A couple of annoyances...

SurfToy

SurfToy

Member
So I've had my '06 SR5 for a few months now, and there are a few little quirks that I've noticed. None are a big deal, just things I wish (hope) were configurable.

1. HVAC system defaults to Recirculate when you turn the car on above a certain ambient temp. I tend to always run Fresh air unless I'm trying to cool or warm the interior quickly. All my other vehicles have started up with the same ventilation settings that were in use when shut down, but this one decides to Recirc even if I was using Fresh when I shut it off a few minutes ago.

2. Remote unlocking - if you don't press the unlock button twice within 2 seconds, only the driver door will unlock. IOW, One press = driver door unlocks, <wait 1 sec> second press = all doors unlock. One press = driver door unlocks, <wait 3 sec> second press = driver door unlocks again. Most other vehicles give you a good 10 seconds for the second (unlock all) press.

3. Remote rear window - why does the same button not roll the window back up. I love the convenience of being able to roll down the window via remote, but having to put the key in the tailgate to roll it back up doesn't make sense. Why not use the remote button to raise the window also???

4. Intermittent wiper time too short. I've seen the DIY about using various capacitors to extend the wiper interval, but that seems like a lot of work for small gain. Here in SoCal, most of our rain is of the light mist variety, so not having a long-interval intermittent wiper setting is a bit of a pain, especially considering the control does not include a 'Mist' (one-swipe) function.

As I said, none of these is a major problem, but I sure would like to be able to fix/change these behaviors if possible. If anyone has a solution that I've missed, I would love to hear it. Loving the truck otherwise. :bigok:

Thanks.
 
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SurfToy said:
3. Remote rear window - why does the same button not roll the window back up. I love the convenience of being able to roll down the window via remote, but having to put the key in the tailgate to roll it back up doesn't make sense. Why not use the remote button to raise the window also???
Click to expand...

unless it was a rocker-type switch, how would the vehicle know if you wanted the rear window to go up or down when you pressed the button? there must be a sensor to tell it if the window is all the way up since that sometimes messes with the rear wiper, but to tell if it was all the way down would mean to install an extra sensor. maybe it just wasnt worth it.
 
unfortunately thats what we have to deal with on these.

i have two more for you:

no mist feature on the ft wipers and no delay on the rear one. I have both on my POS Chevy Equinox company vehicle.
 
I totally agree with the OP annoyances. I too like to use fresh air and dont like to see that when on auto it switches on me with out me doing so. More over I dont like that when you take it off auto sometimes it also turns the AC off, so its just vent air and I dont notice it till I start to get a bit uncomfortable. Why dont our 4th gen. 4Runners have the option where you used to slide or turn a dial from Blue (for cold) to Red (for hot)? My 2000 3rd gen. had it. Although it didnt have the auto climate controls. But my BMW had auto and that option to set it cold or hot. Anyways... just venting a bit. :gun5: :-P

I think its time for a BEER ! ... sounds so good right now. lol

On a side note one thing I also have noticed, maybe its just me and if it is let me know, does your instrument panel lights stay on all the time even when the headlights and parking lights are off ? The back light on my instrument panel never shuts off. Should I have this looked at?
 
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1)You can change the lock/unlock features

2) The rear window not rolling up is a pain but also a safety feature. You have to physically be there to do it as opposed to it accidentally going up when the remote is in your pocket and the kids are in the T4R. My doors lock/unlock all the time when the remote is in my pocket.

3) I agree with the wiper beefs. No mist sucks and it is the only vehicle I know that rolls forward for slow and back for fast. Seems totally backasswards.
 
Yeah the HVAC system on the 4th gen is crap IMO. Simple as that. It does everything I don't want it to do, from turning the AC on or off without my input to turning recirculate on randomly. It can't even keep the desired temperature... with AC on the temp is always below what is dialed in and I have to crank up the temp to feel compfortable, and with AC off the temp just gradually creeps up to muggy even when it's cold outside -- to get real "Fresh" air I have to turn the temp down as low as it goes. I'm sure some part of the ECU thinks it all makes perfect sense, but to me it is just infuriating. And don't even get me started on those stupid rocker switches that control everything.

Anyone know if the 5th gen system is any better?

The lock unlock functions can be changed I believe. Everything else on the OP's list is just the way it is.

To answer TexasGuy's question... yes the main instrument panel lights are always on. It's probably because the gauges are so recessed, but having those lights on regularly makes me forget to turn on the headlights at night.
 
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inscarguy said:
unfortunately thats what we have to deal with on these.

i have two more for you:

no mist feature on the ft wipers and no delay on the rear one. I have both on my POS Chevy Equinox company vehicle.
Click to expand...

My 05 has a delay on the rear wiper. It something I discovered accidentally. If you rear wiper is on the slower speed, turn the intermittent switch for the front ones forward or backward then watch the rear wiper. It won't be constantly moving back and forth, but doing so with a few seconds delay in between.
 
