Low milage problems with 2008 V6

[bob3dsf]

I have a 2008 4runner that i bought new that currently has 47,000 miles on it.

I have only had 2 problems.

1) I had to replace the gas cap (i read somewhere that they only last 5 to 6 years).

2) 4wd problem.. even though i exercise the 4wd and transfer case often i had a hard time getting into 4wd this winter when i really needed it. After several attempts it did go into 4wd. I then switched it back and forth many times the following weeks and it now works fine. But, the operation of the 4wd and switching into 4 low would be my first concern with a vehicle that wasn't driven much.

I exercise my 4wd regularly. I also had a slight issue this winter during some snow where it didn't want to shift back into 2wd after a brief usage of 4HI on some slick areas. I got a slow rhythmic clunking-type noise. It did it during 2 attempts to shift. As soon as I heard it I immediately put the knob back in 4HI. On the 3rd try it shifted back. It's since shifted fine. I attributed it to the cold. it was REALLY cold that morning when I headed out to work. Just one of those things I guess...:noidea:

 

[having fun]

Every time I see this posting by title, I click open thinking that there is some posting of a problem my 08 might have, like with the early 03-04 head gasket problem.

I need to delete this thread from my viewing screen.

 

[Paladin]

You MIGHT experience a "thud" when releasing the brake at a stop. This is normal. Just have the drive shaft (propeller shaft) lubed and it should silence it. If it continue to "thump", no worries as NO ONE has had a failure. 4x4 models seem to do it more, but I have read 4x2 models do it too.

WOW! So that IS normal? I was wondering. I was thinking the transmission was producing way too much torque as I seem to have to also keep the breaks on really hard when at a light or it wants to drift forward easily. More than other cars and harder than my old Explorer. I thought it was all related.

I bought a 2008 V6 4WD July 2014. It has the Urban Runner package. It had 59K miles on it then and has about 62K now. I paid 21K for the car, which I think was a bit much but seems to in the top range for them used.

I am not 100% happy with mine. Overall I like it but some things are just weird. This is my first Toyota product.

I have some issues. First before I bought it the driver side window made a huge thunk when lowering. It would not do it every time though. The dealer paid for it but it took many tips as it would not do it all of the time. After about 4 trips it finally did it and they had to shave off some of the bottom of the windows. Weird.. Seems okay now.

I was in a hurry when I bought it (stupid I know) so while the car was very clean everywhere I could see, I did not notice that the underneath there was so much surface rust. I mean a LOT. I am going to take it to Ziebart or someplace and see if I can get that cleaned off and coated etc... In my area good used 4Runners seem rare and I really wanted one. I had to replace my Explorer fast so got it.

I also have been putting it from 2H to 4H every month after I got it. Sometimes it seems to shift very easily and within 5 seconds or so. Other times it takes a very long time or does not do it at all that I just turned the knob back to 2H. Unsure that is normal. I left it in 4H through the winter just now... Shifted back to 2H so... I am still confused on the rest of the 4WD system and what the other buttons do. The manual is confusing. But to be fair I have not had it that long and have not had the time to look into it more.

A few times this happened: I had ice at the end of my driveway so when exiting onto the clear main road I assumed it slipped a little. That is fine but then when on the clear main road it moved REALLY slow like it lost all torque. It went very slow up the hill like it had little power. After a short while, maybe passing a house or two, it seemed to then gain power back and was okay but that is NOT good. Why would it do that????

Other weird quirk is the electrical is really weird in this thing front light wise.
I just cannot figure out the lights.

First the front passenger side turn signal bulb must be loose or something. Sometimes it will not light so I have to bang it and then it works. When it is out the rear turn signal flashes very fast and the front is not seen at all since it is out. I will replace that soon.

The REALLY weird things with the lights is they don't make sense as far as the auto off part.

The switch has three positions. Off, running lights and headlights.

-Off keeps them off and they do not turn on automatically when in this position. That is fine.

-In running lights mode the amber lights below the turn signals (unsure what those are called) come on but sometimes the turn signal lights also come on but not always. Unsure if it is when it gets darker out etc.. It is just inconsistent. Seems that even if it is slightly overcast out the turn signal lights will not come on and only those lower ones do. Weird you would think for safely they would always come on. Then I have had times when exiting the car they would not turn off even when pressing the lock twice. I had to go back into the car to set the switch to OFF. Even waiting more than 30 seconds.

-In headlight mode they work fine but do not always turn off even pressing the remote lock twice. I have had to turn the switch to OFF to keep them off. I cannot tell if that has anything to do with being daylight etc..

They are also supposed to auto turn off after 30 seconds but that does not always work.
Sometimes it does and other times it doesn’t. I usually can turn those off hitting the remote twice.

Just inconsistent and weird how these lights behave.

I don’t know.... the car is still relatively new to me only having it 8 months..
Am I crazy....

