So i just figured this a couple hours ago, i was driving my company 2002 tacoma today and i noticed that the throttle response in my 4runner sucked compared to my company tacoma. So i stared at my throttle body for hours and reallized that you can adjust your throttle cable to make it tighter. after 9 years (on mine) my t-cable has stretched out a little. all you need is 2, 14mm wrenches and adjust your throttle body a little. i just thought id share that bit of info with you all.

post a picture of what bolts we need to tighten

Hmm...Interesting. Any negatives to doing this?

If I'm on the interstate and press the petal all the way down sometimes it will be 2-3 seconds before it shifts into a lower gear and starts to really acclerate. I wonder if this would help solve the problem.

You can also bring the transmission kickdown (1996-2000 only) and cruise control cables back to spec by tightening the corresponding cables. Both cables are located on the throttle body as well.

I tightened all my cables so that there is no tension but no slack when everything is at rest

i love it, so much better now! haha thanks man you rock!

Mathew, for us less-than-familar folks, take a photo and post it (as previously suggested) Thanks in advance

Here you guys go.

just tighten the slack out of these three cables

nuts to tighten are circled hope this helps

To clarify this picture a bit more: The red circle to the left is the cruise control cable. The red circle to the upper right is the transmission kickdown cable. The red circle to the lower right is the accelerator cable. Tighten just enough to remove the slack, but not too tight. Also, cleaning the area (like the spring) from dirt helps too. I spray silicone on the spring and in the cable housings to help with smooth movement and to repel dirt from sticking.

very interesting, i wonder if this answers my question as to why 01 and 02's are so much quicker to the pedal

01 and 02 are drive by wire IIRC so they would be totally different situation.

What is drive by wire?

Dew: What is that filter like thing?

Ok im sorry for not posting pics or more instructions. Thank you drew for the pic. heres some instructions for you all:

1. Throttle Cable
2. Trasmission kickdown cable
3. Cruise controll cable

Using 2, 14mm wrenches loosen the nut on the left of the 2 nuts (1,2) to the right of the 2 nuts (3) in the direction of the arrows. Then pull the cable tight and move the other nut over to hold the cable in place. It's better to do this with 2 people, have 1 person sit in the car and push on the gas pedal while the other person adjusts the cable. Doing this will allow the person adjusting the cable to see how much slack is still in the line. Adjusting the cable to tight will cause your throttle to be open a little bit, you will know if its too tight if you turn your car on and it idles at i higher rpm than normal. Adjusting the cable to loose will result in having to push the pedal all the way to the floor to get throttle response. Make sure to tighen all your cable nuts and ta da, throttle response.

Drive by wire is an electronically controlled throttle (no direct cable connection between pedal and throttle). The 2001-2002 do not have an adjustable kickdown cable (electronically controlled). I think they switched to a drive by wire system to have more electronic features like VSC.

Checked mine out this morning and all the cables are LOOSE! two of the cables are so loose that they are almost out of the little gutters they are supposed to sit in. I brought my wrenches with me today, and can't wait to adjust these at lunch time!

This could be good...

Thanks for the write up Matthew. I'm going to check mine today.