06 V8 Sport - Sulfur smell when back window down?

[Scuba4Runner]

My new Sport has about 500 miles on it. I noticed when driving a few days algo with the back window down, I smelled Sulfur. At first I thought it was just something outside. However, the smell continued for about 10 minutes while driving. It went away after a while.

Should I take my runner back to the dealer?

Thanks for any ideas

Scuba4Runner

 

[OUTRNNR]

My new Sport has about 500 miles on it. I noticed when driving a few days algo with the back window down, I smelled Sulfur. At first I thought it was just something outside. However, the smell continued for about 10 minutes while driving. It went away after a while.

Should I take my runner back to the dealer?

Thanks for any ideas

Scuba4Runner

Welcome to the forum. If you use the search button above and search for this topic, you can see that this issue has been beaten to death in multiple other threads.

The Sulfur smell is a common problem among late model 4Runners. Although there is a Toyota TSB on this issue, it depends where you are and how good your dealer is as to if it will be fixed or not.

 

[Scuba4Runner]

I did a search, but only saw this problem for 2003-2005. Am I the first person to see this with 2006 model?

I will do some more searching.

Thanks for the help

 

[Scuba4Runner]

I called the dealer..

And they told me that I should not be driving with the back window down. They also said that there is no TSB on the 2006 model for this problem. So I a guess I am screwed for now...

 

[Presto]

Re: I called the dealer..

And they told me that I should not be driving with the back window down. They also said that there is no TSB on the 2006 model for this problem. So I a guess I am screwed for now...

I have an '06 V6 and have the same problem. But... I think it gets better as you put more miles on the truck. I have 1700 miles and it doesn't stink as often. The only way I can make it smell is by putting the gas to the floor and getting on the highway. Otherwise, I'm not having as big of a problem with it as I did upon buying it.

Look on the bright side, the sulfer makes a good joke in the car with a group of people. Just stay quiet and make everyone think that nobody is fessing up to the fart. It's also a good way to impress the lady friends.

 

[Derek]

My '04 V6 had it, and my '05 V8 has it, so I just learned to live with it. Only time it's ever been an issue is if I floor it and then come to a quick stop, because then the exhaust I guess catches up to me.

 

[Presto]

The good part is you can now fart with the windows up, and blame it on the 4Runner. Keeps my wife guessing.

 

[jlboers]

Re: Re: I called the dealer..

I have an '06 V6 and have the same problem. But... I think it gets better as you put more miles on the truck. I have 1700 miles and it doesn't stink as often. The only way I can make it smell is by putting the gas to the floor and getting on the highway. Otherwise, I'm not having as big of a problem with it as I did upon buying it.

I too have a V6 2006 T4R and the same thing. I now have ~3k on it and the smell has definitely dimished. I think the cat needs to "burn in". I will be visiting the stealer at about 5k and if it's there, raise holy hell about it. For now I am just considering it as the toyota "new car smell"

 

[064runnersport]

Re: I called the dealer..

And they told me that I should not be driving with the back window down. They also said that there is no TSB on the 2006 model for this problem. So I a guess I am screwed for now...

what dont drive with the window down? that was one of the selling points of my runner sunroof open and rear window down rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Zachary]

I have an '05 V8 Sport 4x4, but I have never had the sulphur smell..knock on wood! I bought it new with 6 miles or so. It now has about 10,000. I guess I'm lucky?

 

[Uneek]

I haven't noticed the smell in my '06. I hope it doesn't show up either. I agree with the member above, the smell should go away with mileage.

On the other hand, my '04 Camry smelled like raw sewage during the test drive (happened on the one I bought and two others that I test drove) but quickly went away afterwards.

 

[Jay58]

My 04 runner had the sulfur smell and my dealer agreed to fix it as per the TSB. I did not notice and still do not notice any difference. I still get "the smell" whenever the rear window is down

 

[M1911]

And they told me that I should not be driving with the back window down

Your manual will tell you the same thing. Don't do that unless you like breathing CO.

It's called the "station wagon" effect. Driving with the rear window open draws exhaust in through the rear window, inside the truck. That's not unique to the 4Runner -- the same thing will happen with any truck or station wagon that has a similar rear window.

 

[Presto]

Your manual will tell you the same thing. Don't do that unless you like breathing CO.

It's called the "station wagon" effect. Driving with the rear window open draws exhaust in through the rear window, inside the truck. That's not unique to the 4Runner -- the same thing will happen with any truck or station wagon that has a similar rear window.

Does it say that in the manual of convertibles and Jeep Wranglers too?

More CO2. I guess that answers the reason why I'm always so sleepy when I drive with the back window down.

 

[snap315]

The Joy of a Sun/Moon Roof!

Your manual will tell you the same thing. Don't do that unless you like breathing CO.

It's called the "station wagon" effect. Driving with the rear window open draws exhaust in through the rear window, inside the truck. That's not unique to the 4Runner -- the same thing will happen with any truck or station wagon that has a similar rear window.

I don't get this effect when I also open my sunroof along with my back window. :

That way, the airflow is from the sunroof out the back window.

I had the TSB done for my 2005 T4R and it fixed the infrequent but annoying sulfur smell on mine.

 

[M1911]

Does it say that in the manual of convertibles and Jeep Wranglers too?

The geometry of a convertible is very different from the geometry of an SUV or station wagon, resulting in very different airflow.

I've never had a wrangler nor seen its manual, so I can't comment on it. But I've read the manual on my 4Runner and it says not to drive with the rear window down.

 

[no1sportz]

My 04 had it and both 06s have it. I have learned to live with it. As someone mentioned, as the miles get higher the smell tends to become weaker. Strange thing...I had a 2003 LX470...same V8...no sulfur. Different cats I guess??

 

[JoJoBetsy]

Here's your TSB for the sulfur smell. Take it to the dealership and have service repair it.

jb

 

[JoJoBetsy]

2006 2UZ-FE Sulfer Smell TSB

 

[JoJoBetsy]

And for the 2006 V6, 2 pages.