chasing vibration for a year now might sell truck don't want to!!

[mechanic80]

New to the forums, here. Does the 4Runner have a harmonic balancer mounted in rubber like an old chevy V8? That might be your problem. The older chevys would sometimes "slip" position and cause a noticeable vibration, in PARK too.

 

[keeperofgoal]

to me the 3rd gen is just a special to ride in truck staying true to its roots while being a civil civilian hauler. I've owned 2 4th gens both motors (gave v8 to my mother) and I can't afford a 5th gen. Have considered selling and starting over but I've already spent a lot of dough and was planning to keep it forever. working on this thing has also been good learning, solution or no solution. btw I just moved to Vancouver bc and there are SO MANY 3 gens its stupid all clean and stock like wtf.

mechanic80 welcome to forum I'm a rookie too! after months of looking at other things I am currently working on inspecting the harmonic balancer as this was my only other lead before flex plate tc, and starter suggestions which again are greatly appreciated!

will report back!

 

[Jarods7920]

It could be you rear U joint. I had similar symptoms to what you describe when mine was failing.

 

[gamefreakgc]

New to the forums, here. Does the 4Runner have a harmonic balancer mounted in rubber like an old chevy V8? That might be your problem. The older chevys would sometimes "slip" position and cause a noticeable vibration, in PARK too.

That's a great suggestion. The 5VZ-FE is internally balanced so our crankshaft pulley doesn't quite act like a true harmonic balancer, although it does have a layer of rubber built into the pulley.

 

[shadow247]

Pull the starter. You might see something. Use an inspection camera if necessary. Have a friend rotate the motor by hand while looking. Agree with flexplate or torque converter. I'd lean toward flexplate.

Friend had a Jeep Grand Cherokee with the V8 that he was chasing a strange vibration on. Ended up being a small crack in the flywheel. He pulled the starter and inspected the flywheel tooth by tooth, until he found a missing one, then a crack extending from there. It's a long shot, but I have seen it before.

 

[MarkamisPrime]

to me the 3rd gen is just a special to ride in truck staying true to its roots while being a civil civilian hauler. I've owned 2 4th gens both motors (gave v8 to my mother) and I can't afford a 5th gen. Have considered selling and starting over but I've already spent a lot of dough and was planning to keep it forever. !

You just answered your own question
If you plan on keeping it forever than just fix it
I understand it’s frustrating but you could go and buy something else and it have issues as well
I’d rec taking it to a tranny shop and see what they tell you.

If my truck blew a motor or trans I’d still just fix it
Why get rid of it just to get something else and still have to put money into that. I’d rather keep the vehicle I want no matter how old it is. But that’s just me. To each his own.

 

[MarkamisPrime]

My 3rd gen has 300k+ miles but it ain't a mythical super vehicle. It is just a machine built in Japan by some very good car people. But if it had a problem like you described why spend the money and time on it? It isn't better then our 4th or 5th gen in any category. Damn if I wanted another 3rd gen because it was my dream vehicle I still would sale it and start over with a 3rd gen with less issues. Maybe one that was taken care of better with more options and looks better too

Take a 3k lose in buying and selling to get a different “better”rig and still take the chance of the same thing or something else happening.
Or keep the truck spend the 3k to fix it and have the peace of mind knowing it’s perfect on top of everything else you have already done to make it a like new vehicle.
In my mind the choice is obvious
But maybe that’s just me.

 

[nissanh]

Did you check the U joints in drive shafts? A wrapped rotor?

 

[KimIsAGuy]

It could be you rear U joint. I had similar symptoms to what you describe when mine was failing.

Did you check the U joints in drive shafts? A wrapped rotor?

I recently changed my rear u-joint, while you're at it check the other u-joints. But my symptoms are a bit different from
described. My vibration will only happen when I'm at speed and on the gas, but in neutral, coasting, or letting go of the gas at the speed that it vibrates at-- I have no vibration.

I didn't rev my engine to check for the vibration... So, idk if mine vibrates in Park/Neutral.

 

[keeperofgoal]

I am following up on my issue I never found the problem my crank pulley/balancer looks good and I have not taken it to a tranny shop yet because im stubborn but have an appointment this week. I have another thread where I posted about my rpms jumping up by itself when decelerating and I was wondering if maybe it was the tc locking unlocking/malfunctioning? so if my vibration is really bad on the freeway at high speeds im probably in od, when I let off the gas rpms drag down and when they get between 1500-2k shoot up with my foot off the gas. it even happens when I brake when it gets down to certain rpms it shoots up. im almost used to the vibration now but im wondering if this all related. I also get a decent thump when I abruptly let off the gas when im close to full throttle like im being sucked into a black hole. all of this crap never used to happen so its gotta be related. going to mechanic school just to figure this out. very frustrated. I will try to post a video.