Alright, this is the post. This is the car that changed it all. So it was late 2017, I had my 2017 Subaru Outback, 1954 Volvo 444, 1962 Volvo P1800, 1971 Volvo 164, and a 1971 Volvo 145. I had just sold my 2008 Toyota 4Runner to buy something with 4WD. I had narrowed down my search to a Limited 4Runner of the same era. I wanted the Limited mainly because I could get factory navigation with a backup camera, which would help hooking up my trailers.
I stumbled on this 07 Limited in Kansas City. It was a 1 owner car being sold at a small used car dealer. The interesting thing was, it had a box full of service records that came with the car. Somehow it managed to survive a trade in and auction with all these records in the back seat. It was a V8 which I did not care either way, but it was nice because that meant it had the factory tow package with transmission cooler, and beefed up alternator. At the time it was the closest 4Runner that I could afford. It had just a touch over 200,000 miles, but like I said was a 1 owner with all the records.
I don’t have many pictures of the FB because it spent so much time in the shop.
I made a deal with the owner of the small dealer, and went to pick it up. When I got in the car, it still smelled new. It drove so nice and solid I could really tell it was well taken care of. On the test drive I was able to dig through the records and find the number of the owner, and gave her a call. She was really nice and explained she bought it new from Jay Wolfe Toyota in St. Louis. She said she drove a lot for work, and that is why the miles were a little high. She was honest and said she had a few issues, like the alternator dying, a few wheel bearings, maintenance stuff. She actually went in and bought another 4Runner, and left our phone conversation as “it’s a nice car, but it’s got a lot of miles”. I can still hear her saying that, and it kind of haunts me.
So, I made the deal, and brought the car home. The next day I was driving it to my parents’ house for my mom’s birthday, and boom, check engine light. I had been through this before with the 2008, and figured it was something emissions related as the traction control light was also on. I made one mistake; I took it into the dealer. Now, at the time I was very pleased with my dealer experience on my 2008, so I thought nothing wrong with it.
The dealer called me the next day saying that there was a bad knock sensor, and it would cost around $300-500 to replace. I went right back to the dealer I bought it from saying I had just bought it, and wondering if they would cover any of the cost. All I got from them was a letter from their lawyer saying to kick rocks. I was out the money for this knock sensor.
They had it ready later that day, and I picked it up, and drove it maybe 10 miles for the light to come back on. This is when the car got its name. Fair warning, my now wife and I called it a not nice name, but it deserved it (before this we actually called it the PDC, which stood for “pimp daddy cruiser” because it had the “gold package” as in gold emblems everywhere to offset the navy blue exterior). It got the name “fickle bitch” (I will just refer to it as FB, so I am not cursing so much through this post).
So, I took FB back to the dealer and told them it was back on. The dealer took another look, and said it might be the next day before it was ready. The next day, they called me saying the news was bleak. It needed a whole new computer/ECU to a tune of $1100. There was only 4-5 ECU’s for a V8 4Runner in the country, and it would take 2 weeks to get it. At this point I should have gotten a second opinion as I really knew better, that dealers take you for a ride. However, I was so invested with this dealer I agreed to have it fixed. Looking back, how we go from knock sensor to a whole new ECU is beyond me, but that service adviser loved me because I was helping his bonus, I am sure. Since this ordeal, I have actually heard from other 4Runner and Highlander owners that have gone through this ECU replacement as well; I guess it is Toyota’s process to go straight to that after several options have been exhausted. Whatever the case might be, I know I probably got taken for a ride.
Anyway, the dealer hooked me up with a loaner for several weeks, and I got the FB back and she was rocking and rolling after that. However, as you would guess, this only lasted for about 1000 miles, and the check engine light came back on. My heart sank, but I knew this time to go ahead and take it to a small repair shop my dad had as a customer. They read the light for free unlike the dealer, and diagnosed it as a bad charcoal canister. The repair shop said that a new canister would cost a whopping $1000, but they would not charge full install since they felt bad for me. They even tried to patch the bad canister that had a crack in it, with no luck. I thanked them, and decided to take matters into my own hands. I bought the part online, and had it delivered to a tune of $900, and put it on myself. All I had to do was remove the spare tire to expose this big black box, and unbolt it.
