Low(ish) mileage 2002 4Runner Sport - What do you think?

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Sean81

10 Year 15 Year
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Nov 22, 2010
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What do ya'll think of this?

Toyota 4Runner 2002 SR5 4wd

Here is the CARFAX:
CARFAX Vehicle History Report on JT3HN86R720382639

Waiting for more pics. Sellers says $8300 obo. My MAJOR reservation is there are very little service records, only what's in the CARFAX. Balljoints and tierods were done in 2005. She said they did the 90K maintenance, not sure if the water pump was done along with the timing belt. CARFAX says 5 (yea, 5!) owners, even though one was only for 15 days (OK, 4 owners).

She has 105K on it now and only got it at ~90K. It supposedly has little to no rust. Do you think the lack of records should be a deal breaker? I've read the 3rd gen buyer's guide and everything says get records. Its gotta be tough to find these at this age with good records. 4wd is tough to find down here, if I dont get this one I'd probably have to go to Cali to get one...
 
Check for rust and open the oil cap and pull the dipstick for evidence of burnt oil and check radiator and trans for evidence of mixing (strawberry milkshake). IMO those are the most important factors.

My waterpump was starting to seep at 95,000 when I did my timing belt (etc) most seem to last till the 180,000 mile change.
 
I wouldn't be afraid to buy one of these with 105k on it with no records if it was in good shape. We bought our 00 in early 03 with 72k on it. There are no "records" since because I do all the repairs and maintenance on it. 215k now and it runs and drives exactly like when we bought it. It also seems like every case of the milkshake in the radiator I have heard of has been on a 99. I'm still running the original radiator in mine.
 
I do my own maintenance as well, but I keep a log of what I do and save important parts receipts in case I ever want to see one of my trucks.

The mileage doesn't bother me, but I would definitely want some evidence that the timing belt was done. If he/she doesn't have a receipt, find out what shop did the work and call them. It's an expensive service, and hopefully not coincidental that they are unloading the car when this service is due.
 
Thanks for the advice guys. She claims the 90K service was done but if there is no record I'll negotiate at least $500 off the price since that costs $600+.

My main concern was the mileage. I'll make sure the engine isn't sludge'd up and the coolant and transmission fluid look good and are not mixed.

If I get this truck I'm gonna have all the fluids (trans, coolant, diffs, brake, etc) changed. If the radiator is in good repair I'll add a trans cooler to make sure the pink milkshake can never happen. If the radiator needs done I'll just replace that. Hopefully the breaks need done b/c I want to do the tundra upgrade, I had a 98 Runner and I know the breaks aren't amazing.

:cheers:
 
Service records are nice to have for sure. Doesn't mean you pass up one without though.
Check for those things mentioned in Raydoubles buyers guide.

I like to ask owners when things were done if they can recall, when things are due, ever pulled anything, any accidents and so on. It's just like buying used from a car dealership as they usually have nothing for supporting documentation.
I use google earth street view to profile their house/driveway..caught one guy lying about pulling a small utility trailer with his taco when he had a 19ft rv in his driveway when i looked at his address on google, :D

I look at all the fluids I can..too low or high may be a flag, too clean is also a possible flag, too clean an air filter too, any leaks. I run my finger around all door and rear hatch, hood lines to see if everything has consistant clearances... can pick up damage that may never have been shown/caught on a carfax report.

Basically drive it and see if everything works and is firm and tight. The fit and finish and tightness on these runners is very good and if looked after it should still be good after many miles.

I look for the factory air filter and make sure no vacuum hoses are cracked as dirt being sucked in is never good.

My last 3rd gen I bought I just got the local fast lube guys to check the condition of the driveline fluids... the rear diff was dirty and the transmission looked like original fluid. I changed the rear diff and flushed the transmission fluid and that's it for now.

At least a 3.4 Litre is a non interference engine so no great harm if the timing belt breaks anyhow. Different scenario with my 4.7;)

The other bugger is service records may not show you a temporary reset service engine soon light :eek:
 
seriously though just eye everthing up for the same from side to side, how doors open and close, look for overspray in wheel wells and inside gas cap door. The rear hatch lines should be pretty much exactly the same lining up with the tail light assemblies equally on both sides.
These are fit really nice as it is not some old chrysler product.

happy hunting
 
Saw the truck yesterday.

The body and under carriage looked good but the interior was beat to hell, I dont think anyone every got any beverages into their mouths, only on the interior. The interior was in really rough shape. Front CVs look good, engine didn't have any gumming of oil that I could see, trans oil was not thick and pink. Rubber looked OK, all windows worked.

Mechanical issues included:
- Waterpump is squealing loudly and I can see and smell coolant. Overflow reservoir was below the vacuum line. She admitted timing belt has NOT been done
- Weird vibration at 45mph, probably tires, they were worn
- CEL, VSC and TRAC lights all illuminated

I told her I needed to know what the code was causing the light before I could make an offer. If there is coolant left in the radiator how safe of an ASSumption is it that the block was not damaged? Is there a quick way to check? If the CEL is just for an O2 sensor or something I think I could leverage all these issues to get a decent price, maybe $6500.

Thoughts? Is this decent low-mile rig that just needs some basic maintenance and TLC or should I ran as fast as I can???

Appreciate any advice you guys have to offer!
 
CEL is likely the O2 sensor ($130 and 20 min for a tard like me to replace) that also causes the vsc and trac so really not a big deal. Timing belt is no big deal, my first 4 runner was at 140k when i changed it. Non interference so if it breaks it's just an inconvenience, not a new engine. Having said that, go ahead and get it done along with the water pump ($500ish). Then a set of tires off CL for 300 and in interior detail and whammo, nice truck. I've got an 02 sport as well, great truck, enjoy it.
 
Buying from a dealer doesn't guarantee anything other than the fact that any visible issues have been cleaned up and hidden from the prospective buyer. Although the dealer probably would have completed the recommended maintenance.

Like you said, you could have someone pull the CEL code and verify that it is an O2 sensor - that's probably a $300-500 bargaining chip. And you could use the water pump and TB maintenance as more leverage to get the price down $1500 more.

With all those issues she'll have a hard time selling the truck to the average buyer. But if you can get her down a bit maybe it would be worth it to you?
 
For what its worth, We bought a new 4runner in 2002. An SR5 4w4 with auto trans. This by far is the best vehicle I've ever owned. I had the timing belt changed at 80,000 miles along with a new water pump, just because I'm anal about such things. I'm now @ close to 90,000 mi. Took it to the dealer for new front brake pads and radiator hose replacement. The service writer (who has maint. records from day one) said I would be wasting money at this time because it doesn't need it! This truck runs as good now as the day I bought it. We're taking it on a 500 mile trip next week and I have no worries. The interior looks new front and back. I truly do not understand how someone can trash an interior like the one you mentioned, unless they are hauling farm animals in it.
 
Ended up buying the one from Chitown40. Clean truck and it was well maintained. Looks really good for a 9 year old truck. It has 102K so I had the timing belt and water pump done yesterday, didn't need it but I dont want to have to worry about it. I had a 4th gen and it was a great vehicle but I'm stoked to back in a 3rd gen :steer:
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