3rd generation quirks which we all face, but love the vehicle regardless
- Thread starter 2000runr
- Start date
pentagrammaton
New member
um, is this the one where it says nearly empty but it's not?
steezemcqueen
Moderator
Spencer
New member
HAHA You guys got it made compared to us with the land rovers.
I love my discovery but..
-Yall have rusted bumpers, we get rusted body panels.
-Yall don't have auto sun roofs, WE DO!! Two of them actually! That are prone to leak.
-Every 80k yall need to change your timing belt, we need a new headgasket or engine.
-If our headliners dont sag its because we painted them. I PRESSURE WASHED A 4runner headliner and no sag.
-Your poor window wont roll down from the rear, we don't have a roll down window. [I MISS THIS ONE]
-You can't open your tailgate from the inside... Oh wait we got yall on this.
-Feel your truck doesn't have any acceleration? We have LESS, I swear my engine doesn't know how to rev, and I have a 4.0 V8 with the same HP as your 3.4 V6 OH and I get about 3mpg less now, than when I had a 200k 4runner with 6" lift and 285/75/16's. NOW Im all stock on my discovery with 235/70/16's and can't get up nearlly as quick as a 4runner or gasmileage even close.
What ELSE?
-No auto down window?, well at least your rear windows roll down all the way, discoverys only go down halfway in the rear.
-Our rear passenger windows go out and you have to pull the window ecu and resolder it. [learned that today]
-YOU GUYS CAN ONLY LIFT YOUR TRUCK 3" BECAUSE OF IFS?
WE HAVE TWO SOLID AXLES AND CAN'T LIFT MORE THAN 3" WITHOUT A BUTLOAD OF NEW PARTS INCLUDING RADIUS ARMS BRAKE LINES ECT. Oh and YOU WILL need a NEW Driveshaft if you lift your vehicle at all, or youll get wobble.
-We lift our trucks 3-4" and still need to trim body panels to fit 33"s.
SO be glad...
I still love my discovery.
I love my discovery but..
-Yall have rusted bumpers, we get rusted body panels.
-Yall don't have auto sun roofs, WE DO!! Two of them actually! That are prone to leak.
-Every 80k yall need to change your timing belt, we need a new headgasket or engine.
-If our headliners dont sag its because we painted them. I PRESSURE WASHED A 4runner headliner and no sag.
-Your poor window wont roll down from the rear, we don't have a roll down window. [I MISS THIS ONE]
-You can't open your tailgate from the inside... Oh wait we got yall on this.
-Feel your truck doesn't have any acceleration? We have LESS, I swear my engine doesn't know how to rev, and I have a 4.0 V8 with the same HP as your 3.4 V6 OH and I get about 3mpg less now, than when I had a 200k 4runner with 6" lift and 285/75/16's. NOW Im all stock on my discovery with 235/70/16's and can't get up nearlly as quick as a 4runner or gasmileage even close.
What ELSE?
-No auto down window?, well at least your rear windows roll down all the way, discoverys only go down halfway in the rear.
-Our rear passenger windows go out and you have to pull the window ecu and resolder it. [learned that today]
-YOU GUYS CAN ONLY LIFT YOUR TRUCK 3" BECAUSE OF IFS?
WE HAVE TWO SOLID AXLES AND CAN'T LIFT MORE THAN 3" WITHOUT A BUTLOAD OF NEW PARTS INCLUDING RADIUS ARMS BRAKE LINES ECT. Oh and YOU WILL need a NEW Driveshaft if you lift your vehicle at all, or youll get wobble.
-We lift our trucks 3-4" and still need to trim body panels to fit 33"s.
SO be glad...
I still love my discovery.
:fishing:
I don't see the problem
brian2sun
Elite Member
The problem is 16 is 2 less than 18. :frisky:
SIKHILUXSURF
New member
yes...yes it is.
pentagrammaton
New member
oh okay, wifey & i were wondering why the fuel gauge was like that.. and i just saw it on another thread.. that sure is weird.. so yeah, i guess i don't like that "quirk"
haddix
New member
I love having the heated seats on the driver side. I always like to turn them on while theres passengers. After about 5 mins they start squirming around thinking the seats just warm because of the leather hahah.
juiceboxer
New member
my 01' Limited has height adjustable seats, not much but they do move...
Old Enough to Bleed is old enough to breed! :bigok: JK
For me, I love the 3rd gen 4Runners, but unfortunately, in Canada, the only non-chrome bumper manual transmission models are the 96-98 4-cyl models. That being said, the other thing I find about the 3rd gens is that most of them are automatic, making it impossible for me to find a decent one that is not overpriced. 
Oh, and for some unknown reason, I keep hitting my head against the A-pillar whenever I get in and I'm not even tall...haha.
Oh, and for some unknown reason, I keep hitting my head against the A-pillar whenever I get in and I'm not even tall...haha.
