First 4runner and 4x4 -> first impression and questions

[Steve240]

Hi all, after reading this site over for over a month I finaly made a move on a 4runner and picked up one 2 weeks ago. Always wanted a toyota 4x4. Was leaning towards tacoma's but I wanted a 4 door. The 4runner is about as completely oposite as I could get from my 240sx

I ended up getting a 97 limited with a rear e locker after looking at about 15 different 4runners forsale.

Of course I have pics

My first impression's are pretty good. The only thing that does not work on the truck is back window will not go down with the in cab switch. It will go down with the key and up with the switch but not down.. I have tried all the reset tricks but nothing has worked.

Other than that the cup holders kind of suck but I use to not having cup holders so it is an improvement haha. The climate control doesn't seem to be the best but it works. My biggest compliant is how the wind comes in the window when its down. I see a lot of trucks running the rain visors and I think that would help, would like that confirmed though.


So far I've replaced all the seals and bearings in the rear end. Wasn't to bad a job but I couldn't get the abs sensors out without cutting those arn't cheap so that sucked.


As for questions. My rad has never been replaced. I was wondering is it better to install an external trans cooler and cap the old rad or get a new one? Work or fab aside thats not an issue.

I'm also wondering how bad will my gas milage get running 33's? This is my daily driver all winter and I do a decent commute. I currently get 430km (265mile) to a tank. From what I've read thats about normal. Will the deckplate mod and isr mod improve that by much? I was planning to keep the motor stock but I will do mods for better milage.

What about weight savings? I want to put on new bumpers and rock sliders so i know that will be hard to do but is there anything people do? Are SR5 seats powered? Anyone know how much lighter they are? I really don't have a need for power adjustments. My seat in my car is bolted right to the chassis so if I can manual slide it thats more than enough for me!

Again thanks to all in advance. I've really enjoyed reading this forum, it has good members (barely see any flaming or stupid arguments) and tons of information!

 

[quicksilvr]

Nice truck and welcome! I can't tell...is it black with the dark gray cladding? Thta's one of my favorite combo's.


I would do an external cooler and leave the radiator alone if it's not leaking. With 33's, you'll probably drop to around 225 miles to a tank, depending on how you drive. Deckplate and ISR aren't proven to add mileage....some people say they help, others don't. It's a wash. Changing seats out will save like 15-20lbs max...and if you're adding a bumper and sliders...you're adding like 200. lol, not worth it.

 

[Steve240]

Hey thanks for the answers.

Its actually Dark green with the dark grey trim. I like the dark grey trim and plan to use that on new bumpers. I was looking for the dark green or red so I lucked out getting that colour with the e locker.

225 I can live with that. Do most of you guys run steel rims or keep the aluminum?

I have also read some conflicting things about the deckplate/isr. I heard you gain top end but loose your bottom end torque. I try to keep the rev's below 2,500 and rarely have I been over 70 mph so I can't say I have much of a need for top end. I was only interested in it if I could get a couple extra miles out of a tank.

 

[Smog-guy707]

Nice runner man and wlecome. Green is deffinitely a nice color. Im gettin 15 mpg average with 33s. I drive both city and freeway. Not the best. Enjoy the stock milege while you can before you get bigger wheels. The stock rims should be fine with bigger tires too.

And ****ty cupholders, lol...you should look for a 99-02 center counsel...waaaay better

 

[magicfish]

My biggest compliant is how the wind comes in the window when its down

If you lower the rear door window to 1/2 or less, that will help with the wind in the front window.

 

[4-Ripcord]

I get close to 300 a tank before compensating for the 33's, so that's like 321 miles per tank.

And x2 on the 99+ cupholder mod, a must have for anyone and everyone.

 

[Steve240]

Thanks guys, 321 thats pretty good. I'm not getting that now with my stock truck. Have you done any of the intake mods or exhaust to get that? I've got new spark plugs to put it might help a bit.

My rear window is a pain right now. I can't put it down without the key. I'm thinking it might have something to do with my rear wiper as it doesn't seem to touch the window when I use it. It does retact correctly though.

I'll look into the 99-00 cup holder/interior swap. Can I swap the climate control as well? I figure this would be difficult but anything is possible right anyone done that before?

 

[4-Ripcord]

Thanks guys, 321 thats pretty good. I'm not getting that now with my stock truck. Have you done any of the intake mods or exhaust to get that? I've got new spark plugs to put it might help a bit.

My rear window is a pain right now. I can't put it down without the key. I'm thinking it might have something to do with my rear wiper as it doesn't seem to touch the window when I use it. It does retact correctly though.

