just picked up an 86 t4r, have a couple q's?

[fivesfe]

i just picked up an 86 4 runner, it has 237k on er, its not the in the nicest condition but i am soon going to start working on that.

i just have a few questions:
1. First time it heats up when i start her up the temp always climbs very high then drops back down, i talked to a couple of friends and they said theirs did the same. whats the cause? thermostat?

2. it is very hard to get it out of 4wd, ive only used it once to make sure it worked, but havnt anymore because im unsure if i can get it out, I hear this is normal and that i should roll in reverse for a bit then try to get it out?

3. Engine ticks, timing chain? valve adjustment? spun rod? from what ive read that most of these motors tick. Ima try the valve adjustment first because its the cheapest.

4. battery lights comes on often when im starting off(when i let off the clutch and the rpms dip) i understand that this is normal for most cars when the rpms get very low, but it seems this does it more often, esp when first started. Im going to clean up all the power wires and grounds with sand paper. I also just replaced the battery.

5. Rear window is off track, and door doesnt open. any ideas?

6. the keys are horrible, the ignition and locks will turn with just about any key. any suggestions?

thanks for the help in advance, what other issues should i look out for? how would i go about cleaning out the maf?

Right now it is blue that is horribly faded and a bit of surface rust on the top of her, i plan on painting it satin green, is it fairly easy to take off the mirrors/bumpers/window trims and what not? is there a write up somewhere on thsi?

 

[Ulfr]

i just picked up an 86 4 runner, it has 237k on er, its not the in the nicest condition but i am soon going to start working on that.

i just have a few questions:
1. First time it heats up when i start her up the temp always climbs very high then drops back down, i talked to a couple of friends and they said theirs did the same. whats the cause? thermostat?

Dunno bout this one, but these meters are not quite the most accurate ones. I would guess if it's common I wouldn't worry all too much 'bout it. At least your friends should be the first one to find out.

2. it is very hard to get it out of 4wd, ive only used it once to make sure it worked, but havnt anymore because im unsure if i can get it out, I hear this is normal and that i should roll in reverse for a bit then try to get it out?

Hmm, it seems to be common as well. My father's Patrol does the same thing, so does mine. It's pretty common with 4wd trucks. =)

3. Engine ticks, timing chain? valve adjustment? spun rod? from what ive read that most of these motors tick. Ima try the valve adjustment first because its the cheapest.

Ya, they tick, but you might wanna check the valve adjustments, also it seems to matter what kind of motor oil is used, at least my 3VZ-E did change dramatically between different oil types.

4. battery lights comes on often when im starting off(when i let off the clutch and the rpms dip) i understand that this is normal for most cars when the rpms get very low, but it seems this does it more often, esp when first started. Im going to clean up all the power wires and grounds with sand paper. I also just replaced the battery.

Might be that your alternator wasn't in all too good shape. Might explain the thermometer issue aswell. Probably better to measure the alternator and check if it's runnin' ok.

5. Rear window is off track, and door doesnt open. any ideas?

There are numerous threads located both here and on Yotatech.com
Would suggest you try to use the search engine.

6. the keys are horrible, the ignition and locks will turn with just about any key. any suggestions?

Get a new one.
Common issue.

thanks for the help in advance, what other issues should i look out for? how would i go about cleaning out the maf?

Right now it is blue that is horribly faded and a bit of surface rust on the top of her, i plan on painting it satin green, is it fairly easy to take off the mirrors/bumpers/window trims and what not? is there a write up somewhere on thsi?

Check if the frame is rusted, especially in the rear. Hope this helps anything.

 

[fourwd1]

i just picked up an 86 4 runner, it has 237k on er, its not the in the nicest condition but i am soon going to start working on that.

i just have a few questions:
1. First time it heats up when i start her up the temp always climbs very high then drops back down, i talked to a couple of friends and they said theirs did the same. whats the cause? thermostat?

Fairly common, if you have the wrong temp t-stat (too high) it makes it more noticeable. A 2-stage t-stat (or drill a small hole in yours) also helps.

2. it is very hard to get it out of 4wd, ive only used it once to make sure it worked, but havnt anymore because im unsure if i can get it out, I hear this is normal and that i should roll in reverse for a bit then try to get it out?

It's also fairly common on an older truck. back and forth motion helps, as does being on a loose surface.

3. Engine ticks, timing chain? valve adjustment? spun rod? from what ive read that most of these motors tick. Ima try the valve adjustment first because its the cheapest.

The 22RE is known for both valve train noise and Timing Chain noise. Adjust the valves (hot) and while you have the valve cover off yank on the TC to check for play. You can also take a flashlight and peer down at the TC guides. The TC needs to be replaced every 100K mi or so or the play will wear a hole thru the TC cover and then you'll have bigger problems.

4. battery lights comes on often when im starting off(when i let off the clutch and the rpms dip) i understand that this is normal for most cars when the rpms get very low, but it seems this does it more often, esp when first started. Im going to clean up all the power wires and grounds with sand paper. I also just replaced the battery.

Alternator may be going out, probably the brushes, but defenitely check all the connections on the + and - cables.

5. Rear window is off track, and door doesnt open. any ideas?

Try to hold it in place while lowering it, then open the gate remove the panel, and try to re-align it.

6. the keys are horrible, the ignition and locks will turn with just about any key. any suggestions?

It's old and the locks are worn, pretty normal. You might be able to pick up a used set of locks and keys and replace them. I know people who have.

thanks for the help in advance, what other issues should i look out for? how would i go about cleaning out the maf?

Find and download a copy of the Factory Service Manual, instructions for that, and everything else, are in it.

 

[ultrabongo]

You got some good advice from the last post. To get more detail on all of it, especially the thermostat problem, check Roger Browns web site. Google "Toyota pickup cheap tricks" I believe the address is 4 crawler.org. He details the thermo, and a lot of other great info. I had to remove my rear window regulator because the glass was busted. You can open the trim panel, take out the regulator and carefully slide the glass down if you cant get it back on track. Roger Brown has a whole detailed section on the back window. They are a universal problem in Gen 1 trucks that have any rust.

 

[fivesfe]

update:

alternator was dead, replaced it, runs good.

still the temp gets high the first time it heats up, im gonna invest in a new thermostat soon.

rust turns out to be minimal, just on the roof where the paint had faded off.

ive figured out how to open the back door and have been messing with it.

anyone know where to download the factory service manual?

i just painted the car a satin green, looks like a chalk board, its making some progress here and there but still needs some work.

 

[fivesfe]

picture with the paint job, the top is still off because i havnt painted it yet. i do like how it turned out. it was fugly before i painted it.

 

[Ulfr]

Very nice. Good you solved that alternator problem, many bad electric problem are caused by bad batteries and/or alternators...

I like that color, do you have any closer pics of it? I think it's almost the same color as my truck...

 

[Windsor]

FSM links: http://www.yotatech.com/f128/toyota-factory-service-manuals-fsm-all-years-156128/

This is also a decent bboard to search for solutions.

 

[fivesfe]

Very nice. Good you solved that alternator problem, many bad electric problem are caused by bad batteries and/or alternators...

I like that color, do you have any closer pics of it? I think it's almost the same color as my truck...

ima clean er up today and take some more pictures of it.

My intentions where to sell it to make a bit of money off it, i really enjoy it though so im debating that right now.