Questions about '03 4Runner

[Swaro]

Went to the dealer last night hoping to see and drive the new V6. They didn't have one so I looked over the V8 in the showroom.

1. Noticed a small radiator in front of the big one under the hood. Is this a tranny cooler? Will the V6 have it too? As usual the salesforce knew practically nothing about this vehicle, but certainly will give you an answer (being salesmen).

2. The sales manager told me the big difference between V6 and V8 drivetrain is the 6 will have right front and left rear (only) engaged when in 4Hi-center diff not locked. He said the V8 will be powering all 4 wheels in 4Hi. Is this true?

3. I'm still trying to determine if both engines cams are chain or belt driven. And, will the pistons hit the valves in both engines if the belt/chain breaks/slips.

4. Anyone have experience ordering a new 'runner with only the options you want? How long did it take to get? The new ones all seem to be coming in with 3-4 thousand worth of mostly uneccessary options.

5. The vehicle seems well thought out and beautifully assembled.

Thanks in advance,

Swaro

PS. Great site Thai and Greg(?); especially like the comparisons and reviews...great job!

 

[jharris2]

Thai previously posted this link that has lots of information. The last PDF file is particularly useful.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showt...p?s=&threadid=3

(I've not posted a URL in this forum before, so I hope it works!)

 

[Thai]

Swaro,

1. Yes, that is the auto tranny cooler.

2. V6 4wd models will have a 2wd option (better fuel economy) in addition to the other 4wd option. That is, you can run your 4Runner in 2wd, 4wd HI (center diff unlock), 4wd HI (center lock), 4wd LO (center unlock), or 4wd LO (center lock). In the V8 model, there is no 2wd option...it is always in 4wd: 4wd HI (center unlock), 4wd HI (center lock), 4wd LO (center unlock), or 4wd LO (center lock).

3. Don't know.

4. It all depends on your local Toyota distributor. You may need to "special" order one, which may take some time and most dealer don't want to do it.

5. Agree.

Thanks...and welcome to the site!

 

[Swaro]

Thanks, Thai.

I'll go to another dealer soon that has V6's. I'm thinking the V6 may not come with the tranny cooler as the V8 seems to be the model of choice for towing.

I understand the switch position options on both models, but my question is, when both models are in 4HI, do their drivetrains act identically? I'm coming from an Audi quattro, where power goes to all 4 wheels and it is terrific in snow. I don't want to buy an SUV where only diagonally opposite front/back wheels are powering the vehicle in 4HI "like a domestic pick-up truck" as the sales manager quoted. I have a hunch he is wrong, and it certainly gets a bit complicated as with traction control on, the power will be sent to the wheel not spinning (side to side). So I guess my question is, with traction control off, will all four wheels get power in 4Hi on both models?

I noticed in the owner's manual(the only way I could learn anything at the dealer), the V6 has a separate switch for turning traction control off. This greatly interests me, as now locking the center diff and knocking off traction control should completely remove one from the alphabet soup bowl. (I've read the posts of locking the ctr diff on V8's and skid/de-throttling is knocked off but although traction control influence is now limited, you can still hear and see it doing something.) I'd rather have the control of having it all on or all off (I think).

Answers appreciated.

 

[stylishauto]

03 4Runner...

The V-8 has a timing belt made up of Kevlar and the V-6 has the chain.As far as ordering a vehicle via your own specs,the Runners that we receive on a regular alocation are ordered 10-12 weeks in advance.Count on at least that amount of time for a factory order.As more of them get "out on the road"per say,Toyota will fine tune the packaging and options based on what the most popular configurations are,and customer input.Time frame is always questinable for the simple fact you are dealing with an import.If you do try and configure a factory order,each region brings vehicles in equipped differently,for example,being in New Jersey,I will not pull in a two wheel drive,but out on the west coast,2/3 of the suv's in regular inventory ARE 2 wheel.Hope this helps.

 

[Thai]

Swaro,

If both V6 and V8 models are in 4wd, then they act the same! The have similar center differential (Torsen)...both are gear-based, low-maintenance. V6 model gets the extra 2wd option.

If you're in 4wd, the Torsen center diff will control the power shift from rear to front. Side-to-side traction is controlled by the 4-wheel traction control system.

I am not sure what the Audi has, but the 4Runner will easily keep up with Audi in snow. Don't worry about that.

No, V6 2wd models have the "TRAC OFF" switch. ONLY 2wd models! 4wd models do NOT have this switch.

First, 4-wheel traction control is always ON (if you're in 4wd; it is 2-wheel traction control when you're in 2wd mode). YOU WANT THIS! You do not want to shut traction control off! VSC is the function that you want off (via locking center diff) when off-roading/deep mud/etc.. Locking the center diff does NOTHING to the 4-wheel traction control. It makes it better because VSC is not there to de-throttle you! Therefore, with or without center diff lock, you will hear the traction control system working...there is no "limitation" that you speak of.

If you do not have traction control, then you're about as capable as an ordinary 4wd SUV...one that does not have limited-slip nor locker in front or rear axle. That is, you will be stuck if one front wheel and one rear wheel loses traction.

Hope this answer your question.

 

[Swaro]

Thanks Thai...the Toy salesman told me the same last night, when in 4wd both models are the same-that is, power going to all 4 wheels. I wanted to confirm this as I had the opportunity to drive my quattro and an older Montero in the same snow storm. There was about 6" of heavy, rutted, thick slush unplowed on the road. The quattro would have run rings around the way the Montero handled.

I'll present a scenerio that begs to differ with your traction control always on advice. A one mile plus, fairly steep uphill mtn. road with 10" of unplowed snow (it does happen in these parts). Can you imagine a wheel that won't slip? So what will happen? The Trac control will be going bizerko all the way up--applying brakes!
The last thing I want going up is something that impedes my momentum. Of course it depends how intrusive the trac control is.
I hope it's action is very quick and momentary, but it will still be annoying. I'm probably creating a worst case scenerio in my head, as now that I think about it, my quattro with NO trac. control rarely slips a wheel going up. So probably the tractive forces available in the "runner are great enough that the wheels rarely slip-thus not requiring the influence of trac control?. I'm sure a few years ago when BMW came out with the X5, I read in one of their publications that in a snowy uphill situation, turn the trac. control off. It stuck in my head because their marketing wizards made a complete about face from the year before when they touted trac control as something like 85% as good as awd/4wd. Of course, that's all they had then-no X5 yet.

 

[Thai]

Swaro,

If you lock the center diff, you will have no problem getting up that mountain. Once you lock it, the VSC/dethrottle function is OFF. Once it is off, you can spin your tires...ATRAC will allow you to spin your tires to get out of trouble IF you need to.

If you Quattro did not slip, then it was more about how good your tires are. ATRAC in your 4runner will only come on IF there is slippage.

Thanks.