I'm going to checkout a 1991 4Runner for possible purchase, but am not very familiar with what to look for. Here are the specs:

1991 4Runner SR5 V6 4x4 automatic transmission
-140,000 miles
-New timing belt, hoses, belts & head gasket replaced by Toyota in 2002
-New battery, tires, A/C condenser, idler arm


Can anyone give me a check list with items that I should look for?


Thanks!

 

Run a Carfax on it

Do you have access to the maintenance records?

Has the tranny been FLUSHED, ever?

Look at the windsheild washer reservior fluid level (I know this sounds funny, but its a very good indication of the sellers attention to detail and maintenance)

Spend the $50-100 and have a used vehicle check performed-that includes a compression test

Pull a plug and look at it for discoloration, etc

Check under the carpet by the dash for moisture, especially in the coolant variety

Be very, very skeptical of a vehicle with that kind of mileage. It should be a gem (well maintained) or you will have nothing but problems the rest of its life

Keep us posted!

 

Sounds like 96 covered it.
Good to hear the timing belt & head gaskets were done.

I have a '91 that I picked up with 132K on it in October of '98, and it runs like a new rig.

Only major thing I have had to have done to it was have the fuel injectors pulled and cleaned, new rotors and pads up front, and the rear electric window motor replaced.

Typical general maintenance type stuff.
Take care of a Toy, and it will last you a long time.

You don't have your location in your profile, but if you are near the snow bets, check underneath for rust.

Rust where I live is almost unheard of here.
My rig is rust free.

Let us know if you end up getting it.

PS, man, I forgot to spell check this earlier
Just now getting to it, as I saw lots of errors.

 

One more piece of info I have about this 4R is that the rear antilock brake light is on. Can this be caused by a dirty sensor?

Also, can anyone recommend a good 4Runner mechanic in the Northern VA/MD/DC area that can do a pre-purchase inspection so I know if its worth buying?

Thanks again!

 

That would be a flag if I was looking at it. Not to get it that is.

A number of things can set that sensor off from leaving the e-brake on to ABS relay failure.

 

Frame rot on the inner side of the frame rails about a foor forward of the rear bumper..

Don't be to worried about the ABS light.. it is almopst 100% the rear sensor at the diff and not worth fixing.. pull the bulb out it is an expensive repair $$

Rot on the rear door inner seams.

Get a flashlight and look between the frame and gas tank to see signs of brake line/gas line seepage or heavy corroision (not a major $$ repair though..

good luck..

 

when i bought mine i moved it onto pavement and turned it on while my father-in-law and i looked over it...it ran for over 45 minutes and we noticed that a little bit of oil was leaking......just a drop really but my swindling father-in-law played it up and we got the guy to drop the price even more.......

you should have checked the cv boots......mine blew almost right after i bought it (although i didn't even know what they were back then ( 3 months ago....) although i am pretty sure that the bastards at sears cut the boots on one side since one side was blown and the other had just a little knife slice in it........

 

What do you guys pay for the early 90s 4 runners in good condition with all the major stuff already repaired, great body and paint and interior? Mine is in great condition now , but Im getting that 3rd Gen fever. Are nada guides or edmunds prices on the spot or can I do better? I live in the south so theres no rust on it. Just looking for some ideas so I can make up my mind if I want to even try to go the 3rd gen route right now.

 

I think the best thing to do is to search for the same vehicle within a 200mi radius of your house. See how much those are going for, and then price yours accordingly.

Demographics has a pretty big part in the selling price, that's for sure.

On the less expensive vehicles that I have sold, I found parking it on the side of the road in a busy place to be the best method. For more expensive vehicles, the Auto Trader online was the way to go.

 

i payed 5800 for 3.0 V6 3vze 92 4x4 4runner......it was all stock excecpt for ......waag brush bar and rear light guards.....12 disc changer

it had a 108,000 miles...all power...no sun roof...factory roof rack....towing package...31x10.5" tires with only about 10% of tread left....no rust....few minor scratches (surface only)

Kelley blue book was about 6500 for private party

i live outside atlanta...hope that helps

 

I paid $4900 for my '89 runner 2 years ago. It had 98K miles and needed new cv boots.

 

Corey, we should start a '91 club. I've had mine for over a decade with only a few repairs. The thing runs better today than when I bought it.

Check to make sure the motor has had the head gasket repair. They recalled that part because of high failure rate and a tendency to lead to overheating. So be real careful and inspect the engine for damage related to overheating.

Rust: I had this problem a few years back, older toyotas are famous for developing rust above the rear wheel wells. The pickups were more known for this but some of the 4Runners suffered this design flaw as well. My body shop mechanic said that the seals in that area of the vehicle allow water and mud to get trapped in there. I had to remove my fender flares to see the rust but sure enough it was there. Thanks to the young lady who smashed her ford ranger into my tailgate, I was able to write of the cost of rust repairs along with the new tailgate.

Also, check the CV boots, gas mileage (anything less than 240 miles to a tank is not good), transmission, front brakes, and the alignment.

Also make sure the rear window works well, mine is starting to slow down on cold days. The track and other parts are in good shape but the motor is getting old.

Best of Luck.

Travis

 

Thanks for you help people... I ended up buying the 4R... it was in very good condition considering its age. Its got a couple of small leaks that need to get fixed, like inner CV boot and power steering pump. One thing I noticed is that the tires on it are 225/75/15, shouldn't the V6 4x4 have 31x10.5/15?

 

When I bought mine this past year, it came with 225s as well. I replaced those 2 months later with BFG A/T 31x10.5x15. The 31s were an option with the 2nd gens, however the 225s were standard.