1. I believe it's in the C-BEST (Customize Body Electronics SeTting) settings that the dealer can change and have the default recirculate mode turned off. I've noticed recirculate turns on as long as the interior temperture setting is set lower than the ambient temperature on for the exterior. This makes sense IF the AC is on and running.

2. There is an option in the C-BEST to set it for one press of unlock to unlock all doors. But I don't recall there being an option of extend the duration of the "within time" between the first and second press of unlock.

3. Liability of choking pets, kids, human, etc. IIRC, the HiLux Surf overseas has the up/close functionality on the remote.

4. Yeah, the 4th was robbed of the mist function.
 
C-BEST Info?

Uneek said:
1. I believe it's in the C-BEST (Customize Body Electronics SeTting) settings that the dealer can change and have the default recirculate mode turned off. I've noticed recirculate turns on as long as the interior temperture setting is set lower than the ambient temperature on for the exterior. This makes sense IF the AC is on and running.

2. There is an option in the C-BEST to set it for one press of unlock to unlock all doors. But I don't recall there being an option of extend the duration of the "within time" between the first and second press of unlock.

3. Liability of choking pets, kids, human, etc. IIRC, the HiLux Surf overseas has the up/close functionality on the remote.

4. Yeah, the 4th was robbed of the mist function.
Click to expand...

Does anyone know of a complete matrix/list of C-BEST settings and the possible positions/modes? It sounds like many of these annoyances can be programmed.
 
I very rarely use the "auto" setting on the HVAC, it's just poorly executed. I do everything manually.

Don't get me started on how STUPID it is to have controls that look like dials but function as buttons. Dumb design.

All in all though, I don't have many complaints about this truck. I LOVE driving it and any small imperfections are no more then I've had in any other car. No mass produced vehicle is going to be 100% perfect for every user, they strive to be as good as possible to the largest possible group.
 
I too am frustrated with the way the recirc. works. It should stay as I set it.

There is a delay mode for the rear wiper but it's deceiving as when you first turn it on it wipes three times then pauses for the delay.
 
I absolutely hate the HVAC in the 4th Gen.
The button layout is fine, and easy to use (if it worked!)

This is what happens to me every winter when the temp goes down, lets say it's 36 outside.

You get into the truck, you can have it set to 65 (the lowest without going to lo). Well, the computer sees that it's 35 inside and goes "OhOh, it's cold better warm it up fast!" and then pumps out air so hot, you about suffocate! You can't turn it down anymore since lo is just outside air.

So then finally it gets the cabin to 65, so what does it do if it accidentally gets to 66? "oh no! it's too hot!" and then shoots out cold air out the vents. It does this back and forth crap all the time.

Then on a cold day, and it's raining out. The windows always fog up, I have to leave it on defrost the entire time. As soon as I change it to the vents, within a few minutes the windshield is fogging up.

Whoever programmed the computer for the HVAC should be fired, it's a worthless system. My 84 Camaro with 2 slider knobs blows this system out of the water. :(
 
The only thing I hate is the traction and stability system. when you wanna drift or something it turns on, beeps, and cuts engine power. Lucky I turned it off. other than that its a good truck. I never use the ac so no problem there.
 
1. HVAC system defaults to Recirculate when you turn the car on above a certain ambient temp. I tend to always run Fresh air unless I'm trying to cool or warm the interior quickly. All my other vehicles have started up with the same ventilation settings that were in use when shut down, but this one decides to Recirc even if I was using Fresh when I shut it off a few minutes ago.

So you go to a ball game with the kids (maybe you don’t have them or just going with friends) and park your T4R next Joe right after you walk away I am going run my car for hours so I can listen to the radio. The default is set for recirculation to protect you. To close your vehicle off to the world and close out all the crap in the world. It’s a brilliant idea that goes much past “ really wish it was where I left it for convenience“. Oh ya back to the ballgame, the guy next you to you runs his car for hours and you are pulled in forward and he backs in so his tail pipe is filling your wide open car (because it was the way you left it, in theory) with exhaust and crap and oh then it starts to rain so you and the kids (or friends) leave the game to get in the car and keep the windows rolled up because it is raining and you get to breath all that crud until the car circulates it through. I would much rather have my cars default closed off to the world so the environment in the car is safe so when I park in odd and unknown different places while I am away my vehicle is protecting the environment I am going to return to and keep it safe for my kids ( or friends). Never mind the hazardous waste dump that you not knowing park next while traveling somewhere on vacation, etc? As far as the window the only reason it is on the remote is when you walk up to your car in the summer and it is ten million degree’s inside the idea is roll down the window as you are walking up to the car and with the remote help get a little more fresh air in it as you approach and get in it. You then jump in it and drive away and start rock’n the ac and then you can roll the window up while in the car. That is the reason for the remote function. The car locking where, when and how can all be adjusted differently to your liking. The wipers I never noticed it and now it will probably bug me now that I know about it I will think of it.
 
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