1995 4Runner

Hey guys,

I am looking to purchase a 1995 4runner, and was wondering about the timing
belt. )Drat, I thought only Honda's had that issue).

I have had a couple of the Toyota Vans, and loved the reliablity. However,
the 4runners are starting to sound as if there maybe a few things I need to
keep in mind when looking.

I understand they may drip oil, as I had a Landcruiser. So, same thing?
Do the 4runner's make the 200k mile mark like the vans do?

My price is placing me at a 1995, how does that year rank in the scope of
things? I saw 1996 had several upgrades, but with a budget of $5000, I will
most likely be in a 1995.

How is that year mechanically?
What brand of tires are the best? Any small things I can do to improve
performance (i.e. air filters, exhaust, etc).

Sorry, there are so many questions! Guess it is a girl thing. Smile!

Thanks for your assitance and advice!

LEM63

Timing belt is not a big deal. All timing belts wear as do timing chains.
Be prepared for not so great gas mileage if its a V6 with automatic
transmission - even worse if 4WD and oversize tires! Shouldn't leak oil
unless you do no maintenance (vavle cover, crank seal or oil plug). Tire -
depends what you plan to do with it (off road, highway?) - on a used car ya
don't have much option. Michelin are about the most costly with Dunlop and
Chinese tires the cheaper. I'd try for a '96 up if you have to have
automatice -- they tend to get better gas mileage due to change in how the
transmission locks up.

"lem63" <u23241@uwe> wrote in message news:621175606ee8c@uwe...[color=blue]
> Hey guys,
>
> I am looking to purchase a 1995 4runner, and was wondering about the
> timing
> belt. )Drat, I thought only Honda's had that issue).
>
> I have had a couple of the Toyota Vans, and loved the reliablity. However,
> the 4runners are starting to sound as if there maybe a few things I need
> to
> keep in mind when looking.
>
> I understand they may drip oil, as I had a Landcruiser. So, same thing?
> Do the 4runner's make the 200k mile mark like the vans do?
>
> My price is placing me at a 1995, how does that year rank in the scope of
> things? I saw 1996 had several upgrades, but with a budget of $5000, I
> will
> most likely be in a 1995.
>
> How is that year mechanically?
> What brand of tires are the best? Any small things I can do to improve
> performance (i.e. air filters, exhaust, etc).
>
> Sorry, there are so many questions! Guess it is a girl thing. Smile!
>
> Thanks for your assitance and advice!
>
> LEM63[/color]

"lem63" <u23241@uwe> wrote:[color=blue]
>I am looking to purchase a 1995 4runner, and was wondering about the timing
>belt. )Drat, I thought only Honda's had that issue).
>
>I have had a couple of the Toyota Vans, and loved the reliablity. However,
>the 4runners are starting to sound as if there maybe a few things I need to
>keep in mind when looking.
>
>I understand they may drip oil, as I had a Landcruiser. So, same thing?
>Do the 4runner's make the 200k mile mark like the vans do?
>
>My price is placing me at a 1995, how does that year rank in the scope of
>things? I saw 1996 had several upgrades, but with a budget of $5000, I will
>most likely be in a 1995.
>
>How is that year mechanically?
>What brand of tires are the best? Any small things I can do to improve
>performance (i.e. air filters, exhaust, etc).
>
>Sorry, there are so many questions! Guess it is a girl thing. Smile!
>
>Thanks for your assitance and advice!
>[/color]
The V6 shouldn't drip oil...my '96 Taco (which I just sold a couple of weeks
ago) certainly never did. The service interval on the timing belt is 60K
miles, although most folks tended to let it slide a bit. Non-interference
engine, so it won't self-destruct if the belt breaks. With proper maintenance,
200K miles is just getting warmed up.

Biggest issue that year was the head gaskets on the V6 -- they were weak as
hell, and there was a recall to replace them. IIRC, Toyota didn't start
shipping with the upgraded gaskets until sometime in the '96 model year. I
think there was also a steering rod recall that included the '95 4Runners.

lem63 wrote:[color=blue]
> Hey guys,
>
> I am looking to purchase a 1995 4runner, and was wondering about the timing
> belt. )[/color]
<snip>[color=blue]
> My price is placing me at a 1995, how does that year rank in the scope of
> things? I saw 1996 had several upgrades, but with a budget of $5000, I will
> most likely be in a 1995.
>
> How is that year mechanically?
>
> LEM63[/color]

Biggest change I've heard of is the increased power in the '96. Also I
believe the suspension was changed. You can find this info if you
spend a little time on Google.

dennis
in nca

"lem63" <u23241@uwe> wrote in message news:621175606ee8c@uwe...[color=blue]
> Hey guys,
>
> I am looking to purchase a 1995 4runner, and was wondering about the
> timing
> belt. )Drat, I thought only Honda's had that issue).
>
> I have had a couple of the Toyota Vans, and loved the reliablity. However,
> the 4runners are starting to sound as if there maybe a few things I need
> to
> keep in mind when looking.
>
> I understand they may drip oil, as I had a Landcruiser. So, same thing?
> Do the 4runner's make the 200k mile mark like the vans do?
>
> My price is placing me at a 1995, how does that year rank in the scope of
> things? I saw 1996 had several upgrades, but with a budget of $5000, I
> will
> most likely be in a 1995.
>
> How is that year mechanically?
> What brand of tires are the best? Any small things I can do to improve
> performance (i.e. air filters, exhaust, etc).
>
> Sorry, there are so many questions! Guess it is a girl thing. Smile!
>
> Thanks for your assitance and advice!
>
> LEM63[/color]

There were issues with head gaskets on the v6 engines up to '95 so, you
should check the VIN number through a dealer to see if the recall was ever
done. This should not be a show stopper. If it wasn't done, check and see if
it is still covered, but don't have the recall work done unless it needs it.

