2003 4 runner- need advice please!

[Kaim2012]

Hi there!
Please be patient with me as I'm not the best with cars, but I am trying to help my husband with some issues. He works away from home 5 out of 7 so we are trying to get everything organized so that we can fix our issues before we are set to drive to Yellow stone on the 20th!

We have a 2003 4runner SR5-- I think it is the V6 model. We bought it brand new off the truck at the dealership and it has given us over a decade of worry free performance! Admittedly I was a little nervous when we passed 200k miles, but I believe in Toyota because this car has never left me stranded or stuck while we were living in the mountains. In fact it is my husbands daily commuter up to our business in the mountains still.

The only major repair we have ever had is something a wee bit similar to the issue we are having now. About a year into ownership a mouse got into the car and chewed through the harness connecting the ABS systems? (I'm not certain-- the repair was pricey with the the "harness" costing well over $700 at the dealership). My husband discovered this when the versatrac went crazy and he spun out badly.

We have continued to struggle with a mouse problem in the car. We ended up purchasing a Honda Minivan for the kids and I (concerns about the mouse waste and also because we were pregnant then with baby #3 and are currently pregnant with #4!), and my husband continued to use the 4 runner while we tried to eliminate the mouse issue. I have never found where they have come in and during the summers it was not out of the norm for me to trap between 1-3 mice a day when it was really bad. I cleaned every inch of the car, and they still came in. The mice stopped in the winter, but as it warms up we start the whole cycle again.

About a month ago the ABS lights came on, and the VSC lights came on. My husband told me that the automatic traction control is not working but hadn't really worried. The driveway to our home in the mountains is a bit treacherous when letting the computer decide anyway, so he was ok with it.

Could another mouse have chewed these same cables? Is there a reason why they are attracted to the cables? Where would we look to visually inspect them?

I have heard that 4th and 5th Gens sometimes have a vacuum leak issue, and speaking briefly with my husband this morning he did mention that he thinks the car is running a little rich. He said it would make sense that maybe we have a vacuum issue. What does a vacuum leak entail?

We love this 4runner.. and to be honest it is a very sentimental vehical for us both! My husband is very firm that no matter what, he will have this car forever and we have plans to fix up some cosmetic issues (a drunk kissed fenders with us once and a rear quarter panel that ripped off this winter- my fault

He is going to pull codes for me today if he can get ahead of work. Is there anyone who can help? I will have the car back home here in the city on Sunday to clean out, steam and lay down some peppermint oil (everyone swears by it with mice) so that would be a perfect time for us to look at any suggestions!

We are set to drive to yellow stone in less than three weeks hauling a pop up and our youngest kids, so we want to be safe and get to the bottom of both this ABS /VSC issue and mouse issue!

Thanks!

 

[Toyotafan03]

I purchased my '03 4Runner a couple months back, and when I was taking the entire carpet and seats out I noticed mouse nests and droppings. May be a coincidence, but seeing this leads me to think there is some kind of access that is easy for mice to get into in our 4runners. Sorry I don't have any fixes for the problems, just thought I would share that I have the same mouse problem as you.

 

[Kaim2012]

I purchased my '03 4Runner a couple months back, and when I was taking the entire carpet and seats out I noticed mouse nests and droppings. May be a coincidence, but seeing this leads me to think there is some kind of access that is easy for mice to get into in our 4runners. Sorry I don't have any fixes for the problems, just thought I would share that I have the same mouse problem as you.

Hey no problem. I'm kind of wondering if there is some sort of access under the driver side, say by the gas and brake pedals. I see a trail of .. grease dirt whatever when I look, so it seems to be a popular spot for the rodent in our car. Hopefully not for much longer as the little SOB came in the house via my husbands duffle bag. We're calling it the hunt for red October in our house..:flamethrwoer2:

 

[bergs]

They gained access to the cabin through the blower box in mine.

 

[CXS]

Bergs is probably right, there have been a number of people finding nests there. Take a look at the cabin air filter, you'll know right away if that's their access point.

 

[Kaim2012]

They gained access to the cabin through the blower box in mine.

The blower box?

How would I get to it-- is this something that I would have to disassemble the dash to get to?

 

[Kaim2012]

Bergs is probably right, there have been a number of people finding nests there. Take a look at the cabin air filter, you'll know right away if that's their access point.

A few years back I found a nest in the glove compartment-- is there clear access between the glove compartment and this blower box? Sorry if this is a dumb question-- I'm still learning a lot from all of this!

 

[CXS]

Yes, I believe the "sealed" cabin air filter permits a mouse to reach the glove box since it's located directly behind it. They may have to gnaw a bit but that's not going to stop one. The good thing is the cabin filter is easy to get to: drop the glovebox door then you'll see the door. I suspect you may find something other than a dirty filter.

Video: https://youtu.be/4ANLGsNgFw8

 

[iBison]

could you maybe put a piece of metal screen above/below it?

 

[TechWrench]

Rodent problems are a common problem in certain areas of the country. If you are seeing indications of rodent activity in the heater blower motor area, especially on top of the cabin air filter, the most likely access point is the fresh air intake located just under the cowl that goes across the area between the windshield and the hood. The wiper arms go through it. If you remove the wiper arms and then the plastic cowl, you will see a fresh air intake opening on the passenger side, just beneath the windshield. This opening is not covered, and the critters can climb up the inside of the fenders and get into this area. Once inside the intake vent, they have access to the entire AC/heat ductwork. They like to make nests and store their winter food supply in this area. The only fix I have found that works, once you have cleaned all their mess up, is to fashion a screen to cover this fresh air intake port. I normally use 1/4" galvanized screen mesh to cover the opening and lock it in lace with tie wraps or a large screw type hose clamp. Once I have done this to a vehicle, don't have any further rodent problems.

The reason they like to destroy the wiring is the wire insulation used. It has a chemical in the composition that they like the smell of, and they tend to go after it.

 

[Kaim2012]

So we went outside a few minutes ago with a scanner to see what the codes are. The lights that are on: Check Engine, tract off and VSC lights are lit. When we ran the code it gave us two results- both for the same code: P0430.

When I looked up the code its referencing the catalytic converter and/or an air flow sensor failure. My husband isn't so concerned about his as he wants to have an after market system system put in that doesn't require a Catalytic converter. However, we live in an emissions free county so emissions are not a worry for us, can my husband remove the converter and put in a straight pipe, can he/ how would he remove the code. Also how would he clean the check engine light so it turns off.

I am curious though, no codes came up for the versatrack and traction control, which currently does not work. Has anyone had this happen? Is this a fail safe system? We are working on the mouse problem right now and will be using TechWrenches suggestion to fix the gap that is most likely letting the mice in.

Thanks!

 

[toyo]

Those lights you mentioned can and will come on with a lot of other system faults. I would bet your problem is something totally unrelated to a rodent.

 

[toyo]

Sorry, I missed your last post....

The VSC and TRAC lights will come on to notify you that those systems have been disabled due to the fact that the ECM has detected a problem somewhere and has turned on the CEL.

Read my attachment.

The biggest headache I can see with changing the exhaust system is tricking the ECM that the O2 sensors are in place and happy.