1988 4runner

[mild83]

I have found an 1988 Toyota 4runner 5 spd w/ manual hubs. The pics that I have seen seem to be in decent shape for the age. There was a new clutch put in about a year ago, other than that not much maintenence details. The truck has been in the same family since new, has newish tires, and 2 year old paint. I was just curious about the reliablity of these and what else I should look for? Is maintence expensive? Are repairs fairly simple, mechanically. Is iit difficult to take the back top off?

Any info would be MUCH appreicated!

TIA

Joe

[fourwd1]

Depending on your location, frame rust could be an issue.

What engine? V6 has HG issues. But more than likely it either had them and it was fixed, or it didn't and you probably never will.

There's a service campaign to replace the steering relay rod, and a front end alignment is included.

Other than that just normal maint.

Top is held on by 16-18 bolts.

[mild83]

Thank you for the help. Is the truck as reliable as other Toyota's seem to be? The asking price is $1500, which seems farily reasonable. It wouldn't really see much (if any) off-road use, mainly just tooling around and for winter weather.

[rsterling@lcps.k12]

Ihave a 86 4 runner with same top, fairly easy accept its a very heavy top and on the drivers side near the rear is a long bolt that when you take it out it releases a plunger that keeps the window from rolling down so make sure you tighten it down good when putting the top back down or the window won't roll down.

[Bodar]

your window still works, im jelous now....

[fourwd1]

Originally Posted by Bodar

your window still works, im jelous now....

I have an 84 and an 89. All the power stuff works on both.

[scrollmaster]

Have an 87 4Runner w/22RE engine 4WD 5-Speed. Purchased it around late 92 or 93 and has been a great vehicle. I drove it for 6 or 7 years and when my oldest son turned 16 I gave it to him and bought me used 93 2WD and couple years later traded with my son and drove my 87 for nearly 3yrs until my youngest son turned 16 and gave it to him and he'll be 20 next month.

Top very easy to remove and replace and it addition to rear window mentioned above, you can have problem with leaks around the old seal, especiallly up top where the shell meets the metal top. A new seal from Toyota is a bit pricey but my son found a package with 30ft of camper shell seal for about $6 and modified it to fit and working good he says.

Repairs not too bad, engine far more accessible than later models but really don't like the alternator down low. My son fixed a skid plate we could bolt on and keeps the mud and stuff out. It really helps with the head and head gasket to keep the coolant in the engine block clean by flushing every year. Ball joints fairly easy on the vehicle but had to fight when needed to replace CV joints... just couldn't seem to easily get the right combination to have room for it to come out but maybe just be me not knowing something. Evaporator easier to remove than lots I've dealt with but removing the heater core on my cousins 87 4Runner added a new word or two to my vocabulary. Now, the core in my sons 4Runner is needing replaced but it's a while to winter and gonna let NEED dictate that.

Had to change the AC condensing unit this weekend and had trouble locating one. All the supply houses here showed them on the computer but was oblsoleted when they tried to order. Finally went to a dedicated radiator shop and their supplier in Little Rock, AR had one here next day. Am going to charge with Freeze-12 this time and see how that works.

Be aware, when using the clutch cancel switch to start vehicle... it will start with vehicle in gear and can be very dangerous if you don't remember that.

All-In-All, there's three guys in this family that will give a hearty thumbs up to the 87 we've been banging around in for quite a few years.