I have 90K on my 1997 SR5 and was curious what you guys think about the life span is on the 3 gen 4runners. I just put a new tranny in it and was strating to wonder if I should dump it before it starts nickle and diming me.

What do yo guys think. Is there many more great miles left in this machine.

Thanks in adavance

 

I bought my 95 with 96,000 on it. I never really had any problems until about 70,000 past that (175,000). The only reason now is because I did not do the oil myself and I think it got switchewd out poorly a couple times. I know for a fact they used different oil then what I asked for!

 

fly,

properly maintained, you could easily last towards 300k. check out our maintenance forum and go to the 'maintenance engine' and see what kind of service items you need to do.

bob

 

90K is a baby!

if its been well maintained, had regular service and oil changed at 3 to 5k mile intervals, it should last well into the 200K range.

 

My 97Runner has 178..err 179k miles now. Runs great!

 

Just like everybody else, keep it maintained well and you're golden! I've got 135k on mine.

 

I'm expecting nothing less than 200,000 - 250,000 miles (which is only about 10 years for me) from my '00 before I even THINK about replacing it...

 

How long will your Toyota last....hmmm how does forever sound to you.

My first car

1981 Toyota Corona 326,000 miles on that...still runs, and power sunroof has never been replaced or not worked.

2nd Car
1991 Toyota Pickup 2wd 253,000 runs like a champ

3rd Car
1991 Toyota Pkcup 4wd, had 190,000 miles on it when i totaled it...but it ran like a champ.

As my local Toyota mechanic tells me...what do you think about the engine life on Toyota's. His response "bullet proof."

 

check it out.....do a compression test and I dunno if an oil analysis will tell you anything about how things are wearing but if it does then get that done....what happen to the transmission?

 

Yeah, I'm wondering that too, why did you put in a new tranny?

Oh, I've got 125k on mine. No major hiccups, only the usual starter contacts and a mishap with my timing belt. Still strong as the day I got it. Well stronger with all the goodies.

 

Damn new tranny already? Toy trans are supposed to be bullet proof...

The next problem you'll probably see if you havent already is a rear axle seal problem...seems to be unavoidable for MANY of us. Other than that, you should be good to go for 200K other than normal wear and tear like starter, battery, brake pads etc.

 

Almost 200K on my baby.

Barely broken in

 

The reason for the rebuilt tranny is it went out at 89,500 miles. I tow a very small light boat about 5 miles to go fishing in the spring time. I couldn't belive it either. I am anal about maintance and this time I had a them put a cooler on it. The truck wouldn't shift into reverse right away it would take a while to engauge. I took it into the shop and there was a ton of metal in the pan and the bands inside the unit were shot. Anyway I thought they were bullet proof as well and now I am second guessing this unit.

 

Another one in the pile... My 96 has 128k on it and I figure has at least another 100k to go. That includes it's first 4 years livcing in the living in the salt and snow of Chicago.

 

my friend's dad had a 96 limited and sold his at 175K.

 

Sounds like your fluid was bad or not at the right level... Towing a light boat with a 3rd gen won't hurt it (they will pull up to 5,000 lbs and I have personally pulled 4,000 without any issues). The only Toyota I have ever replaced a tranny on was my 00 Tundra, and that was because I flat out, completely abused the thing and managed to suck mud in past the pressure seal. I have the clutch plates that welded themselves together hanging in my garage as a reminder of how stupid that was.

My first car was a Toyota Camry V6 (5spd, kinda rare, and quick!) which I sold at 146k miles. The guy who bought it commented on how it ran great. Next car was a pathfinder. Big mistake. Then the Tundra, which I sold due to unemployment (plus it was a lease, and there was no way I wanted to keep it after the ˟˟˟˟ I did to it)... Somewhere in there I owned a 74 FJ40 land cruiser and wish I still had it, ran like new. And now I have my 97 4Runner with (as of this week) 102k on the clock. I recently did the seafoam intake cleaner and Amsoil engine flush to it and switched to synthetic in the motor, and it literally runs like it just came off the showroom floor. Some new shocks (mine are worn plus this rig has done a lot of towing), adjust the brakes a bit, and drop some new synthetic fluid in the rest of it, and I see no reason why this one won't go until 300k.

The thing about Toyotas - maintain them, and they will live forever. There is a reason that 30-40 year old LC's are still driving around on the original non-rebuilt motors, with no ill effects. Toyotas are hard to kill - nearly impossible - so long as you keep them healthy.

About the only reason I might sell my 4runner will be to get a 98-99 or so Land Cruiser, since I want the V8 and more space (I race motorcycles, and towing long distances with a big brick of a trailer at Denver altitude leaves you wanting for a little more 'oomph').

I'm sorry you blew the tranny, but take care of the rest of it and you're not gonna have problems.

 

i beat the crap out of my truck daily.. the odo is broken and with the mileage i put on it, suspect i have at least 200k on it..... i have had t odo an engine swap. but thats what you get for racing a trans am leaving the truck in first while doing 50 mph! for about half a mile, i ended up throwing a rod, it didnt leave the block or crack it, but was definately broken.... so i swapped it out and the engine it has now, no idea on actual mileage, runs great... it leaks a little oil and i cant figure out hwere its coming from, but it doesnt seem to use any up, and it isnt contaminated with fuel either so i dont know what it could be, it leaks about 10 drops a day......

 

2001 Tacoma... V-6 5Spd 96,000 and counting...

 

Well, I wasn't going to do this, but I can't help myself...

'81 Celica - sold with 176,000 miles

'88 Camry - sold with 215,000 miles

'90 4Runner - sold with 205,000 miles (still going, 250,000+)

Those are my Toyotas. No sense mentioning the 4 GM pieces of garbage... And note that I said "sold" and not traded.

OH, WHAT A FEELING!!!

 

I buy and sell 4Runners on the side, and well, when I was selling a 00 that I landed on, a lady called me with 97 3rd gen with 278K and the original clutch.

81K on my 96 so far...