Anything about your 4R that just drives you crazy?????

[cdoyle]

its not a matter of adjusting them as much as getting the entire windshield covered when you spray it. lol. i plan to research it a bit when i have the time. ill hit up the toyota and lexus parts counter and see what i can find that will pop right in.

Please report back with what you find.
I can't believe I didn't think to mention these. I hate those sprayers!!
Just like you said, they shoot in one spot and that's it. Really sucks when you have ice/snow on your windshield and you want to melt it. You end up with a little hole where the stream hit and nothing anywhere else.

 

[Axis]

The rear hatch electric motor for closing. I cannot think of one advantage of this. OK, so you can close the rear hatch gently, but is that really any advantage? It only seems like an extra thing that is bound to fail and be extremely expensive to replace. My tailgate just froze shut (at least I hope that's the problem) and the motor just keeps locking and unlocking, not giving me enough time to reef on the door in the hopes of opening it.

It's too bad the "designers" at Toyota didn't read this thread before the 5th gen came out.

 

[amg]

my gripes are right along with most...

- rear wiper fluid just shoots straight down wasting fluid and not cleaning the window.
- exhaust smell with rear window down.
- windows lack of auto up/down.
- map lights are blinding.
- lack of interior lighting for back seats.
- everything falls out the back unless you have the net with the double deck thing.
- the woo woo woo cabin pressure thing when you have only certain windows down at certain speeds. (I put down two rear windows and back window for my dogs and at 40mph I have to also crack another window to stop it).
- not sure what it is but when I am at a stop it makes a kind of thimp/forward movement and the first time I felt it I thought the person behind me bumped into my rear bumper, not to mention I look stupid because it is visible movement from outside.

All that being said, I still love my 4Runner and just got some new tires to get rid of those stupid Dunlops it came with.

 

[Ridger]

I forgot one until today. Middle seatbelt reciever(?). It seems designed to stay under the seat, but when you need it you have to tilt seat up, which is a real pain with kid's seats in the way. Then when it is next to the rear driver reciever it gets pushed down when you try to put the seatbelt in it. Extremely frustrating when you have a car full of kids and you want to GO:redbrick:

I was just going to add this as well to my previous list. I have 2 kids in booster seats and it can be a real pain to reach around the seat and buckle the seat belt because the seat buckle receiver is too short and will often push down.

 

[corrado]

inability to spin rear wheels, ie: no way to defeat skid protection in RWD mode. makes winter way less fun than my last SUV.

 

[eskimochaos]

Please report back with what you find.
I can't believe I didn't think to mention these. I hate those sprayers!!
Just like you said, they shoot in one spot and that's it. Really sucks when you have ice/snow on your windshield and you want to melt it. You end up with a little hole where the stream hit and nothing anywhere else.

The prado has the spray-type washers your referring to.

I saw a swap done over on the aussie prado website - forget the name.

It has been done and it is a direct swap.

 

[truckmike26]

The rear hatch electric motor for closing. I cannot think of one advantage of this. OK, so you can close the rear hatch gently, but is that really any advantage? It only seems like an extra thing that is bound to fail and be extremely expensive to replace. My tailgate just froze shut (at least I hope that's the problem) and the motor just keeps locking and unlocking, not giving me enough time to reef on the door in the hopes of opening it.

It's too bad the "designers" at Toyota didn't read this thread before the 5th gen came out.

Try a flexy kitchen spatula to start a break in the frozen weather stripping somewhere and maybe the whole hatch will finally give while it's doing the frozen lock/unlock death cycle.

The rear hatch is heavy. So it needs firm struts to support it when open. But that means it takes some effort to start closing it but not too much as not to smash the auto-latch (?). I don't get it either. Maybe this feature's to prevent ear-popping your passengers if the hatch is slammed.

Everything mentioned so far in this thread I've noticed so far. It's amazing how similar we all are.

Most things mentioned here are just only minor bummers. I've learnt (from this forum!) that what I thought were serious problems are just these trucks' quirks -- I've gotten used to the counter-intuitive climate controls, the ticky-clicky 1GR-FE valve-train (no improvement from my old 3VZ-E?), the bind-n-bump rear drive shaft and the assisted-suicide tailpipe.

What still makes me livid is the father-knows-best HVAC recirc. button. WTF. Stay set where I set you, you MF.

As well, I can't believe they took away my transmission dipstick. There better be some damn-good flux-capacitor-infused ATF in there or else.

I'd very much like a good old-fashioned rear limited-slip diff or the FJ-style locker some U.S. models came with for '09.

