I am looking at buying a 99 4runner Limited, with 143,000 miles, it has a 2" lift with 33" tires, basically I just wanted to ask if people could give me some tips on things to look out for with this particular model and what you all think I should pay. Any help would really be appreciated.

 

Check underneath for rust, if you live somewhere where they salt the roads it could be bad. You dont wanna buy a vehicle with a rotted frame. The main problem with these 4runners was the auto tranny fluid will mix with the coolant inside the radiator, seems like an inevitable problem. If you do buy it, install an aftermarket tranny cooler to fix this problem. search "strawberry milkshake 4runner" to get more info about it. Thats about it for the main problems with these, expect to pay between $6500 to $7500 depending on its condition. Good luck!

 

I appreciate it, it needs paint in some places and the back window needs a new track, the power antenna motor is bad so I would have to replace that, the front seats are torn up but it has seat covers, and the interior has some scratches on the bottom of the dash and in the back from dogs and stuffing gear back there, those are the only things I noticed and a new exhaust tip it is rusted through the TRD Exhaust has been on there since 1999. The car is in Georgia so no big rust worries there, but the guy said it had spent some time in Colorado with the previous owner so I am worried about frame issues, and after the 3 hour drive to go look at it, I didn't even think to check the frame out when I was down there yesterday. I am going to ask him today if there is any rust on the frame and if I do decide to buy it and he accepts my offer I'll have to check out the frame when I get there and if it is rusted I'll just take my money and go home. I was planning on offering no more than 6800 with everything I listed does that sound like a good offer he is asking 7500?

 

Stockwell what model Hayden tranny cooler do you have on yours?

 

If he is offering $7500, I think you should bring $7000 with you, first offer the $6800 and if he refuses it then go with the $7000.

I've got the 1677 model Hayden cooler, you could probably get away with the 1676 model if you don't plan on towing.

 

Thanks man, that sounds like a good idea. Would you recommend the deck plate mod? I don't want to pay his asking price, I've got to put a new antennae motor, get a new track for the back window, and have it regeared.

 

Is it the antenna motor or is it the mast? My 4runner wont roll the antenna up but the motor just goes on and on because the teeth on the mast are stripped, I have thought about just doing the Tacoma whip mod, does the 4runner have the E-locker? I just got a 98 Limited a bit ago with the rear locker and the rest of the limited stuff with 140K for $7000 all stock with some wear on the inside like you are describing.

 

No e locker unfortunately. it's the motor he has it pulled and has the new mast just not the motor, I was thinking about doing the same antennae swap.

 

I am kind of new to 4wd 4runners what is the deal with the e locker?

 

When you are in 4wd, there is actually only power to 2 wheels, one in the front and one in the rear, if you lose traction like in the mud, the tire with the least amount of traction will spin leaving you stuck. With the rear E locker, it locks the rear axle together sending power to both rear wheels so you have better traction

 

Oh, well that kind of sucks then. Not sure if i want it now.

 

You can retrofit one, its not that big of a deal just a big plus if you find one.

 

Yeah, how much would it cost me to do that?

 

Depends on how good of a deal you find on it, or you could always just put in an auto locker which can be had for less than $300.

 

Thanks for all of the help man.

 

95% of 4wd vehicles out there do not have a locking rear end, or any locker of any kind. Unless you really wheel this thing pretty hard, you'll get by ok without one.

And about the deckplate mod, I like it and feel like it helps a little. Its cheap and easy to do, so I would say go for it. Just make sure if you do it, don't be crossing deep water or go through alot of mud with the deckplate open.

 

Thanks for the help, so far I have the track for the back window, deck plate mod, regearing to 488s, new exhaust tip, and touching up the paint, getting it detailed, and fixing the antennnae on my list of things to do if I get it, and then that'll be all I can afford for a little while. I've got to sell my Jeep before i can do that.