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Spontaneously bought a dirt cheap 4th gen, did I do ok?

Discussion in '4th Gen 4Runners (2003-2009)' started by artfil91, Nov 21, 2022.

  1. Nov 21, 2022 at 7:08 PM
    #1
    artfil91

    artfil91 [OP] New Member

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    Arthur
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    Hi guys, so I stumbled across facebook marketplace listing for a 4Runner 2-3 days ago for only $2000. I wasn't actively searching for another car but for the price, I had to at least check it out!

    I showed up, negotiated the price down to $1800 and bought it on the spot, thinking it would make a great beater to offroad and haul/tow stuff with.

    It's a 2003 SR5 V6 4x4 with 244k miles but it runs/shifts beautifully with the only dash warnings being for VSC/traction (they turn on the moment it starts rolling). Literally everything on the body works, windows, electronics, sunroof, 4x4, etc. The tires, brakes, and cat-back exhaust look fairly fresh too as a bonus.

    The biggest issues are rusted/leaking transmission cooler lines (in the process of replacing now) and the frame DOES have some rot (lived in CT its whole life).

    Fortunately the frame rot is primarily isolated to the front passenger side frame rail where it meets the bumper, the rear driver side frame rail where it meets the trailer hitch, and 1 or 2 small holes on the mid section. All the bad parts look pretty accessible/repairable.

    I have an appointment to register it next week and soon after I plan to get some repair quotes for the frame. Maybe I'll try welding it myself, we'll see.

    Do you think I did okay for $1,800?

    316420794_10228940759568959_816113160273_1b89c14c5a8be4ce133bed4bba4697b19b491624.jpg

    316541722_10228940759368954_558874609782_09bb9590078e5ce7f82eabdd3361af2f9d18423e.jpg
     
    Junya, mrmike7189, ToyoTaco25 and 2 others like this.
  2. Nov 21, 2022 at 7:13 PM
    #2
    PC836

    PC836 New Member

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    I think you scored! I would of bought it for that price too.
     
    mrmike7189 likes this.
  3. Nov 21, 2022 at 9:01 PM
    #3
    TrueTexas

    TrueTexas New Member

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    Look into the brake light switch to fix the vsc and trac lights coming on when it starts moving. There was an extended warranty campaign several years ago for this. May or may not be an issue but it fixed it for me back when I had an 06 v8 sr5
     
  4. Nov 21, 2022 at 10:27 PM
    #4
    TX4runner21

    TX4runner21 New Member

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    B-Rod
    Dallas, Texas
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    Fox Suspension, LFD Rack, Magnaflow Muffler
    Any pics of the frame?
     
    MI-FL off roader likes this.
  5. Nov 22, 2022 at 3:49 AM
    #5
    doc4216

    doc4216 New Member

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    The Land of Cle
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    Dasaíta HU, Bilstein 5100s, AT Tires, Coveted grill lights
    Wow!! Great find
     
  6. Nov 22, 2022 at 4:20 AM
    #6
    Ironguy

    Ironguy New Member

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    New pine scent hanger, new sun shade
    Welcome!
     
  7. Nov 22, 2022 at 4:43 AM
    #7
    artfil91

    artfil91 [OP] New Member

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    I'll try to share a few tonight after work.

    Thanks for the great feedback guys! I'm really excited to get this thing registered and driving. Lots of people are telling me the VSC/TRAC lights can be fixed with some "zero point calibration," I'll have to look into that some more.
     
  8. Nov 22, 2022 at 5:04 AM
    #8
    ChessGuy

    ChessGuy New Member

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    Too many..... Performance: • Magnusum Supercharger • Gibson exhaust with dual black tip • Pedal Commander * PowerBrakes • Suspension – Old Man Emu BP-51 front and back with Medium load coils • Tires: AT3 Faulken Wildpeak – 285/70/17 • Wheels: Relations Race Wheels, RR7-H with -12 offset • Full roof rack and ladder by Westcott Design (removed the stock Yakima basket) • Molle storage panels by Rago fabrication • Front light brackets by Rago • Illuminator light bracket by Rago (roof rack location) Lights • Morimoto front and back with sequential signals • Morimoto fog lights and side mirrors with sequential signals • 40” Baja design light bar for roof rack • 20” S8 Baja design driving combo (winch location) • Squadron sport baja design ditch lights • S2 Chase lights by baja designs (mounted on roof) In the bay: • Odyssey 34-PC Battery • SDQH Aluminum billet battery terminals and bracket • Switch Pro 9100 with aluminum tray • Anytime front and back camera • ARB twin compressor Recovery & Protection: • Smittybilt X20 synthetic rope winch • Factor 55 fairlead and flatlink • Southern Style Off-road (SSO) low profile bumper • SSO stage 2 high clearance wings • Weekend warrior recovery kit by treaty oak • RCI – skid plates – entire vehicle + catalytic converter protection wings Interior: • Nano Ceramic IR – Avery Dennison Window tint – all windows • Several phone mounts • Upgraded Rear Hatch lift gate struts (ladder is heavy) • Boom blaster horn switch (featuring La cucaracha)
    You did more than OK with this buy. A few upgrades here and there and I think you got yourself a nice ride. Great buy and welcome.
     
  9. Nov 22, 2022 at 5:16 AM
    #9
    Rich60

    Rich60 Fishin' beats workin

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    Yes you did. Wish I had found it. I just had to total my beloved 2008 V8 sport.
     