Despite these things, I love my 4Runner.

 

[titan305]

I had my 4runner for a year now and I thought that there is no equal SUV in its class, but there is one thing that makes me wanna shoot whoever designed the front seats in my car.
Drivers or passenger side , doesnt matter , I am not a big guy , nor a skinny one, and I fit perfectly in my 93 Altima, 02 Accent or 96 Villager ,or in to almoust any vehicle that is out there , so why Toyota made such a re****ed seats in such a big vehicle with the v8 engine and so many extras. This is really it. I am actually going to find out in a day or two how much would be there to change my seats with another one and if its too much than I'll be selling it.

I had a 99 tacoma 4x4 xcab and 01 xcab. I just purchased an06 Limited V84x4 and had flashbacks of the tiny seats in the tacomas. I dont think the bottom seat extends far enough under my legs or wide enough for that matter. I am 5-11 175lbs and feel cramped. I fit fine in my 06 accord I just got rid of. I love the truck though still...not perfect but every vehicle I've owned bother me in one way or another.

 

[JCR]

I was just going to add this as well to my previous list. I have 2 kids in booster seats and it can be a real pain to reach around the seat and buckle the seat belt because the seat buckle receiver is too short and will often push down.

FYI, Toyota will order you a seat belt extender for free. My 5 year old couldn't get herself buckled in when she was sitting in her booster seat. I got the extension and things were much easier.

 

[SSt4r]

Does anyone know how / where to get the seatbelt extender? Dealership or a website?

 

[audiqtr]

not sure if mentioned....

Cup holders are illuminated, but the window switches aren't

 

[truckmike26]

inability to spin rear wheels, ie: no way to defeat skid protection in RWD mode. makes winter way less fun than my last SUV.

Pressing the OFF switch for more than 3 seconds should turn everything off, assuming the '07 is the same as the '09.

 

[macallen]

no one touch wipers, no one touch blinkers

 

[corrado]

Pressing the OFF switch for more than 3 seconds should turn everything off, assuming the '07 is the same as the '09.

really?? even in RWD or AWD mode? I thought it only worked when the center diff was locked...

That would be awesome because this past weekend (after i complained about VSC) i was in VT and the T4R cut off all power after a little tire spin (4hi mode), leaving me helpless in the middle of an access road. If the thing would just let me spin it would have never been an issue. this was coming out of a parking lot where locked center diff is way overkill for tight maneuvering...

 

[Jamanred]

Here is my 2 Cents..

1. I agree on lack of lighting on the window buttons.
2. Windshield sprayers not that great. Only good if you want to turn them 90 degrees so you can spray the old dudes driving classic Mercedes convertibles while passing them..
3. How about no heated rear seat option? (can be added..I know..)
4. Picnic table in rear..?? If I wanted to eat a sandwich in the car, I would not climb to the back to eat it..
5. What is the storage thing under the ac control for? You can't fit CD's in it. Good for gum and condoms, but that is about it.. OK, maybe feminine hygiene product for you ladies, but we don't want to know if that is where you put those things.. That is something that needs to stay a secret.
6. E Brake should be a lever, not a pedal (makes it hard to do e brake spins)
7. the Toyota lug nut.. I have to keep 2 sets of lug nuts so I can change from winter (OEM 17 wheels) to my BLING 20" wheels
8 Pink tail lights.. Look Toyota, I know this is a popular vehicle for soccer moms, but PINK!!?
9. Bring back the chrome steel bumper!! Please!! ABS Plastic just does not take down deer to well...let alone, old ladies, shopping carts, strollers, my ex-wife, homeless men, Honda Civics, stray dogs & cats & neighbor's toddlers, and my current Out-Laws..
10. Hood scoop should be standard on all 4R's..
11. Does not come standard with Angelina Joelie (not sure is spelling is correct, she is hot and that is all that matters) :WTF:
12. No controls for the JBL amp system..am I the only one who feels the need to adjust the gain on it? I need mine to go to 11..
13. No room to fit guns in the fenders.. :gun4:
14. Sporadic use of silver paint on exterior parts, regardless of body color.. Have a few extra gallons of paint did we?
15. Encyclopaedia size owners manual.. No words..

I did have the stinky interior, until I changed the cabin filter and used a can of lysol spray on all exterior and interior vents (with AC going to help circulate).

I hated the lack of 12v up front, so I installed a 3 outlet unit in the storage compartment under the AC controls (looks almost stock). That is what Toyota should have done in the first place. Still room for condoms though.. :thumb3:

I'm adding interior lighting to compensate for the lack of. It will go well with the disco ball and smog machine..

