A few weeks ago I bought a really nice looking, rust free 91 4runner, with the 3.0.and a 5 speed, that the seller was getting rid of because it "ran rough". I fixed a vacuum leak, and it ran awesome, so I drove it about 60 miles to work. As soon as I got close to work, it blew a head gasket.
So I replaced every gasket in the engine, as well as the timing belt, idlers, water pump, drive belts, knock sensor and wire, and drove it around town for 1 day before the distributor pickup went bad. So I replaced the fuel pump, fuel pressure regulator, spark plugs, spark plug wires, distributor cap and rotor, igniter and coil, and finally, the distributor, since none of the first things made it run.
It drove nice for a day, and then I got a code 52, for the knock sensor, so I ordered another one of those and a new wire for it, and before it came, my cooling fan self destructed, taking out the shroud and radiator hoses, and the air box. So I fixed what I could find locally, and ordered a new fan and shroud online, but continued driving the car with only 4 fan blades, and a vibration from it being out of balance. I got 2 days out of that before it flew the rest of the way apart, and took out the new radiator hoses, and the radiator, and the fan bracket, and the timing cover, and ruined my hood.
I wonder what will screw up next? I now have $3500 in my $1500 4runner, and I doubt I could sell it for more than $2k.
For the record, my 4 cylinder jeep has the same mileage (~240k), and has only ever had one alternator fail since 1996. (97 model)
Was the 4runner designed to be scrapped @ 240k no matter how good it looks? I've yet to go an entire week driving this thing without one major failure or another.
I really love driving this car, but I'm fed up, and stuck with this piece of monkey crap until It's either dependable, or some moron offers my money back for it.
What would you guys do? I've put 1600 miles on it in the last month, but I've spent $2 grand fixing it. (Not including brand new tires, because they'll fit my jeep if I need to scrap the 4runner )
Try to explain to me why toyota has this awesome reputation, while most people see jeeps as unreliable, while my experience has been the exact opposite? Just better PR?

 

When they were new they were some great reliable trucks. I cringe when I see someone buy a used truck going for the reliability reputation. I have owned and worked on some nice trucks in the past and age, lack of maintenace, and some previous owners work on them has been an eye opener for me. They are some good trucks but going for 30 years old, myself, I expect to go from bumper to bumper on one of these to get them back into shape.

In one of my build threads, I restored a truck that the owner and a few on here thought was in great shape. The owner of the truck paid good money for this truck and I am not knocking it, as it did look good and was well cared for, but it was loaded with problems. He has since put numerous miles on it without any problems with it. Literally I had to work on every system to get it that dependable.

It wasnt neglect, but rubber, seals, and parts that are 30 years old and 200k miles on it are just going to need work for as old as they are. From my personal opinion, I dont care how nice it is, I would expect to spend $1000 on repairs on any new to me truck.

 

Maybe I'll eventually get it sorted out and get a lot of use out of it. It's just frustrating when everything goes bad all in a one month period. The previous owner had already spent a buttload on this thing replacing all the front end parts, and all the u-joints, and all new brake parts, and a new clutch.
I am hoping I'll run out of worn out junk to replace, but I'm going broke, spending several hundred dollars every week to keep this pile going. I guess I'm married to the stinking thing now.
At least it's pretty!

 

You got to admit you brought part of this on yourself by continuing to drive it with a broken fan blade.

As Terry said above, these trucks are good but they dont last forever. And if maintenance has not been kept up it makes the situation even worse.

I have 280K on my 4runner and drive it all around Texas and the surrounding states with no problems and without thinking twice. But I have kept up with the maintenance and have been proactive on replacing/repairing things that are known problem spots.

 

Yeah, I do admit that the fan blades problems are all my own screw up. I had ordered a new fan, I just preferred driving the yota to work over my jeep because it's quieter and gets better mileage. I actually had the thing coming along really well before that little mishap.
I got the hint, though, and now it will be parked until I get everything completely fixed.
Heck, I might just nut up and ride my motorcycle despite the rain. It's still fun if you get a little wet, haha.

 

Every Toyota 4x4 I bought has needed very much work in parts and my labor

The little amount you spent to me is very minor.

