new runner and some problems

[357holepunch]

I bought a second gen 4runner [94] of a guy about 2 months ago. So far I have loved it. I gets me and my family around amazingly, shrugs off icy roads like they are nothing, and gets all the backcountry place I ask it to. I got the thing for a song, had the oil changed and all that good jazz, put a set of trail marks on it [its my DD so I cant get too aggressive of a tire], and putting some miles on the odom. It came with a brush guard, skid plate, rear steel bumper and hitch, and some generic fog lights already on it.

The body is pretty beat up but the engine runs solid with no ticks, shifts well [manual] and locks in and out of 4wd with ease.

Now to the problems
1. when I go to start it it has to crank a few times before it will start, this only happened after I changed the oil and put Lucas engine treatment in it. I'm changing the oil to see if that helps any but any other advice on what this issue could be would be appreciated.
2. whenever I make a hard left there is a loud popping noise in the drivers front suspension I think its a cv joint but not sure yet
3. after its been running it just smells hot, almost like burnt oil, I think this may be due to the lucas oil treatment as it didn't do it before [flushing radiator aswell now]
4. MAJOR issue- the clutch reservoir ended up empty last time I took it out for a long trip, it hasn't gone down since then but I have been noticing oil puddles in my driveway. I think I may have a pinhole in one of the clutch lines but I cant seem to find it could this be anything else???

 

[92-SR5]

For probalem #4, check your slave cylinder. I bet that is where the leak is coming from. It's pretty unlikely a line has a hole in it.

 

[laxbro19]

Check your steering stops on the knuckles and lower control arms. The rubber has rubbed off on mine and whenever I turn at full lock I get that horrible popping noise

 

[KidVermicious]

#2 is almost definitely a CV. If it were a steering stop it would be more likely to do it when reversing than when going forward.

Which motor? What weight oil did you put in it?

 

[89FourRunner]

For probalem #4, check your slave cylinder. I bet that is where the leak is coming from. It's pretty unlikely a line has a hole in it.

Agreed. That's how mine was when it went bad. Cheap part, and very easy to replace. 10 minutes not counting the bleed.

 

[89FourRunner]

Regarding #1 and #3. Before you dig into it....Is it a 3.0? There is a sensor up by some fuel lines on the side of the intake manifold. Just do me a favor, make sure its harness is seated -if it is not, you can have some long cranks at startup, and the truck can run rich, and you will definitely smell it at dead stops and idling.

I had this problem forever - and checked the Sh*t out of everything. Then one morning I saw the electrical connector was half off, snapped it on. Truck starts the moment I turn the key now lol.

Not saying that is your problem, but worth the 2 second look.

 

[giro]

2. whenever I make a hard left there is a loud popping noise in the drivers front suspension I think its a cv joint but not sure yet
3. after its been running it just smells hot, almost like burnt oil, I think this may be due to the lucas oil treatment as it didn't do it before [flushing radiator aswell now]

On #2, I'd guess it's the stops too. Personally I've never tried the stops in reverse, but going forward they make a terrible sound at the limit. Back off just a bit and there's no noise.

You can put in new stops, or just dab some heavy duty grease (like bearing grease or MP grease if greasing the 4wd connections). Mine seems to last at least an oil change, so just remember to dap it on then, or when it starts making noise.

On #3, check that the engine is clean. I'm getting something like this now, somewhere between an oil and brake smell, mainly at the rear driver's side wheel but I think it's everywhere and not just there. After reading another post, I think I need to clean the engine and then see if there's a small leak towards the back driver's side of the engine....or if it's just some remaining oil splash from my last oil change.

 

[Hyde802]

Dont run the lucas oil treatment. It traps air bubbles in the oil. reducing lubrication and cooling effectiveness.

What motor is in the truck?

 

[357holepunch]

First off thank you guys for all the replies so far,
the engine is a 3.0

I had 10w-30 put in on the last change

I don't normally use the Lucas oil stabilizer but the guy at the shop did it for free, I wasn't aware it was crap as I do normally use their injector cleaner. I don't normally use that shop either but an oil change was on special for 16 bucks [cant buy oil and a filter for that anymore]

according to the manual the part that looks worn is the bump stop, ill grease it up tomorrow after I clean the engine and undercarriage.

checked the connector on the manifold and its seated firmly, got plugs wires and a distributor cap anyway, wanted to upgrade it to better quality stuff to improve fuel economy.

another couple questions though, I parked next to another 2nd gen runner today at auto zone, are the 31s stock on this model? I seemed to have a lot more ground clearance than he did. and who makes a good set of wheel spacers for a runner of this year? I think if I would open the stance a little wider this thing would handle better, even though it already rides like a caddy [no sarcasm].

The fluid leak wasn't coming from the slave more or less under the car on the passenger side of the tranny, I drove it around a good bit and it seems to be holding fluid and not really leaking much if at all, Its just weird because it dumped everything in the slave cylinder in one trip.... clutch pedal has good pressure still, its weird its held up for a week now


I got a gallon of simple green concentrate today, going to wash out the motor bay and undercarriage as well as I'm able tomorrow, flush the radiator, do the plugs and wires, may change the oil again and try and button up a few odds and ends.

changing the diff fluid and doing the grease points is on the to do list as well, might get to it in a few weeks or so.

 

[Chuckles89]

:worthless

 

[giro]

I parked next to another 2nd gen runner today at auto zone, are the 31s stock on this model? I seemed to have a lot more ground clearance than he did

I believe all 4wd models had the larger 31" tires on 15" rims, but it might have been an SR5 thing. It's on my factory sticker, so they came stock on mine.

Interestingly, the outer tire diameter is nearly exactly the same with these, with the ones on 16" rims on the 3rd gens, and the ones on 17" rims on the 4th gen. If planning on switching gens sometime, feel free to pick up a set of tire chains. But if buying rims for snow tires or whatnot, you'd get screwed in the future by going too small, since along with the larger rims came larger brakes. i.e. I couldn't move the set of 15" rims from my '92 to the '98 I had that used 16" rims....and larger brakes.

If I remember right in each case the low end model used smaller rims, and smaller brakes, so it was a package deal to upgrade the wheels and brakes.