DSM Turbos

I am looking at a 95 4runner with a 160k on the clock, auto transmission, what kind of things should I ask the seller about on the car. anything specific problem areas on them? how much longer life should i expect out of a good maintained one? Thanks for the info

FilthyRich

head gasket for sure...

DSM Turbos

i heard something about the 95s headgaskets aren't a problem, it was only before that year. is this true?

ChickenLover

The 95 HG's were definitely a problem. I just went through that ordeal. Are you buying this rig online? If so, I would strongly suggest taking a 2nd gen 4runner for a test drive at a dealer so you can get the feel of it. The 3.0 is slightly underpowered.

bamachem

be very weary of something under the hood known as a 3.0 - sometimes referred to on yotatech as a 3.SLOW.

DSM Turbos

speed isn't a big deal for me, if it acclerates a little slow i can deal with that. i got a almost 600whp eclipse when i want to go fast

this is the specific one i am looking at https://www.yotatech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53541

if the headgasket did go bad, how much in parts are you looking at and how hard is it to do yourself?

ChickenLover

You can do it yourself for around $300-500 depending on what you decide to replace. It's a pretty big job, but doable.

Paul H.

Incorrect, only the early 95's were part of the recall. The mid to later ones were not.

Find out when the timing belt was replaced. Should be replaced every 60k miles. Looks like a very nice 95 though.

ChickenLover

3rd gens were being produced in late 95. From my readings here at YT, it seems they did not work out the HG problem until a few years after this. If the rig is powered by a 3.0, it will have HG issues. End of story.

Paul H.

But remember 3rd gens had the 3.4 different engine, different head gasket. There has been others on this board with 95's who were told by Toyota that theirs did not qualify for the recall.
Plus, any headgasket on any vehicle can blow. This is not limited to 3.slow Toyotas.

ChickenLover

That is what I was getting at. The first couple years of the 3.4 had headgasket issues as well. I believe it was a problem with the material being used to make the gaskets. It has since been corrected. In fact, my 95 did not qualify for the HG campaign. But the HG failed none the less. The problem was not corrected by 95.

93ToyKid

The 3.0 is a great motor. I don't know why so many people complain about it. It was Toyota's first V6, and they did a good job. I mean, look at it's competition when it was designed. It was the stuff. I agree the headgasket is an annoyance, but how many engines do you know will go 250,000 before a rebuild? Basically, the Runner looks like an awesome vehicle. Drive it. If the motor feels and sounds good, then it's probably still got plenty of life left in it. The 3.0 is noisy, so some ticking is perfectly fine. Any other noises, and you may need to look a little closer. Chances are the motor is good judging by the rest of the truck. Just look out for rust, fluid leaks, the normal stuff. Don't be shy just because it has a 3.0. They are a great motor. It has plenty of power to do whatever you want to do. Ask about the hg. If it hasn't ever been done before, chances are you'll be okay. By 160,000, it should have already blown if it was going to. Then again, like someone else said, anything can blow a headgasket. Good luck!

amorphous

i was stuck in the 2nd vs 3rd gen mode when I went looking for my 4r....I opted to spend the extra cash and get a '98...insurance was less, the truck is deemed "safer", the power dif was supa noticable upon my first test drive of a 3rd gen, roomier...there is a laundry list of improvments yota made in the 3rd gen 4r. You may want to consider that if you plan on driving loads or carting yer significants/children around...or care about it costing less to operate. Or just say screw it and buy to wheel! I just took the indirect route to that!

gwhayduke

Chicken isn't quite right. The recall on the 3.0 did not cover all of the '95's. Mine isn't covered under the recall and I've had 224,000 reliable miles. Well, sort of...other things had to be fixed.

Amorphous is right...a 3rd gen is cheaper to insure, the suspension is better, it gets better gas mileage and it's quieter on the highway. But my 2nd gen still feels more solid and has fewer rattles than my '99.

Do what you want, but I don't think I'd get a 2nd gen with that many miles without thinking about the $2-4,000 to overhaul the 3.0 if it goes south...which it has on several guys (including Chicken).