bighurt

1st post....hey to all.
currently driving a 1988 sr5 4runner with 235,000 on 4cyl 5spd combo. 18 yrs on Minnesota and Iowa winters have taken their toll so I am looking around.

locally there is a 1997 4cy 5spd 4wd 4runner with 188,000 on it. it needs a few cosmetics but is overall pretty clean, nice interior. new exhaust. they are asking $5,000.00.

what problem areas do I need to check?
I am still getting 18mpg average city/hwy with the old truck, is the 97 about the same?
as much as I will miss that 88 I need an upgrade.

thanks in advance for any advice/help! tom

rearviewmirror

I'm no expert on the difference between the 88 and 97 so please excuse this post in that sense. But I wanted to comment on the MN winters. I'm always telling my family if they are looking for good used 4x4 SUVs or pickups to fly down to TX where I'm at if they can locate a deal on one then drive it back up to MN. The chassis' here almost always outlast the engine. I think when my 2000 4Runner is up for sale and it is least 10-15 years old we'll road trip it up to MN and leave it there on sale, surely it's got to fetch a fair price being rust free.

cackalak han

Wow, 18mpg with a 4cyl? I thought they would be better than that.

I have a S/C 3.4 V6, and I got ~20-21MPG (pretty much 95% highway) and mixed driving is around 17-18MPG (and that's when I'm not flooring it at all.)

I'm not too much help on what to check on. Except my 4Runner right now is not going into 4WD, so make sure the 4WD system works. Good luck.

JHupp

Hey, just me, but if I could find a rig like that around here for 5k, I'd jump on it. That is a sweet price, and if it is in good shape mechanically and cosmetically, I'd definately pick it up. The stick is getting harder to find, and the 4cyl. are rare as well. That rig in Jersey would probably be more like 6 or 7k. 188 miles isnt terrible either as long as he's kept up with the regular maintenence. Most people here seem to believe that you should be able to get about 280 out of the 5vz(6cyl.). I don't know a heck of a lot about the 4cyl. but I don't hear many gripes about it(other then it might be a little slow).

Ironmike4x4

Good buy for a manual. Do you know if it has the e-locker? If it does JUMP ON IT! As mentioned before check to see when the timing belt has been replaced. The problem areas in the 3rd gen 4Runners usually are: rear axle seal leaks (you can put a diff breather mod to help https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f129/rear-differential-breather-mod-75747/ ), the cup holder on the dash is crappy but Bob has a write up ( https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f126/cupholder-mod-3rd-gen-4runner-75824/ ), also the rotors like to warp very easy so either do a Tundra caliper upgrade or brembo rotors (search). Good luck!

khaug

Go for it! The '98 LTD I owned was the best vehicle I've ever owned. The only chronic problem I've identified is failure of the rear axle seals. Costly to fix and fix not definitely durable. Look for gear lube on the inside of the rear wheels Otherwise, this is a classically durable 4Runner. The 3.4 V6 is an anvil, as is the 4-speed auto.

Good luck.

etan

i have a 4cyl 5 spd '97. and I get 20 MPG. I'd say I do about 50/50 highway city. it all depends on your driving habits.

bighurt

I noticed a few people mentioning the timing belt. does this model have a timing belt or a timing chain like my 88?
thanks for all the replies

sdstud212001

DO IT

Ironmike4x4

It has a timing belt.

Skrillah

I own a 97 Runner 2.7L 4cyl 4x4 with an auto tranny, they have chains! Best engine on the road, you absolutely can't go wrong with it. I've got 130,000 on mine and the thing just purrs, haven't touched the chain either. The only thing I'm having a problem with is the starter, it kind of stumbles when starting...hasn't gotten to the point of a needed replacement though. Oh and the manifold is prone to cracking--replaced mine already.

If you want a long lasting engine (assuming the proper maint. has been taken care of) look no further. I have never regretted for a minute owning my truck. At times, it would be nice to have the 3.4L but acceleration isn't horrible especially if you are looking at the five speed. I mean you're buying a full blooded truck, this is isn't a Supra so you shouldn't expect that obviously!LOL.....I have been told and the specs back it up...that the 2.7L engine is more powerful than the old 22re that are found in the earlier Runners so you'll probably notice a difference.

Trust me you wont' regret it!!

tom_mag

I'll second the above. It has a timing chain, no belt. They are great motors, basically the same as a 22RE but with more cubes and a two cam-16 valve head. I get 20-24 mpg with mine.

bighurt

I was pretty sure it had a chain. thanks for the second on that, and third.
went and drove it yesterday.
+ drives nice, year old tires, exhaust, battery, u-joints. ac blows cold, rides nice, no rattles. no leaks inside whhels from rear axle as was pointed out to be a common problem. everything works.
- clutch feels soft (and that is compared to my 88 which has at leat 135,00 on current clutch) brakes feel a little soft. missing ashtray. rock chips around windshield have started to pit and rust <-- to me that is a big negative, there is at least 10 places. crease on roof with paint loss. lots of hail dents on roof.

to me 4200.00 sounds fair but they dont want to budge.

lmk what you guys think

thanks! tom

MTL_4runner

I'd say $4200-4500 would be fair in the condition you mention (def need to fix rust chips right away).
If they won't budge, I'd pass and find another.

uberhahn

what's the intent for the vehicle? Daily driver? weekend warrior? future buggy project?

I waited 18 months until I found EXACTLY what I was looking for. I say PASS unless you're really in love with it. If rust was a problem initially, and it already started around the windshield, it's worse than you think it is. You only see what's been chipped.

just my $0.000003

uberhahn

Ironmike4x4

Correction: Sorry Bighurt.... I'm thinking of the 3.4l having a timing belt. I forgot you mentioned it was a 2.7. My fault. Flame away.

Skrillah

$4200 really isn't too bad, I'm not sure how easy it'll be to find another 2.7L, 5spd though. I guess it depends where you're located at. I think 2.7L in themselves are hard to find little lone one with a 5 spd!

Just my .03 cents too

But I would have to agree with Uberhahn...depends on what you're looking to use it for......daily driver, weekends, etc.