Has anyone done a 4Runner and lived to tell about it?

"Joel Ness" (joelness)
10/16/2016 at 12:53 • Filed to: None

I’m currently looking for a generation 2 or 3 (1990-2002) 4Runner. They seem like a solid truck with few issues from an engineering stand point. Does anyone have insight or stories to tell about them? Recommendations or warnings? Should I abandon all hope or is the grass greener on the other side?

DISCUSSION (30)

interstate366, now In The Industry > Joel Ness
10/16/2016 at 12:59

Friend of mine has one. It’s been in his family since new (I want to say 1996) and it’s been solid for him for the most part. He says the transmission is acting up, but it has almost 300k.

A coworker recently bought a 2002 Sport Edition and it gave him a CEL after a few days. He hasn’t had good luck with cars recently...he had an S2000 but the engine blew about a week after he rebuilt it.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Joel Ness
10/16/2016 at 13:00

Brother in law has an 01 with 180,xxx on it and still runs and tows good. Pulls his Malibu boat with it and does pretyy good. added air bags to rear to tow better

Joel Ness > interstate366, now In The Industry
10/16/2016 at 13:01

Yeah, that’s kinda the picture I get of owning one of these.

Spaceball-Two > Joel Ness
10/16/2016 at 13:01

I’ve had two. Both great. Solid rigs but one complaint was the TPSM was always coming in.

daender > Joel Ness
10/16/2016 at 13:04

Paging Jordan, the Slowrunner, and Kona !

Kinja'd!!!

Joel Ness > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
10/16/2016 at 13:06

Kinja'd!!!

Noted

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Joel Ness
10/16/2016 at 13:07

Spend a bit more and get a later 3rd gen. I love my 2nd gen, but with the headgasket issues, gas mileage, and slowness, you’ll much more enjoy a 3rd gen as a daily driver. I think the second gen is more fun, but less of a daily driver.

Joel Ness > Spaceball-Two
10/16/2016 at 13:07

Thats not a problem

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Joel Ness
10/16/2016 at 13:07

There’s a certain version of the V6 you have to avoid but I can’t really remember more. I think it had something to do with head gasket issues maybe?

Joel Ness > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
10/16/2016 at 13:09

Kinja'd!!!

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Joel Ness
10/16/2016 at 13:15

I’d have a third gen instead of my S10 if they didn’t hold their value so damn well. Most all the ones I see on CL have over 200,000 miles on them if not 300,000 so I don’t doubt their reliability one bit.

Joel Ness > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
10/16/2016 at 13:16

Yeah, I’ve seen a lot of that

Spaceball-Two > Joel Ness
10/16/2016 at 13:18

Exactly

jasmits > Joel Ness
10/16/2016 at 13:20

I have a 91, she’s been reliable so far but I think a 3rd gen would make a better dd. Gas mileage and power suck with the V6 and it is definitely a motor with some flaws.

Amoore100 > Joel Ness
10/16/2016 at 13:39

My friend has an ‘01 SR5 base with 35k miles and in impeccable condition. It was sitting for about ten years before her uncle gave it to their family so it needed some maintenance to get up to speed, but based on the stories I hear of the unbreakability of 4Runners I’d say her truck still has a long road ahead of it!

Joel Ness > jasmits
10/16/2016 at 13:42

So, LS swap;)

Decay buys too many beaters > Joel Ness
10/16/2016 at 13:47

I learned to drive on a 2000 sr5. Fan fucking tastic truck. 250k on ours and it was still going strong when my mom decided she wanted something new. Pretty sure it’s still out there.

Do it, you’ll regret nothing.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Joel Ness
10/16/2016 at 13:48

2nd Gen has the 3vz which isn’t great. 3rd Gen is awesome and can be had with a 5 speed and a real transfer case. If you want more info just ask. I have a 99 sr5.

BJ > Joel Ness
10/16/2016 at 13:52

Daily driver, offroad monster, toy hauler? What do you plan on doing with it?

A 3rd gen is a good bet for basically everything, especially the 98-02 with the selectable AWD/4WD. The 4th gens are good, too. If you want gobs of power for towing and general dicking about, get a 2005+ 4th gen with the V8.

Joel Ness > BJ
10/16/2016 at 16:33

It’ll be the wife’s dd and our “go play outside” transport. I plan on doing motorcycle track days as well. So towing a light load is essential. But yeah, dicking about.

Joel Ness > Decay buys too many beaters
10/16/2016 at 16:34

I’m fucking sold. 3rd gen, 5 speed with 4 wheel drive. Am I doing it right?

Joel Ness > Joel Ness
10/16/2016 at 16:35

And a 6 banger.

Decay buys too many beaters > Joel Ness
10/16/2016 at 16:53

That’s the one! Yamaha breathed on that v6, whenever they do that the engine goes down as one of the greats.

BJ > Joel Ness
10/16/2016 at 17:45

So the V8 might be overkill for the type of dicking about you plan on doing...

A 3rd gen should do you fine.

Unless you’re dead set on a red car. Then you have to get a 2nd gen, because they’re fucking amazing in red.

Kinja'd!!!

Joel Ness > BJ
10/16/2016 at 18:09

I agree, and at the right angle it looks like the truck Marty McFly drove.

Joel Ness > Decay buys too many beaters
10/16/2016 at 18:10

Seriously? That’s fantastic!

jasmits > Joel Ness
10/16/2016 at 20:52

Kinja'd!!!

I could see that solving many problems.. Either way though,I love my second gen, and several other oppos seem to feel the same, just isn’t a perfect truck.

Nibbles > Joel Ness
10/17/2016 at 12:34

The 3.0 from in the 2nd gen is woefully underpowered, exacerbated by an automatic transmission.

Really that’s about all I got. We had a 1992 for a while and it was problem free (until the [ex] wife drove it with a dry diff).

Joel Ness > Nibbles
10/17/2016 at 12:39

Yeah, I will be looking at 3rd gens today

Pistol Whipped Cream > Joel Ness
10/17/2016 at 13:35

I would look for a 2001-2002. I think they had issues from 1998-2000...