Recent content by brett_murphy

As a side note, the tensioner, which was from Gates and only a few months old, went bad. Luckily, it didn't get that far out of whack. I replaced the tensioner with a Toyota part, reset the timing and have not had a problem since.

Well, that got easier. Last night I cleared the codes, disconnected the battery, let it sit for a bit and hooked the battery back up. I just went out and started it up again and let it run for a few minutes. Misfires on cylinders 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8. I seriously doubt that both 02 sensors...

I'm chasing down a random misfire that's bad enough I can't drive the T4R. Yay! It's going to be the motivator to get some tools that I've been missing in the box, though.

I changed the plugs and it improved enough to make it seem like a cylinder isn't firing properly at all. That should say how bad it was running before. There was a very strong scent of gas in the exhaust, too. I'm leaning towards a coil or a fuel injector. It's getting late, I'll mess with it...

Up on the Outer Banks, the hardest part is getting through the access points most of the time. Once you're on the beach, it gets easier. I want to try Cape Lookout sometime.

My wife took the T4R out for an errand, and it started running like crap just down the street- rough idle, down on power, CEL on and "VSC TRAC" "VSC OFF" also came on. This was *abrupt*- it was running like a top just a week ago, but them temperatures have been weird the past week: from the 70s...

It's funny that I don't post much because this thing doesn't need anything done to it at all. We loaded it up with four people, all of our stuff, put two kayaks on top and a small boat on the back and drove three hours to the beach. Nothing went wrong, other than MPGs dropping from 17.5 to 15...

On the beach at Fort Fisher, NC, actually. I've been debating using Plasti-dip instead of the 3M tape. Once I figure it out, I'll post pictures, including my absolutely awful scratch repair.

Not much has happened, nor has it needed to. We threw two kayaks on top, stuffed it full of gear and people and then drove the 4Runner from NC to Vermont and all through the mountains while I was visiting my family. I still have that roll of 3M tape sitting there, waiting to get applied...

This isn't my daily driver. It's purpose is to haul large items, take my entire family and all of our stuff on trips and to perform beach buggy duty. When I saw it for sale, it had some maintenance due on it, but it was roughly half of the price as the other ones for sale in my area. The...

I've been down to Ft. Fisher the past two weekends. Since the annual beach pass at Ft. Fisher is $50, I figure using it is a good idea. The sand there is pretty fluffy, and I've seen people stuck both times. I air down to between 20 and 25 psi. Airing down is cheap insurance. There is free air...

Today I put a hole in the air conditioning condenser by accidentally stabbing it with a screwdriver. Luckily, the radiator is already out, so replacing it shouldn't be that hard.

The Prinsu rack looks pretty good.

It is good to see another Raleigh T4R. I also now know who grabbed those 06 housings off of Craigslist before I could!

Most likely, but given the silver ones have been tested, I'm going to hold out until those become available.