Now that the FB was back up and running, I had a second to reflect on this. I had bought the FB for a good price, but by now having dropped $2,000 into it there was no room to even get my money back on it. I had decided then and there to just drive it until the wheels just fall off. I was not about to take a loss on selling the car, and the drive-train was solid on it, so the FB was with me for a while. The check engine light continued to pop on and off for various things like a gas cap, but I think it was just doing it to taunt me. Almost like it was reminding me that it owned me at this point, until one November day.
I had just left my parents’ house, and was driving back to my apartment in Fayetteville. I was almost to my exit on I-49, when I approached construction. If anyone knows I-49 in northwest Arkansas they know that there is ever growing construction. When I was in high school they had decided to construct a wire barrier in the grass median to prevent head on collisions. When I was in college they decided to throw away all the money they had just spent, and three lane the entire stretch from Bella Vista to Fayetteville, or about a 30 mile stretch. I can’t explain to you the headaches this caused because of slowdowns, and bottlenecks, for a while I avoided I-49 altogether. At this time though, the 3 lane project was just about over except for this small stretch in Fayetteville.
I was in the middle lane and approaching a semi truck to my left, or fast lane. There were a few cars to my right, or the slow lane. They had just repainted the lines on the road, but you could still see the old stripes. I had driven this often so I knew where I was supposed to go, and so did the cars next to me. Because the new lines required us to slightly turn, so I slowed down a little bit. At this point the semi to my left was about even with me, and I saw him getting closer and closer to me. I realized he was following the old lines on the road, and not the new lines like me and the other cars to my right were following.
I laid on the horn to alert the truck because I could not get over anymore. I braked to maybe avoid the accident altogether, but his trailer was a tanker, and as I braked his tandems on his trailer swiped the entire side of my car pushing me across the right lane almost hitting the car to my right (thankfully she saw this coming, and braked at the right time), and off the road into a construction barrel. Once I got stopped, I saw that the truck was continuing on down the interstate at full speed not stopping. I threw the car back in drive and started to chase after the truck. Luckily traffic behind us had stopped and I was able to jump back on to chase him. For over a mile I followed behind him flashing my lights and honking, but he would not stop. I then decided to pull aside him and get his attention, and pull in front of him off the side of the road. He finally got the hint, and stopped.
At this point as you can imagine I was fuming mad. I got out of my car, and lost my temper a little bit. If you know me, you know I never raise my voice, or even get mad, but this case I could not help it. The driver, shocked, looked at me and said “you hit me”. I stood their stunned. At this point I saw another car pull up behind us, and thinking she might also be involved we went up to the car. She got met with angry me, and looked at the truck driver and said “sir you ran him off the road, I was behind it the entire time”. Relieved I got back in my car to cool off, and call the police. When I got back to my car, I had not realized that the giant construction barrel wedged under my car had started to burn. I immediately removed it just in time. It took the highway patrol 2 hours to get onsite, and in the meantime some very weird things happened.
I got to talking to the witness, who thankfully was not involved, and she actually works for the trucking company the driver drives for. She explained how he probably did not hear me, or really see me. While we were talking, the truck driver’s manager, and the company’s “investigator” showed up. Mind you this is 9pm on a weeknight. Both the manager and investigator wanted to talk to me, and even asked if they could film our conversation. By this time my girlfriend had gotten there, and said “do not say a word to either of them”. Looking back she was right, and her dad writes my insurance later said the same thing. I told them that they can get the police report when it comes out, and thank you.
After the police wrapped up everything, and they tow off the FB, I went home to sleep this ordeal off. The next day, I get a call, and it’s the company’s investigator. He wanted to offer me $10,000 for my 4Runner if I signed something saying I won’t sue. Perplexed I said, I have not even had a chance to file this under insurance yet, so please lose my number (not my exact words, but basically). This ordeal went on for months.
I had full coverage on the FB so my insurance took no time on getting the repairs started on the FB. The trucking company would not admit fault, even with a police report, and a witness stating he hit me. In the meantime, my insurance company was wanting to fork over $9,000 in repairs for this car, and not total it. I was livid, of course I wanted it to be fixed no matter how much I hated the FB, but I wanted it to be right.
Every panel on the driver side was damaged, including the hood, and trunk, and yet they still wanted to spend this money to repair it. Come on, the car can’t be worth that much! I even got a check in the mail from my insurance for the final repairs on the car. Still, I went to the shop it was towed to that was doing the repairs, and asked them had they checked under the car, because I did leave the roadway, and hit a barrel. They looked at me, and said “we had not gotten under the car yet, but we will check on it”. Later that day, they added some more parts to the car which pushed it over the edge of repairable.
