Bad news, ABS tanked $$$. Need suggestions quick!!

M

mnormand

New member
Last night had the dreaded abs, vsc lights, and brake light come on. No power brakes, limped to dealer using emerg brake.

$6100 repairs estimate. Trying not to slit my wrists, lol.

2004 4runner, 4x4, sr5, 205,000 mi. They say trade in is $5500 with no repairs.
Net trade is $1k to me, the repairs are now on them at their costs, assume 4k.

New Taco $30k. I can put up some cash to get started.

Comments an thoughts on repairs, salvage, appreciated!! Quickly !!

Thx
 
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mnormand said:
Last night had the dreaded abs, vsc lights, and brake light come on. No power brakes, limped to dealer using emerg brake.

$6600 repairs estimate. Trying not to slit my wrists, lol.

2004 4runner, 4x3, sr5, 205,000 mi.
Net trade is $1k to me.

New Taco $30k. I can put up some cash to get started.

Comments an thoughts on repairs, salvage, appreciated!! Quickly !!

Thx
Click to expand...

Can you post what DTCs they pulled, what testing was performed and possibly a break down of what they want to replace/repair?
 
Back home now to dwell.

Now that I've caught my breath, I've thought more about salvage. Might be the simplest way to get $2-4k out of it?

This is not a life changing event, just a prod to get a new truck I was prob gonna do soon anyway.

Got the repair quote, codes, and details coming shortly....stand by...
 
Master cyl assembly...$2754

Skid control ECU. $2237

Labor and tax. Approx $ 1100

Total. $6131

I saw the code sheet, but they won't fax me that.
 
mnormand said:
Master cyl assembly...$2754

Skid control ECU. $2237

Labor and tax. Approx $ 1100

Total. $6131

I saw the code sheet, but they won't fax me that.
Click to expand...


Hmmmm, I just checked and a new Master cyl assembly can be purchased new for about $950. Skid ECU, not sure why that needs to be replaced, all electronic and not sure they really go bad. Checked Ebay and they can be had used for 50-100 bucks.

Labor = yourself

I think all you need is the Master and you are good to go. Others with more knowledge will chime in.

Good luck!!!
 
i sold my master cylinder on ebay for 450...so i am sure you could find a replacement on ebay and its not that difficult a swap.

I do have a wierd request. i converted my 4runner to power steering assisted hydroboost. I am having some problems with some of the systems that control brake lights, starter, and shift lock (probably due to the fact i disconnected the master cylinder ECU)...if you decide to swap out for a new unit would you be willing to part with the old non working unit? all i need is the ecu that has the 4-5 plugs on it that sits on the driver side of the unit.
 
Whew man I've done a bunch of reading, researching, and looking at alternatives over this whole wkd.
I appreciate the input given for sure, thx to all very much.

Pretty sure I'm going to sell the vehicle myself, at least for now that's the best option for my particular situation. For somebody to fix it, it sure would make a nice truck. Give me a few days to regroup and hopefully I'll list it in classifieds with all the details.

I've looked at plenty new and used trucks so far. After two 4x4 4Runners during the last 17 yrs, both bought slightly used, I thought I was ready for a new DC 4x4 Taco, until I found a really nice low mileage mint 2008 2wd V6 runner nearby, price is very attractive. For my use of traveling 5 hrs one way to hunting club a number of times, and pulling small boats, and rooftop kayaks, this could sure work. I've spent a lot of gas, money, and time in 4x4's for 95% road use, when you get older start wondering about that, lol.

The dealer let me take the new Taco for a few hours yesterday, just not feeling the love of getting tied up with $30k again, with no trade. That Taco was nice but didn't overly excite me. It was an SR5 4x4, no TRD.

Man it's really hard to leave the confidence and build quality of a 4R when you have so much seat time, and reading and lurking here. Should be about 375,000 miles driven between the two I've had, 2nd and 4th gens.

Will report back, and thx again.
 
Do what makes you happy but I'm with the others that are thinking this is something you could fix yourself for 1/4 of your quoted cost, easily.
 
Why are they saying the SCU needs to be replaced? That sounds suspicious to me, not to mention they won't release the codes? They should be providing a copy of that with your repair order; something is very very fishy here...

Normally the master cylinder unit seems to be the usual culprit in failures of the ABS system, you can get a new one close to 1k. Labor is a little on the high side also, I believe it was 3hours to replace my unit when we did it; so 1k labor sounds too high in my opinion.

I genuinely believe something is wrong with this picture and they're not giving you the right information. I would lean on them for the copy of the repair order AND the copy of the Health Check, failure to do so sounds suspect and possibly illegal.

To the person who thinks those sound expensive, welcome to the world of modern cars... but a cheapo 20k Yaris and you'll spend 3k if the ABS system goes out...
 
Dont listen to BlackWorksInc. Its not like he's a mechanic or anything.
you should of course pay top dollar, and/or whatever the shop demands!

Its your decision and all, but if you dump your T4 for cheapo and turn around and dive in up to your eyeballs in ANOTHER auto loan, I'd say you've effectively paid $29k to avoid paying $1k to DIY...
 
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BW, I'll try to get the codes tomorrow. Everything was moving fast heading into the wkd, and that service writer wasn't there when I went back on Sat. Standby on that...and thx again for your assist.

