hdizzle

I'm going to go look at a 4runner in a few hours, one owner vehicle, 5 spd, 3.4L, 1998 SR5. I pulled the CarFax on it and it looks like all the maintenance has been done at Toyota (as owner has told me). Here are the service records. The main thing of concern is the driveability check, camshaft replacement at 90k, and wiring harness repair at 105k? Seems like it either has a few more problems than normal, or else a really anal owner?

If anyone has any advice on the matter, please comment!

05/28/2003 65,516 Toyota of Bellevue
Bellevue, WA
425-455-9500
www.toyotaofbellevue.com
ww.toyotaofbellevue
.com Vehicle serviced
Antenna replaced
Manufacturer's recommended maintenance performed
Clutch checked
Clutch assembly replaced

08/15/2003 68,851 Toyota of Bellevue
Bellevue, WA
425-455-9500
www.toyotaofbellevue.com
ww.toyotaofbellevue
.com Vehicle serviced
Fuel filter replaced
Power steering fluid flushed/changed
Emissions system serviced
Tune-up performed
Fuel system checked
Brake fluid flushed/changed
Manufacturer's recommended maintenance performed
Fuel injector flushed/serviced

12/22/2003 Washington
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Redmond, WA
Title #0129545613 Title or registration issued

07/26/2004 83,025 Toyota of Bellevue
Bellevue, WA
425-455-9500
www.toyotaofbellevue.com
ww.toyotaofbellevue
.com Vehicle serviced
Power steering fluid flushed/changed
Brake fluid flushed/changed
Radio/sound system checked
Manufacturer's recommended maintenance performed
Clutch fluid flushed/changed

12/21/2004 88,759 Washington
Inspection Station
Redmond, WA Passed emissions inspection

12/22/2004 Washington
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Redmond, WA
Title #0129545613 Registration issued or renewed
Title or registration issued
Vehicle color noted as Red

01/17/2005 89,784 Toyota of Bellevue
Bellevue, WA
425-455-9500
www.toyotaofbellevue.com
ww.toyotaofbellevue
.com Vehicle serviced
Manufacturer's recommended maintenance performed
Power steering fluid flushed/changed
Water pump replaced
Timing belt replaced
Front crankshaft oil seal replaced
Camshaft replaced
Thermostat replaced
Front shock absorber replaced
Rear shock absorbers replaced
Camshaft seal replaced

04/25/2005 94,979 Toyota of Bellevue
Bellevue, WA
425-455-9500
www.toyotaofbellevue.com
ww.toyotaofbellevue
.com Vehicle serviced
Manufacturer's recommended maintenance performed

09/16/2005 103,048 Toyota of Bellevue
Bellevue, WA
425-455-9500
www.toyotaofbellevue.com
ww.toyotaofbellevue
.com Vehicle serviced
Manufacturer's recommended maintenance performed

11/04/2005 105,412 Toyota of Bellevue
Bellevue, WA
425-455-9500
www.toyotaofbellevue.com
ww.toyotaofbellevue
.com Vehicle serviced
Radio/sound system checked
Manufacturer's recommended maintenance performed
Cup holder replaced
Battery/charging system/starter checked
Electrical system checked
Battery replaced

12/12/2005 Washington
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Redmond, WA
Title #0129545613 Registration issued or renewed
Vehicle color noted as Red

12/13/2005 107,499 Toyota of Bellevue
Bellevue, WA
425-455-9500
www.toyotaofbellevue.com
ww.toyotaofbellevue
.com Vehicle serviced
Electrical system checked
Engine wiring harness repaired

02/21/2006 111,875 Toyota of Bellevue
Bellevue, WA
425-455-9500
www.toyotaofbellevue.com
ww.toyotaofbellevue
.com Vehicle serviced
Manufacturer's recommended maintenance performed
Clutch checked
Battery/charging system/starter checked
Drivability/performance checked

10/28/2006 124,977 Toyota of Bellevue
Bellevue, WA
425-455-9500
www.toyotaofbellevue.com
ww.toyotaofbellevue
.com Vehicle serviced
Manufacturer's recommended maintenance performed
Electrical system checked
Drive belts checked
Drive belt(s) replaced

12/30/2006 127,332 Washington
Inspection Station
Bellevue, WA Passed emissions inspection

01/02/2007 Washington
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Redmond, WA
Title #0129545613 Registration issued or renewed
Vehicle color noted as Red

06/28/2007 135,045 Toyota of Bellevue
Bellevue, WA
425-455-9500
www.toyotaofbellevue.com
ww.toyotaofbellevue
.com Vehicle serviced
Manufacturer's recommended maintenance performed
Drivability/performance checked
Electrical system checked
A/C and heating system checked
Clutch checked

