Got a New (previously loved) 4Runner - got questions

[45Kevin]

So I came across what I thought was a good deal and went for it. I have been contemplating selling my diesel suburban and downsizing. I plan to drive the runner for a few months and see if I like it.

The truck is a '94 SR5-V6 with 5-speed. I am the second owner and it came with a file of repair/maintenance receipts. It also came with a few goodies (see pics). It has 215K KM's (130K miles).

I was told by the PO that it needs ball joints and while I was under the truck inspecting the front end I noticed that the axles turned with the wheels. Is this normal with the automatic hubs? Or are the hubs always locked in?

It has the normal rust and I will look into getting new sheet metal to do repairs.

I welcome comments, sensible or not.

.

 

[KLF]

Congrats and welcome to the forum. Lots of folks here to answer your questions, fire away. Truck looks nice, too bad about that stain in the back carpet.

You are correct that the front CV shafts do turn 100% of the time. This is the factory ADD system they put on those trucks, a poor excuse of a solution to keep you from having to get out and manually engage the front hubs. You have drive plates under the plastic center caps that keep the CV shafts locked to the wheels, they can't be disengaged. I highly recommend you get yourself a set of used AISIN manual hubs, take off the drive plates and install the manual hubs. Throw the drive plates into the trash.

 

[45Kevin]

Does the ADD system contribute much towards the poor gas milage these V6's get?

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

Maybe 1-ish MPG, but the 3.0 isn't the most efficient engine out there. If the engine is running strong and you drive it nicely I bet you could see 18-20 depending on how hilly it is up there. Any paperwork on replacing the headgaskets? They are the Achilles heel of these trucks.

 

[45Kevin]

Don't know about the head gasket. I'll ask the PO, but if it was a recall or warranty he would have had it done. He seemed pretty meticulous about the truck. You know, the tear in the eye as he sold his friend for the past 15 years. What mileage do the HG's usually start to go?

Did you notice the ski rack box in the first pic? It is a genuine Toyota Accessory Ski Rack that is practically new.

Are you jealous?

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

These head gaskets are usually good for at lease 150k miles, and many go farther before failing. Yes there was a recall on all V6's mid year '90 to '95.

If I skied they yes I'd be jealous!

I know the tear in the eye feeling, I don't think I could handle getting rid of my 4Runner....

 

[Cube Dweller]

Maybe 1-ish MPG, but the 3.0 isn't the most efficient engine out there. If the engine is running strong and you drive it nicely I bet you could see 18-20 depending on how hilly it is up there. Any paperwork on replacing the headgaskets? They are the Achilles heel of these trucks.

18-20 km per gallon maybe. My neighbor has a 95 and they are getting 13-14, well maintained, light foot, blah blah blah. I gave him my old hubs/disconnects a couple weeks ago to lose the drive flanges. No mileage update yet.

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

I owned a 90 V6 auto that was running on 5 cylinders (burnt valve), and regularly got 16, so it can be better than that...