Should I buy this 4runner?

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jtmorr01

jtmorr01

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Nov 8, 2006
Threads
51
Messages
168
Location
Kentucky
1994, 225k miles, 6 cylinder, 4wd, fair condition, been in 2 accidents, but no major damage reported (per carfax).

runs well, but needs tune-up. $1000. thoughts? thanks!
 
Seems fine to me.

Just be aware, that is a prime year and prime milage for head gasket failure. It is a Toyota recall item, so you may want to check with the local dealership and see if it has been done, and if it does happen is it covered. They are great about standing behind it and will even put a new motor in it if they deem it appropriate. Its not the end of the world, just something to be aware of, and maybe prepared for.

Seems like a good deal otherwise if its in decent condition in and out.
 
4rnr said:
Just be aware, that is a prime year and prime milage for head gasket failure. It is a Toyota recall item, so you may want to check with the local dealership and see if it has been done, and if it does happen is it covered. They are great about standing behind it and will even put a new motor in it if they deem it appropriate. Its not the end of the world, just something to be aware of, and maybe prepared for.
Click to expand...

Whoa, be careful there. It's not a "recall", technically it's a SSC, Special Service Campaign, and really involves an extension on the original factory warranty. It's not a safety or emissions issue, so they do have a limit on the coverage. Here's a copy of the notice that I got on my '92:

http://www.yankeetoys.org/KLF/HG_Notice.gif (linked, not posted due to the image size)

It really only goes up to 100,000 miles or 8 years, whichever comes first, so obviously this truck is waaaay over both of those limits. Now, that being said, they did the HG in my '92 with 110,000 miles on it (in '97), but they also covered our '94 back in '03 with 150,000 on it. Still, if I was a dealer and someone came in now with a 15 year old truck with 225,000 miles on it, I would probably tell him tough luck. Who would cover that?

It's worth at least running the VIN thru the computer at a local dealer to see if they've been done. But I wouldn't count on them covering it if they haven't. At this point it's a gamble, you're on your own.
 
KLF said:
Whoa, be careful there. It's not a "recall", technically it's a SSC, Special Service Campaign, and really involves an extension on the original factory warranty. It's not a safety or emissions issue, so they do have a limit on the coverage. Here's a copy of the notice that I got on my '92:

http://www.yankeetoys.org/KLF/HG_Notice.gif (linked, not posted due to the image size)

It really only goes up to 100,000 miles or 8 years, whichever comes first, so obviously this truck is waaaay over both of those limits. Now, that being said, they did the HG in my '92 with 110,000 miles on it (in '97), but they also covered our '94 back in '03 with 150,000 on it. Still, if I was a dealer and someone came in now with a 15 year old truck with 225,000 miles on it, I would probably tell him tough luck. Who would cover that?

It's worth at least running the VIN thru the computer at a local dealer to see if they've been done. But I wouldn't count on them covering it if they haven't. At this point it's a gamble, you're on your own.
Click to expand...

Thanks!

Though I have had 3 3.0's and have put maybe 200,000 miles on 3.0's with barely any maintenance, I have never had a problem with anything let alone the HG's. So I have no first hand experiance with it.

Thanks for clarifying!

But two of my buddies have lost 3.0's to HG failures and in both cases I swapped in a 3.4.
 
sorry for the delayed response guys - thanks for taking the time. i called the guy back to make an offer and it was sold - damn! oh well, next time that same truck becomes available, i have a head start. thanks again!
 
KLF said:
Whoa, be careful there. It's not a "recall", technically it's a SSC, Special Service Campaign, and really involves an extension on the original factory warranty. It's not a safety or emissions issue, so they do have a limit on the coverage. Here's a copy of the notice that I got on my '92:

http://www.yankeetoys.org/KLF/HG_Notice.gif (linked, not posted due to the image size)

It really only goes up to 100,000 miles or 8 years, whichever comes first, so obviously this truck is waaaay over both of those limits. Now, that being said, they did the HG in my '92 with 110,000 miles on it (in '97), but they also covered our '94 back in '03 with 150,000 on it. Still, if I was a dealer and someone came in now with a 15 year old truck with 225,000 miles on it, I would probably tell him tough luck. Who would cover that?

It's worth at least running the VIN thru the computer at a local dealer to see if they've been done. But I wouldn't count on them covering it if they haven't. At this point it's a gamble, you're on your own.
Click to expand...


That's not exactly true either. In 1997 Toyota modified the SSC to indefinite status: "Under the Special Service Campaign Program, the head gaskets will be replaced on all the affected vehicles regardless of leakage or not, and there will not be any age, mileage or time restrictions under the Special Service Campaign." The campaign covered 3vzes from 90-94 and some early 95s. Forget your dealer, they WILL give you grief. First run the VIN through Toyota customer corporate (1-800-331-4331) and if it's eligible start a case file. Then when your local dealership has a heart attack (had my 18 year old 200k truck done in March 2008) you can have your corporate customer service rep handle your cranky local dealership. But they will come around cause eventually you gotta do what brass tells you. :cheers:
 
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