Extremesolo

I have been looking for an 85 runner or ex cab truck for over a year and have finally found one suitable for use. Problem is it is an 85 runner and I have a few questions that I need answered before I purchase and drive 250 miles home. Behind the front seats the floor is damp under the rubber carpeting. Is this common for a runner's roof to leak or should I look elsewhere in the cab. The floors looked good with slight rust around the rollcage. The main concern is an engine miss. I did not notice it while idling but when I test drove it, it would miss when on the gas. It has 149K on it and I don't want to buy one and then have to do a valve job right away. If it is electrical I can take care of that with a regular tune up. Any quick ways for me to tell if it is a burnt valve. Also it is in the 80's here and when I drove it the temp gague did not move at all. Should I be concerned about that as well? Thanks in advance for any input in helping me make to decision to either buy or pass on this runner.

radrex

Whip out a compression tester - That should answer all of your questions in regards to the engine.

toy283

It isn't too uncommon for the roof seals to leak if the roof has been removed numerous times (or even once after fifteen years of being in place). If it has rear heat, you could also check there for leaks, that could be the source of the wetness as well.

jimbo74

i have had my 85 for about a year, until very recently like the past couple weeks, it never warmed up apst 1/4 on the guage... now it will get to about half... if it doesnt move at all, whether on or off, it is disconnected or the sensor is bad...

AKennedy87

I have left my runner in the rain with the roof off a few times, thus water behind the front seats. Its the lowest part so it all runs down there. Check under the rear seats there is a low part too. But there is plugs in the bottom so if it gets bad just pull em and you'll be fine.

Duffdog

ya, about the temp gauge, thats kind of important....make sure that there is a thermostat installed, ive seen some trucks with them taken out so that they wouldnt overheat. and might as well replace the coolant temp sender and the thermostat with a FACTORY toyota thermostat, not some stant p.o.s. that doesnt even open until the engine is already overheated. grrrr....

T