2003 4runner

I just looked at a 03 4runner that would be used as a winter vehicle for my wife. 1 owner truck with 280000 kilometers on it. They are asking $3500 for it. What do I need to look for onew it? What are the known issues ? Frame problems? Engine problems? Any help is appreciated. Thanks

 

If in the rust belt, have the frame checked closely. That is not a lot of KM's on the clock. Not even half the motor's life is used up.

 

Ontario Canada. ... waiting for the dealer to put a frame in my tacoma . So the 4runner have the same frame issues. Thanks alot for the heads up. Very much appreciated

 

Its kind of a bum deal too. They were never eligible for the frame to be replaced.

 

I am a bodyman and the 4runner owner did offer that I can take it to my shop to check it out. I will take him up on that. I will crawl around under it with white gloves and a fine tooth comb lol

 

280...get a separate tranny cooler on that or replace the rad with a new one, beware the dreaded pink milkshake. Like all yotas, check the frame. Timing belt is a good thing to have done. These were kinda notorious for rear axle leaks (look for oil on inside of rear tires/rims). Tailgate rust, good luck finding a rust free one to replace if it's bad. Rocker panels are a bad spot for rust as well. Climb under and poke at the inner rocker panel, it will be shot first.

3,500 it better be fairly clean and well taken care of...bought this 99 two years ago for 3,500 with 240kms


Good luck and let us know

 

I pick it up tomorrow morning to take it to my work shop. Going to jack it up and crawl around to see what I can see. Original owner truck. He has replaced the tailgate with an oem. He stopped driving it due to his age. With any luck everything will check out

 

Frame is excellent has had the timing belt changed at 230 000 . Lift gate replaced 2 years ago with oem. Has a trainy cooler on it too. Needs tires for safety check. He accepted my offer of 3 grand. Happy wife happy life lol

 

Excellent, I'd say you got a pretty decent deal there...good job and enjoy.

 

I don't think the 3rd gen T4Rs had the same frame issues the Tacomas had...4runners were and still are built in Japan so I think they used a different steel manufacturer but maybe I'm wrong?

 

Can't say for sure. I haven't done near as much research on 4runners as tacomas as of yet. Now that we are becoming a 2 toyota family ... I guess it's time to spend countless hours devoted to the 4runner lmao.

 

Yes, they're not as bad as the tacomas frame wise. My 99 is good but its been rust protected since new. I'll put it this way tho, on weekends I drive my 99 4Runner and leave my 16 Taco MT in the driveway. It is that much a pleasure to drive.

 

My wife has a 15 challenger that we use for a "good" car. Going out, traveling, Sunday drives etc. I much rather drive my tacoma but she isn't a truck person. I consider it a win that she is going to drive a 4runner lmao. Guess I'm slowly breaking her down. I think toyota owes me commission lol

 

Thought I had run into you before lol...throw up a pic of the runner!

 

Soon as she gets home from work I'll take some pictures of it. She's a nurse in the nic unit at sick kids. She has a long drive and I wanted her in something reliable. Exeter tacoma had a trd pro 4runner but she couldn't be talked into it. Something about retirement coming in 20 years lol

 

My fleet, all third gens...minus my 3rd gen RAV4

 

Man am I envious of the zedder. I had an 84 with the 350 in it. No t tops. Loved that car. Puked the motor on the 401 near woodstock. Caught a ride home, went back with the trailer to get it and it was gone. Cops told me they didn't get it. I can imagine who did lol

 

Ya, mines an 86 in all original condition. 305 auto with 106 kms. Original paint, everything. Never seen snow, and for the last 20 years hasn't seen even rain. I've owned it for 13 years now.

I would suspect yours ended up somewhere near Brantford on the edge of the Grand.