I got a check in the mail from my insurance company for $13,000 minus a $500 deductible because the trucking company had still not admitted fault. This was even a profit for me with the repairs made! After almost a year later, I finally got a $500 check in the mail and a letter saying the trucking company had admitted fault. Now, I never for a second thought about suing the driver or the company. I realized after a few days that the driver honestly did not see me, and thought he was in the right. I am just not pleased with how it was all handled, but these large companies have to cover their assets somehow.
This was the only damage done to the trailer
This entire ownership with the FB taught me a ton, probably the most of any car I have owned to this day. I had a love hate relationship with it, and honestly, it spent more time in the shop, I really did not get a chance to drive it. Regardless of her name, I really did not want her fate to be this way. I actually found her on Copart a month later, with a winning bid of close to $5,000. That alleviated some of the pain I saw it go through. I am thankful for the time I had with her, and in a way she paid back the favor for me throwing money to fix her, she saved my life. After the FB, things had changed in my car life, and had to make some changes.
I will genuinely never understand someone thinking a 200,000 mile, 9 or 10+ year old car that’s purchased for 20% of its purchase price not only could, but SHOULD be trouble free. Regardless of the nameplate. I see and hear this constantly, and it blows my mind.
How many millions of operations do you realistically think these components should last?
I must have missed the part where he said it should have been trouble free after 200k miles, or blamed the components for failing. All I saw him say was that he wanted something cheap to tow with and this was the closest 4Runner he could afford.
Maybe take a step down off that soapbox…
The part where he thought the dealer should contribute to repair a ten year old 200k car they bought at auction when it broke after he drove it off their lot.
A CEL light came on the day after he bought the car. Most honest dealers would at least try to clear it, I’ve had the exact same thing happen to a car with 140k miles when a CEL light came on 3 days after purchase and the dealership replaced the EGR.
And again, he didn’t say “this shouldn’t have happened”, just that it did, and what he did to address it.
Cheapest I could afford was said in the post. Color me shocked this went south… I get it the right thing is what it is, and I don’t disagree. I’m not down on people agreeing to terms that change after the fact, however.
The only thing I think he did wrong is trying to chase down a CEL on a car with 200k miles. Once you get to “drive the wheels off” status, I’ll check CELs to make sure it’s nothing too scary, but if it drives fine, 90% the time it’s something you can ignore. Spending 1k to replace an ECU on a car that runs fine is… less than advisable. I’ve currently got a car with 180k mi and another with 210k and they have had CELs on for a combined 35 years and 200k miles.
The only thing I think he did wrong is trying to chase down a CEL on a car with 200k miles.
^This. If one chooses to drive an old, high-mileage vehicle, one of the things to invest in is an OBD reader and, if it’s possible to do it on the cheap, a way to clear CELs.
The only catch is taking the chance that, by ignoring/resetting them, whatever sets off the CEL ultimately shutting down the vehicle at some point. But, then, that’s kind of the gamble with an old car, anyway.
OBD exists for a reason, diagnostics. Resetting to keep the light off is temporary and if you live in an area with emissions testing they will know that’s what you did, and fail the car. Instead you can use the code or codes that were thrown and deduce the origin of their problem, working your way from most likely culprit to least likely culprit(ECU).
Purchasing 200k car would have a few givens to me, every rubber hose should be replaced, clean out the mass airflow sensor element if applicable, and if they haven’t been before, replace at least the upstream oxygen sensors. Mechanical engine parts don’t set off codes unless it’s really catastrophic like a dropped valve. The sensors that conspire to throw a code are only monitoring air/fuel/emissions systems performance
I would say that ownership of a vehicle with 200k on it should include a code reader of some sort.
Sometimes there are flukes particularly in non-mission critical items where clearing the code and seeing what happens is a good plan of action.
On the other hand that doesn’t mean that you should just ignore it in the future as something else may pop up that could affect mission critical systems. For example a fuel code could be due to a fuel filter that is plugging up and will only get worse, possibly to the point where you find yourself only able to make it up to 25mph before it falls on its face.
If you live in an area with emissions testing the code reader can verify that it will give a good report before you wait in line and throw down your money.