 

[eskimochaos]

Here is my 2 Cents..

1. I agree on lack of lighting on the window buttons.
2. Windshield sprayers not that great. Only good if you want to turn them 90 degrees so you can spray the old dudes driving classic Mercedes convertibles while passing them..
3. How about no heated rear seat option? (can be added..I know..)
4. Picnic table in rear..?? If I wanted to eat a sandwich in the car, I would not climb to the back to eat it..
5. What is the storage thing under the ac control for? You can't fit CD's in it. Good for gum and condoms, but that is about it.. OK, maybe feminine hygiene product for you ladies, but we don't want to know if that is where you put those things.. That is something that needs to stay a secret.
6. E Brake should be a lever, not a pedal (makes it hard to do e brake spins)
7. the Toyota lug nut.. I have to keep 2 sets of lug nuts so I can change from winter (OEM 17 wheels) to my BLING 20" wheels
8 Pink tail lights.. Look Toyota, I know this is a popular vehicle for soccer moms, but PINK!!?
9. Bring back the chrome steel bumper!! Please!! ABS Plastic just does not take down deer to well...let alone, old ladies, shopping carts, strollers, my ex-wife, homeless men, Honda Civics, stray dogs & cats & neighbor's toddlers, and my current Out-Laws..
10. Hood scoop should be standard on all 4R's..
11. Does not come standard with Angelina Joelie (not sure is spelling is correct, she is hot and that is all that matters) :WTF:
12. No controls for the JBL amp system..am I the only one who feels the need to adjust the gain on it? I need mine to go to 11..
13. No room to fit guns in the fenders.. :gun4:
14. Sporadic use of silver paint on exterior parts, regardless of body color.. Have a few extra gallons of paint did we?
15. Encyclopaedia size owners manual.. No words..

I did have the stinky interior, until I changed the cabin filter and used a can of lysol spray on all exterior and interior vents (with AC going to help circulate).

I hated the lack of 12v up front, so I installed a 3 outlet unit in the storage compartment under the AC controls (looks almost stock). That is what Toyota should have done in the first place. Still room for condoms though.. :thumb3:

I'm adding interior lighting to compensate for the lack of. It will go well with the disco ball and smog machine..

You are not funny.

 

[Jamanred]

Eschimochaos

Guess I've been watching toooo much Seinfeld re-runs lately. 11, 13 and 15 are dumb (wife rolled her eyes as well). No doubt you find the entire list dumb, but humor side (or lack of as you are so kind to point out), that is my contribution.

I'm glad to be a new member to this forum, of where I have been finding tons of useful information, with the occasional joke here and there. I will see if I can tone down any sarcasm and eliminate all attempts of jest or humor (or lack of) in the future for you.

Nice boobs in your avatar.

So, while I wouldn't trade my truck in for anything, perhaps I this list would be more suited for you.

1. I agree on lack of lighting on the window buttons.
2. Windshield sprayers not that great.
3. How about no heated rear seat option? (can be added..I know..)
4. Picnic table in rear
5. What is the storage thing under the ac control for.
6. E Brake should be a lever, not a pedal
7. the Toyota lug nut..
8 Pink tail lights..
9. Bring back the chrome steel bumper!!
10. Hood scoop should be standard on all 4R's..
12. No controls for the JBL amp system.
14. Sporadic use of silver paint on exterior parts
15. Encyclopaedia size owners manual..

Is this now more acceptable? No reference to big butts or anything else. Just a list.

 

[Whitey13]

I don't see the need to look down at the window buttons to operate the switches.
I'm not sure what you mean by the rear picnic table but there is a small flip open table for the front passengers in the arm rest.

 

[truckmike26]

Oh yeah. I hate the foot-lever parking brake. It kills foot room and is difficult for me to use (I have a disability.) And about the one-touch-down feature for the driver's window -- it likes to ignore me. Lowering the window just a bit takes half a minute of up-down-down-up-up-down-down-up-up-down and on and on....

 

[truckmike26]

really?? even in RWD or AWD mode? I thought it only worked when the center diff was locked...

That would be awesome because this past weekend (after i complained about VSC) i was in VT and the T4R cut off all power after a little tire spin (4hi mode), leaving me helpless in the middle of an access road. If the thing would just let me spin it would have never been an issue. this was coming out of a parking lot where locked center diff is way overkill for tight maneuvering...

Yeah, I shut it all down all the time. Toyota was smart enough to know this ain't no Camry. I double-checked the owner's manual and it says everything's shut off by holding the button for more than 3 seconds.