Matt's N185 wagon

[mattjm321]

Hey everyone, in this thread I want to chronicle the restoration of my 2000 4runner.

It's my belief that the 3rd gen 4runner is the next 60 series. This is my second N185 wagon. I had the highlander edition in college and sold it after I got married. I just came from a 100 series Land Cruiser. I sold it and am buying myself something newer. In the mean time this car will serve as my daily driver/bike hauler/fly fishing trip vehicle.

 

[mattjm321]

I bought it in Charleston 2 or 3 weeks ago. 223k miles. E-locker. Bald tires. Dead battery. Shot rotors and pads. Hesitant transmission. Disgusting interior. The previous owner flat out didn't take care of it. But I got a really really good deal.

Put in a new battery and changed the brakes in an Autozone parking lot in North Charleston and drove back to Charlotte. I also added a quart of transmission fluid. The PO had let it sit for a year. Said he didn't need a car around town.

Here it is at our first fill up.

The next day I changed the oil and filter. Since that time I have:
-Replaced a missing center cap and repainted them all
-Cleaned the interior as best I could
-Replaced 10 or so burnt out bulbs
-Repaired the rear lock cylinder the PO had broken off into the door. Btw, the last tumbler is split and a worn out key won't release it.

-Painted front and rear wiper arms
-Painted roof rails and cross bars
-Disabled daytime running lights (yuck)
-Removed running boards
-Replaced the front and rear wiper blades
-New 265/75 R16 Cooper ATPs. Got em for a deal off Craigslist. No rubbing on stock suspension. Rated for 55k miles.

-Installed a new Thule roof rack. Then trimmed it down because it was too wide. I don't have a picture of it narrowed on my phone, but I took off 7 inches with the angle grinder.

-Installed a new fan clutch

Finally after work today I recovered the arm rest. It was beyond hope. It was a $20 piece of vinyl off eBay. I could've done a better job with a narrower staple gun and patience.

 

[mattjm321]

Went home for lunch. Check out what was delivered!

Laid em out to get a wrinkles out before I do the install. I'm going mountain biking after work but maybe I'll have time to do the front today. I got the whole kit. Looks like this carpet is nicer than oem.

 

[tre9er]

This: you're doing it right :bravo:

 

[mattjm321]

I was out of town this weekend for a wedding but got back this afternoon. Thought I would go ahead and try to install the front carpet. I'm a little frustrated with the bad heel pad placement from the manufacturer. Will call them tomorrow to see if anything can be done.

Before:

After:

Heel pad:

It really just doesn't fit correctly. Will report what I hear back from them.

 

[RockenAlex]

I was out of town this weekend for a wedding but got back this afternoon. Thought I would go ahead and try to install the front carpet. I'm a little frustrated with the bad heel pad placement from the manufacturer. Will call them tomorrow to see if anything can be done.

It really just doesn't fit correctly. Will report what I hear back from them.

They're probably going to tell you tough luck. I ordered the same exact carpet, I think, and was shocked when it wasn't pre-cut to fit right in. Luckily I had the foresight (and by that I mean my father helping with the install) to basically plan everything around the heel pad to make sure it lined up properly.

Regardless my personal advice is to buy some weather tech, they're the best really, or like brand floor mats and just cover up the new carpet. You want to keep it looking good don't you?? That will likely be the best way to not think about and be annoyed by the heel pad.

 

[mattjm321]

Matt's N180 wagon

They're probably going to tell you tough luck. I ordered the same exact carpet, I think, and was shocked when it wasn't pre-cut to fit right in. Luckily I had the foresight (and by that I mean my father helping with the install) to basically plan everything around the heel pad to make sure it lined up properly.



Regardless my personal advice is to buy some weather tech, they're the best really, or like brand floor mats and just cover up the new carpet. You want to keep it looking good don't you?? That will likely be the best way to not think about and be annoyed by the heel pad.

Thanks. To my surprise they've actually offered to send me a new replacement from their claims department. I've decided to keep the newly installed carpet as is and sell their replacment towards some weathertechs. My for sale thread is here: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/sale-t4r-items/174436-new-carpet-n180-third-gen.html



In other news my new secondary catalytic converter arrived yesterday. Went by to pick it up and it was the wrong part. The CC they had was for a completely different vehicle with a much bigger engine! I thought I had screwed up because I believed my 4r was a Calif model. It is. Turns out the guy making the order had just accidentally transposed a part # when making the order. The correct one should be in by Thurs or Friday. I have the p0420 code FYI.

I also picked up these. Came off an FZJ80.

 

[KidVermicious]

What's an N180?

 

[mattjm321]

What's an N180?

Chassis code. Like UZJ100 or e39. I've probably been on too many chassis specific forums.

 

[T4R2014]

What's an N180?

A V6 RWD would be a VZN180 and an I4 4WD would be an RZN185. The same chassis coding applies to the Hilux Surf with a 1KZ diesel 4WD being a KZN185.

 

[mattjm321]

Matt's N180 wagon

Thanks for clearing up. I was going off Wikipedia. So all 4wds are 185? http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_4Runner

 

[T4R2014]

Thanks for clearing up. I was going off Wikipedia. So all 4wds are 185? Toyota 4Runner - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Correct. RWD = xxN180 and 4WD = xxN185.

 

[mattjm321]

Finally finished the rear carpet this afternoon. It took longer than planned becaue the seat backs disentegrated when I tried to remove them from the old carpet. They were warped and broken anyway. I used some packing material I found on a pallet at Lowes. It was the closest to the oem particle board. I used the old backs as a stencil and cut it with a jigsaw. I plunged the plastic rivet holes with a couple of different size drill bits. I glued the carpet on the new backs with some spray adhesive and then used a staple gun for the edges. I'm pretty happy with how it came out.

I also got a P0420 code. Went to replace the rear O2 sensor and the flanges and bolts were super rusty. I knew I would shear one off if I tried to remove it. Tapping wouldn't work because I'd have to remove the cat anyway to get access to the upper side. And if I tried to remove the cat I would probably have to cut it loose. So I went ahead and replaced the secondary catalytic converter and the O2 sensor.

Anyway, no more code. Unfortunately mine is California equipped with 2 cats.

Finally I got a wireless ELM 327 OBDII dongle a couple of weeks ago. I've been driving a week or so with a CEL from the P0420. I've been getting about 1mpg better since replacing the cat and O2 sensor.

 

[mattjm321]

Added a fairing. No more humming at 50mph. Also picked up a cargo cover off Craigslist for $25.