4th Generation 4runner just purchased! Need some help!

Hi all, excited to join the fam here i JUST purchased a 4x4 v8 LIMITED from Montana. I brought it in south texas.

I need some help though there's a few things I noticed that were kind of off (a bit later after I purcahsed, i WAS not made aware of this during the purchase... probably too late to message the seller now been about 3-4 days).

Can I please get some help from you all, im not that mechanically inclined, but I can follow instructions and tutorials to figure things out, just need some pointing in the right direction:
1. The dome light in the back seat:

this guy doesn't work. Like the switch it just moves freely, it doesn't seem to be connected to anything, what should I do?
2. This morning i noticed like small termites crawling around from the center console, i'm worried there's like a termite nest or something underneath the console, should I just pay to have this taken care of, what do I do for this?

if someone can help me with a few of these just pointing me in the right direction I'd really appreciate it! Thanks.

 

Welcome

 

Is this a joke?

My first thought is
DIDNT YOU CHECK THESE THINGS OUT BEFORE HANDING OVER THE CASH?? Or were you a sucker so like many others who wire money and the seller puts the rig on a transport and you get what they send you.

So the dome light switch broke and its stuck either one of the 3 positions ( on when doors open then off 30 secs later, On, or Off) If on then just pull the bulb until you replace the dome switch. (If you dont know how to you better learn or get out your checkbook for a mechanic cause your gonna need it)

termites in the console - IS THIS A JOKE? There is ZERO wood, wood fiber in any 4th Gen 4R.
Get a 10 mm socket and pull the console and clean it out. while you have the console out it would be highly advisable to grease the trans cable AND change the shifter cable bushing AND grease the underside of the shifter assembly. The shifter assembly is now $1250 if you have to replace it or a few hundred for a used one on Ebay and you never know what you'll be getting.

Buying from a cold, wet snowey region like Montana my initial thought is..... HOW MUCH CHASIS RUST DOES IT HAVE and is it compromising shock\coil spring body mounts, or chasis rails.

I would strongly suggets you find a 4Runner mechanic friend and go over this rig beginning with the engine and at the least change the timing belt which is REQUIRED to be changed every 90,000 miles.

 

Welcome from CA.!

 

Welcome, you might be able to find someone parting out a 4th gen on marketplace for the dome light. Good luck!

 

The center console is pretty easy to take out. I would just remove it and clean really well. After this many years it'll probably be pretty gross under there. I've taken my center console out multiple times for different reasons (one was to replace the shifter assembly - which i paid like $700 for new from a local Toyota Dealership only like less than a year ago), either way, not too hard.

 

Welcome to the forum from Wisconsin!

You might be able to find a replacement for the dome light at a salvage yard. Otherwise, you could check pricing on an OEM replacement through Toyota.

As mentioned above, the console comes apart pretty easily. If you are even a little bit mechanically inclined it shouldn't be an issue to take it apart, clean out whatever's going on in there, and put it back together.

 

There's no wood there. Probably spilled fluids, rotting food, or rotting carpet underpad. Remove seats, remove center console, remove carpet and see. Should be a few guides on YouTube that includes this (e.g. for sound system installs). Paying a mechanic to do this will quickly exceed the vehicle value.

 

Welcome from Wisconsin!

 

Those aren't termites...those are earwigs...harmless but they look menacing...fear not on those and no, there's no nest per se on for them...just clean stuff out..they look for cool, dark areas especially when sitting in the sun baking...as far as the overhead light, buy a new one or a replacement on eBay or a Pick & Pull yard...the switches become a bit fickle and can break the switch nubs on the inside...typically occurs when one upgrades to LED bulbs...things break when they're getting this old. Welcome and congrats on the truck! Where in MT did you buy it from? Is it the 2WD one from Bozeman?

**NM< re-read your first post...not 2WD!