Nice to find this place. I've been reading a little bit and this is my first post.

I think I'm about to buy a 95 4runner. It has 196,000 miles.
It needs a new exhaust from the cat back and some rust but otherwise seems great. He listed it for 1150 but said he'd take $800 if I buy it tomorrow which I probably will

My question is that it makes a light ticking noise from the engine. The guy I'm buying it from says it's probably the lifters.

Does that sound right? Does it indicate other problems now or in the near future?

What is involved in fixing or replacing them and is it imperative?


THanks in advance, I'm glad I found this place

 

What engine is it? I'm guessing a 22re(2.4L I4) since you mention the valve ticking, which is normal, and for the most part, okay. It can be adjusted and reduced quite easily. I'm pretty sure the 3vze (3.0L v6) has some ticking sometimes. It seems like a good deal, but for only $800, it sounds like there might be more problems hes not telling you....

 

It's the 3.0L V6 EFI.
1000 bucks is pretty much my limit on a used car right now and I kinda feel that no matter what I get at that price thery'll be something wrong that they tell me about and more wrong that they don't tell me about. I'm just sort of trying to limit my risk if possible.
Is there anything you;d advise me to look for/at?


THanks again

 

Head gasket is a common problems on the 3vze..

 

Take it to a dealership and ask for an opinion on what the noise may be. The hundred bucks you spend on a prepurchase inspection will give you a solid idea of how much you'll be spending in the near future.

 

Two of my friends have those same motors, one is about a 91 4runner and the other is in a 90 pick-up. Both of them make a faint ticking sound and they both think it is the injectors. I do not think that these are motors that are failing because the 3.0 in the 4runner runs like a chap and is super tight. This may be the noise your hearing or not.

As the others said, take it to the dealer or to a mechanic you trust and have it inspected, best thing you can do when looking at a car to buy.