SOLVED! Post 2853 Leaking Injectors, Dealer Techs Rock! Extended Cranking after Engine Swap 3.4L 5vz

It's this hot here 24/7.


This is what it is like in the A/C.

 

Wow, looks awesome K!! Nice job!! Can't wait to see what the railing and steps look like. Might have to get pointers on those from you eventually, would be nice to add those to our deck. Or maybe some built in benches/railing combo type thing.

You gotta add the mister!! Then you could take mister breaks when working in the heat becomes unbearable!!

I just realized what my new career should be. Marketing for that mister company!!

 

Good grief, that sounds horrible, torturous, and gross. Oh yeah, that's why I love Oregon. It's rarely like that!! Except for this summer:



That's not a typical summer forecast in Oregon. Can't believe how hot and dry it's been compared to what it normally is!! Thank goodness for the mister. See, I should be getting paid for the amount of advertising I am doing for that company!! Really though Keakar, you should seriously consider getting one. It's the BOMB!!!!!!!!!!!! Ours will be getting lots of use in the next few weeks

 

Good grief man, you should move!!! Yikes!!

 

OK, we are totally confused TW.

That 4Runner was ridiculously nice. Overall an awesome deal, considering what you'd get for the price he's asking. A 2002 Limited 4Runner, loaded with luxuries, 120K miles, excellent condition inside and out, and he's asking $8700. The people are ridiculously nice and honest. And pretty funny/cool too!! It drives great, looks great, is nicer inside than anything I've ever driven (heated leather seats, power seats, this crazy fancy thermostat for the "cabin", separate heat vents for the backseat, blah blah blah), and it's obvious the guy took incredible care of it. And it's true - oil changes at the dealer like clockwork it's whole life, and the guy had a giant stack of records (which we'd already looked at on Toyota.com, thanks for the idea @koditten !!) from every repair/preventative maintenance he'd ever had done (including recent brakes), ALL at the dealer. You know, the dealer that noahpete works at. AKA Portland area's good dealer IMO (obviously!). And, the guy promised to give us 1st dibs at it when he finds the specific (get this!) 2015 BMW he's looking for to replace it. He assured us we'd get first crack ahead of anyone else that might be interested, because his wife relies on Eric's work to do their jobs well in order for her small business to be successful, so he flat out said he wants to be SURE that we are kept happy in this whole thing because of that.

And he showed us what he meant about the power driver's seat being messed up. On the phone, I thought he was saying the seat wouldn't move, but get this - he meant that the motor in it makes a noise that is "off," or loud, or something (in his opinion). Seriously? This is a problem? I couldn't even hear what he meant!! And the sunroof problem? He did his best to demonstrate what he meant about that, but I failed to see what the problem was. The thing opened and closed as smoothly and quietly as any sunroof I've ever seen. But apparently he thinks this is a flaw in the vehicle. Wow. I seriously had to fake concern to play along on this stuff, like, "oh yeah, I see what you mean, that's terrible!" When we 1st arrived, he circled around it to point out microscopic scratches. I had to try to stop myself from laughing , as I looked at the Taco parked right next to it, complete with it's Rustoleum rollered areas and GIANT deep scratches everywhere

Our biggest concern with it is whether we could overcome the guilt of making it look like the Taco in no time if we were to drive it the way we wanted to. That thing is pristine for a 2002. That guy has clearly been OCD with caring for it. How lucky are we that his wife is one of Eric's customers??!?!?!? It's never even been off road, and it has 120K. Wow. Almost feels like it should be passed off to another person that will baby it as much as he did, since he did such a great job all these years!! Oh geeze, that's right!! Eric could never drive it to work after we had fun in it, or the wife would see it and that poor guy would be so upset!

So basically, it's perfect in every possible way, including the price, which almost seems too low if anything. So why are we confused?

Because worst case, what if my beloved Taco tries to die on us again anytime in the next couple years after we commit to a loan on the Runner - then we could wind up paying on the 4Runner AND a replacement Taco at the same time. Because the biggest lesson I learned from the recent Taco nightmare was that I cannot handle being without a Taco. Sure, no other Taco will ever hold a candle to Taco #1. But when I think about the grim day that it dies on us, I know there is nothing I'd rather have waiting in the wings than another 1st gen Taco. Plus it will only become harder and harder to come across decent-ish 1st gens as the years pass. They are all aging and racking up the miles as time passes. That sucks.

Which is why it's tempting to get another Taco now, then we'd be covered when that shitty day comes. 4Runners have a handful of advantages that Tacos don't, but the Runner can't haul stuff like gravel, lumber, etc the way the Taco can.

WAIT!!! We could get a trailer. Hell, we could even borrow our neighbor's trailer when needed!! It's not like we haul shit daily or anything. Then the 4Runner could do everything the Taco could, right you guys? As long as we remove running boards, etc to increase the ground clearance for off road trips? And get some decent tires? Can it really handle all the bad roads the Taco can? Then if the Taco died soon, we could finish up paying the Runner off and use a trailer if we needed to do any hauling, THEN start Taco shopping once Runner is paid off. I just don't want to risk paying on two $10+K loans at the same time. to car debt, that is no fun.