Today there is no reason to spend $1000 on a computer from the dealer, used or “reman” is the way to go. With the internet there is no need to get luck and find a compatible unit locally. There are places like Row52.com, Partsmarket.com, car-part.com and of course E-bay.
A 2 min search at partsmarket shows 1 in network for $194 and because there is just that one 9 others on places like Ebay ranging from $70-$300.
To help clear some stuff up. Yes I have a pretty nice scanner, and had it when I bought the car. I also scanned the car before I drove it off the lot, and was not able to pull any codes that were stored.
I also did not expect the dealer to pay for the repair. Like someone said above just wanted to see if the dealer would help out, like some do. Cant hurt to ask, but this dealer was quick to jump to “talk to my lawyer”.
I had no expectation of this car to be trouble free. Some jump to conclusions too fast. I expected this car to need maintenance, and parts replaced, after all its a 200k car. All I was pointing out is that it the CEL would come on for a different problem as soon as it went off.
I’m on my 3rd 4runner 03,05 now 06. Biggest repair was the 100k timing belt. Now 235k miles 06 ltd 4wd V8 .
I constantly hear nonsense like 500,000 miles is just breaking in for a Toyota. Toyotas are well built cars, but I see Toyotas with far fewer miles than that in the junkyards.
There are several factors that determine a cars longevity other than the badge, like what climate the car was used in, was it garaged or out in the weather, was it in a flood or accident, how was it driven, and how well was it maintained.
Parts have finite lives, mechanical parts wear out, rubber parts crack and decay,.plastic becomes brittle. After a certain point an old car is just an old car, no matter what plastic badge is glued on the hood.
I have to agree with you Don. People have some overly high expectations from cars these days. I hear these same stories “I drove my (insert car here) for 300K miles and I never changed the oil or plugs or tires or brakes” or some other fish tale they come up with.
At 200K miles and 10 years you have to be prepared for some kind of trouble.
When I was younger, I kept 180,000 miles as a limit for a daily-driver type car. After a particularly rough six months with my wife’s ’92 Cavalier, I adjusted that figure to 135,000 or so miles. At that mileage, the car’s probably at least 10 years old, and I’ll end up fixing something on the coldest day of the year. Once our cars hit that mileage, I start looking for a new one.
I wonder how much of a correlation there is between mileage and age. The feature vehicle had 200k/10 years old, which is an average of 20k miles/year. On the surface, that sounds quite reasonable.
OTOH, yearly mileage that low could mean harder, urban miles, whereas, if it was only five years old, with an average of 40k miles/year, one might think those miles were easier, highway commuter miles. Or maybe it’s just strictly age, with mileage being immaterial.
Regardless, it’s a good point about the myth that Toyotas last forever. It should be noted, however, that a 4Runner is quite a bit more complicated than, say, a strippo Corolla. Given the choice between the two, with equivalent mileage and age, if I were looking strictly for longevity, the choice would be clear: basic Corolla.
In fact, a few years ago, I had this exact conversation with an older gentleman who wrecked his old Olds Bravada and wanted advice on a car. Instead of getting a several years old, basic transportation with corresponding mileage, off-lease Corolla (which is what I recommended), he bought a high-mileage, mid-nineties Infiniti Q45. While initial purchase price was low, like the old 4Runner, it almost instantly began nickel-and-diming him to death and he’s now into it many times over what he paid for it.
Not to be rude but make and model are important if longevity is a concern. I have an 06 GX470 with 150k thats only had oil changes ,timing belt and battery…basic maintenance. I believe I’ll put 500k on it before any major repairs. You just cant have same expectations out of a Cavalier thats what 10-15k brand new.
Very true. I just spent $1200 repairing my Odyssey which has 192K on it. I am willing to take the hit because I’ve had it a long time and on average the repairs still have not been too much. Also I can’t get another decent van for $1200. But yeah, at 200K things are going to start breaking.
True. That said, the south tends to be gentler on cars than the north, least of all for rust. I’m in Oklahoma, just one state over from Mister Kleck, and the cars here are in about the same condition.
I agree wholeheartedly. I got to the part where all the records were in the car, drove so nice… My cynical mind “Why do you think the original owner, who took such great care, dumped it?”. Yeah, you found out why… Not trying to be mean or snarky but yes, 200K on anything and all bets are off, full stop.