I'll look into the 99-00 cup holder/interior swap. Can I swap the climate control as well? I figure this would be difficult but anything is possible right anyone done that before?

Ive done the deckplate and ISR, also have a K&N filter. Wish I had the dry filter, amsoil i think is the one that makes those. The plugs you bought are the dual ground NGK plugs right?

Those numbers were pre-supercharger. I get like 18 mpg average now.

 

[Nelsonmd]

Thanks guys, 321 thats pretty good. I'm not getting that now with my stock truck. Have you done any of the intake mods or exhaust to get that? I've got new spark plugs to put it might help a bit.

My rear window is a pain right now. I can't put it down without the key. I'm thinking it might have something to do with my rear wiper as it doesn't seem to touch the window when I use it. It does retact correctly though.

I'll look into the 99-00 cup holder/interior swap. Can I swap the climate control as well? I figure this would be difficult but anything is possible right anyone done that before?

How much you get on a tank is a terrible way to judge your fuel efficiency, especially with how inaccurate the fuel gauges are on these 4runners. Actually calculate your MPG's using the mileage since last fill-up.

If your wiper doesn't touch the window, then you have a wiper issue (maybe it is rusted in the joint), that shouldn't have anything to do with the rear window. Do a little troubleshooting on the rear window switch, like get a DMM and check that the switch works, is getting power correctly, then pull the hatch apart and see if the rear hatch computer is working right.

Swapping the climate controls is pretty difficult and the general consensus is that it isn't worth it.

 

[Steve240]

I have done that. So I get 450 to around 55 liters 12ish L/100km which is around 19mpg.

How would I check the computer? I have checked the switch for continuity and it is good. Again the switch will bring the window up. Its bring it down thats the problem. I was thinking it might have something to do with the wiper and the truck thinking the wiper is on the window disabling it... just a thought.

 

[Nelsonmd]

I have done that. So I get 450 to around 55 liters 12ish L/100km which is around 19mpg.

How would I check the computer? I have checked the switch for continuity and it is good. Again the switch will bring the window up. Its bring it down thats the problem. I was thinking it might have something to do with the wiper and the truck thinking the wiper is on the window disabling it... just a thought.

19 MPG is pretty dang good.

I was thinking you could check the output of the computer to make sure that the correct signal is getting sent to the motor, and check the input side to make sure that the signal is actually getting from the switch to the computer.

The general idea is to isolate each component along the way to find the problem. Maybe it's the computer, maybe it's the supply voltage to the switch, maybe it's the harness going from the switch to the computer, etc...

If there is a check for the wiper, then I would think that the key wouldn't work either.

 

[Steve240]

And yes I did get twin tiped, thanks riprod. I have been all over the search and this site for the last month (Y)

 

[Steve240]

Thats a good point. I was hoping not to have pull things apart. I certianly hate electrical gremlins. My car was full of them until I removed the whole engine harness. The worst car related job I've ever done.

 

[Hepar]

Welcome! And thanks for not having to remind you to post pics. Looks like you got a nice clean Runner. Where are you located? If you're from a place that's notorious for rust, I might be inclined to replace the radiator and add a trans cooler too. Better safe than sorry. If it's in good shape, just add a cooler and you're good to go.

 

[Steve240]

Yeah I'm from Ontario, we get rust, lots of it... The 4runner is actually in really good shape rust wise. I looked a lot and quite a few I was able to poke a hole right through the axle housing at the diff. shocking to me that toyota would leave that so weak. Either way mines good so I'm happy.

But I do agree I will change out the rad. There not even that much money, 175 for a koyo stupid not too. You would run a tranny cooler as well though?

Do many of you guys run gauges? Trany temp? oil pressure temp?

I have a crap ton of gauges in my car and I'm actually kind of enjoying not having gauges. I'm the type of person that freaks out when something little changes. Its usually nothing but gauges are required with a modified engine or it would have poped a long time ago.

 

[sonoranrunner]

I think changing out the rad is a good idea. I did mine (koyo) w an external cooler and a gauge. Pretty easy to do, not expensive, and good piece o mind.

 

[Steve240]

That gauge looks pretty clean. So is trany temp an issue even if your not towing? I currently don't even have a hitch so I won't be towing any time soon.

 

[Hepar]

But I do agree I will change out the rad. There not even that much money, 175 for a koyo stupid not too. You would run a tranny cooler as well though?

If it's an auto, I would. No point in regretting not adding a $75 part down the road someplace.

 

[Steve240]

Yeah thats fair enough I don't like to cheap. Now are there any themostat kits for the external cooler? Or is there a tremostat already in the tranny that opens the passage to the rad?

I had to get one for the oil cooler in my car. Running cold fluid can be just as bad as over heating