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New to me 14SR5 83k - Advice... Help!

Discussion in 'New Member Introductions' started by TeslasBigCarbonFootprint, Feb 2, 2022.

  1. Feb 2, 2022 at 10:21 AM
    #1
    TeslasBigCarbonFootprint

    TeslasBigCarbonFootprint [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2022
    Member:
    #25462
    Messages:
    524
    Southern California
    Vehicle:
    '23 TRD ORP Super Ice Cap White
    2014 Neglected by the previous owners 2020 is an abused former rental... 2023 New I've been buying above my pay grade ☹️
    I know, it is a horrible time to be buying anything (although, Southern California seems to have a lot of inventory). While I paid straight KBB for it, I kind of knew the risk of it being neglected was above average (looking past Carfax and into the Toyota service records online, the air filter was like a dustbin, etc.). The dealer is part of a large chain and they do have a "warranty," so I have to find out everything wrong with it now. Don't get me started on dealership crap!

    It is my fourth purchase in less than a year of a used Toyota vehicle. I know my way around an OBD scanner and I do stuff like spark plugs, dropping the transmission pan and replacing the filter, adjusting the parking brake, etc...

    Not knowing the nature of this forum, I don't know if I'm going to get a bunch of smartass comments from people who take themselves way too seriously or if there's some creative and analytical people here who will really contribute.

    By the way, I am a firm believer in OEM parts, especially when I can save money by buying them over Amazon generics. I preach the benefits of parts.toyota.com. I have found a few dealerships across the country who have very low margins compared to others. My local dealer wants $16 for a PCV valve that I paid $6.97 for through the parts website and picked up at a dealer 20 miles further down the road. Since I am disabled, I don't mind driving the extra time as it gets me out of the house Plus, I like the challenge of getting more MPG. I live in a hilly area and I can be averaging 23.2 miles per gallon the entire day on freeways and city streets, and as soon as I drive out my hill, it drops considerably. Right now, with all my short trips and very little freeway time I'm getting 21.4 MPG.

    What I have done on this 83,000-mile SR5 RWD 3rd row 4Runner:

    •OEM air filter
    •Cleaned the mass airflow sensor
    •Cleaned the throttle body
    •Topped off low coolant with Zerex pink crap
    •Replaced 5 pints of very malodorous 75W-90 with 6.4 pints of new stuff (one bottle of Delo synthetic 2.5 bottles of STP conventional)
    •Put 8 oz of Hot Shot's Gasoline Extreme into the tank of PEA-loaded Costco gas
    •Tightened the rear parking brake shoes
    •Re-initialized and updated the radio so that the navigation and Bluetooth would reconnect
    •Removed the crossbars on the roof rack.
    •Programmed and cut two new keys and erased the missing key's transponder code

    On deck:
    •Draining and filling with OEM pink coolant
    •Dropping the transmission pan, replacing the filter with an OEM, and an expected drain and fill of approximately 5-6 quarts of OEM WS. I am likely going to also replace all of the pan screws with OEM screws that are pre-threaded with thread lock
    •Scoping/compression testing each of the six cylinders looking for damage caused by lack of oil changes. I need to do this before that warranty expires because it does cover the drivetrain. (I should really do this first so that I'm not investing in any extra work or parts because of common solution for that is buying the car back.) When doing that, I will replace the spark plugs with OEM.
    •I will be taking it in to my favorite service shop (a dealership's shop) for a 160-point inspection, they're not going to dig into the engine (not when they charge $150 an hour), but they can give me a good idea of things that are needing to be done. The guy that does their certified program inspections will be doing mine.
    •I would like to drop in some cheap LED high beam lights that will handle DRL duties.
    •Putting halogen bulbs into all the interior lights because LEDs that are in there are complete garbage and flicker.
    •Doing a heavy wax job on it, as the paint on the hood and roof is dull and rather weathered.
    •Nerf bars or running boards, on the cheap.

    This 5th gen is meant to be the last car I drive. I want to make it last.
     
    anthonydotb and Trail Runnah like this.
  2. Feb 2, 2022 at 12:22 PM
    #2
    SlvrSlug

    SlvrSlug Slightly bent.

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2018
    Member:
    #6172
    Messages:
    7,542
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    John
    Ramona Ca.
    Vehicle:
    2017 4-Runner SR-5 P. Kings, Built Right uca’s, Durabumps, RSG sliders
    Sounds like your all over it, welcome to the forum.
     
