Howdy! Just bought an '02 Sport and have a few questions

[2002tii]

2002tii's 2002 4Runner Sport Edition 4WD

="http://forum.ih8mud.com/95-gen-toyota-trucks/418177-one-man-ps-flush-3rd-gen-4runner.html"]these[/URL]="http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/112620-added-auxiliary-input-my-factory-deck.html"]these[/URL]="http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/45445-how-get-better-throttle-response-free.html"]these[/URL]

 

[TRDteen]

congratulations on the buy! Car looks clean and great! only thing i can suggest is the tundra brake caliper upgrade for your brakes. It will save you warped rotors and money in the future! I know you said you dont want to hop right on it but why not?:trophy:

 

[S Brake]

1)The gear lever seems to go back just beyond Drive. It quickly pops into place once I start driving, but it is kind of annoying. Is this common? Anyone know any easy fix?

Mine does this so I assume it's normal, but it doesn't bother me at all.

 

[Millerad1651]

Looks like a good pick up. Ant answer all your Qs, but some I can.

Don't know about the gear shift, sounds like the stops are worn.

Brakes are known to be crappy on here. Most likely warped. I'd go Tundra upgrade as suggested.

Try this for your HVAC. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/113266-cleaning-blower-fan-write-up.html#post1042652

I Have a remote start as well. You can take it somewhere and they can program the buttons for multi use. I'd ask them to set it to the rear window, so you can still use the remote start...also good I'm the summer to get it cool before you get in!

Don't throw away the sport skid plate, many people want one and you can make some decent money on it. Check out my build thread about painting the spoiler and rack...I did mine as well as my flares. Not too bad a project at all.

 

[2002tii]

congratulations on the buy! Car looks clean and great! only thing i can suggest is the tundra brake caliper upgrade for your brakes. It will save you warped rotors and money in the future! I know you said you dont want to hop right on it but why not?:trophy:

Thanks... I guess I'll have to get an idea of how much work needs to be done. If I have a sticking caliper, then the Tundra brakes are a no-brainer. I realized after buying the 4Runner that I don't have a jack rated to lift this vehicle (mine is a two ton jack, which seems a little weak!), so I haven't been able to do a more thorough inspection.

Mine does this so I assume it's normal, but it doesn't bother me at all.

Interesting... I don't think it's normal, though.

Looks like a good pick up. Ant answer all your Qs, but some I can.

Don't know about the gear shift, sounds like the stops are worn.

Brakes are known to be crappy on here. Most likely warped. I'd go Tundra upgrade as suggested.

Try this for your HVAC. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/113266-cleaning-blower-fan-write-up.html#post1042652

I Have a remote start as well. You can take it somewhere and they can program the buttons for multi use. I'd ask them to set it to the rear window, so you can still use the remote start...also good I'm the summer to get it cool before you get in!

Don't throw away the sport skid plate, many people want one and you can make some decent money on it. Check out my build thread about painting the spoiler and rack...I did mine as well as my flares. Not too bad a project at all.

Thanks!

I'll look into the worn stops, that seems like a safe bet. Will try the blower fan cleanup. And I guess it would be nice to keep the remote start, although I am pretty sure I'll never use it... the 4Runner will sit in a garage. I've had remote start on other vehicles and I've never really found it all that useful with cloth seats and tinted windows. Maybe I'm just too used to living in Texas!

I think I'll toss the skid plate up for sale... it might fund a few things here and there.

 

[jacob7071]

Don't throw away the sport skid plate,

ditto. I just sent you a PM about it.

 

[farmerjon]

If you have a bug deflector - any interest in sending it to me? I'd pay for shipping and something for it, if you want?

PM if you still have it and.or are interested. Thanks!

And nice ride! Looks like its in good shape.

 

[4-Ripcord]

I would flush and bleed the brake system to make sure both sides are getting the same pressure.

Other than that I am of no help except to say welcome :hello:

 

[BrianSD_42]

Unless I have a sticking caliper, I'm not going to do the Tundra brake upgrade right now

You could just upgrade your rotors and pads, keeping the original calipers.

Unless you are lifted there is not really a HARD need to do the Tundra upgrade.

I have Brembo rotors and performance pads on my truck for last 3 years with no problem. Stops great!

 

[2002tii]

ditto. I just sent you a PM about it.

I'll reply to it in a second.

If you have a bug deflector - any interest in sending it to me? I'd pay for shipping and something for it, if you want?

PM if you still have it and.or are interested. Thanks!

And nice ride! Looks like its in good shape.

I do have it... I put it on Craigslist for $25. I had to drill out the mounting hardware, but I imagine you could get that from Toyota. It is the Toyota-branded deflector. PM me if you want it, but I bet shipping will be $$$.

I would flush and bleed the brake system to make sure both sides are getting the same pressure.

Other than that I am of no help except to say welcome :hello:

thanks... your 4R is awesome, by the way! I read somewhere that the 01-02 4Rs have a different brake booster than the others... is it possible to use one of those one person bleeders with our trucks?

You could just upgrade your rotors and pads, keeping the original calipers.

Unless you are lifted there is not really a HARD need to do the Tundra upgrade.

I have Brembo rotors and performance pads on my truck for last 3 years with no problem. Stops great!

That's what I was hoping to do... and that's great to know. I'm going to figure out if the caliper is indeed sticking... if it is, I'll pony up for the Tundra upgrade. If not, the stock brakes should be fine for me. No lift plans and I doubt I'll ever tow anything more than 1,000 lbs - if ever.

