thinking of selling my tacoma to get a 4runnner

they leak, just about every one I have seen have leak issues once they get over 10 years old, yes I know its not the biggest deal in the world to have it serviced and new seals put in, but since I never use them, and don't want to have one, why risk buying one with it and having something I don't use that can be a "likely" leak issue, if not when I buy it, then in the near future.

thanks for the heads up on the sport, I guess the two I found had the leather seats as added on options

thanks for the tip, is the brake pump just a v8 issue or is it a problem with all of the 03-09 runners?

and what is this air pump thing for? is it for boost or something and what years were having this problem?

im thinking of going look at an 03 tomorrow with 4.7 v8 and 150k miles but if there is a $2.4k brake booster failure in my future i'll pass on it.

do all years have this hydroboost brakes thing?

 

I have had a couple land cruiser with that same engine as the V8 4Runners. Amazing engines; extreme longevity, super reliable, etc. Under the intake manifold is the starter location, I had to do starter contacts on one of them. The engines are very easy on oil and very well designed and built. Especially the V8's and transmissions that came in the Cruiser and the 4Runner. There are minor differences to the 4.7 V8 that came in the Tundra. But very very similar.

 

I've only read about the brake accumulator failure on the V6's. I believe the V8's used a different parts for the brake boost/accumulator.

For the air pump, all V8's have them. They fail at some point as the foam filter inside the pump deteriorates and gets sucked in and breaks the fins in the pump.

I remember test driving an 2007 with the brake accumulator going off at about every 10 seconds while stepping on the brake pedal.

 

ok so it looks like all 03-09 years have the stupid ABS pump system brake booster crap, oh well, it sounds like a pure crap design and setup the never should have put on them. at least the aftermarket replacements are only $500 which is better then the dealership asking $2500 for them.

as for the v8 air pump, what the deal with that? is it something you can do maint and replace the filter (or just remove it) before it fails? or is it just something you replace on a set schedule like every 100k when you do the timing belt and water pump?

 

For the air pump, it's supposedly a lifetime part. We have them on 2012+ tacoma's but it's easy to get to as it sits outside the engine. We've taken out the foam filter and used clamped on filters to avoid deterioration. On the V8, removing the upper intake will be time consuming. I know Toyota started replacing them under warranty for the V8 Tundra/Sequoia but I don't think they included the 4Runner.

Just something to look out for. I wouldn't go pulling the upper intake until the part goes bad.

 

I used to think the 4runners were not all that different then tacos because they shared a lot of common parts but im finding out they are very much different animals lol.

thanks, that's good to know.

wow !!! I just watched some youtube videos of how involved the replacement of that air induction fan is. that's just crazy man. add to this the fact the v8 need the timing belts replaced every 100k miles, im thinking I should just avoid the v8 versions.

in my younger days I wouldn't care but at this point in my life and old age im in no shape to be crawling around under the hood for a two or three day repair job.

I can only imagine the cost of paying someone to do all of that and im going to assume any v8 I buy, will be due for a timing belt replacement so im figuring instantly after buying one, I need to plan on having a mechanic replace my water pump, thermostat, timing belts and tensioners, and while being that far into it, I cant see where it doesn't make sense to just go ahead and have the air pump replaced at the same time seeing as how the engine is already half torn down anyway lol. because if I dont replace it while all that is being done, the air pump will 100% absolutely fail 2 weeks later, its murphy's law lol. so that's pretty much where I see myself as far as if I buy a v8

 

I had a 2004 4Runner before I got into kayaking and wanted a truck. It was the V8. I loved the motor, the power and torque. I love the interior and the options available. I didn't love that timing belt/chain which ever it is that needs replacement, I bought mine with 110k miles and had no record of replacement so I had to pay for that which was expensive but other than that I loved that vehicle. Mine was 4wd, which was all time so my gas mileage was about 14 mpg city and about 18 highway. You'll love the 4Runner and if you need to haul lumber the rear window rolls down. Good luck with the purchase.

 

http://www.top4runners.com/runhist/runhist42003.html

some good info. I always thought the 4.0 had the 5spd auto but apparently not in the T4R. THe Tundras didn't get the 5spd until mid '04 when they revamped the VVTi 4.7 and eliminated the S/C option. (someone has a build on here with the 03 and S/C)

 

Huh, I always thought they did change it. Thanks for that link!

