4th Gen. Tire Tools - 4Gens - Read This

[Lee1]

With the change in weather, my tire sensor started coming on in the past couple days. Checked the air pressure in all 4 tires and pressure was okay. As much as I dreaded checking the pressure in the spare, I decided I better do it before I get a flat.

I opened the manual, got the tire tools and went to work in my garage. But, before I could get started, I tried turning the set screws on the extension handle used to lower the spare. I could not break one of them loose by hand as the pieces had been painted and the set screw was screwed all the way in. I had to use a Phillips screwdriver to break it loose. I don't carry a Phillips screwdriver in my car and I was thinking how much that would have sucked if I had a flat and could not change it until somebody stopped with a screwdriver.

So the morale to the story for all the rest of you 4Gens is to either pack a Phillips or go out to your 4R now and break loose the screws if they need it. Maybe mine was just a fluke, but thought I would pass it on.

I also found, to my surprise, my spare is an aluminum wheel, just like the other 4. I figured even though it was a full-sized spare, it was on the typical cheesy steel wheel.

Lee

 

[Ghost Rider]

No, it wasn't a fluke...

Same thing happened to me last week, TPM started flashing, and of course, it was the spare... The set screws were also painted over on my equipment, too...

At least I know where all the tools are now...

 

[djlandkpl]

It's been a while since I lowered my spare, but I think there is a square hole on the jack handle which fits the extension set screw.

 

[sharp4runr]

Yup I found all that out a week into owning the T4R. I'm one of those people that fiddle with new things in my possesion.

 

[ToolmanJohn]

Same thing in 2003

I checked very early though. As soon as I had it home from the dealership I wanted to make sure the wheel lock tool was with the tire kit and jack.

Very nice to have a full size aluminum alloy spare thhat's identical to the other 4. It makes a 5 wheel tire rotation much easier.

 

[cdoyle]

I'll have to check that on mine too.

I also noticed the first time I did my oil change, the bolts that hold the skid plate on were so tight, it took forever to break them loose. Just destroyed one of the bolts just trying to get it loose.

 

[RBLACAUSA]

...I also found, to my surprise, my spare is an aluminum wheel, just like the other 4. I figured even though it was a full-sized spare, it was on the typical cheesy steel wheel.

Lee [/B]

I'm on my 3rd Runner ('04, '95, '89). Each one had the aluminum wheels and had a matching full-size spare tire w/matching wheel. You get your $$ worth with Toyota.

 

[tkr128]

My dad was actually the one that told me I needed to place a Philips in my car for the spare. He had gone through the owner's manual the day we bought it and told me. I've only had to lower my spare to clean the undercarriage and the spare itself.

 

[Kmvreter]

Related...

Along the same lines relevant to this thread:
Has anyone found a "covering" or way to wrap the wrench socket outer diameter to protect from damaging the alloy wheels. I tried tape but it doesn't last. Any ideas?

 

[vandert]

You don't need a phillips

Your rotating assembly that is used to attach to the end of your extention for the jack has the same diameter as the bolts. It just has the phillips head in there for people who didn't catch this.

Take it out and compare, you will see what I'm talking about, you have everything you need to change the spare without a phillips. When I can resize my pics, I have a few to post for you guys.

:artist:

The only problem with this is on my 86, in 2001 I had a little rust on my jack assembly from someone useing the phillips, but notice how long it took, got to love toyota.

 

[JungleJim]

Re: Related...

Along the same lines relevant to this thread:
Has anyone found a "covering" or way to wrap the wrench socket outer diameter to protect from damaging the alloy wheels. I tried tape but it doesn't last. Any ideas?

Griots Garage sold some specifically for this purpose (I've seen it in their catalog, but I wasn't able to find it on their Web site.)

 

[Lee1]

Your rotating assembly that is used to attach to the end of your extention for the jack has the same diameter as the bolts. It just has the phillips head in there for people who didn't catch this

Thanks for pointing that out. Guess I did not notice that in low light in my garage, but probably would not have noticed that on a unlit road trying to change a flat either.

Thanks for all the comments.

Lee

 

[vandert]

Gladly

Glad I could be of assistance, This is my 5th Toyota and they are all the same. Right down to the Corrola.

T

 

[Satman]

Hi guys,just for the record i checked the air pressure in
my spare the other day just by sliding under the rear.

No prob,just need a gauge with the right angle.

 

[vandert]

Yeap,

I was aware of that, of course I'm one of them nuts that has the digital tire pressure gauges that you just touch to the sidewall and it gets it through it. I got it a few years back when I was racing SCCA events from a buddy. Its a good way to keep up with your tire pressure's its a bit of overkill I know but its nice. Now I use it for my little VW mostly for Autocross and the Tracks here in Germany, Nurenberg hmmmm.

T

 

[dcampen]

digital tire pressure gauges that you just touch to the sidewall and it gets it through it.

Really? I wonder how this works?

 

[vandert]

?Got me

I just searched in Google to see if I could find out, but I can't even find anything about them. Frank, the buddy who gave it to me worked at TireRack in Orlando Fl, I got it a while back, I figured they would be all the rage now since it works accurately about 75% of the time. Tires have to be heated up for it to work at all though, I'm not even willing to guess how it works though.

Sorry I didn't have an answer, nor a link to it, thats a first for me, you can usually find anything on the net.

T

 

[fr03]

Please explain the light!

So as I understand it, if the spare tire is not deflated to the right pressure, the indicator light will come on? The reason I ask is because it was 20 degrees here this morning and my light stayed on for almost 10 mi before it went out! I'll check the pressure this evening. Also can I check the spare without dropping it with one of those cheesy digital gauges?

 

[linhsy]

My tire sensor light came on this morning, too. It was 35 degree. I think it is my spare tire again since my other 4 tires looked alright.

 

[kglueck]

My tire sensor warning light didn't come on this morning with the "cold"...'course it was 60 out...

(sorry, couldn't resist!)

Kev