 

[Kung]

You could just upgrade your rotors and pads, keeping the original calipers.

Unless you are lifted there is not really a HARD need to do the Tundra upgrade.

I have Brembo rotors and performance pads on my truck for last 3 years with no problem. Stops great!

OR unless you tow. I've known a few people 'offline' who have had aftermarket rotors/pads who have still have warping issues. My rotors/pads were perfect...UNTIL towing a 12' trailer ONCE. They were horribly warped afterwards.

 

[4-Ripcord]

thanks... your 4R is awesome, by the way! I read somewhere that the 01-02 4Rs have a different brake booster than the others... is it possible to use one of those one person bleeders with our trucks?

thank you!

yes to both.
the brake system is totally different due to the traction control systems on 01-02s.

 

[2002tii]

OR unless you tow. I've known a few people 'offline' who have had aftermarket rotors/pads who have still have warping issues. My rotors/pads were perfect...UNTIL towing a 12' trailer ONCE. They were horribly warped afterwards.

I'm probably gambling by sticking with the stock ones, but I'll realistically only drive 3-4k max in this vehicle (it's a third car) and I'm really unlikely to ever tow. It might make an annual trip to NM or CO, where I'd be dealing with mountain passes, but I think the stock brakes will be fine.

thank you!

yes to both.
the brake system is totally different due to the traction control systems on 01-02s.

Thanks. I've never used the one-person bleeder, but a buddy of mine has one that I know I could borrow.

I'm not sure how worthwhile this will be, but I'm taking the 4R to a tire shop tomorrow to have an alignment done and to have the wheels balanced. They're also going to do a "free" brake inspection. I'll walk around the truck with them - this saves me the hassle of pulling the wheels off myself

 

[2002tii]

Finally got the wheels off and had a look. The pads are in good shape up front and out back, but the rotors are definitely worn. I think I'm just going to replace them with a high quality set and stick with the stock brakes for now.

 

[2002tii]

Rare white Christmas in Dallas. Took the 4Runner out for a brief spin.

Also just updated my to-do list.

 

[lonewolf808]

looks sweet. would love to buy the front skid plate and running boards from you. but since i live in Hawaii i think the cost for shipping would be too high.

 

[jc1kz]

You mentioned that you don't have a jack rated to lift this vehicle "(mine is a two ton jack, which seems a little weak!)" I have the same two ton jack, and it works just fine...unless you put a lift kit on your trk the two ton jack will work perfectly...I did get two things for safety reasons, tire blocks and a gorrila lug breaker wrench. good luck on your new purchase and have fun.....Their great rigs....

 

[Ghostrider]

A few quick thoughts --- You should change all three differentials fluids. Two are easy. The front is a pain to get leverage to remove one of the plugs. I would toss a small sections of 2x6 near the factory jack - mine is marginal on height on pavement and would not have clearance on dirt. Be careful pulling the MAF sensor. Toyota went really cheap on the screws. I repalced mine with hex bolts from Lowes. I don't have it handy but the search engine should find my post with the part number. You also should look at plugs and wires. I am in Austin with a 2001 Thundercloud and that is a fine color

 

[2002tii]

Nothing to update, really. I got a steam cleaner and I've been working on the interior, although it was really clean to start with. I'll post up some better photos once I get the 4Runner properly cleaned inside and out. It's filthy from the snow last week - in Texas, we don't salt, we sand... which is generally useless!

looks sweet. would love to buy the front skid plate and running boards from you. but since i live in Hawaii i think the cost for shipping would be too high.

Thanks... the skid plate is gone. Yeah, the running boards would be really expensive to ship to Hawaii. I can look into it if you want, but I imagine it would be into triple digits.

You mentioned that you don't have a jack rated to lift this vehicle "(mine is a two ton jack, which seems a little weak!)" I have the same two ton jack, and it works just fine...unless you put a lift kit on your trk the two ton jack will work perfectly...I did get two things for safety reasons, tire blocks and a gorrila lug breaker wrench. good luck on your new purchase and have fun.....Their great rigs....

Thanks... yeah, it's rated to lift the 4Runner, but a 3 ton jack would make me happier. This two toner works great with my little BMW.

A few quick thoughts --- You should change all three differentials fluids. Two are easy. The front is a pain to get leverage to remove one of the plugs. I would toss a small sections of 2x6 near the factory jack - mine is marginal on height on pavement and would not have clearance on dirt. Be careful pulling the MAF sensor. Toyota went really cheap on the screws. I repalced mine with hex bolts from Lowes. I don't have it handy but the search engine should find my post with the part number. You also should look at plugs and wires. I am in Austin with a 2001 Thundercloud and that is a fine color

Thanks... yeah, all three diffs and the transmission will get changed out. The plugs and wires are new within the last 10k, so they're good to go (the previous owner was oddly anal with plugs and wires - he did them every 20-25k).

Thanks for the MAF sensor tip! When I do it, I'll definitely look for your post.

I was just in Austin last week - I get down there often for work and to see friends.

 

[lonewolf808]

2002tti, thanks but if it goes into triple digits its not worth it. one of the many drawbacks in living in Hawaii....really sucks. thats one of the stuff i need to make my T4R SR5 totally stock looking....

i'll keep looking hopefully i can find one in Hawaii....again. your T4R looks clean and awesome...