    7385 and Mtbpsych like this.
  3. Feb 2, 2022 at 2:53 PM
    #3
    Ironguy

    Ironguy New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2019
    Member:
    #12421
    Messages:
    6,230
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ralph
    Bisbee AZ
    Vehicle:
    2020 Black 4Runner Venture 1967 FJ40 Land Cruiser
    New pine scent hanger, new sun shade
    Welcome from Arizona!
     
    7385 likes this.
  4. Feb 2, 2022 at 8:59 PM
    #4
    Dabigono

    Dabigono Just Joined

    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2018
    Member:
    #8196
    Messages:
    3,649
    Vehicle:
    2020 4Runner
    Welcome from the LBC
     
    7385 likes this.
  5. Feb 2, 2022 at 9:00 PM
    #5
    catus

    catus New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2019
    Member:
    #10686
    Messages:
    927
    Gender:
    Male
    Centennial, CO
    Vehicle:
    2019 Tundra Double Cab TRD Limited
    No major mods yet
    Yes. And welcome!
     
    7385 likes this.
  6. Feb 3, 2022 at 8:03 AM
    #6
    TeslasBigCarbonFootprint

    TeslasBigCarbonFootprint [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2022
    Member:
    #25462
    Messages:
    524
    Southern California
    Vehicle:
    '23 TRD ORP Super Ice Cap White
    2014 Neglected by the previous owners 2020 is an abused former rental... 2023 New I've been buying above my pay grade ☹️
    Thank you all.

    Something that was a bit of an unpleasant surprise was that all of these bargain priced Nerf Bar companies are pretty much the same company with different websites and none of their bargain priced bars will work with the mud flaps installed. It's like standard on every one of the models from 2014!

    Here's a link to the brochure and options list:

    http://www.auto-brochures.com/makes/Toyota/4Runner/Toyota_US 4Runner_2014-2.pdf

    Anybody know where to get a free download of the 2014-era service manual? I saw one referencing a 2016 through 2019 version.
     
  7. Feb 4, 2022 at 4:19 AM
    #7
    Toy4X4

    Toy4X4 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2020
    Member:
    #15580
    Messages:
    6,728
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jeff
    Vehicle:
    2020 Offroad Prem. 4-runner
    RevTek 3" front- 2" rear leveling, JBA uca's, LED interior lights, Cooper 275-70-17 AT3 LT
    Welcome from Wisconsin! Sounds like you are taking care of business.
     
  8. Feb 6, 2022 at 11:25 AM
    #8
    TeslasBigCarbonFootprint

    TeslasBigCarbonFootprint [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2022
    Member:
    #25462
    Messages:
    524
    Southern California
    Vehicle:
    '23 TRD ORP Super Ice Cap White
    2014 Neglected by the previous owners 2020 is an abused former rental... 2023 New I've been buying above my pay grade ☹️
    More surprises come! The dealership never gave me a real looking inspection form. I always ask for one when I'm buying a used car. Because I was buying on a weekend, their excuse that they have to wait 'til Monday was understandable.

    It took them a week to get one to me and it looked like an F student's final exam. It had brake and tire measurements and handwritten list of things that they did to the car. It was no inspection!

    I went to a Toyota dealership and found out that one of the shocks was leaking.

    Keyes Mission Hills Hyundai (owned by the same people who own DCH, Lithia Motors) is treading unethical waters in my opinion... They have a warranty, yet they are failing to disclose the terms of the warranty. All they do is say that it has a warranty. Yikes! [Pointing] a** [pointing] elbow - know the difference, man.

    Hooray for me! Hours and hours of negotiation, arguing and consulting with a lawyer looks to be in my future.
     
  9. Mar 27, 2023 at 12:00 AM
    #9
    TeslasBigCarbonFootprint

    TeslasBigCarbonFootprint [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2022
    Member:
    #25462
    Messages:
    524
    Southern California
    Vehicle:
    '23 TRD ORP Super Ice Cap White
    2014 Neglected by the previous owners 2020 is an abused former rental... 2023 New I've been buying above my pay grade ☹️
    For those of you thinking to put Zerex pink coolant in your Toyota... Don't.
    IMG_20220305_101402756.jpg
     
    anthonydotb likes this.
  10. Mar 27, 2023 at 5:56 AM
    #10
    UofLCardfan77

    UofLCardfan77 Large Member

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2022
    Member:
    #27330
    Messages:
    1,637
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Kevin
    Elizabethtown, Kentucky
    Vehicle:
    2019 4Runner TRD Off Road Premium, Magnetic Gray
    Black Out Overlays, Windows tinted (front doors),
    Welcome from the center of the bourbon universe.
     

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