 

[Ralph Blake]

WOW! So that IS normal? I was wondering. I was thinking the transmission was producing way too much torque as I seem to have to also keep the breaks on really hard when at a light or it wants to drift forward easily. More than other cars and harder than my old Explorer. I thought it was all related.

I bought a 2008 V6 4WD July 2014. It has the Urban Runner package. It had 59K miles on it then and has about 62K now. I paid 21K for the car, which I think was a bit much but seems to in the top range for them used.

I am not 100% happy with mine. Overall I like it but some things are just weird. This is my first Toyota product.

I have some issues. First before I bought it the driver side window made a huge thunk when lowering. It would not do it every time though. The dealer paid for it but it took many tips as it would not do it all of the time. After about 4 trips it finally did it and they had to shave off some of the bottom of the windows. Weird.. Seems okay now.

I was in a hurry when I bought it (stupid I know) so while the car was very clean everywhere I could see, I did not notice that the underneath there was so much surface rust. I mean a LOT. I am going to take it to Ziebart or someplace and see if I can get that cleaned off and coated etc... In my area good used 4Runners seem rare and I really wanted one. I had to replace my Explorer fast so got it.

I also have been putting it from 2H to 4H every month after I got it. Sometimes it seems to shift very easily and within 5 seconds or so. Other times it takes a very long time or does not do it at all that I just turned the knob back to 2H. Unsure that is normal. I left it in 4H through the winter just now... Shifted back to 2H so... I am still confused on the rest of the 4WD system and what the other buttons do. The manual is confusing. But to be fair I have not had it that long and have not had the time to look into it more.

A few times this happened: I had ice at the end of my driveway so when exiting onto the clear main road I assumed it slipped a little. That is fine but then when on the clear main road it moved REALLY slow like it lost all torque. It went very slow up the hill like it had little power. After a short while, maybe passing a house or two, it seemed to then gain power back and was okay but that is NOT good. Why would it do that????

Other weird quirk is the electrical is really weird in this thing front light wise.
I just cannot figure out the lights.

First the front passenger side turn signal bulb must be loose or something. Sometimes it will not light so I have to bang it and then it works. When it is out the rear turn signal flashes very fast and the front is not seen at all since it is out. I will replace that soon.

The REALLY weird things with the lights is they don't make sense as far as the auto off part.

The switch has three positions. Off, running lights and headlights.

-Off keeps them off and they do not turn on automatically when in this position. That is fine.

-In running lights mode the amber lights below the turn signals (unsure what those are called) come on but sometimes the turn signal lights also come on but not always. Unsure if it is when it gets darker out etc.. It is just inconsistent. Seems that even if it is slightly overcast out the turn signal lights will not come on and only those lower ones do. Weird you would think for safely they would always come on. Then I have had times when exiting the car they would not turn off even when pressing the lock twice. I had to go back into the car to set the switch to OFF. Even waiting more than 30 seconds.

-In headlight mode they work fine but do not always turn off even pressing the remote lock twice. I have had to turn the switch to OFF to keep them off. I cannot tell if that has anything to do with being daylight etc..

They are also supposed to auto turn off after 30 seconds but that does not always work.
Sometimes it does and other times it doesn’t. I usually can turn those off hitting the remote twice.

Just inconsistent and weird how these lights behave.

I don’t know.... the car is still relatively new to me only having it 8 months..
Am I crazy....

I think you need to find someone besides the dealer,who really knows about the Toyota 4Runners. And let them look into the mechanical and electrical problems. You might need an Auto electrical special shop for the electrical items.
The loss of power at times is not normal and could cause a dangerous situation for you. Because much of the engine power is controlled by the computer, I am guessing it's in a sensor feeding input to the computer.
Have you gotten and check engine items?

A good shop should have the electronic testing machines to tell if these sensors are working right.

Any rust under a 4runner can be a real problem,I sure would get on that item quickly.

 

[RUN-4-LIFE]

Bro. Read the owners manual. You'll learn wonders about the 4wd. And that loss of power is the traction keeping you from spinning. That's normal.

 

[amlv20]

WOW! So that IS normal? I was wondering. I was thinking the transmission was producing way too much torque as I seem to have to also keep the breaks on really hard when at a light or it wants to drift forward easily. More than other cars and harder than my old Explorer. I thought it was all related.

I bought a 2008 V6 4WD July 2014. It has the Urban Runner package. It had 59K miles on it then and has about 62K now. I paid 21K for the car, which I think was a bit much but seems to in the top range for them used.

I am not 100% happy with mine. Overall I like it but some things are just weird. This is my first Toyota product.

I have some issues. First before I bought it the driver side window made a huge thunk when lowering. It would not do it every time though. The dealer paid for it but it took many tips as it would not do it all of the time. After about 4 trips it finally did it and they had to shave off some of the bottom of the windows. Weird.. Seems okay now.

I was in a hurry when I bought it (stupid I know) so while the car was very clean everywhere I could see, I did not notice that the underneath there was so much surface rust. I mean a LOT. I am going to take it to Ziebart or someplace and see if I can get that cleaned off and coated etc... In my area good used 4Runners seem rare and I really wanted one. I had to replace my Explorer fast so got it.

