Francesca the 4Runner

[Thatgatesguy]

Hello everyone!

This is my first post on the forums, and I'd like to introduce everyone to my new (to me) 4Runner, Francesca (Franny for short). She's a 1997 4Runner SR5 with the 5 speed manual and the 3.4l V6. She has 205k miles but runs and drives like brand new.

This is my first Toyota, and after my last car was stolen 4 weeks ago, I've been researching and researching trying to find the best vehicle to buy. And that's when I stumbled onto this site and began my search for the elusive 5 speed 4Runner.

I only have 1 picture right now, but will be updating this thread with more, once she is out of the shop from her checkup.

Thanks everyone for reading, and thanks for such an informative forum for all my 4Runner needs!

 

[Gadgetguy]

Nice 4Runner! I just bought my first 3rd gen 4Runner a week ago and love it. I've already taken it wheeling 3 times lol. Now the running boards are trashed but I'm glad I had them.

Beard on brother!

 

[Ol School]

Congrats on a nice looking 4runner. Good Luck

 

[Thatgatesguy]

Thanks [MENTION=128897]Gadgetguy[/MENTION] [MENTION=116375]Ol School[/MENTION] !

I got it back from the shop, and they said she was in great condition (I kinda already knew that, but can't be too safe with another pair of eyes).

So I had to order a few parts for her such as a new back window switch, a passenger door control module panel, and I had to change the center console because the lid was broke, and all tore up. I decided to get a '99 console and do the upgrade for the better cupholders. Turned out awesome! And thanks to [MENTION=44831]JohnsD90[/MENTION] for the write up for it!



Also we went dirt roading up in the mountains today and she handled great. Handled anything we did.



Can't wait to get to more mods done on her.

List includes:

Suspension upgrade.
Brake upgrade
Led light upgrade (interior & exterior)
Front and rear bumpers
New roof rack
Interior upgrade.
The big 3 electrical upgrade.

Among some other things at a later time.

 

[SilverRidgeRunner1]

Welcome and beautiful ride. She will be a butterfly before your know it hanging out on here.

 

[nissanh]

Wow, someone did the center console mod for you!
Do you know whether it got a rear e-locker : RR Diff Lock switch by the tilt?

 

[Thatgatesguy]

Wow, someone did the center console mod for you!
Do you know whether it got a rear e-locker : RR Diff Lock switch by the tilt?

Nope I did the center console mod by myself. Unfortunately it doesn't have the locker. But I plan to get a winch, and that should be enough to pull me out of anything that I would be doing, if need be.

 

[Gadgetguy]

I would egg a politicians house to have those cup holders! My lift if going on tomorrow and the alignment tuesday.... WOOT

 

[Thatgatesguy]

I would egg a politicians house to have those cup holders! My lift if going on tomorrow and the alignment tuesday.... WOOT

That's awesome, what lift did you go with? I think there's a lift on mine but I'm not sure.. She seems to sit higher than a lot of other 4runners in the area. This is my 2nd 4x4 truck, so I'm not all that familiar with them.

Here's a weird question though. I replaced my rear window switch because up wouldn't work. It works with the exterior key, so I know the motor works, but with the interior switch it won't go up. I'm thinking something with the connection on the window end, not the switch end. Any thoughts?

 

[rtarv32101]

Did you relocate the window switch when you upgraded to the '99-02 center console? Maybe it is a connection problem. When I moved my switch, I had to lengthen the wires, just a thought

 

[Thatgatesguy]

Did you relocate the window switch when you upgraded to the '99-02 center console? Maybe it is a connection problem. When I moved my switch, I had to lengthen the wires, just a thought

Yeah, I replaced the switch before doing the console, and still didn't work. I did relocate the switch, but that was afterwards.

 

[Gadgetguy]

I found an Old Man Emu lift on CL for cheap but had to buy rear shocks. Still paid about 30% of what the lift would have cost new.
You may want to inspect the wiring harness where it passes between the body of the truck and the liftgate, that part sees a lot of movement. If all looks good there, I'd do a continuity test on the switch while held in the up.down position to rule it out.

Other than that you will need to trace the wires and do a continuity test to see if there is a break in the wire between the switch and the motor, and check for shorts to ground in case the hot has broken and is rubbing on the body/frame somewhere. You'll need a good multimeter and a lot of patience to do this.

 

[IBallEngineer]

Yeah, I replaced the switch before doing the console, and still didn't work. I did relocate the switch, but that was afterwards.

OK so the switch doesn't actually connect to the motor at any time. The dash switch is connected to the Body ECU, which is also the fuse block on the lower left side of the dash. The Body ECU sends serial data to the Back Door ECU, which in turn does the actual work of grounding and sending power to the rear window motor. [MENTION=128897]Gadgetguy[/MENTION] is correct in that the point where the harness enters the body from the rear door is a common failure point, definitely look closely at that. Next thing would be the switch circuit to the Body ECU, I'm attaching a link to the diagram. It's for an 2002, so your colors may be different.

http://tacoma.site40.net/4Runner_96-02_Repair&Wiring/techinfo.toyota.com/ileaf/ewdtmc2/ewdtmpdf/ewdsourc/2002/024runne/systemci/043pwrww.pdf

op2:

 

[Thatgatesguy]

OK so the switch doesn't actually connect to the motor at any time. The dash switch is connected to the Body ECU, which is also the fuse block on the lower left side of the dash. The Body ECU sends serial data to the Back Door ECU, which in turn does the actual work of grounding and sending power to the rear window motor. [MENTION=128897]Gadgetguy[/MENTION] is correct in that the point where the harness enters the body from the rear door is a common failure point, definitely look closely at that. Next thing would be the switch circuit to the Body ECU, I'm attaching a link to the diagram. It's for an 2002, so your colors may be different.

http://tacoma.site40.net/4Runner_96.../ewdsourc/2002/024runne/systemci/043pwrww.pdf

[emoji14]op2:

Okay awesome. Thanks for the diagram, I'll get a chance to look at it today and see what I find.