"Jitters" 2.0 Build/Restoration Thread

[1985taylor1925]

Hello all. Been a member of the forum for several years now, with all of my activity in the 3rd gen section as I bought my 98 SR5 back in August of 2010. Today I purchased a 1st gen here in WI. Ive been looking at 1st gen 4runners and similar year pickups for a few months now. Just been waiting for the right deal. I figured I would start this thread as I know Ill have a million questions along the way. And hopefully I can contribute to the forum as well as I post my info/pictures/experiences/tricks learned along the way/etc . . .

So here we go.

"Jitters" 2.0 (I affectionately named my 98 "Jitters" as I had a ton of issues with front end shakes and vibration initially after buying it)

-1988 SR5, Red
-3.0L 6cyl
-4x4
-Manual
-211000 with the engine rebuilt at 120000 via the recall on the head gasket
-All original apart from PO swapping in Aisin locking hubs and a cd player

It is originally a CA truck, and spent 16 years there. Has now been here in WI for the past ten. As a result the salt has produced some rust on the undercarriage and in a few small spots on the body. Nothing too crazy though. Driving it home today I was very surprised at how well it handled on the highway at 70mph. Suspension is fairly stiff as expected. But it handles surprisingly well to me, is fairly quiet at highway speeds, has far more punch than I expected for 150hp, and feels very solid overall. No wobbles or vibrations. Interior is close to mint, though it has a bunch of rattles which Ill work out along the way.

I intend to do a full restoration, or at least very close to it. Im going to stay pretty close to stock, though I will do some minor modification that I would consider beneficial over OEM. That would include a small suspension lift, slightly bigger tires, a new paint job (I plan to match the original red, but will leave out the vinyl graphics), nice aftermarket sound system, probably a bull bar with fog light, etc . . . But for the most part I will be staying close to original as these truck are becoming more and more rare, and I really want to see these things preserved. I would love to do a SAS swap as this truck has the torsion bars. And swapping in the 3.4 5vzfe would be awesome. But I don't if I want to invest that much money into the project at this point.

Here it is. Ill take better pictures in the future.













Running boards off

 

[KidVermicious]

Excellent. The first gen running boards are ghastly.

 

[fo' runnin']

Nice truck! Glad to see another one being preserved!

 

[1985taylor1925]

Excellent. The first gen running boards are ghastly.

True that. They make the truck look wimpy.

 

[SR587]

love it! looks like my old 1st gen, I wanted to do the same thing with mine but I didnt unfortunately

 

[1985taylor1925]

First question.

So I took the top off for the first time this past weekend. The previous owner said he never once took in off in the 17 years he owned it! Crazy. My parents drove here from WY on Sat, and I gave them a ride around town in Jitters 2.0. We ended up leaving my house in a hurry because we had reservations to stay at a cottage on lake Michigan.

Anyways, my dad and I threw the topper back on in case it rained, which of course it did. We got in on correctly, but I didn't put the bolts on as we were needing to leave quickly. So I just plugged the terminals (on driver side in the the back) back together. Im assuming those wires are for the rear window? Well I couldn't get the rear window to roll back up. Everything else worked fine. Anyone know why that would be? Havent had a chance to put the bolts back in or look at it yet as I literally drove from lake Michigan to work at Trek today. I work 2nd shift.

 

[KidVermicious]

You drove around with the top just sitting there? Huh.

You couldn't get the rear window to work because the third bolt from the back on the drivers side has an interlock switch. Put your bolts in and the window will work fine.

The wires are for the rear windshield wiper.

 

[Hyde802]

You drove around with the top just sitting there? Huh.

This. No bolts huh? Lucky it didnt blow off.

 

[1985taylor1925]

You drove around with the top just sitting there? Huh.

You couldn't get the rear window to work because the third bolt from the back on the drivers side has an interlock switch. Put your bolts in and the window will work fine.

The wires are for the rear windshield wiper.

This. No bolts huh? Lucky it didnt blow off.

