Long Time Lurker, First Time Poster - How Badly Did I Screw Up My Brand New 04?

Howdy folks! Well after months of slobbering over two very different vehicles, posting on www.titantalk.com and lurking on here (great site BTW), I purchased a 2004 Sport Edition V8 4x4 in late March. I tow a ski boat about once a week during the ski season on a dual axle trailer, so torque and turn radius were prime considerations.

I love the truck - this is the first new vehicle I've ever owned, and the first Toyota after two Chevy Blazers (I don't plan on owning a domestic vehicle again).

Naturally after owning GM products, I'm hypersensitive to rattles, whines, clunks, thumps, etc. My 04 4Runner was quiet and solid as a $30k Toyota should be until recently. Having such a new, wonderful ride come down with problems this early (not even 4000 miles) is like getting punched in the stomach .

I have a couple of questions - one regarding something stupid I did, and two others regarding other problems.

The Stupid Thing I Did - Our driveway slopes up to the garage. The other day I was reversing down the driveway to better line up with the door. Old, bad, manual transmission habits die hard, and I moved the gear selector from reverse to drive before I had completely stopped going backwards. There was a nasty ticking noise and vibration directly under my feet, and some dash light blinked a few times accompanied by a chirping noise. This has happened to a lesser extent one other time. Anybody know what I did to my new ride , and if I should be worried? I'm not an auto mechanic, but I'm a bicycle mechanic and engineer, so I'd love a technical explanation if possible. I don't remember my Blazer being this sensitive.

The Other Very Worrysome Thing - While putting my boat in or taking it out, I initially found that the Hill Start Assist was an excellent feature. It allowed me to take my foot off of the brake and move it to the throttle without the truck trying to roll backwards down the ramp. That is until the last two times I launched my boat. Both times, when I took my foot off the brake and (quickly) moved it to the throttle, there was another nasty ticking noise, vibration, dash light, and chirping, and the truck actually started rolling backwards. Obviously the Hill Start Assist couldn't hold the truck, trailer, and boat on a relatively modestly sloped boat ramp. This scared the crap out of me and has really got me wondering if I bought the right truck and how much I've screwed it up. I hate the thought of having damaged my new ride.

The other two questions are relatively minor. I have to regularly drive over some pretty sharp speed bumps in a parking garage. I take it easy, because I know what havoc they can cause for shocks, batteries, etc. The last time I drove over them, the usually perfectly quiet and solid X-REAS suspension gave off a loud clunk every time the right rear tire went over a bump. Like I said, I'm not mis-treating the truck. Any ideas what is up? This is frustrating.... I bought a Toyota so I wouldn't have to put up with clunks and rattles!

Finally - the same day I heard the new suspension clunk, the brake pedal developed an audible and tactile click, sometimes while applying the brakes and sometimes while releasing them. It feels like a cable or something is sticking or mis-aligned. Again, any suggestions or ideas would be very much appreciated.

Thanks a bunch for your time folks. It's going in for its first service soon, and maybe sooner depending on your responses. I changed to Mobil 1 at 1500 miles, but it's almost ready for it's 5,000 mile service.

Thanks!
Justin

The rattling brake pedal situation sounds like HAC

The thunking sounds like the spare or jack is loose. Just tighten both down.

It sounds like your chirping and flashing lights/vibration is due to the traction control, or some part of it (VSC, HAC). It happens whenever the system senses a slip (possibly because of flooring it from a stop), or when the HAC feature activates. To get a better idea, I suggest you look up the systems in your manual. It's a bit confusing with all these electronic systems and is normal for the most part.

Not sure what your thunk is. Could be something loose within the vehicle. If it persists along with your brake problem, have it checked out.

I hope this was helpful for you.

For the noise you hear when you go over speed bumps, look for anything that might be loose in the back -- expecially stuff you put in. Don't forget the jack. If nothing is obvious, take everything out and see if you can recreate the noise. Add stuff back a little at a time until you figure out what is causing the noise.

I suspect the jack is loose so it is an easy fix.

I believe the clicking you feel in the brake pedal happens on all 4th generations. IIRC, it's somehow related to the air conditioning system. There have been other posts about it.

The vibration in the pedals and the ticking noise is the uphill assist control. It scared me the first couple of times my vehicle did it. I don't think that the HAC is supposed to stop the vehicle from rolling backwards all together; it just applies the brakes so that the rollback isn't so severe. As far as the clunking is considered, I agree with everyone else in that it is probably your jack or something else loose. If not, take it to the dealer and tell them to figure out what is wrong (it should still be under warranty).

Hey guys, thanks for the suggestions. I checked the jack and spare and they're both tight. I did remove the new tongue that came with the tow package, which was in the right side rear storage area. I'm really hoping that's what it was.... but since it wasn't there one day and suddenly there the next makes me wonder.

The transmission area ticking noise, accompanied with vibration and flashing dash lights is more worrysome to me. I really don't think it's something that is supposed to be happening - all situations I've experienced it were at slow speeds on dry pavement, so I don't think it was traction control or anything like that. Like I said, the first time it happened was because I did something very stupid. But, now that I did it once, it seems much more susceptible to it under relatively normal (towing a boat slowly up a ramp) driving conditions. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and getting it looked at during the first service.

The brake pedal ticking noise is also new, although my wife's '97 Corolla also does it. Must be a Toyota thing.

Thanks again, I'll try to keep you updated.

Justin

Read the manual about Hill Assist Control -- see if the functions described match when you see it occur. Road conditions have nothing to do when it operates.

Roger that - I read it a month or two ago but I admit that I was a little dazzled by all of the different systems to retain the specifics....

Thanks,
Justin

Things you did

The T4R has an electronic throttle and transmission. The first "Stupid Thing" would not have caused damage unless you heard metal (tranny gears) grinding among the other noises. Those other noises (lights, vibrations and beeper) are the HAC kicking in to try and stop the truck plus hold it. Which leads to the boat ramp. The HAC will hold the truck but only for a few (~5) seconds. Now you've added the weight of a boat & trailer. This would impact (shorten) the length of time and what the HAC can do for you.
As for the clunk... get it checked under warranty.

Let us know what you find out after the dealer checks it out. I would think you would want to use the emergency brake in the future.

I also have a steep driveway and have experienced all of the symptoms you note and I can assure you that it's standard operating procedure for the HAC.

I would definitely hit the dealership regarding the thunking......

Thanks again guys, I sure appreciate it. I'd love to upgrade my knowledge of my new ride to at least the "enthusiast" level, and your site is helping alot.

I'll let you know what the dealership says, but I'm also not holding my breath. I don't really see them digging into a brand new truck unless I turn into a very squeeky wheel.

Thanks!
Justin