I Bought a 4Runner!

"MM54" (mm54mk2) 09/03/2018 at 13:45 • Filed to: don't tell zoidberg's old neighbor, 4runner

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1999 SR5 Highlander (Sport) 4x4 Auto V6 with a whopping 105k miles on it (yes, ONE hundred and five thousand) . Needs some odds and ends (mostly catch-up maintenance) and should be good to go. Running boards and rear bumper are rusty, will address that. Frame is good, nothing beyond some surface rust in places (will also address that). Rear brakes are funky, adjusters probably seized up .

Here’s the window sticker for more details .

Once the emissions monitors all show ready, I’ll find out if I can register it or if it needs cats first. It will probably need cats (had a code before I disconnected the battery to reset the ECU) and/or O2 sensors. After that the other work begins.

There are also bolts broken off where the license plate mounts, so that should be interesting to mend. It’s also very dirty, moreso on the outside than inside. It hasn’t been abused, more of neglected. It’ll get the usual full-looking-over and all fluids, etc. before taking over daily duties . I have a very busy month coming up so it may be a little while before I have any more news with this car.

AestheticsInMotion > MM54 09/03/2018 at 13:52

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Niiiiice. Glad you found something good for winter duties 

dogisbadob > MM54 09/03/2018 at 13:54

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Krown :o)

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > MM54 09/03/2018 at 13:57

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Can’t say I’m a fan of the pinstriping but other than that it looks good. 

MM54 > AestheticsInMotion 09/03/2018 at 14:00

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Me too. This should do very well for a while. Also a good excuse to go do some light offroading.

MM54 > dogisbadob 09/03/2018 at 14:00

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Fluid film

MM54 > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 09/03/2018 at 14:01

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I like it, matches the gold badges

wafflesnfalafel > MM54 09/03/2018 at 14:05

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dang those were pricey even back in 99 - nice buy, really like that body syle

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > MM54 09/03/2018 at 14:12

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Jealous!!!

PS I do not miss that neighbor at all.

MM54 > wafflesnfalafel 09/03/2018 at 15:05

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Thanks!

Captain of the Enterprise > MM54 09/03/2018 at 16:35

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Congratulations! It looks great and I love that color!

MM54 > Captain of the Enterprise 09/03/2018 at 16:49

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Thanks!

vicali > MM54 09/03/2018 at 17:21

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Party mode! Congrats!

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > MM54 09/03/2018 at 22:30

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that is reaaaaaaaaaally sharp looking

PyramidHat > wafflesnfalafel 09/04/2018 at 00:15

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Did the math...that’s $51,000 in today’s money...

McKenna Wofford > MM54 09/04/2018 at 04:41

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4runners are amazing. I’ve had mine (2002 SR5 V6) for over 7 years & she’s got over 250,000 miles. Still going strong & I’ve put her through around at least 5 years of delivering pizza. C ongrats & I hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine. :)

Whiz Erd > MM54 09/04/2018 at 07:16

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Wow! Reminded me of the’02 Sequoia we bought in ‘03 with 20k just before moving from Cape Cod to Kanab, UT. 4x4, w/big V8 that had early version that shut off cylinders for economy. Gave it to my son in ‘14 w/ 198k of S/W Utah off r oads, a couple W/Coast trips, & a final x/country to FL towing our 30' travel trailer. Credit on time oil and maintenance. Still going in Ohio! 

World Wide Wesley > MM54 09/04/2018 at 09:21

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My first and only job is automotives sales was with Toyota from 1999 to August 2018. That model and equipment is very rare. Although it doesn’t appear anywhere other than the Monroney label (I think) I believe this is the first & last time you would see Toyota use the word Highlander in a vehicle description (without badging too... weird, huh? ) before the actual model debuted in 2000. The Highlander meaning on this 4Runner model , was a reference to the sport package. It was never seen again to my knowledge, largely due to the release of the actual Highlander a year later. Between that, the factory upgrades & Cali emissions... This a rare beast, congrats on the find, and thanks for extracting this somewhat useless knowledge from my memory files :-)

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > MM54 09/04/2018 at 11:14

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I do so love those 4Runners. Well done.

VC1983 > MM54 09/04/2018 at 11:33

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Congrats ! I’m at 182k on my 2001 which I bought new. I t’s been an absolute beast for 17 years.

Add a new differential breather to your list, super cheap easy part to replace but they get clogged and will blow the axle seals if left alone , which are more expensive and time consuming to fix . Also look into a transmission cooler. If the radiator fails (and it will) the coolant and trans fluid will mix into the dreaded pink milkshake and ruin the trans among other things if it isn’t caught immediately. Both common problems with these that can be avoided with some preventative care.

Enjoy!

Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner > MM54 09/04/2018 at 11:43

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Me too! 2007 with 160k miles. Engine smells like weed when i floor it

MM54 > Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner 09/04/2018 at 11:52

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Do you live where that’s legal? If not you should probably have a talk with that engine, going to get you in trouble!

MM54 > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) 09/04/2018 at 11:53

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Thanks!

Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner > MM54 09/04/2018 at 11:55

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georgia is weed legal in three weeks

MM54 > McKenna Wofford 09/04/2018 at 11:55

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Thanks!

MM54 > itranthelasttimeiparkedit 09/04/2018 at 11:55

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Thanks!

MM54 > VC1983 09/04/2018 at 12:13

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I will keep those things in mind, thanks!

MM54 > World Wide Wesley 09/04/2018 at 12:13

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Cool, good to know - thanks!

rockingthe2 > MM54 09/04/2018 at 15:29

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My sister recently sold our hand-me-down 2000 4Runner we had in the family a few weeks back, had 317k miles and was almost dead reliable the whole time. The 5VZ engine in it is a freakin  tank. 

MM54 > Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner 09/04/2018 at 18:26

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Sounds like you car’s just ahead of the times, then!

Have fun!

MM54 > rockingthe2 09/04/2018 at 18:27

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Around here the rust takes them long before the drivetrain has the opportunity to wear out.

Mogwaidtd > MM54 09/04/2018 at 23:18

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I don t understand why anyone buys a 4runner when you can get a GX equivalent for roughly t he same price.

Spencer > MM54 09/05/2018 at 07:44

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Congrats ! Couple of major items to look at/take care of.

First, radiator. The trans cooler is internal on these and of the radiator breaks/leaks it’ll put coolant into the trans and destroy it. Pretty cheap to just buy a new one for peace of mind.

Second, diff breathers. Cheap and easy to replace and itll keep from blowing axle seals.

Fnally , ball joints. If you need new ones, which you probably will, only by TOYOTA factory parts. Too many horror stories of other brands breaking and causing real damage. It’s a serious issue on this gen 4Runner.

Otherwise. Enjoy!