Buying high mileage? Things to look out for?

These only get to the 400K or 500K mark by what was done to it during the first 100K...

Ideally high milage is OK on a mostly high way mile truck.....daily commuter......

Changing that coolant and oil is a big deal.....




Best way is to buy three of them....over the years.....

.....by the time you go for your forth one.....you'll be an expert.


Hell I'm wanting to restore a 4-runner now......
.....which are all japan assembled ...and run forever...

 

Thanks all! I'm now considering a 2002 4Runner, which I understand is basically the same as a Tacoma in terms of reliability/maintenance (correct me if I'm wrong). It has 214k miles and listed for $14.9k, with a few mods that I like. The maintenance history is pretty immaculate, it's local, and owned in rust-free states (TX/CO), so I am pretty stoked on this one. Will probably go check it out today!

 

I know this is an old post, but what issues do the trucks outside of 98-02 have?

 

Not sure of any issues the '95.5-97 trucks had, but the '03-04 trucks have an early version of throttle by wire that requires a full throttle body replacement ($500) if and when the accelerator pedal position sensor goes out.

I have a spare brand new OEM throttle body for my '03 sitting on the shelf as a result of this.

 

I believe all 03-04 have ABS brakes which some people don’t like. The rear drums in 03-04 also have a different braking system where they automatically stay adjusted compared to having to use the parking brake. The throttle body is different on my 04 compared to the 02 I had. But honestly I’m not sure what else is really all that different when comparing 02 to 04.

 

Can we swap in the earlier style throttle body?

 

My understanding is we cannot. Our ECU needs to recognize/detect the accelerator pedal position sensor (APPS). So presumably you could swap ECUs and an older throttle body.

 

03/04 novelty list....unique to these

motor in the throttle body, cable sensor instead of cable actuated....

trannies are electronic with no kick down cable...

charcoal canister is in the worst place for north salt states.....rear...

they seemed to go crazy on the cats.....one would of been enough....

I actually think the abs is the best thing......trucks are so dangerous they need everything they can get to save your ass...


I'm not a fan of coil over plug ignitions......reliability is hit or miss....

Similar on the pre 98's.....because of the point distributor.....little less reliability...
the mechanical parts wear, eventually has to be replaced.....
and the maf sensor......if unlucky enough to get the ancient one.....the $1000 discontinued one....without which truck will not run....


And for the worst thing.......it seems the later taco frames are wasting away faster than the pre 01's.........the replacement frames fall in this same production date......hint hint...

 

Weren't '98-02 trucks also coil over plug? My '03 has coils on cylinders 2, 4 & 6, with plug wires connecting each coil to another cylinder (1, 3 or 5). The '98-02 trucks I've seen have all been setup in this same way.

Are you just referring to 2rz/3rz trucks?

 

5vz's are sorta coil over.....half and half

reason the earlier 2rz/3rz's are simpler.....last a lot longer.....98/2000


think the Tundra and 5vz coil oem coil design is above standard...
those I've seen very few problems.....like 200K and zero problems

I'm not sure the 2rz/3rz coil over plug design is as robust.......especially aftermarket/clone...01's to 04's