I also have been putting it from 2H to 4H every month after I got it. Sometimes it seems to shift very easily and within 5 seconds or so. Other times it takes a very long time or does not do it at all that I just turned the knob back to 2H. Unsure that is normal. I left it in 4H through the winter just now... Shifted back to 2H so... I am still confused on the rest of the 4WD system and what the other buttons do. The manual is confusing. But to be fair I have not had it that long and have not had the time to look into it more.

A few times this happened: I had ice at the end of my driveway so when exiting onto the clear main road I assumed it slipped a little. That is fine but then when on the clear main road it moved REALLY slow like it lost all torque. It went very slow up the hill like it had little power. After a short while, maybe passing a house or two, it seemed to then gain power back and was okay but that is NOT good. Why would it do that????

Other weird quirk is the electrical is really weird in this thing front light wise.
I just cannot figure out the lights.

First the front passenger side turn signal bulb must be loose or something. Sometimes it will not light so I have to bang it and then it works. When it is out the rear turn signal flashes very fast and the front is not seen at all since it is out. I will replace that soon.

The REALLY weird things with the lights is they don't make sense as far as the auto off part.

The switch has three positions. Off, running lights and headlights.

-Off keeps them off and they do not turn on automatically when in this position. That is fine.

-In running lights mode the amber lights below the turn signals (unsure what those are called) come on but sometimes the turn signal lights also come on but not always. Unsure if it is when it gets darker out etc.. It is just inconsistent. Seems that even if it is slightly overcast out the turn signal lights will not come on and only those lower ones do. Weird you would think for safely they would always come on. Then I have had times when exiting the car they would not turn off even when pressing the lock twice. I had to go back into the car to set the switch to OFF. Even waiting more than 30 seconds.

-In headlight mode they work fine but do not always turn off even pressing the remote lock twice. I have had to turn the switch to OFF to keep them off. I cannot tell if that has anything to do with being daylight etc..

They are also supposed to auto turn off after 30 seconds but that does not always work.
Sometimes it does and other times it doesn’t. I usually can turn those off hitting the remote twice.

Just inconsistent and weird how these lights behave.

I don’t know.... the car is still relatively new to me only having it 8 months..
Am I crazy....

Your runner is not equipped with auto headlamps,cars with auto headlamps will have four position switches.off,auto or DRL,running,and headlamps.my 08 4Runner has the same style switch as yours, and works the same as yours.the only thing that bothers me is when I open the door with key off still in ignition there is no chime just the light on in the dash,but it's ok I still remember to turn it off.but it's supposed to work that way,it's not equipped with DRL or auto lamps.my Corolla has DRL and there is a DRL position on the switch.

As a ford tech I can say you did yourself a favor by getting a 4Runner and not another explorer.

 

[Ralph Blake]

Bro. Read the owners manual. You'll learn wonders about the 4wd. And that loss of power is the traction keeping you from spinning. That's normal.

If its normal I dont want it. Think I will turn mine off and take my chances as I have driven for many years in ice and snow. It works for me.

 

[Paladin]

I think you need to find someone besides the dealer,who really knows about the Toyota 4Runners. And let them look into the mechanical and electrical problems. You might need an Auto electrical special shop for the electrical items.
The loss of power at times is not normal and could cause a dangerous situation for you. Because much of the engine power is controlled by the computer, I am guessing it's in a sensor feeding input to the computer.
Have you gotten and check engine items?

A good shop should have the electronic testing machines to tell if these sensors are working right.

Any rust under a 4runner can be a real problem,I sure would get on that item quickly.

The truth is man, I just don't have money to pay a dealer to look at this thing. They would charge me hundreds. I bought a Toyota since they are supposed to be the 4th most reliable vehicle on the road. I wanted something that was not going to nickle and dime me to death. Guess that was wrong. Do not get me wrong, I love Toyota's and I like the vehicle so far, it just has its quirks.

I read the manual and that information for the light settings is not is not in it. I looked believe me. No mention in there on how the lights are supposed to work beyond what the switch setting does. Nothing about when this switch is set and it is daylight it should do this or that... So I am unsure. That is why I posted here.

I also understand this vehicle does not have automatic lights. My problem is not that. It is just weird. They are supposed to turn off after 30 seconds and they do "sometimes." They are supposed to turn off after you hit the remote lock twice and they do "sometimes."

Sometimes when they do turn off and I go to start it the next day they come on, sometimes not. It is just weird and, as I said, not covered in the manual.

These problems I can deal with. I do need to figure out the loose turn signal problem though... Hope a new bulb will fix that. I am very weird about safety etc... so having a bulb issues bother me. It has been okay at the moment.

The loss of power I can deal with as that only happened twice and is not a huge deal unless it does it all the time so I won't worry about it.

Since there is so much surface rust under this thing I think it may have been sitting in water or something.. carfax was clean but that does not mean squat..