Toyota 4runner

Does anyone know much about this vehicle? A used car dealer client took a '96 on trade. Dirty but generally in good shape. One noisy lifter but all the dash lights are off. All the options but leather. 126k mileage. At the price he has offered it to me, I cannot get hurt except the price to tow it to the salvage yard but I need more information on the truck and some of the necessary repairs.
General tendacies etc is really what I am looking for. Thanks.

It a 4runner! They are great cars. I had a 1988 4runner (its still in the family) and I sold my 2002 tacoma with 216,000 miles a few months ago. Toyota can build a truck. My tacoma never had a single dealer visit in 216,XXX miles and a guy bought it for $4,200. Now if it is a 3.4 it will be E36 M3 for towing but you did not ask that. It will tow and last doing it. But you will be going very slow at the top of the hills. I think the early 3.4s had a head gasket recall but that would have been fixed by now (now sure what years) any way. The MPG will not be great for a truck that tows like E36 M3 but it should last for ever. Good luck.

Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig Brakes!

It'll run forever if the body doesn't rust away. Based on this statement

fastmiata wrote: At the price he has offered it to me, I cannot get hurt except the price to tow it to the salvage yard

I drove one at the Winter driving school, and loved it. Didn't like the snowbank much, but that was somebody else's mistake.

I forget... was the 96 a 2nd gen (drop tail gate) or 3rd gen (full rear lift hatch)?

The 2nd gen was basically a pick-up with a 4 dr body and coil rear springs (that are prone to sagging). VERY prone to rust over the rear wheels). The pick-ups have frame rust issues, so these might have the same problem.

I know less about the 3rd gen other than that while still based on the truck (now called the Tacoma), the differences were starting to get greater. Seem to be less rust-prone as well.

Mine is an 08, so I don't think I'll be much help. But I've known many people with older 4Runners, and aside from fender rust issues on the real old ones, they are rock-solid.

ANd yeah, the brakes on 4Runners are seriously the best brakes on any SUV, ever. Nice big 4-pots that clamp like a mofo....

I'd venture to say that our 4Runner stops harder with stock pads than my WRX does with some brake upgrades :)

Ian F wrote: I forget... was the 96 a 2nd gen (drop tail gate) or 3rd gen (full rear lift hatch)? The 2nd gen was basically a pick-up with a 4 dr body and coil rear springs (that are prone to sagging). VERY prone to rust over the rear wheels). The pick-ups have frame rust issues, so these might have the same problem. I know less about the 3rd gen other than that while still based on the truck (now called the Tacoma), the differences were starting to get greater. Seem to be less rust-prone as well.

96 is the first year for the 3rd gen. Comes with the excellent 3.4, not the less-than-desirable 3.slow

Back when we were racing Toyotas, we had an I think '98 model with a prototype supercharger and V6. I drove it pretty much all over the US and it was awesome for a SUV. I think the steering rack at the time was the same one in my MR2 Turbo, at least it felt exactly the same, except you knew big wheels and tires were hanging out there on the end.

I gave a brief thought about buying it and regretted not doing so.

V6 or 4? The V6 is the 3.4, and is a very good engine. The 4 is simply weak for the amount if vehicle it's trying to move.

Overall, the 4Runner is the same as the T100. Both are very solid reliable vehicles. Figure about 15-17 mpg with the 4runner.

Very driveable, quite comfortable, able to tow well, handles reasonably well for an SUV.

Get it, and boost it. If it's the V6, that motor will hold an INSANE amount of power before it pops. You want a 500whp 4Runner? Make it so.

I thought the 96 was still the 3.0 that was prone to blowing head gaskets.

I have a 99 2WD and like it a lot. most comfortable leather seats ever. Mileage isn't great (20mpg). I have towed a Spitfire on a Uhaul trailer on July 4 (hot) with it and had no problems.

For those who think the brakes are great...they are prone to warping from overuse. I put Brembo rotors on mine and so far so good. The hot setup is a Tundra retro fit.

Some folks have had driveshaft imbalance issues. I've had a shimmy for years that I am too lazy and cheap to chase down. Its either the tires or driveshaft.

But a coworker is on his second 4wd and they are very capable. We have a client haul us up mountians to visit tower sites and it so impressed him he went out and bought his first. He has put 300k on the first and it was suing oil when he sold it. He has 200+ on the second and still driving it. He had the head gaskets fixed on the first under extended warranty. He also put a third member in his first one and pinion bearing in the second so the rear diffs may have some issues. Right now its leaking oil from both valve covers.

96 is the third gen vehicle. I was surprised to see how many parts were available on internet. I ordered carpet and seat kit last nite plus have brake rotors and pads on their way.
The body is solid; no obvious rust but it has spent its entire life in east tennessee so I dont expect much. The "od" light is on and it has a lifter ticking. Otherwise a solid vehicle. It made its first trip to the dump(convenience center) this morning.

Push the button on the end of the shift lever and see if the OD light goes out.

Button on shifter has no effect on "OD" but it does cycle through the OD when you drive. Spent a few hrs on Sat trying to clean the interior. I dont think that it was ever cleaned in its life. A bucket of warm water and diluted Simple Green helped cut thru the worst of it. Average tire pressure was 10lbs! Still when I got done it ran good and was presentable from 20ft. I think that I am going to paint the hood and top with flat black to cover the bad clear coat areas.