My 2004 Limited V8 4Runner

Well I’ve been posting over at 4Runners.com but thought I’d share over here as well. I picked up a white 2004 Limited AWD/FWD 4.7l 4Runner of my parents. They bought it new in 2003 I think as a 2004 model. Kind of high mileage but very well taken care of mechanically (and sort of cosmetically). Everything is stock except the Michelin defenders (265/65/17 I think).

Overall, everything works except the sunroof. Drives great! Once I got it I did a deep clean, ie shampoo all the carpets, cleaned and conditioned the leather, cleaned the headliner, and cleaned all the plastic/vinyl bits and pieces the best I could. They have a dog so I bought one of those pumice stone type dog hair removal tools and went to town with that as well. Speaking of their dog it messed up the center console armrest and the rear passenger door card. I’ve replaced the armrest already but haven’t done the door card yet.

For mods, I haven’t done much yet. Did the Scion T10015 head unit upgrade and replaced the subwoofer with a Rockford Fosgate shallow 8” (still just running off the OEM JBL amp, it has the Synthesis system). Also added some USB plugs in one of the blank spots in the center console.

That’s about it so far. Plan to tint the front windows to match the rest of them. Not sure where I’ll go from there.

And some pics:














All these interior photos are pre deep clean so don’t think I suck at cleaning, ha! I’ll take some newer pictures soon.

 

Coming from an access cab Tacoma (why I post on this forum - still have it and love it) and a Lexus NX, this thing seems like a cruise ship inside, so much space!

 

Looks really clean for an 04
Congrats....great score

 

I personally would never have bought a Lexus NX but I bought it off my grandpa who quit driving (bought it off him when he was 93 or 94) for a price I couldn’t pass up. It’s nice but not my cup of tea… so my wife drives it. It’s a 2015 and we picked it up with like 42k miles or something on it.

 

Some undercarriage shots:

 

This generation of 4Runner to me seems like the best bang for the buck. I love the 96-2002 version, but on the west coast of Canada I'm seeing crazy prices for really high mileage vehicles.
I'm seeing the early 2000's models of the 4th gen in the $10,000-15,000 range.

 

In great shape for the age. Here is mine that I plan on keeping forever.

 

Well like any older vehicle this one did not come without its issues. Took her in to have the brake fluid changed and stainless steel lines added. Ended up needing new rotors and pads as well.

while I was there I asked if they could do a thorough once over (like a pre purchase inspection) and they found the following issues:

- driver side CV axle has a torn boot
- steering rack boots are showing some signs of leaking but he wasn’t super concerned about it yet
- radiator is showing some crustiness near the top (original radiator)
- both lower control arm bushings are worn
- the sticker on the timing cover says 117k and it now has 237k. My parents thought they had it done twice but that sticker says otherwise (kind of annoyed at this one). I’m having them confirm but most likely the timing belt and all those associated parts will need to be replaced. If so I’ll pick up that Aisin kit

 

If you haven’t, pop the cap on the steering fluid reservoir and make sure it actually has fluid. The OEMs get stained and will look like they are full.

Silver lining on the WP/TB potentially needing attention is radiator can be done at same time. The radiators with these v8s at least for the GX470 fail pretty routinely. Newer aftermarket Densos are crimped more thoroughly and thought to be better for longevity. Factory units (also Denso) were left uncrimped to the side reservoirs in spots.

 

Interesting on the radiator differences. Was going to order an OEM unit but will look into the Denso. Wouldn’t happen to have a P/N? I’ll search myself as well.

 

I believe the newer dealership part is fine. The problem with the GX is the Lexus part markup and then most dealers won’t ship radiators when I tried to order the part number for a 4Runner, so I ended up just getting a Denso off rockauto since it was slightly cheaper and came to my doorstep.

 

I ended up just buying an OEM radiator and thermostat from a local dealership (who surprisingly had the best price I could find). I thankfully will save in shipping and just pick up the parts myself.

 

Well all parts are on order:

- OEM LCAs
- OEM CV Axle
- Aisin Timing belt kit
- OEM Radiator/Thermostat

$1,667 in parts alone. Ugh. Probably $2,000 in labor coming my way as well. Not exactly what you want to see on a vehicle you bought for $6,000. Hopefully she will be good to go for a while (minus the steering rack needing to be replaced eventually). Before anyone says it, unfortunately with both my wife and i working full time and having a 1 and a half year old, i just don't have the time to do any of this work myself.

 

Just posting to update the thread. So had all the work done, she runs great. Labor for all that work came in way less than what I had anticipated. I think for all that work I paid $1200-1300 in labor. Maybe that’s good, maybe that’s bad haha

still need to do the steering rack. The transmission, IMO feels clunky, like it’s slow to downshift or doesn’t feel super smooth going from park to drive or park to reverse. Debating on changing out the fluid… thoughts? I know on higher mileage transmissions most people leave them alone if the fluid has never been changed but I think this one has once.

 

I'm in the change the fluid camp. I've done 3 fluid changes on mine, including dropping the pan and changing the filter/strainer. I only use Toyota OEM parts for the pan gasket, strainer and o-ring for the strainer. I use Valvoline Maxlife trans fluid and changes are every 30k miles. Higher mileage doesn't always make it a bad thing to do. My 4runner had just shy of 290k miles on it when I bought it.

 

Checking out your thread because i am seriously considering picking up a 4Runner of this era to replace my taco.

 

Had the transmission flushed, shifts great now. They stuck with WS fluid.

also just got her back today from having the steering rack replaced.

now just need to install my new oem headlights… and since I have the matte black trd wheels sitting in my garage I’m debating swapping over the existing 265/65/17 Michelin defenders (lots of life left), or putting some 265/70/17’s on the new wheels.

 

How does it drive after the rack replacement? (Is it noticeably smoother or more precise, better holding/tracking steering angle?)

I read a post on t4r-o that I couldn't find again about all the lc prado platforms having weakish racks that 'even people with 33s have problems with'

I am sorta wondering how much tire weight and steering wheel rampaging I can do before my rack gets sad.

 

Have just driven it home from the shop, but no noticeable difference. Then again mine was only slowly leaking fluid out of the end boots. Nothing ‘wrong’ with the rack or anything. I’m just trying to make this ride as reliable as possible since it’s our family road trip vehicle.

 

Does it feel like a race car compared to the taco?