With the cost of new vehicles being far and above what I paid for my shop and the land. I would be glad to drop $10,000 into building a dependable 4x4

Who can say maybe the new vehicle Lust!! caused you to over look some problems I know I have fallen victim to it a few times over the years .

If we did not taunt je*p owners it would be some other brand like the big Ford Chevy thing back in my youth.

You can always quit now cut your losses and buy another je*p and be done.

 

FWIW, I really think I'm getting close to getting this thing nailed down. It hasn't overheated or shut off or anything since I got it running after the distributor, and has a buttload of new parts now, as an ancillary benefit from chasing down problems. I'll get a new radiator, fan, and that front bracket that holds the fan on there, and change out the knock sensor and wire, and I can't see where I'd have anymore issues. I might change the O2 sensor as well, just to head that off.
The trick here will be to just hang on to the truck now, because I'm sure anyone's offer to buy it would just hurt my feelings.
My whole purpose for buying this car was to have something more powerful and comfortable than my jeep to drive to Colorado this summer, and perhaps see the Rubicon trail and some of the famous passes like Black Bear and Imogene.
If I can ever get the thing to be dependable, I'll put a rear locker in it, and I'm debating whether ball joint spacers and some fj80 springs would weaken the front suspension, or if I'd be better off keeping it stock for strength. The 32's look great and don't rub...

 

Any car that is 20 years or more with 200K miles will need some work done to it and it is recommended that you research what you are looking to buy for pros, cons, ect..

When you mentioned you changed the seals, did you do a full rebuild or just replace said seals?

 

Full rebuild on the engine, so the insides should be good for a while. Now I'm just having everything else crap the bed on me.

 

I had to deal with the same things for my 4runner as well. By doing a rebuild on the engine, and keeping up with maintenance you should not need to do anything to it for a long time and you have eliminated about 80% of issues that can occur. I myself, am still replacing little things (PCV valve, tie rods, ect..). Otherwise, once all that is done, it will/is a great car to drive, just hang in there.

 

I'm really hoping it will eventually be dependable and stay that way for a while. I want to do some cross country road trips and even some wheeling in this thing. The 5 speed was the entire reason I picked this yota over several other 4runners in my area, but now I have a guy telling me that his transmission leaked all the oil out and broke in half, haha. I guess I'll start looking for a spare...

 

I find a lot of these trucks still have the original vacuum lines, shocks, gear oil, O2 sensors, and numerous other parts that should of been replaced years ago. Just getting the basic maintenace caught up can be expensive. I figure $100 just doing fluid changes. Each fluid by itself isnt really expensive but when you get all of them at once, it adds up quick.

 

I sill have the original tie rods on . There worn but not gone.

 

My truck got all new fluids when I rebuilt the engine, and the PO had replaced the O2 sensor and all the steering/brake/suspension consumables, although I'd like to replace the rear springs to negate the trademark 4runner butt sag.
I'm hoping I'm getting pretty close to having a good vehicle.

 

People leave unwanted Toyota`s 4x4`s here all the time!!

You a bit far but it will go to a good home!!

You have no idea I was seeing a women with two just house broken kids needed something with a back seat

Broke up with her with the 4Runner half way finished I should have sold it as is. .

I have over $20,000 in my 92 4Runner today was the first issue in quite a while but for normal maintenance.

The Circuit Opening Relay froze!!

 

Mine isn't unwanted just yet, lol. At this juncture I'm just waiting for parts to arrive. I should have it going again pretty quick once my radiator gets here.

 

Welp, it's been a few weeks since I got my 4runner going again this most recent time, and I've been daily driving it, including a weekend trip across the state, and 60+ miles a day of commuting to work and back, without any further problems.
I fixed the rear window yesterday, and I still don't have heat (stopped up), and I still have crappy gas mileage and no power thanks to my code 52, but at least it hasn't left me stranded anywhere, even when we got 10" of snow over the weekend.
I'm gradually collecting parts, such as a trailer hitch and manual hubs, as well as spares of everythingthat has failed since I bought the truck.
I've also tried a few aftermarket knock sensorsto no avail, so now I'mwaiting for my buddy to find me an extra OEM one to try before I spend $250 on a new toyota one.
Anyway, there's my leprosy update. My 4runner is getting better all the time.