New T4R owner

[TheRunner]

Hello all,
My brother and I just purchased our first 4Runner about two weeks ago. Needless to say, we are thrilled with it. It is also the first Toyota we have ever owned and we are hooked. It is the truck in my sig. I have a few questions.
1. Where can we get a service manual?
2. It is sometimes difficult to get the tranny into Reverse, and if the truck is moving at all it will grind. Is something wrong?
3. Occasionally you can hear a kinda of chirping whistling that seems to be coming from either under the truck or from the motor. Any ideas what this might be or what to look for?
4. The truck will not start unless the clutch is absolutely all the way in. Problem?
5. When first started for the day, it idles at about 1500 rpms for a few minutes. Normal?
All in all, this truck is just totally badass and seems to run flawlessly. I apologize for all the questions, but I am just a paranoid new owner.
Thanks for any and all advice!

 

[4Runner-Dan]

Hello all,
My brother and I just purchased our first 4Runner about two weeks ago. Needless to say, we are thrilled with it. It is also the first Toyota we have ever owned and we are hooked. It is the truck in my sig. I have a few questions.
1. Where can we get a service manual?
2. It is sometimes difficult to get the tranny into Reverse, and if the truck is moving at all it will grind. Is something wrong?
3. Occasionally you can hear a kinda of chirping whistling that seems to be coming from either under the truck or from the motor. Any ideas what this might be or what to look for?
4. The truck will not start unless the clutch is absolutely all the way in. Problem?
5. When first started for the day, it idles at about 1500 rpms for a few minutes. Normal?
All in all, this truck is just totally badass and seems to run flawlessly. I apologize for all the questions, but I am just a paranoid new owner.
Thanks for any and all advice!

:hello: Congratulations and Welcome!
I think I can help you with a couple of your questions.

#4. Thats normal. It's gotta be all the way in before it will start. My Honda is the same way.
#5. That's normal too. As long as it idles lower when it warms up, then it's fine.

I'm sure someone else will have the answers for your other questions, as there are many knowledgable guys and gals on the boards.

 

[TheRunner]

Another question or two

Thanks for the reply and welcome! Here's another question:
1. The 1st to 2nd shift is almost always rough, like the gear isn't ready for the shift...any ideas?
2. The tranny makes a low growling noise in 1st and 2nd...normal or uh-oh?
Thanks!

 

[Ron Helmuth]

thanks for picking the 5 speed

Glad to see another non auto tranny on the forum

Congrats on your purchase.

It seems the majority of your issues are tranny or clutch related. It likely would not be a bad idea to have a Toyota tech drive it and give you their opinions on it.

Having said that I am not really reading any 'problems' so rest easy-but have some things checked/evaluated in person to be 100% sure.

#1 Field Service Manual- search "FSM" please or scan back a few pages of recent threads. Seems like that comes up every other week or so.

#2 Getting into Reverse -this is normal, I have had this occur on every Japanese manual tranny I have ever owned or driven. You may need to slightly engage first to bump the vehicle just an inch or so and it will slide right into reverse. Don't force it, just inch it forward a hair and then you will feel it slide into the notch for reverse.

3- Chirping whistling- That is a tough one to diagnose over the web. Belts? is my guess....

4- Clutch to the floor to defeat the neutral safety switch-completely normal. Sometimes a floor mat will actually be too thick to allow the clutch enough travel-or pedal pads may interfere.

5- high idle at startup-completely normal- I can climb my rock and gravel driveway on idle just feathering the clutch to control speed.
It will idle down in 3-5 minutes to a normal level-850 rpm I think it is ...

new #1 rough shift into 2nd -hard to be sure- but most likely quite normal, again have the clutch operation evaluated by someone who drives Toyota trucks all day long. Mine does this occasionally-particulary when trying to speed shift. It is a truck not a Mustang so slow and gentle on the shifts will extend life.

new#2 low growling noise in 1st or 2nd- again hard to be sure from my desk but have evaluation made in person. I would guess this is related to clutch release.

enjoy the new ride

 

[TheRunner]

Ron,
Thanks for the advice. I will prolly take the Runner to a Toyota tech to be sure that everything is normal. The truck runs so well. Me, two of my brothers, and a friend just got back from a trip to St. Joseph Peninsula State Park in Florida. About 500 miles one way, and the Runner averaged between 21-22 mpg's...doing 70 most of the way...a freakin' awesome truck. I wouldn't own anything but a manual, and I'm glad somebody else has one...frankly, I could not bear driving an automatic all the time. Anywho, thanks for the words of wisdom!

Keith

 

[Ron Helmuth]

me neither

yeah I don't know how the rest of em can stand it just sitting there all the time.... I gotta keep moving when I am on the road....

glad to hear the ride is running well

stay safe and keep the rubber side down