fixed that for now). I can't even figure out why you'd want the window to go down when you could just open the hatch, just one more thing to go wrong!

He wants to sell it to me cheap. Anyone had experiences with these? Looks like it'd be a capable off roader to do some exploring around southern colorado with.
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Hteverow
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Re: 1999 4runner

Post by Hteverow »

Looks like these guys might know a thing or two:

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen- ... 4822f82678
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irowiki
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Re: 1999 4runner

Post by irowiki »

Ah interesting! I was going to wander over to TN as well, but I'll check there too.

The number of model specific forums has been going down in recent years (Like there's no longer a Camry forum outside of TN)
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87 Corolla FX16, 105k
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95 Camry Wagon, 170k
97 4runner, 275k
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Petros
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Re: 1999 4runner

Post by Petros »

no matter the age or condition, 4runners go for big bucks on the west coast. it is like a cult, they go nuts over them, and spend way too much. The price you chose should be between buyer and seller, and what is resonable in the local market.

Since it is a family member, you might get it for a deal, and when it come times to sell it, offer to split what you get over your price when you sell it later.
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LowBuckCanuck
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Re: 1999 4runner

Post by LowBuckCanuck »

Check the rear diff breather. Always rusts shut, always blows out the axle seals, and then makes you wonder why your rear drums have oil in them.

Had that happen in a 2001 tacoma, then my friend's 1999 4runner did the exact same thing. It's a common and annoying little issue.
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Re: 1999 4runner

Post by atoyta »

Another good site for Toyota https://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php None of the Toyotas of that era get great gas mileage & are somewhat under powered .
I have a 90 4runner with 390,000 on it & still working fine. Which engine does it have?
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irowiki
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Re: 1999 4runner

Post by irowiki »

Petros wrote: Thu Feb 14, 2019 5:44 pmSince it is a family member, you might get it for a deal, and when it come times to sell it, offer to split what you get over your price when you sell it later.
I'm not sure what he bought it for but he put a few thousand in parts in it just for the front end plus timing belt kit and new tires and he wants to sell it to me for $1,000. We were thinking the same thing, if we resell it, we'd split the difference after repairs.

Our main issue with buying it, is we have two cars and the RV and not much space for a 4th vehicle!

It probably just needs an entire replacement hatch from a junkyard, someone drilled a bunch of holes in this one and the window regulator is shot.


LowBuckCanuck wrote: Thu Feb 14, 2019 7:34 pm Check the rear diff breather. Always rusts shut, always blows out the axle seals, and then makes you wonder why your rear drums have oil in them.

Had that happen in a 2001 tacoma, then my friend's 1999 4runner did the exact same thing. It's a common and annoying little issue.

AHA! That's one of the "pressing issues", the rear axle seals are bad, leaking oil, and the rear brakes are shot.

atoyta wrote: Thu Feb 14, 2019 8:40 pm I have a 90 4runner with 390,000 on it & still working fine. Which engine does it have?
To be honest, no idea. I'll find out.
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LowBuckCanuck
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Re: 1999 4runner

Post by LowBuckCanuck »

Usually people that do stream crossings and whatnot will relocate the differential breather(s) with tubes into the cab.

This removes the chance for water to get into your axles, and subsequently makes it unlikely to rust shut.

Or, you can get it working again, then remember to crawl under every few months and give 'er a jiggle to make sure it stays free
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LowBuckCanuck
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Re: 1999 4runner

Post by LowBuckCanuck »

Also, you most likely have the legendary 5vz-fe v6. Damn good engine. Even better supercharged ;)
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irowiki
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Re: 1999 4runner

Post by irowiki »

LowBuckCanuck wrote: Fri Feb 15, 2019 12:06 pm Also, you most likely have the legendary 5vz-fe v6. Damn good engine. Even better supercharged ;)
Ah definitely has the V6 instead of the i4. We took her for a drive and the 4runner pulls better than our 1MZ V6 wagon!

Also has the rear diff lock.
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87 Corolla FX16, 105k
94 Jamboree RV (Ford E-350), 90k
95 Camry Wagon, 170k
97 4runner, 275k
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Petros
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Re: 1999 4runner

Post by Petros »

irowiki wrote: Fri Feb 15, 2019 11:10 am
Petros wrote: Thu Feb 14, 2019 5:44 pmSince it is a family member, you might get it for a deal, and when it come times to sell it, offer to split what you get over your price when you sell it later.
I'm not sure what he bought it for but he put a few thousand in parts in it just for the front end plus timing belt kit and new tires and he wants to sell it to me for $1,000. We were thinking the same thing, if we resell it, we'd split the difference after repairs.

Our main issue with buying it, is we have two cars and the RV and not much space for a 4th vehicle!
that is a bargain, hard to pass up. you will just have to get a larger home and yard, there is no other solution.
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'84 Tercel 4wd (daily driver, with on going mods)
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Re: 1999 4runner

Post by atoyta »

The 3.4l v/6 is a much better engine than the 3.0
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LowBuckCanuck
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Re: 1999 4runner

Post by LowBuckCanuck »

atoyta wrote: Fri Feb 15, 2019 4:39 pm The 3.4l v/6 is a much better engine than the 3.0
The 3.4 is a damn good engine, forged internals and lots of nice aluminum bits. Only thing to make it perfect would be a timing chain instead of a belt, but you can't always get what you want.

The 3.0 gets a bad rap though, if you get around its couple issues it can last as long as a 22r.
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Re: 1999 4runner

Post by TRDFerguson »

Take it! Even if you end up with $2500 into it. My daily driver is a 1998 4Runner 3.4 with 285k miles on it. Like petros said, they hold their value very well (not quite as good as Tacomas) especially on the west coast and also are very hard to kill. There is a lot of bang for the buck even if you don't get one super cheap and if you can get one cheap, its even better. Tons of value for $1000. I recently found a 99 2WD for very cheap from a tow yard that I'm fixing up and selling. Plus t4r.org is an exceptional resource, you can figure out anything you need to know there.

PS the sliding rear window is worth fixing! makes a huge difference if you want to drive with the windows down on the freeway, great for dogs back there, allows you to carry 8+ foot lumber with the hatch closed when you otherwise couldn't... the list goes on.
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irowiki
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Re: 1999 4runner

Post by irowiki »

So we ended up there over labor day to take apart the back end and see what was going on.

The PO Replaced the breather with a 90 degree angle and a tube tied up to the frame. So it's not plugged now. But when it DID plug, it blew out the inner rear seals, and he had them "fixed".

But the rear brakes were soaked in gear lube! Why?! Well after doing some research, it looks like whatever shop he took it to did it the cheap way and didn't replace the bearings (you have to cut off the ABS ring), apparently when the inner seals go, the gear lube flushes out the bearings so they end up going bad which then chews up the new seals.

Ordered another $175 in parts for round 2!
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Site administrator, if something is broken, PM me!

87 Corolla FX16, 105k
94 Jamboree RV (Ford E-350), 90k
95 Camry Wagon, 170k
97 4runner, 275k
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