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Q for the Toyota guys v2.0

JL Rockies

JL Rockies

Binders Fulla Expo
Location
Draper
A few weeks ago we sold a 93 4 runner SR5 to a customer who is returning it today because the bank wouldn't finance the $5K we sold it for. I'm going over to look at it once they tell me he's arrived.

I only saw it briefly on the day he first purchased it. I am told that that AC still blows cold, 4wd works fine, no rust and all the windows work (not the case in my Jeep).

Is this vehicle worth owning? We took it in for $2500 which is what I can buy it for plus applicable fees. I so badly want a Toyota so I can expand my social life and have something in addition to my Jeep. Let me know your thoughts and what I should look for if there are known problems.

Peace.
 
SAMI

SAMI

Formerly Beardy McGee
Location
SLC, UT
I'd say that if it's running and driving just fine right now, then $2,500 isn't too bad. But IMO, it better have minimal-zero rust, clean interior (upholstery & plastic), average mileage, regular maint records, a sun roof, cd player, new tires, hitch receiver, 5-speed manual.. Since it's an SR5 you should have the sunroof.. Would you offend anyone by having a seperate party mechanic more in tune with Toyota's look it over? I know a few guys to point you towards.. But in the end $2,500 aint bad for a '93 4runner as long as it's in good shape.

People shy away from the 3.0's, but I've had great experience with that motor. Just have to take good care of it... Then when it does blow a head gasket swap in a 3.4, and you're there.
 
JL Rockies

JL Rockies

Binders Fulla Expo
Location
Draper
The customer who bought it had an identical vehicle (which he kept) and my concern is he used ours as a parts vehicle before returning it to us. Customers can suck that way sometimes.

Not a big fan of head gasket issues, I turned away from an 06 H3 we took in because our top tech said that's the one year to avoid due to head gasket issues. I know it's a different vehicle but still.... and I know I will lose friends if I bought a Hummer.
 
SAMI

SAMI

Formerly Beardy McGee
Location
SLC, UT
JL Rockies said:
The customer who bought it had an identical vehicle (which he kept) and my concern is he used ours as a parts vehicle before returning it to us. Customers can suck that way sometimes.
Click to expand...

All the more reason to have a third party tech look the truck over.
 
JL Rockies

JL Rockies

Binders Fulla Expo
Location
Draper
I put a dealer plate on it and will drive it home tonight. It's not perfect but most seems good for the year and the 176K miles on it.

Here are some concerns:

AC doesn't blow cold - there's a sticker under the hood saying the vehicle was retrofitted with the new AC juice in 04. I don't know if it just needs a charge or there are spendy AC parts broken. I was going to have our tech hook it up to the machine but he went home early today, I'll have him try tomorrow.

Rear wiper is no worky

When the engine is running, I can hear a tap but I'm going to see how she runs on the freeway tonight.

The Toyota logo on the steering wheel is pointing towards 10PM instead of high noon when driving straight. I don't know if it pulls on the local roads here. I'll check that out on the freeway.

The good:
Original paint still in good condition.

The interior looks great and very clean. The head liner is obvioulsy aftermarket and the carpet in the cargo are seems to be as well.

I know we put a new battery in it because it went dead a few days after it was purchased.

It's very possible that this is a one-owner vehicle (except the return) according to the CarFax.

Who is the expert that can look at this thing? Is it that fella from the radio?
 
Paul R

Paul R

Well-Known Member
Location
SLC
FWIW I would not be a buyer at $2500 unless it was dang near perfect and has a history of all the maintenance records...
 
cruiseroutfit

cruiseroutfit

Cruizah!
Moderator
Vendor
Location
Sandy, Ut
I'd be happy to take a peak at it for you, I'm not 4Runner expert but I've had my hands on a few. You are my agent and all, its the least I could do :D

The 3.slow motor isn't well favored compared to the trusty 22RE or rock solid and peppy 3.4 that replaced the 3.0. Besides head gaskets and warping heads they just didn't have much 'oomph' for a heavy laden 4Runner. That said there are plenty of them out there that work great and I wouldn't turn it away on motor alone.

I'll echo the comments of other, for $2500 and 176k it would have to be 'really' clean which it sounds like it might not be. Bryson here on RME had a super clean 3rd Gen (89-95') 4Runner that was a great trail rig/daily drive, not sure what he paid for it but it goes to show there are some gems out there.

Above all I applaud your willingness to become socially acceptable and I can attest for the fact that any Toyota will help that at least in my eyes :p
 
Tacoma

Tacoma

Et incurventur ante non
Location
far enough away
Toyota's are for homos. I'm going to try and moderate teh gay with some Chevy parts, but.. I don' know man. :D

PS where's my email, dawg? phone's still on if you want to call instead
 
JL Rockies

JL Rockies

Binders Fulla Expo
Location
Draper
OK, after two round trips from SLc and Draper here's what I find:

It's a lot different then my KJ in that it revs like crazy to get to speed... could be the spark-infested engine but I'm not too sure.

The cruise control doesn't work. The light comes on but it wont lock in to speed and if you hit the accel button it'll rev for a sec and then stop... vacuum issue perhaps?

There's a little bit of cancer over one wheel well.

The OD On/Off button does nothing.

The rear wipe does work and the tires are brand new.
 
Coco

Coco

Well-Known Member
Location
Lehi, UT
I will warn you right now, that body style of 4runner is REALLy bad for getting the cancer on the rear wheel wells. I owned a '90 4runner SR5 with 224k as my first vehicle. I loved it, the 3.0 motor did actually run really well, but my rear wheel wells were so bad of cancer. If you got it, try to stop/fix it ASAP! otherwise, it was a nice vehicle.

My cruise control never worked either. Nor did my A/C. Sucked during the summer, but oh well.
 
Darwin

Darwin

GREASE MONKEY
Location
sandy
it says in the first post the 4 runner was sold for $5,000 after it was taken in for $2,500. even the toyota guys are questioning it's worth at a 2,500 selling point?
 
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I Lean

I Lean

Mbryson's hairdresser
Vendor
Location
Utah
I have a '94 that sounds like it's in a lot better shape than the one you're looking at, and I'd be surprised if I could get more than $2500 out of it. It's a manual trans too, which I prefer--the 3.0 has little enough power as it is, without sucking some up in an auto.

I'd keep looking. The next generation 4runner's are larger, with a better motor, and are still pretty cheap. ('96+)
 
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