 

ya, it sucks, because I really would like the extra power of the v8, but from my understanding its not all that much of a difference. on paper seems to confirm that with only 15 or so more hp gain.

im just thinking I want to avoid any "required" big ticket maint issues like the timing belt and from what I read, the v8 4.7 has what I would call a 50/50 chance you will need to replace that air pump before getting to 250k miles so seeing as I am going to be buying one with between 110-150k miles already on it, that means that at least once during the time I own it, I can expect this "major" air induction pump repair issue to be needed.

its kinda a double wammy against having the v8 in my mind. as far as I am aware of, the v6 never needs anything like that and timing chain should last lifetime of engine. not sure if that means 500k miles or not but hopefully

 

Before you eliminate the V8 4runner, I would test drive one with the 4.7 first! On paper it may not be much of a difference (and I can't comment as to the 4.0's performance) but the V8 is about 1000x more powerful than our 3.4's in the Tacomas and I think you will be surprised in terms of performance with the 4.0 vs 4.7.

 

im just not sure if I want to risk those big ticket repairs.

lets say I buy the v8, here is my thinking on what I can expect.

every used vehicle I ever bought needed a full set of new tires and never had its timing belt replaced so with that in mind:

full set of new tires - $1,000 (installed)
timing belt kit - $1,000 (installed)
air induction pump - $2,500-$3,000 (installed)
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so this puts me expecting an additional $5k cost on top of the purchase price of buying the v8, vs the v6 where its just going to need $1,000 set of tires.

I don't know if im making too much of this, and it is just a once every ten years maint thing. that said, when I see an extra $5k expense needed to go with buying a v8, that's pretty alarming difference to my pocket book

 

4.0-liter dual overhead cam (DOHC) V6 engine produces 236 horsepower, with 266 lb-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm

4.7-liter i-Force DOHC V8 produces 260 horsepower, with 306 lb-ft. of torque at 3,400 rpm

from the 2003 snippet (2UZ-FE 4.7L V8 DOHC Iron Block, Alum. Heads, generating 235HP(4,800rpm) and 320lb torque(3,400rpm), producing 80 percent of its peak torque at 1,100 rpm) not sure if this holds true with the updated VVT-i or not

Towing capacity is 5,000 pounds for V6 models, 7,000 pounds for V8 4WD models and 7,300 pounds for V8 2WD models) another key point

 

dammit frizz, you making me want the v8 again, towing power is important to me and part of excluding the v8 was convincing myself the power differences weren't that great between v6 and v8.

but the cost, that's the thing, the immediate cost of an extra $3-4k repair bill right after purchase, that's very hard to justify

hell, I was looking at an 03 v8 with 150k miles listed for only $6k, if I bought it I need to spend 50% of full purchase price for that maint repair bill

 

Co-worker has an 04 V8 with around 206K miles. No problems yet with the air pump.

 

can anyone tell me if the way I am thinking about it is true, that after you take it apart to do the timing chain/water pump kit, is anything you disconnect to do that maint, does it, in any way, reduce the amount of work involved in replacing the air pump? in other words does doing both at the same time save on any labor involved?

the reason I ask is, I see the Asin brand pumps where they only cost around $100 aftermarket so I was thinking to just replace it so I know I got another 100k miles it wont fail?

 

should I be in any way hesitant to pay $6k for a 03 4runnner with 4.7 v8 and 151k miles?? seems like a really great deal, maybe too good a deal but the vin check shows clean title and no accidents

 

The V8 would be nice, but it sounds like for you there wouldn't be anything wrong with the V6. Perhaps, have all other preferences and items on your list ensured and if it happens to have the V8, don't turn it down? And if it's the V6, great as well?

 

well I bought the taco and was told very similar info about it, they said the 4 tows just fine, you don't need to get the v6. well I bought the 4 and had to resell it 9 months later and go buy the v6 with 3.4 engine. that 3.4 tows, "adequately" at best and does the job most certainly but at the same time you are using higher rpms to do it then when not towing and certainly doesn't ever seem to be able to hold that "coast along" feeling without feeling the drag of the load behind you.

im leary now when its said the v8 is best for towing, but the v6 is fine as well.

this is the last truck I expect to buy since I will make it last another 15-20 years and go at least another 200k miles after I buy it, so I want it to have more power not less and I want to be sure I am get opinions from those people who have experience towing stuff up hills and long distances

 

ok, I have been trying to learn as much as I can about this air pump thing on the v8 and everything I seem to understand is that its really just an AIS system to blow in fresh air to mix with the exhaust air and that is all it does. if this is true then how can it cause issues with how the truck runs?

on motorcycles we just delete and block off these systems so why isn't this also done on the v8 rather then the huge expense and work of replacing a pollution control pump?

a most important question I really would like a quick answer to is, when I go test drive trucks with v8, how do I try and create a condition to be sure this isn't a problem on the truck?