The '95 4Runners sag in the rear. You can fix that with a set of $200 coil
springs or leave it alone. If you are going to carry anything heavy or tow,
you will want to change the coils out.

The v6 is also known to eat radiators. I'm on my 4th. Problem is with
electrolysis and can be helped by insuring the radiator and block are
grounded to each other. The first one left me just after the warranty died
and the dealer on Guam would not replace it. They offered to get me one for
$800. The local radiator guy, glanced at the truck, asked if it was a v6 and
then told me he had no more top tanks to repair it with. Told me exactly
where the leak was ,then he just stated "they do that". Replace it with a
Modine and save the receipts.

I'll call bullshit on the oil leaks also. Mine has had more then one attempt
made to cure the leaks from the valve covers, using different gaskets sets.

Other then what I've already mentioned, they are worth the money you spend
on them.

Have you driven both years? There is a big acceleration difference in
the 95 versus 96. That was the switch from the 3.0 to the 3.4 engine.

lem63 wrote:[color=blue]
> Hey guys,
>
> I am looking to purchase a 1995 4runner, and was wondering about the timing
> belt. )Drat, I thought only Honda's had that issue).
>
> I have had a couple of the Toyota Vans, and loved the reliablity. However,
> the 4runners are starting to sound as if there maybe a few things I need to
> keep in mind when looking.
>
> I understand they may drip oil, as I had a Landcruiser. So, same thing?
> Do the 4runner's make the 200k mile mark like the vans do?
>
> My price is placing me at a 1995, how does that year rank in the scope of
> things? I saw 1996 had several upgrades, but with a budget of $5000, I will
> most likely be in a 1995.
>
> How is that year mechanically?
> What brand of tires are the best? Any small things I can do to improve
> performance (i.e. air filters, exhaust, etc).
>
> Sorry, there are so many questions! Guess it is a girl thing. Smile!
>
> Thanks for your assitance and advice!
>
> LEM63[/color]

No, I haven't drive a 96, as there are very few available in the Portland,
Oregon area. It would appear, the owners are still hanging on to them. I do
have a large selection of 95's to choose from, which is good. I had a
feeling the 96's would be a step-up, so at least I know I was on the right
track. Drat, budget limitations!

Thanks!


[email]donnoble@gmail.com[/email] wrote:[color=blue]
>Have you driven both years? There is a big acceleration difference in
>the 95 versus 96. That was the switch from the 3.0 to the 3.4 engine.
>[color=green]
>> Hey guys,
>>[/color]
>[quoted text clipped - 21 lines][color=green]
>>
>> LEM63[/color][/color]

--
Message posted via CarKB.com
[url]http://www.carkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/toyota-truck/200606/1[/url]

The radiator story is interesting, as the Landcruiser I had did the same
thing with the radiator. Drove me nuts! The starter was another issue with
the Landcruiser, it was eating those too.

Thanks for the heads-up on the gasket!

AndyK. wrote:[color=blue][color=green]
>> Hey guys,
>>[/color]
>[quoted text clipped - 24 lines][color=green]
>>
>> LEM63[/color]
>
>There were issues with head gaskets on the v6 engines up to '95 so, you
>should check the VIN number through a dealer to see if the recall was ever
>done. This should not be a show stopper. If it wasn't done, check and see if
>it is still covered, but don't have the recall work done unless it needs it.
>
>The '95 4Runners sag in the rear. You can fix that with a set of $200 coil
>springs or leave it alone. If you are going to carry anything heavy or tow,
>you will want to change the coils out.
>
>The v6 is also known to eat radiators. I'm on my 4th. Problem is with
>electrolysis and can be helped by insuring the radiator and block are
>grounded to each other. The first one left me just after the warranty died
>and the dealer on Guam would not replace it. They offered to get me one for
>$800. The local radiator guy, glanced at the truck, asked if it was a v6 and
>then told me he had no more top tanks to repair it with. Told me exactly
>where the leak was ,then he just stated "they do that". Replace it with a
>Modine and save the receipts.
>
>I'll call bullshit on the oil leaks also. Mine has had more then one attempt
>made to cure the leaks from the valve covers, using different gaskets sets.
>
>Other then what I've already mentioned, they are worth the money you spend
>on them.[/color]

--
Message posted via CarKB.com
[url]http://www.carkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/toyota-truck/200606/1[/url]

As mentioned the ead gaskets were the main problem. The steering rod
recall is recent (last month).

Other than that they shouldn't leak oil and the engine should hold up.
My buddy is at 150k on his . My similar 92 V6 engine is at 230k and
still going strong. Gas mileage sucks but what SUV doesn't.