Know what a 30-year-old 4Runner is really worth before you hand over money.
A 22-page field inspection manual for the 1990–1995 Toyota 4Runner. Not an article — a scoring system, a driveway checklist, nine walk-away lines, and a table that tells you what every defect is worth at the bargaining table.
Why a checklist and not a blog post
Most people inspect a truck backwards. They start the engine, decide they like it, and then look for reasons to justify the decision they already made. By the time they're on the ground with a flashlight, they're not looking for problems — they're looking for permission.
This manual inverts that. You inspect from the ground up, in a fixed order, and the engine comes nearly last. The most expensive thing on a 2nd gen isn't the engine. It's the frame the engine is bolted to.
What's inside
- The phone screen — eleven questions that kill half the listings before you leave the house
- Frame and underbody — the six points that matter, and how to test metal without a hammer
- The 3VZ-E head gasket — five tests, in order, to know which of three situations you're in
- Four-wheel drive — actually testing the actuator nobody tests
- A 20-minute test-drive route — five segments, each built to surface a different fault
- The negotiation table — what each finding is worth, and how to name one number
- The field sheet — one printable page to carry to the driveway
- The garage sheets — a maintenance log with your own service intervals written in, and a build sheet for the mod list in the right order. Both printable, both meant to live in the folder.
- The first 30 days — what to do once you own it, in the right order
There is another 4Runner. There is always another 4Runner. The most expensive mistake isn't paying too much — it's buying the wrong one because you'd already spent the afternoon on it.
Questions
Does it cover the 22R-E and the 3VZ-E?
Both. Section 1 explains why the engine in front of you moves the price more than mileage does, and the head gasket section is built for the V6.
Does it work for the Hilux Surf?
The chassis and rust guidance applies directly. Engine coverage is for the US-market 22R-E and 3VZ-E.
Is this the same as your free buyer's guide?
No. The free article explains the truck. This decides whether you buy it — scoring, thresholds, walk-away lines, and a sheet you write on. Different tool, different job.
What if I have a question about a specific truck?
Reply to the delivery email. A real person reads it — the same one who wrote the manual.
How long does the download link work?
48 hours, and one download. The link in your delivery email opens a download page, and we email you a 6-digit code to confirm it's you. Because it is a single download, open it on something you can save to — a laptop rather than a borrowed phone. If something goes wrong, reply to the delivery email and a real person will get you the file.
Can I share my copy?
No. It's licensed to one person, and only the buyer can download it: every download needs a code that's emailed to the address used at checkout. Each copy is also stamped with the buyer's name and a license number on every page. If a friend is shopping for a 2nd gen too, send them here — it's what keeps these guides coming.
Refunds?
It's a digital file, so it can't be returned. If something in it is wrong, tell me and I'll fix it and send you the corrected version.