1992 Toyota 4Runner SR-5 from North America - Comments

With a keeno-flo exhaust and a new timing belt, I'm getting 520Km to a tank! Thanks keeno-flo exhaust!

I bought my 94 4runner used at 169,000 miles as a project truck. I realized that I needed to replace parts to get it truly road worthy when I bought it, but I didn't realize that I was going to get so involved in it. They are very practical vehicles in every way except fuel economy and take off speed. I have installed:

cold air intake

jacobs ignition system

iridium spark plugs

8.5mm spark plug wire upgrade from 5mm stock wires

Downey headers

Flowmaster dual exhaust system

used air flow meter

O2 sensor

fuel pump and filter

pitman arm, idler arm, bushings, tie rod ends

front end alignment

new rear springs from downey offroad

Rancho shocks front and rear

front brake pads

tranny fluid filter

front and rear differential fluid change

My rig is awesome, but it cost me some dough. I would recommend this vehicle to anyone that lives rurally, especially because of its reliability. I should also add that the Toyota 4runner is fairly simple to work on.

It now has 178,000 miles on it and runs great.

My 92 4Runner has been a bit of a project since I bought it with 204000 miles. I must admit that I did not get it inspected prior to purchase in 2006 and as a result I have spent thousands of dollars to get it in reliable condition. From the get-go I replaced the radiator and water pump, timing belt, and fan shroud.

The next round of repairs included the oil seals, the head gasket recall repair, front-end work (including the recall work) and drive belts.

Shortly thereafter I discovered that the transmission case was cracked, possibly due to previous owner/driver slamming it into 4WD at high speeds. Of course the trans had to be replaced because a cracked case cannot be repaired. When I did the engine repairs described above I asked the Toyota dealer to drain and refill the trans case to which they answered that would probably do more harm than good. I hadn't known about the cracked case at the time and my suspicion is that they did know since the had to put the truck on a rack to determine the extent of the needed repairs. They probably figured-correctly, I might add- that I would not have done the engine repair had I been aware of the trans problem.

I can say that I can average 17.5 to 18.5 mpg with highway driving if I keep it at the speed limit and I drive it over the Sierra Nevada's twice-a-week going from 100' elevation to a high of 7300' and then down to 5000' and then back again.

My A/C does not work but I believe it only needs leak and a recharge as the compressor works. The speed control does not engage on a regular basis and that is very frustrating with the long stretches of freeway I drive.

The truck has one on-going mechanical issue that I need some help with if anyone can help and that is a vibration that becomes noticeable when the truck reaches 70 mph. It does not seem to be connected to rpm as the vibration always starts at 70 whether in overdrive at 3000 rpm or with the O/D off at 70 at 4200 rpm. if you have an idea of what may be causing this I'll be checking the comment board.