Ok. That's what I was thinking . . . that one of those bolts was a ground for something electrical. Thanks

And no, I certainly didn't drive the 88 4runner around with the top unbolted. Not sure where you got that idea from my last post. I gave my parents a ride in the 4runner with the top off. We then got back to my house and put the top back on as we were in a hurry to leave. My 88 has sat parked in the driveway since then, with a tarp over the rear window. I drove my 98 to the lake Michigan cottage.

 

[KidVermicious]

I drove my 98 to the lake Michigan cottage.

It's all so clear to me now!

You didn't seem like the sort of fella that would be that retarded, but you never know. This is the internet after all. :thumb:

 

[1985taylor1925]

Starting issue

Havent posted here for a long time as ive been doing a lot of work on my 98 4runner and driving the 88 as is. But after driving it for several months now I have decided that Im going to restore it, and then keep it. I had originally planned on restoring and selling to try to make a profit. But after driving for months I just love it too much. I can spin the tires is 1st gear, and by "double jumping" it I can wheelie my 4runner haha. I mean literally get the front tires off the ground. Too much fun

Anyways, I have a strange issue with the truck starting. Every now and then Ill go to start it and nothing will happen other than a whining noise (Im thinking that's the fuel pump?). And then Ill just keep on turning the key and messing with it, and suddenly it will start. There was one case where it took me 20 minutes to get it started after work. Clearly this is an electrical issue. I just don't know enough about electrical to know what it is. Once it does decide to fire it starts right up perfectly.

A friend suggested the solenoid? Can anyone tell me if that sounds like the right culprit? Thanks

 

[DeclansDaddy]

Glad you came to you senses and are going to keep this beautiful piece of toyota history. I know the 22re have the infamous staring problem fixed here http://www.toyota-4runner.org/class...x-intermittent-no-crank-22re.html#post1117438 but I'm not sure if it's the same kind of issue for the 3.0. Keep us updated with pics on the resto. First thing I'd do is check the connections on the starter. Maybe a new relay? Usually if your solenoid is sticking it will at least make a click.

 

[1985taylor1925]

Passenger side power window not working

Its been awhile since Iv'e posted in this section. Most of my time is spent in the 3rd gen section. But I have recently put this truck up for sale both here and on craigslist as I am dealing with an illness right now and am not able to work full time. I had planned on restoring this truck, but do not have the energy or money. Now I just need money for medical bills. So the truck is for sale in the classifieds for any who are interested.

In the mean time, I am trying to figure out why the passenger window doesn't work so I can fix it. With some help I replaced the motor, which didn't fix it. I took apart the switch and didn't see anything wrong with it, though I'm not 100% sure about that. I read on Ih8mud forum that there is a control unit for the windows that is located behind the kick panel and is often the cause. But I looked for it behind my kick panel and near the clutch lever and couldn't find it. So now I'm stumped. The driver side window works fine, along with everything else.

Can anyone offer me some advise for what to check next? Thanks.

 

[1985taylor1925]

Glad you came to you senses and are going to keep this beautiful piece of toyota history. I know the 22re have the infamous staring problem fixed here http://www.toyota-4runner.org/class...x-intermittent-no-crank-22re.html#post1117438 but I'm not sure if it's the same kind of issue for the 3.0. Keep us updated with pics on the resto. First thing I'd do is check the connections on the starter. Maybe a new relay? Usually if your solenoid is sticking it will at least make a click.

Still having starting issues, but now they have changed. I read through that thread. But the issue my truck is having seems to be different. I just replaced my battery as it wouldn't hold a charge, and also replaced the starter with a duralast unit as I suspected the starter was having issues. Turns out the starter was not the issue.

So before I changed the battery, I could almost always get the truck started with a jump. Now I go to start the truck a few weeks later and after installing a new battery, and it still wont start. So I try to jump it and now that doesn't work! When I turn the key, all the lights come on. I'm getting full power to everything from the battery. But nothing happens when I try to start it. So I had my dad turn the key while I put me ear next to the starter relay to make sure its clicking. I hear a click, but it actually sounds like its coming from the starter, not the relay. Couldn't hear anything from the relay. So does that mean I blew the relay?

