Bought a broken 99 4runner the other day

[ncsugrad2006]

Figured some of you guys might like this one..

Guy had a 99 4runner limited 4wd on craigslist for $4000 the other day--I offered him $2600. He said he couldn't take 2600, but could take $2650, lol. Tough negotiator and all - SOLD.

The shop he had taken it to told him the rod or main bearings were gone as it was making a rattling noise in the bottom end. I figured I'd slap a used motor in it or maybe build the existing one, depending on how bad it looked when I got it out

Here's the truck when I bought it:

Not a bad looking truck



So, I start pulling the motor out..




And behold.. there's your problem! lol





flexplate was cracked right down the middle. quite a few cases of this when these things get over 150K miles on them. i can't believe I was able to get the torque converter bolts out without this thing breaking (and how the HECK did this thing start like this?!?). It fell apart when I went to unscrew the center bolts with a torque wrench.

So, I ordered a new flexplate, rear main seal, torque converter, timing belt and waterpump and put it all back together.. Started it and it ran like crap. Was missing / hesitating real bad, etc. It would almost die when you hit the gas. So, I put new plugs/wires in




Ran good as new afterwards..

Cleaned it up this weekend. Cleaned up pretty good considering the age and 205K miles:




So, for less than $3,600, I can't complain (although I sure was complaining when I was pulling that motor out--geez who designed that thing?)

[Brian Ski]

I think that was common on some chevys... I have fixed those before... It sure as heck does sound like a rod knock. I think the cracking of the flywheel kind of locks on the crank. I am really surprised how the starter still catches...

[ncsugrad2006]

I just hope it was a wear and tear over the years eventually made it crack and not something else like a starter jamming on it or something. That thing was ridiculous to get out. I'd pull the transmission next time if I had to do it again--the bell housing bolts are about all that's hold it in

[undercut]

That is a pretty good looking machine. Exterior seems to be in excellent shape from the pictures. Good find! I think the guys designing them figure they aren't the ones who need to fix them .....

[ncsugrad2006]

That is a pretty good looking machine. Exterior seems to be in excellent shape from the pictures. Good find! I think the guys designing them figure they aren't the ones who need to fix them .....

I think they have smaller hands than me, lol.

Yeah it came out pretty nice considering the age of it and all. Previous owner was cool about it too--he said he would have replaced the motor like the shop said needed to be done so he was glad I got a good deal on it (and he bought a brand new 4runner, so there's that..)

Did I mention this motor was a paint to get out? haha

[Brian Ski]

I just hope it was a wear and tear over the years eventually made it crack and not something else like a starter jamming on it or something.

The metal would flex and fatigue crack... I guess it is a weak design... Not caused by the starter. Sure does look like a nice vehicle... Fun to work on any vehicle here... The rust is amazing. Interesting to see cars from other areas how nice they are. The floor boards in my truck are so bad you can loose a baseball through them.

[DaveO]

I figured I'd slap a used motor in it or maybe build the existing one

Geez, could you at least make it *sound* difficult? You talk about swapping engines like other people talk about getting a beer out of the fridge!

Seriously though, good score on CL, I'm sure you'll get it to 300K with no worries.

[ncsugrad2006]

The metal would flex and fatigue crack... I guess it is a weak design... Not caused by the starter. Sure does look like a nice vehicle... Fun to work on any vehicle here... The rust is amazing. Interesting to see cars from other areas how nice they are. The floor boards in my truck are so bad you can loose a baseball through them.

yeahh I remember toyota had some issues with rusting in some parts of the country.. It looks like this one has spent its life in the south, so it's pretty clean

Geez, could you at least make it *sound* difficult? You talk about swapping engines like other people talk about getting a beer out of the fridge!

Seriously though, good score on CL, I'm sure you'll get it to 300K with no worries.

lol, it took me a solid weekend of work to get that thing out--so it wasn't as easy as I had hoped. If I remember correctly, a Toyota dealership mechanic is supposed to be able to get it out in 3 or 4 hours. I have no idea how the heck anyone could do it that fast, but I guess they have tools I don't..

Took another weekend to get it back in--I think I could do the whole in and out in a weekend now, but it would take some very long days to do it. I'd drop the transmission if I had to do it over again. I just wasn't sure what the problem was so it made more sense to pull the motor at the time

[undercut]

The floor boards in my truck are so bad you can loose a baseball through them.

It's a feature. If your conventional brakes fail, you can put on the Flinstone brakes! LOL

[ncsugrad2006]

It's a feature. If your conventional brakes fail, you can put on the Flinstone brakes! LOL

lol

[undercut]

lol

OK, yeah. Much, much better with the graphic!

[CGCINC]

Now it's time toslap on Craigslist for $5395!!

[undercut]

Now it's time toslap on Craigslist for $5395!!

Hehe, yeah, who knows .... you might be able to sell it back to the original owner for that price!

[ncsugrad2006]

Hehe, yeah, who knows .... you might be able to sell it back to the original owner for that price!

lol, KBB is what, 6500?

I can't decide whether to flip it and make a few grand for a few weekends of work or keep it. I really like it but at 17mpg I'll have to see how much that hurts..

I had a similar thing happen with a 95 civic I bought a year or two ago on Craigslist. paid $500 for it, timing belt was broke. Honda dealership told the previous owner that the valves were bent / motor shot / at least $2K to fix it. It came with a new timing belt--so I said what the heck, might as well put it on and see what happens before I pull the motor out.

Started right up after that and ran perfect (and has to this day)

If I could manage to pull this kind of deal off once a month or so I could about live off of it!

[undercut]

lol, KBB is what, 6500?

I can't decide whether to flip it and make a few grand for a few weekends of work or keep it. I really like it but at 17mpg I'll have to see how much that hurts..

I had a similar thing happen with a 95 civic I bought a year or two ago on Craigslist. paid $500 for it, timing belt was broke. Honda dealership told the previous owner that the valves were bent / motor shot / at least $2K to fix it. It came with a new timing belt--so I said what the heck, might as well put it on and see what happens before I pull the motor out.

Started right up after that and ran perfect (and has to this day)

If I could manage to pull this kind of deal off once a month or so I could about live off of it!

Tough call. From the pictures, it looks like it is in really good condition but if you aren't hauling people, things or a trailer on a regular basis .....

[ncsugrad2006]

Tough call. From the pictures, it looks like it is in really good condition but if you aren't hauling people, things or a trailer on a regular basis .....

Yeah.. the only thing really is the girlfriend has a pair of jet-skis and nothing to haul them with, so there's that. I'll probably hold on to it at least for the summer. I hate selling something right after I get it and not being sure it will be reliable for the next owner, so after I get a few months on it and don't need it for jet skis I may get rid of it

[sw2x]

Owned a 2002 4Runner Limited for almost 10 years. All I ever did to it was change belts, fluids, brakes, and tires. Best vehicle I've ever owned. I put 326k miles on it, before it was stolen. Gas mileage did suck, but I had another 4cyl car when money was tight. Enjoy it. I may buy another 96-02 4runner in the near future.