Hello Folks,

Great forums you have going on here, I work (and sometimes live) in the computer industry (www.coolitsystems.com) and am familiar w/ forum live on that side of the street but it is also refreshing to find the same thing going on in the automotive world.

I've spent the last couple of hours reading other threads, taking notes and trying to suck up as much info as possible but the sad reality remains that I don't know much about cars/trucks. The good news is, i'm willing to learn.

I just bought a '95 4Runner (automatic) from work for 1,500 CAD and retired my '86 Chrysler New Yorker. Thats right.. '86 Chrysler New Yorker complete w/ black stallion front license plate, glossy black spray paint job, spinning hubcaps and a disco ball which is of course now in the runner muahahah.

I know all you guys are into offroading and that sure sounds like fun but before this is an off-road vehicle, I want to make sure its a good on road one. I don't think the guy who owned it before me took care of it very well, I got an oil change and replaced all the regular fluids (tran/power steering/brake). After having it only 4 days I got a flat about 100ft away from guess what.. a Toyota dealership. Since it didn't have to tool to get the spare down i brought it in and had them switch it for me. They noticed there was a recall on the front steering link and fixed that for me but also found (surprise) that I needed front brakes, new bearings and adjuster sleeves. All of that would come to around $700 CAD for parts and labour.

My questions are:
1. I think i got a great deal on the truck.. interior is great some rust around fenders, appears to have been bondo'd as some point in time. Do you think its a good deal? b) i was planning on sanding the rust out, priming it and putting some sort of plastic guard over the wheel well, is that a good idea? If not how do i get rid of the ugly rust?

2. Should i always go to the dealer for repairs? My friends are telling me I can get that work done considerably cheaper elsewhere. b) are there some things that i should absolutely go to the dealer for and others i can outsource?

3. I read about a head gasket 'recall' campaign.. what is that? Should i be concerned about it? The dealership didn't mention anything

4. Any other advice you could give me to me as a VERY excited but inexperienced new yota owner would be appreciated.


Thanks for your insight gang.. sorry i'm a little long winded

ps. if anyone is into gaming / overclocking computers, let me know

 

Hey Friend, welcome to Yotatech!



1. To really get rid of the rust for good, you will need to cut out the metal thats rusted, aswell as the metal thats very close by. You can get metal replacment fender lips from www.toyotafiberglass.com You weld them in, bondo, sand, prime then paint.
Its alot of work, but thats the way you do it right.

2. I hardly take my truck to the dealer, partly because I have it in for the manager, but mostly because they charge so much. Personally, find yourself a mechanic, talk to people that have had their cars worked on by him. I take my truck to a mechanic that works out of his house. I usually stick around and get him to show me how to do the work.


3. The head gasket recall was for the 3.0 Due partly to the gaskets used (toyota had to scramble and get a gasket that didnt have esbestos in it, around 1988). If you do to the toyota dealership with your vin number, you can find out if your truck has had it done, or is even elegable. Most 1995 trucks/4runners where not included in the recall.

4. For some general tips and stuff.. I would suggest you pick up a set of Aisin manual hubs, they replace the A.D.D hubs you have now. You can unlock them in the summer and that will reduce a TON of wear on your cv-joints.

You might want to change out all your drivetrain fluids, most people forget about them, not good.

What are your plans for this truck? A reliable DD that is a good for weekends in the mountains?

What is your budget?

 

Thank You Sir!

I will do as you have suggested and replace the rusted metal however that project will likely wait until the spring.

Since I haven't been in calgary too long, I will have to do some research before I choose a mechanic to help me. The service at the dealership was very good but I did cringe at their pricing :/

Thanks for the head gasket info, i will run the VIN just incase but its reassuring to know that most '95's weren't affected.

Aisin hubs will be high on my to do list, the truck already needs new cv's and I dont mind hopping out to lock them in. So thanks for that tip! I will get the drivetrain fluid switched when its in getting the brakes, bearings and adjuster sleeves done. By the way.. do the rotors need to be replaced or atleast rotated when they do the brakes?

My plans for this truck will be to first get it in a reliable DD state and then slowly chip away at offroad mods, I haven't set any budget but I am fairly how you say.. frugal My winter spending money has already been allocated to cat skiing and other ski related equipment/activities but come summer I'd like to do it up proper (lockers -> sliders -> tires -> lift as advised). For the time being, I just want it reliable and if possibly improve fuel efficiency.

Keep it coming guys this is solid gold!

 

Well, the rotors shouldnt need to be replaced unless they are warped. If they are warped just a little, you can get them machined down.

The 95's where not usually included in the recall, but people have reported blown headgaskets with them.
But run your VIN and see what comes up.

I am VERY frugle, best advice would be to watch the buy and sell's, you can find great deals on really good parts, thats how I found quite a few parts for my truck.


If you want to improve fuel efficiency there is a few things you can do:

1. do a full tune up
2. o2 sensor ( can be found cheap at www.sparkplugs.com )
3. change fuel filter ( wont help much with mpg, but good for the truck)

As we are in winter now, we are getting the crappy winter gas, so don't expect very good milage till spring(ish)

 

Gas changes according to the season?? Go on!

This whip was empty when i bought it so i put in 60 bucks and filled it up. I got 250k out of that tank. According to my calculations that is just over 12miles/gallon which was pretty shocking. I read in the Runner FAQ that poor mileage is the norm and i know its a 3.0 Litre but camon! I live in 'oil country' and thats still expensive lol

I am no stranger to the buy/sells. I love a good bargain as much as the next guy and since i'm not in a huge rush to be ballin so I think thats a good plan.

Thanks to you, I've now got a yota 'to do' list I can work with.

Cheers!

 

I usually get around 400 km to my 60some odd litre tank. That has reduced to about 360 for now.
They use a winter gas forumula to reduce emissions in the winter, problem is it sacrifices mpg's.. go figure, you get better emissions but have to burn more.

I hear its usually from nov - march ish.

The to do list will never end, trust me
once you start modding your truck - its like a drug - you cant stop!

 

Oh man.. this mileage is killing me.. I think I may have sold my old beater so hopefully I will get some +mileage mods done this weekend.

We have the same engine eh? I would LOVE to get your mileage.. I am closer to 260k / 60L tank and its disturbing.

Yeah i can tell this is going to be an ongoing list already I already have a fairly expensive computer habit.. so much for paying off that student loan early

I took a quick look at your work log and its pretty cool man. Maybe i'll do somethign like that myself when i get down to business.

Cheers,

B