I have no doubt that the CEL had already been an issue when the original owner traded it and the used car lot was able to clear it enough so that some poor schlub (like the author) wouldn’t discover the issue until after they’d purchased it. Caveat emptor (especially at small used car lots).
Several years ago I bought a 2006 4runner with the 4.7l v8 4wd with over 159k miles on it. After the test drive, I took it to my mechanic to check it out for problems, run a Carfax report on it and I used a tech stream clone to check the ECU. I then went back to the dealer to negotiate. I had them replace the cracked windshield, the air conditioner evaporator core and negotiate down the price to my accepted level. I’ve had it for over 4 years now and have over 181k miles on it. I’ve driven it from Ohio to Arkansas and back towing a large loaded uhaul trailer and had no serious problems. Of course, I’ve replaced maintenance items and upgraded old worn out parts but unlike the Jeep that it replaced, my 4runner has never left me stranded by the side of the road. In addition, I have taken my 4runner through rivers and down trails my Jeep friends were afraid to attempt.a
The moral of the story is, do your homework, have the correct odb tools and plan for maintenance related repairs to a higher mileage vehicle. If you do, you can have a reliable vehicle that will serve you well.
I don’t think thats a fair assessment to make on why she “dumped” it. Did you actually read the part where I called the owner?She was up front and honest why she got rid of the car. She had several 4Runners, and would get rid of them around 200k just because thats about the 10 year mark for her.
As for the code being stored, I scanned the car before I bought it, and found nothing in the computer. When I talked to the owner she told me nothing was wrong with the car when she traded it, and I was inclined to believe her, why would she lie/
Sometimes it might be best to not jump to conclusions and just enjoy the post for what it is.
Never heard the expression “kick rocks,” but i assume it means the same thing as “pound sand.”
I once had a very troublesome high-mileage car, bought used, that I came to call the Antichrist.
I’m like you–I don’t often get openly angry, but enough provocation can do it!
Aside from the emotional stress of the accident and the BS from the other parties, I think totaling the car was the best way to get out from under it.
Yes, “go kick rocks” does mean the same as “pound sand” and I’ve been hearing it a lot more lately; guess it’s floating around in the collective consciousness.
Right. They’re both stylish ways of saying “go away” to someone who wants something from you.
I currently daily drive a retired police car, an 09 Crown Victoria. The car had 97 thousand on it when I got it 5 years ago and it shows 165 thousand now, though that is not accurate. In 5 years I had to replace a battery and one of its cables (due to corrosion), tires, a coil, and while the brakes on one end were worn down and the other end were “ok” I had all 4 corners replaced….same with shocks. Oh, and the window regulator for the driver’s window went out. Pretty much wear items, I would think.
The only truly catastrophic repair was the rear axle. A few months after I bought the car my mechanic told me to start saving for a rebuilt rear axle. The bearings failed and rather than rebuild it it was replaced with a low mileage unit. Unfortunately, the new rear axle was from a Grand Marquis so the speedometer and odometer are no longer “certified calibration”. I would estimate the car has at least 175-180 thousand miles on it. Oh yeah, forgot, the heater core went out over a year ago…ironically on a VERY HOT summer day.
Will it do 200 thousand? Probably. Much more than that without rebuilding something? Who knows. Basically, all I have done, aside from the heater core, is do preventive maintenance.
I for one, am glad you survived the experience of being run off the road by a semi.
Thankfully there is insurance to cover these investments.
As for the Toyota, a couple hundred thousand miles is a bunch. I still have confidence in the brand as one of the best, albeit I have not owned one yet.
I once bought a car with about 100,000 miles on it, and while I did get three years or so out of it, pieces did fall off now and then, more than I had hoped for at the time. Chalk it up as learning.
Well said. The truck collision results could have been much worse. I’ve driven transport trucks in heavy traffic and it’s a difficult job. From the cab, the truck seems as big as a house and the road seems very small. It’s an unforgiving situation. I’ve learned to recognize traffic conditions where other trucks may have problems and simply never drive alongside them at these times. Curves, lane changes, construction areas etc are all areas where a truck may have trouble and one simply drives your
car to give them space at these times. Yes the truck driver must drive safely and in control but mistakes happen, and the car will always lose when they do.
