Recent content by khaug

No. I tow. The forthcoming 4Runners will have inadequate torque to tow a heavy/aerodynamically demanding trailer (as did my '03 V8). We now drive a VW Touareg. (553 lb/ft, V10 diesel w/ 6spd) Sorry, Toyota, you just don't get it.

Sold my 4Runner and have the following new Toyota oem parts for sale: Two p/n 87139-47010-83 cabin air filters Two p/n 90915-YZZD3 oil filters One p/n 17801-50040 engine air filter One pair front brake pads, p/n 04465-35290 All parts are for 2003 V8 Limited 4WD 4Runner (but should fit other...

O JEEZ!!! Are the people on this forum so freaking dense that they're unable to realize: -This is a maintenance issue - as stated in the maintenance booklet, this is maintanence that needs to be done at each oil change!!! If you maintain it the way Toyota tells you to, the "clunk" issue...

Forget any mpg figures reported by the trip computer: They are pure fantasy, vastly inflated. There is only one way to know true mpg: -Write down odo reading and gallons to fill at your last fill up. -At your next fill up, record the number of gallons shown on the pump, and determine how...

The short answer is "yes", but you need to know a couple of simple things: Tow weight limit for the '03 is 5,000# with a weight-carrying hitch. If your trailer is over 1,000#, it must have brakes. You need to watch the tach and learn to identify when the torque converter has unlocked itself...

The short answer is "yes", but you need to know a couple of simple things: Tow weight limit for the '03 is 5,000# with a weight-carrying hitch. If your trailer is over 1,000#, it must have brakes. You need to watch the tach and learn to identify when the torque converter has unlocked itself...

I've towed track cars with my two 4Runners for a total of 35K miles or so. Here are my suggestions: Don't just put the shift lever in "D", engage cruise and expect the truck to do all the work. Learn what gear you're going to need for any given situation and manually downshift the...

3rd gen & 4Runners don't have "strut" front suspension: Their front suspension is unequal-length control arm type with concentric coil spring/shock units. True strut-type suspension systems (such as McPherson) use the strut to partially control suspension geometry and absorb some of the...

So after all your research, illuminate us: WTF are "HIR" headlights? Thanks.

And what, pray tell, is a "mist function"? Our wipers have a nice variable intermittent setting that I use a lot, and you can do one swipe by just nudging the stalk. You don't mean rain-sensing, do you? That's a big-dollar option that we've had on a BMW, M-B and Porsche we've owned. It's...

The cladding that came on the 03 4Runners was very cool, at least I liked it. Any insight as to why the cladding was discontinued in that form? I liked the two tone effect. You and two other people liked that stuff! The salesman that sold us our '03 (one of the very first 4th gens delivered)...

IMHO, you wasted your money. The OE plugs should have done fine duty for 30K miles. The Iridium plugs you installed (assuming the heat range is correct) should now last for ~ 120 K miles! 4Runners have been delivered with Denso and NGK plugs in V6 opposite cylinder banks for at least a...

Glad you enjoyed it. But let's look at the FACTS: I tow. The extra weight (~500#) and larger size (more aero drag) of the Sequoia are going to result in diminished mpg and less available power @ highway speeds. That's the last thing I need! If I were carrying a large family or needed huge...

The only problem w/ 3rd generation 'Runners that's cropped up often on the forums is failure of the rear axle seals, which lets differential lube leak out and contaminate the brake shoes. This is expensive to repair correctly ($600-800), and repairs often seem to fail again very soon. Look at...

On 87 octane regular, our '03 V8 will run noticably rough under moderate acceleration, This is the knock sensors intervening and dialing back the ignition timing. 89 octane mid-grade reduces this somewhat, but it's still detectable. 91 (or better) octane premium completely eliminates the...