12/20/2007 Washington
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Kirkland, WA Registration updated when owner moved
the vehicle to a new location

12/28/2007 Washington
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Kirkland, WA
Title #0129545613 Registration issued or renewed
Vehicle color noted as Red

01/04/2008 144,661 Toyota of Bellevue
Bellevue, WA
425-455-9500
www.toyotaofbellevue.com
ww.toyotaofbellevue
.com Vehicle serviced
Manufacturer's recommended maintenance performed
Electrical system checked
Parts ordered

alotawatts

What about the first five years ? Regular Oil and Coolant changes ?
Take your time buying

stormin94

Stuff happens sometimes. They may have had problems with the wiring harness. All cars are different. Car Fax is only as accurate as the records reported to it, and many many times accidents go unreported, so keep that in mind.

hdizzle

Thanks for the input stormin94 and alotawatts - and sorry for the bad thread title, I should have taken a minute to write something more clear.

I ended up buying the truck, as I was able to get the owner down to $4700 for it, which is pretty good for around the PNW. He doesn't remember the camshaft ever being replaced and he thinks it was a misprint on the records. I can't say for certain on that one, but everything else he told me about the truck I was able to verify independently, so I'm willing to take his word on the camshaft (not that it would have necessarily mattered too much, the more I think about it, since it was done by a dealer and all).

Truck ran good, has had regular oil changes with Castrol synthetic blend at the Toyota dealer and was mostly so cheap because the interior was kind of nasty (kid central). I'm putting a bunch of hours into detailing this weekend to remedy that problem.

bigtrucknwheels

Car Fax is that detailed?

Really?

Fink

That's a good price for that 4Runner.

One thing I always recommed is to call the Toyota dealership that the car had been "serviced at" and ask them about it.

If it had indeed been serviced there they will know about it or can at least find out.

I know if somebody called up to my dealership and asked about my trucks - they would all laugh and say they had nothing to worry about.

I'm glad you got it and it's working out.

Fink

hdizzle

I was surprised as well. It's been a while since I'd ran one on a car. It looks like some dealers are now submitting basic service records to them.

Fink

After November 1st it will be required that all Dealers report any maintenance, from a new valve stem to a complete rebuild.

Our dealership is required to report the maintenance we do but I don't know if that is mandated by our umbrella corp. (Germain Motor Co.) or by GST (Gulf States Toyota).

Fink

DailyDrive

It's a contract between a shop/dealership chain/corporate/...

Now cars will have a "criminal record" in a sense, that is sometimes not accurate, and difficult to change.

Can't hide anything these days!

Buyer: Ohh I see you replaced oil every 3500 miles? No thanks! I've seen one with 2500 mile oil changes for same price.

stormin94

That's a great price for that 4Runner, esp one with a 5 speed. 18 months ago, you'd be lucky to find one with a salvage title, and no records for $5500.

bigtrucknwheels

+1

hey stormin, ever do your inverter mod?

stormin94

Not just yet. The weather has been too nice, and I've been outside, enjoying it. I plan on getting back to work on it this Winter, or in the next few months. I'll keep everyone posted when I do. Expect a build thread.

bigtrucknwheels

lemme know if you need any more help on the wire sizing!

stormin94

If I remember right, the general consensus seemed to be 4 gauge?

hdizzle

Thanks, I feel like it was a good deal, but I may have understated how bad the interior was. Between my wife and I we have about 10 hours of interior cleaning into it so far. Things are finally nice and clean inside, but it took a lot of work, including removing passenger and driver seats and using about a bottle of carpet cleaner. Found a lovely spot of dog vomit (wtf?) hiding under the rear seats that was especially lovely to clean out.


Now I'm trying to make the interior not smell like carpet cleaner, but it has been a bit of a battle so far. It's amazing to me how a truck that is so clean on the outside (asides from the normal dings you would expect) and especially underneath (looks like it has never seen off-pavement use) can be so nasty inside. I think the owner was totally oblivious, because his house was pretty messy as well.

When we were bargaining I told him the interior was pretty rough and he acted shocked that I would say such a thing, after that he kept pointing out that the seats weren't torn...I mean, there's a little more to it than that.

I've only found two or three mechanical issues so far. It pulls a bit to the right with a very slight shudder above 70 and 1st gear is hard to get into at times, going from 2nd to 1st makes it a bit easier which makes me think the synchros on 1st are tired. I'm going to change out the MT fluid for MT90 this weekend if I can get the MT90 in time (hard to find around here, the one place I know that has it is sold out), and hope that fixes it some. Also looks like the clutch pedal bushings are shot as well, as the pedal isn't making the full rebound. I went to ACE this weekend but the one in my neighborhood doesn't carry the #70 spring.

So, basically, only got detailing done this weekend as I was shut down on all other items.