I certainly have got my use out of this truck, so need to be realistic. I travel a lot, need reliability. Even if I fixed it, I'd still think about a change.
 
"To the person who thinks those sound expensive, welcome to the world of modern cars... but a cheapo 20k Yaris and you'll spend 3k if the ABS system goes out... "


the skid control ecu retails for 1727.75. i would recommend finding another dealer but it sound like you made up ur mind already. by the way the ecu is usually not replaced when doing this job, another reason to find another dealership. the master cyl retails for 2545.67 for a v8 and 2318.30 for a v6.
 
PhillyO said:
"To the person who thinks those sound expensive, welcome to the world of modern cars... but a cheapo 20k Yaris and you'll spend 3k if the ABS system goes out... "


the skid control ecu retails for 1727.75. i would recommend finding another dealer but it sound like you made up ur mind already. by the way the ecu is usually not replaced when doing this job, another reason to find another dealership. the master cyl retails for 2545.67 for a v8 and 2318.30 for a v6.
Click to expand...

Isn't that ridiculous? almost 2k for a ECU!? I also agree, the SCU should not need to be replaced usually as it is the either the Accumulator pump circuit and/or master cylinder portion that seems to fail on these vehicles when and if they do fail. Which is why we need to see what DTCs the dealer found and HOW they approached their diagnostics in trying to determine the failure.

The Master Cylinder unit isn't different for a 1GR-FE or 2UZ-FE, its the same unit until about '06 where they updated to one that combines the ABS/TRAC with the Skid ECU into one unit.

BRAKE BOOSTER ASSY, W/MASTER CYLINDER. BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER (GRN21# GRN21#,UZN21# UZN21#). 2004 TOYOTA 4Runner # 4705035030

Some reference reading if anyone is interested:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/107245-inconsistent-brake-pedal-travel.html
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/120125-hydraboost-brake-assembly.html
 
I had the tow company haul my 4R back to the house last night.

This evening I'll try to clearly document and post pictures of dash lights, brake pedal travel, and other details. Also still working on those codes. Haven't written this repair off just yet, based on the help I'm getting here.

You know it just occurred to me, even with only emergy brakes, this might make a pretty good camp hunt truck! I've got a Yamaha Rhino that I'm prob going to sell. Hell I'll get $7500 for that, and the 04 4R is a LOT more comfy than that with heat and a/c, 4x4, Hmmmmmmm.. not that bad of an idea....might have to think about that! Maybe play around with unhooking the vsc under the hood. We're on flat land, no hills.


I bought that 2008 4R last night, it's cherry mint and drives like a cream puff. 68k miles, SR5 leather, sunroof. 1 soccermom owner, no tow pkg so it never towed anything. Brand spanking new tires and brakes. My wife sure breathed a sigh of relief compared to buying something new. Sourcing trailer hitch now, since my elec impact wrench wouldn't turn the bolts on the 04 orig shorty hitch I was trying to move over.

More info to come...
 
You may be able to go the route i did for brakes instead if you do decide to make it a trail truck. Run a power steering assisted hydroboost. I less than 300 for a reman'd hydroboost from www.custompowerbrake.com ....i sent him all the measurements and he made an adapter plate that fit like a glove and hooked up to the factory brake rod with no modification. now that price does not include the master cylinder itself but you can do that a lot cheaper than i did by going with a less expensive GM OEM unit. He also knows where to get the metric adapter to run the stock brake lines. My only issue is i sold my master cylinder and need a way to bypass the ECU that is on the master cylinder which maybe blackworksinc knows how to do by tracing wires. If i can get it working right it wold make a pretty awesome brake mod for trail trucks. I just wish i had one of the ECUs so i could lug it in and confirm that is the issue. Its the only item not plugged back in after my teardown.
 

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e10pvmt said:
You may be able to go the route i did for brakes instead if you do decide to make it a trail truck. Run a power steering assisted hydroboost. I less than 300 for a reman'd hydroboost from Custom Power Brake - Hydraulic brake booster conversions for your brakes! ....i sent him all the measurements and he made an adapter plate that fit like a glove and hooked up to the factory brake rod with no modification. now that price does not include the master cylinder itself but you can do that a lot cheaper than i did by going with a less expensive GM OEM unit. He also knows where to get the metric adapter to run the stock brake lines. My only issue is i sold my master cylinder and need a way to bypass the ECU that is on the master cylinder which maybe blackworksinc knows how to do by tracing wires. If i can get it working right it wold make a pretty awesome brake mod for trail trucks. I just wish i had one of the ECUs so i could lug it in and confirm that is the issue. Its the only item not plugged back in after my teardown.
Click to expand...
badass man.
i like it.
 
Guys, the 2004 is sold. I'm happy and local buyer is happy.

I want to give a big shout out and thanks to all those who responded here and PM's. I knew this would be the best place to get some quick information to help me come to decision time. No fun being on foot when you have a M-F busy job, it's 95deg out, and juggling stuff.

Can't thank you guys enough to go out of your way to help with questions, etc. T4R is one of the best forums I'm on, totally enjoy learning and reading.

:guitar2: You guys rock !! :whoo:
 
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