Know what a 30-year-old 4Runner is really worth before you hand over money.
A 25-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 first 30 days — what to do once you own it, in the right order
Sample pages
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?
24 hours from purchase. Download the file right away and keep your own copy — the link stops working after that. If something goes wrong in that window, reply to the delivery email and a real person will get you the file.
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.