The old airplane pilot adage, “There are old pilots, and there are bold pilots, but there are no old, bold pilots” applies to driving, as well. In effect, smart drivers drive defensively and give other, much larger commercial vehicles a wide berth and try to anticipate where they may be heading. I cannot recount how many times I’ve moved over in anticipation of a semi needing to get into my lane somewhere up the road, such as moving over simply because an emergency vehicle may be on the shoulder.
So true. “You know how I’ve never fallen thru thin ice (I’m Minnesotan)? I don’t walk on water, ever.
I’ve heard that adage about mushroom hunters.
Re-striping during road construction is a problem. I’ve noticed that they actually grind the old stripes out of the asphalt but that still leaves a dark stripe in the lighter-colored asphalt. When the sun’s in your eyes sometimes it’s really tough to tell which are the real stripes so that’s at least a weak excuse for the truck driver.
No excuse for that tanker not pulling over after he it you, though. Was the driver cited?
> ” she saved my life. After the FB, things had changed in my car life, and had to make some changes.”
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We MUST know, what happened? What does this mean?
The crash described is one of my biggest concerns when driving on interstates. I absolutely do not trust semi-truck drivers and try to get around semis with dispatch. The ones driving slower in the left most lane are a real problem; they do it often and those vehicles take special attention to clear on the right.
The interstate driving we do most is on I-80, I-25, I-40, I-17, I-15 and I-90. Trucks are worst on 40 and 80. When my wife is driving and I am riding I frequently have to tell her not to drive at a similar speed near a semi in an adjacent lane. Pass it or get behind it but don’t drive next to it! It does not see us and the driver’s texting or something anyway. Stay away from semis.
I-40 more or less divides the N-S sides of Oklahoma City, and I agree; the semi-truck drivers there are spectacularly awful. Although I would say that I-35 (our E-W interstate) is decidedly worse.
I try to give semi-truck drivers a wide berth.
I do too. The worst ones are the ones driving aggressively way over the speed limit. One nearly hit me in my Achieva when I was going the speed limit in the right lane. I was watching him come up behind me In my rearview and when I guessed he wasn’t going to use the clear of cars passing lane, I dodged onto the breakdown strip at the last moment. I then saw the trucker jackknifing into the center with dirt and grass flying in my mirror so he must have spun the wheel at the last second as he finally saw me or looked up from his phone.
No I don’t trust truckers one damn bit. They pass each other going uphill at 10mph under the limit, they ride your ass and at best they’re the ones who make all the potholes that wear your car out. Why don’t we ship all that freight by rail??
Quite a story — live and learn, I guess!
The crash is quite a story as well, and I can’t imagine what it must have been like to wait for two hours for the Highway Patrol to show up, especially with all of the strangeness that began developing regarding the truck driver and his company. Your girlfriend’s advice not to say a word was spot-on.
Especially since the ASP is always waiting for a speeder at the point on I-49 where the limit changes from 70 to 65 as it enters Fayetteville. My GF’s daughter lives there so we go there often.
Her daughter’s Acura TL with 171K is nickel and dimeing her, two breakdowns in the past week, but they seem to be tied to the alternator, which finally failed yesterday. NO matter the name on the hood, it’s going to need fixing from time to time with that mileage.
Albert Klein had the right idea with his Beetle that he drove over 2 million miles. Just keep fixing it!
The durability of modern vehicles is amazing. Thousands of parts that must endure heat, cold, UV, salt, abuse, neglect at the lowest possible cost and in many plants build 1000 units a day. Figure the pistons on my 250k mile Camry have slid over the cylinder walls over 1 billion times and the starter engaged over 20,000 times. We are so spoiled.
I had a succession of 4Runners starting with a ‘94 SR5, then a ‘97 SR5 and finally an ‘05 Limited v6 of this same generation, all bought used with 40-50k miles. The first one was traded for the second when the dreaded head gasket recall came out. The second was rear ended hard at 249,000 miles and the third was sold at 50k, I’d had it less than a year and 10k miles. It was besieged with CELs, TPM warnings and other electronic issues from the day I bought it. It was still under warranty, so it was all covered but spent more time in the shop chasing the “Christmas tree” dashboard issues than on the road. I put 200k on my ‘97 with one repair I did my self for $13.00. It’s why you see more 3rd gen 4Runners still on the road than 4th gen.
I hear you. I just made the same mistake, throwing money and parts at what should have been a straightforward repair on a car I own, but wasn’t. I won’t spoil it, because the COAL is coming, but let’s just say the brand rhymes with “Shaguar.”