 

[1985taylor1925]

Still having starting issues, but now they have changed. I read through that thread. But the issue my truck is having seems to be different. I just replaced my battery as it wouldn't hold a charge, and also replaced the starter with a duralast unit as I suspected the starter was having issues. Turns out the starter was not the issue.

So before I changed the battery, I could almost always get the truck started with a jump. Now I go to start the truck a few weeks later and after installing a new battery, and it still wont start. So I try to jump it and now that doesn't work! When I turn the key, all the lights come on. I'm getting full power to everything from the battery. But nothing happens when I try to start it. So I had my dad turn the key while I put me ear next to the starter relay to make sure its clicking. I hear a click, but it actually sounds like its coming from the starter, not the relay. Couldn't hear anything from the relay. So does that mean I blew the relay?

Anyone able to help me with this question? I went to autozone to get a new starter relay, but the cost $180. So I'm not going that route. I will have to look for a used relay. But I would like to figure out for sure if the relay is even the issue before I spend the money even on a used one.

 

[PlanetExpress]

Anyone able to help me with this question? I went to autozone to get a new starter relay, but the cost $180. So I'm not going that route. I will have to look for a used relay. But I would like to figure out for sure if the relay is even the issue before I spend the money even on a used one.

I had this issue with the starter, there was apparently a bad spot on the starter cable (or terminal) where the connection wasn't good enough. When this would happen i would fiddle with the cable running to the starter and find the sweet spot. Try pulling the cable off and cleaning the terminal, retaining nut and lug.

 

[1985taylor1925]

I had this issue with the starter, there was apparently a bad spot on the starter cable (or terminal) where the connection wasn't good enough. When this would happen i would fiddle with the cable running to the starter and find the sweet spot. Try pulling the cable off and cleaning the terminal, retaining nut and lug.

I'll give that I try. I figured there is nothing wrong with the starter as its a remanufactured unit which I just installed, and the truck started after I installed it. But I will definitely check it out

 

[1985taylor1925]

I tried messing with the starter wires with no success. My dad and I push started the truck a few days ago. It cranked right up and ran perfectly once it was started. So I know it is strictly a starter issue.

When I turn the key there is a click. However it's not coming from the relay. Its coming from one of these three plugs. And it doesnt click when you turn the key to start it, but rather when you turn it to the first spot. So I imagine that is normal.



And here is the relay. I had my dad turn the key several times as I listened to the relay and felt for a click. There is no click coming from the relay. Shouldn't there be a click when I turn the key to start it?

 

[1985taylor1925]

I tried messing with the starter wires with no success. My dad and I push started the truck a few days ago. It cranked right up and ran perfectly once it was started. So I know it is strictly a starter issue.

When I turn the key there is a click. However it's not coming from the relay. Its coming from one of these three plugs. And it doesnt click when you turn the key to start it, but rather when you turn it to the first spot. So I imagine that is normal.
View attachment 204452


And here is the relay. I had my dad turn the key several times as I listened to the relay and felt for a click. There is no click coming from the relay. Shouldn't there be a click when I turn the key to start it?
View attachment 204453

Bump for this question. I would really appreciate some help on this. Not hearing or feeling any click from the relay. Does that indicate the relay is bad?

 

[85RedRunner]

Yes. A relay will click if its working. Doesnt necessarily mean the relay is bad though..

A relay is basically just a switch, that is turned on by another switch.... So you flip on a lightswitch in your cab, triggers the relay, then the relay turns on the lights.

So, it could be the relay, or the source of the power that triggers it. This would be a good time to pull out your multimeter and make sure power is getting to the relay.

(Cant really answer your specific question without checking on my own.. But that wont be until tomorrow afternoon unless someone else can chime in.)

IMO