, I need opinions from you guys on this. This is such a smoking deal on a nice 4Runner in great condition (higher miles than I'd like but still, overall it's damn close to perfect and has the potential to go at least 5-10 yrs for us I think), and I'm afraid we'd kick ourselves if we passed it up. Yet I'm scared of being Taco-less if we get the Runner then the original lovemytacolots mobile dies shortly after (would not shock me considering the luck we've had and the whole situation)

PS: Can you guys imagine what it would look like to have that lovely, luxurious 4Runner parked next to the CIV?!?!?!??! Good grief. I suppose they'd balance each other out?

Oh yeah, current Civ plan is for Eric to try to repair the 2 oil leaks Honda mentioned (parts are super cheap). Then if that is successful in either stopping or significantly decreasing the leaks, we'd proceed with tires, CV boots, etc.
But if not, might be bye bye Civ OR the good ol' keep dumping oil and let the tires pop approach

 

look here: http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/l/USLA0255:1:US and see the lovely weather we have lol, this isnt even the hottest time of year yet, its pretty normal routine temps for here, next month it will be steady 98-99 every day with 80% humidity and heat indexes in the 110-115 range.

now, ... who is ready for ice cream!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Jen get that damn runner and don't look back!! I get what u mean about taco #1 but unless it gets totalled its all repairable, the one major thing I bet is looming is that damn auto tranny you guys have in that thing, that'll be the one super expensive repair I bet you eventually get. Other than that you'll have taco#1 as long as you guys wanna keep fixing it.

 

That truck is 1/5th the cost of a new truck. It is a steal!

How many miles do you drive in a year? The truck will last you 300k. It has 1/3 of its life used up. You will be able to drive either the truck or four runner for ten more years.

Do you over analyze every decision?

 

Yes. Definitely. How sorry do you guys feel for Eric right about now?

Hey, at least I admit it. I'm a worst case scenario thinker. Not always a winning strategy, but it does occasionally pay off.

I like your advice. Hell yeah!!

You gotta admit, we have good reason to be gun shy and want to think things through, after getting burned with the Taco at such young mileage. Can't help it though, still love these things like

 

BTW, if you guys actually read that whole post, major kudos to you. Just scrolled up and saw how long it actually was

Owe ya one TW peeps!! Thanks for the guidance/shoulder to on.

 

Yes, you have good reason to be gun shy.

But, do you think there is any problem with these 1st gen trucks you. Two can't figure out? I don't think so.

All most everyone following this thread have lived and breathed 1st gen trucks. We can't all be stupid, can we? We know these are quality trucks...even Toyota mechanics are searching these trucks out.

 

Here's how I feel about everything you said:

 

Means nothing without my little " bogger" emoticon. Incomplete.

 

Just out of curiosity, how much is a Limited 4 Runner, with similar miles selling for on the lots? I have not done any research. Myself, but I'm guessing $10k+?

 

Yes!! Those limited ones with ALL the bells and whistles are priced like they are frigging luxurie vehicles. Which they are very nice but they seem to get priced like a BMW or Lexus. On the lots that is....

 

I have a 98 limited 2wd(152k) and had another 98 limited 4runner(271k). I sold my 98 with higher mileage, but kept the other 98 when I came into possession of my 9Tacoma. If either of the 4runners and been 4wd, I would have restored the Tacoma and sold it. I love my Tacoma but really miss the 4runner. There was not much I hauled in a truck that wouldn't go in the 4runner with the seat down. If I couldn't haul it, just hooked up my trailer and got it done. I think you'll kick yourself for not getting it, and it is every bit as capable off road as a Tacoma.

 

Is that your little bogger?

 

Hmm, I honestly don't know!! I guess I'm comparing to how jacked up the 1st gen Taco prices are - an 02 Taco in this kind of shape with this many miles would be nearly 2x the price!! But I'm pretty sure even just comparing Runners to one another, this is still a great price for it's condition. But mostly knowing we can get basically a Taco equivalent (and even got the hauling issue figured out!) for so much lower of a price than a 2nd Taco - that's the biggest thing driving me to wanna buy this luxury SUV that is not normally something we'd pick out, with it's running boards and heated power seats!! Which is why I'm so hellbent on being sure it will be able to go everywhere/do everything the Taco can - that's a huge part of this for me, whether it can truly fill in for lovemytacolots when she's laid up or put to rest.

How's the deck progress? Still hot as hell there? Getting into upper 90's here today, blech. Mister for sure!! Dolly & I better get to the park early today, like pronto. And the beat the heat dinner plan is frozen strawberry margaritas and grilled chicken soft tacos with chips, guac and salsa

 

Funny that you mentioned Lexus - this one came from our local Lexus dealer!! Apparently it was a loaner car for "the good" Toyota dealer in the area when it was born, then for 1.5 yrs, it was owned by some lady that apparently wore a hefty amount of perfume, because then the guy that we'll buy it from bought it at 30K miles in 2006 and said he could smell it on the seatbelts. Perfume lady must've bought it from Toyota, then a year later decided she wanted a Lexus instead? Hard for me to comprehend, but to each his/her own

 

Thanks buddy!! I like your advice!! Sounds like you loved your 4Runner and sounds like we will too