Whiplash Willy
New member
I haven't had my runner very long, but here are some of the annoying quirks I have seen:
1. The annoying hum of the frequent ABS tests on startup and during driving.
2. The Brown interior that is in 99% of all 3rd gens (Grey looks so much better!)
3. The side fabric on the 99-02s that picks up and holds every piece of lint it comes in contact with.
4. Changing out the spark plugs looks to be a PITA!
However, these are minor gripes for an amazing vehicle!
1. The annoying hum of the frequent ABS tests on startup and during driving.
2. The Brown interior that is in 99% of all 3rd gens (Grey looks so much better!)
3. The side fabric on the 99-02s that picks up and holds every piece of lint it comes in contact with.
4. Changing out the spark plugs looks to be a PITA!
However, these are minor gripes for an amazing vehicle!
Martinjmpr
New member
My list...
Some have been said already but I'll list them anyway:
1. Auto up windows. A bit of a PITA especially for the wife, who has a hard time when she just wants the window open partway. I'm also concerned about auto-up windows in general for safety reasons - kids and dogs, mostly (I'm guessing this is why most newer cars don't have the auto-up feature, at least not the cars I've seen.) I would have been happy to have auto up and down on the driver's window only.
2. FUEL GAUGE! I'm actually getting to the point where I just ignore the fuel gauge/warning light and use the trip meter as a gas gauge like I do on my motorcycles.
3. Okay, now I know this one is a really minor quibble, but I have to say it: Why is there a rear seat heater - but no rear- seat AC? Would it have been that hard to plumb the AC to the rear fan as well as the heat?
4. Visors. I miss the "extensions" that my '04 Taco had. May have to retrofit some Taco visors.
5. I find the 3.4/auto combo has adequate power (not great, but adequate) but the MPG kind of sucks for a vehicle that is this lacking in power.
6. Along with #5, the poor MPG combined with the stingy 18.5 gallon gas tank gives the 4runner a really limited range. Practical range in city driving is ~250 miles. Even for the highway, you've got to figure on 300 miles maximum safe range. OTOH, my 90 Montero could go 400+ miles on a tank (thanks to its enormous 24.5 gallon tank) and even my little '99 Subaru could go nearly 400 on 16.5 gallons on the freeway.
Having said all that...the "pluses" of a 3rd gen 4runner are so numerous that they more than overcome the little nagging "minuses."
The fact that out of the box, with no mods, my 4runner can run 4 - 5 rated trails (on the 1-10 scale used by Traildamage.com) with no difficulty, fit 32" tires with no suspension mods, has a rear locker from the factory, and is reliable enough to drive anywhere even with >125,000 miles on the clock means that the 4runner is by far the best vehicle I have ever owned!
And when it's finally time to trade it in, it will almost certainly be for another 4runner!
Some have been said already but I'll list them anyway:
1. Auto up windows. A bit of a PITA especially for the wife, who has a hard time when she just wants the window open partway. I'm also concerned about auto-up windows in general for safety reasons - kids and dogs, mostly (I'm guessing this is why most newer cars don't have the auto-up feature, at least not the cars I've seen.) I would have been happy to have auto up and down on the driver's window only.
2. FUEL GAUGE! I'm actually getting to the point where I just ignore the fuel gauge/warning light and use the trip meter as a gas gauge like I do on my motorcycles.
3. Okay, now I know this one is a really minor quibble, but I have to say it: Why is there a rear seat heater - but no rear- seat AC? Would it have been that hard to plumb the AC to the rear fan as well as the heat?
4. Visors. I miss the "extensions" that my '04 Taco had. May have to retrofit some Taco visors.
5. I find the 3.4/auto combo has adequate power (not great, but adequate) but the MPG kind of sucks for a vehicle that is this lacking in power.
6. Along with #5, the poor MPG combined with the stingy 18.5 gallon gas tank gives the 4runner a really limited range. Practical range in city driving is ~250 miles. Even for the highway, you've got to figure on 300 miles maximum safe range. OTOH, my 90 Montero could go 400+ miles on a tank (thanks to its enormous 24.5 gallon tank) and even my little '99 Subaru could go nearly 400 on 16.5 gallons on the freeway.
Having said all that...the "pluses" of a 3rd gen 4runner are so numerous that they more than overcome the little nagging "minuses."
The fact that out of the box, with no mods, my 4runner can run 4 - 5 rated trails (on the 1-10 scale used by Traildamage.com) with no difficulty, fit 32" tires with no suspension mods, has a rear locker from the factory, and is reliable enough to drive anywhere even with >125,000 miles on the clock means that the 4runner is by far the best vehicle I have ever owned!
And when it's finally time to trade it in, it will almost certainly be for another 4runner!
I 2nd, 3rd and 4th that!
It's really the only thing I don't like about my 4Runner!
The rear window on my wife's '04 Tundra does the same thing. Gotta keep the lawyers happy!