  10. Nov 22, 2022 at 5:54 AM
    #10
    iamincrediboy

    iamincrediboy New Member

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    You could sell the engine alone tomorrow and walk away ahead with that price. Score! :cheers:
     
  11. Nov 22, 2022 at 6:20 AM
    #11
    artfil91

    artfil91 [OP] New Member

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    Sweeeeet! You're not the first person to tell me that too haha. I'm pretty stoked, thank you guys!
     
  12. Nov 22, 2022 at 6:29 AM
    #12
    artfil91

    artfil91 [OP] New Member

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    Arthur
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    Got some frame pics a bit sooner than expected too, check it out -


    316538209_10228943006745137_775188442216_6540c7df6ade3a73ecd3d6cc7463b84e41ca301c.jpg

    Little bit of crustiness by the front right body mount, doesn't look like it spread far though.

    316802381_10228943007705161_189813448347_be1267db56a486b3faa2a0dda49495415409a1a3.jpg

    316546146_10228943006865140_320638847881_4d807c2c1020228d712519954d70e4e93ab24ff9.jpg

    Driver's side frame rail, small hole by the crossmember but it should be an easy patch -

    316557281_10228943009225199_212682811380_375d5771345b56cc2f12366f13ca14a7cd058c68.jpg

    One of the worst spots, fortunately in a fairly accessible spot, front pass side frame rail -

    316151828_10228943383314551_639879215126_3c3fbc5a96b530051cf60545460cc109c978111a.jpg

    And the other bad spot, near the trailer hitch -

    316818282_10228943383594558_525529852673_ee2c62e4e13f4acddeaf1acb1ecc7e31803eec8d.jpg

    It's far from mint however I've seen MUCH worse. I'd say it's repairable, thoughts?
     
  13. Nov 22, 2022 at 7:19 AM
    #13
    Bikeric

    Bikeric New Member

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    You scored. Just fix what NEEDS fixed and don't go overboard trying to restore it. I don't think I would be using it to tow/haul anything heavy, but that's just me.
     
  14. Nov 22, 2022 at 7:26 AM
    #14
    artfil91

    artfil91 [OP] New Member

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    Thanks! Yeah I want to patch up some of the rot and seal it before it gets worse, I'm confident this thing has a lot of life left in it. At the end of the day it'll likely be a workhouse/off-road beater so I won't go crazy fixing it up. I do however want to tow stuff with it (nothing crazy, like a small trailer with firewood, etc) so I will certainly have the rear frame/hitch joint welded up thoroughly.
     
  15. Nov 22, 2022 at 9:23 AM
    #15
    trlhiker

    trlhiker Lazy Bum

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    Your VSC/TRAC light may be something as simple as the gas cap being worn out. Great find.
     
  16. Nov 23, 2022 at 11:45 AM
    #16
    artfil91

    artfil91 [OP] New Member

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    Yeah I keep hearing that it may be a cheap/free fix. I'll try the zero-calibration paperclip trick once I get the new transmission lines in it. Speaking of which, they just showed up today so that should be done soon :yes:
     
  17. Nov 25, 2022 at 4:18 AM
    #17
    AuSeeker

    AuSeeker New Member

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    You did OK, even if you end up selling parts off of it, that being said these frame rust from the inside out so I would recommend taking a hammer and start tapping on the frame from end to end, anywhere it doesn't sound solid you need to try and fix it.

    The front radiator support is one of the first things to rust out as you show in the photos and also where those transmission lines are, you may also need to replace the power steering lines as well since they are also in that area, I would replace the entire support, Toyota does sell a new support...but it's not cheap, many have just used a piece of channel iron to replace it.

    Also look closely at the frame on the passenger's side behind the tire where the firewall is, this is where the AC drain come out of the firewall and drips down onto top of the frame causing it to rust out, after repairing that area if needed I would add a piece of rubber hose to the AC drain tube and relocate it so it doesn't drip onto the frame.

    Also check the frame thoroughly anywhere the suspension connects to the frame, these areas are a BIG safety concern if they're rust badly, you don't want the wheels to fall off driving down the road!!

    One guy just recently posted that his front lower control arm on his 4Th Gen completely torn loose while driving from it being so rusted, luckily he was not driving that fast and didn't wreck.
     
    Singleminded likes this.
  18. Nov 30, 2022 at 11:49 AM
    #18
    artfil91

    artfil91 [OP] New Member

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    Arthur
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    2003 Black SR5 4Runner V6 4x4
    Good to know, fortunately I already checked out the frame pretty thoroughly with the hammer and it's good aside from what you see in the pics. Fortunately just about all suspension mounts are solid too!

    I came across the front radiator support as well, I found one on ebay for under $300 which doesn't seem terrible, I may hop on that. I plan on getting some frame repair quotes in the new few weeks.

    By the way, I registered this truck yesterday and already put about 80 miles on it over the course of 24 hours lol. It drives pretty damn good all things considered! Next step is to get some frame repair quotes. If those don't break the bank, I'll dish out the money for a new set of shocks/struts along with a leveling kit.

    317892795_10228996833530773_509992705059_c3d62ced11a5bc382d4bcd1243547ebdeb6e53dc.jpg
     
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    #18
    AuSeeker[QUOTED] likes this.

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