Questions, need advice.

[me_rikey]

So after exhausting searches, I am finally just going to come out swinging, and ask some questions!

For the past couple of weeks I have noticed that my runner has an organic burning smell -- almost like that of a slightly burnt clutch after driving. Whether driving is spirited or not, it seems apparent, although spirited driving produces more noticeable results. My first thought was that maybe my caliper (presumably) the front driver side was seized. After driving I felt the rotors, and sure enough the front driver side felt quite hot, although all the rotors felt hot, so I am not sure what the issue is. To further complicate the issue, my runner does have any pull to the left or right, which might be indicative of a seized caliper. However, when driving with my window down, I can here a 'shhh - shhh - shhh' sound with the rotation of my front driver side tire, and only is apparent at that location.

I have also been looking for a decent how-to tutorial and touch-up paint kit for my runner, as I've lost some paint on my rear bumper, and have some road rash chips. Youtube hasn't generated anything I'm fond of, and was wondering if you guys/ gals had any suggestions; maybe something you've used that worked quite well?

Otherwise all seems quite well .. I believe I have cracked header manifolds, as I can hear some ticking, which isn't a huge problem. Any good tests for determining if calipers are seized without the obvious -- removing rims and possibly the caliper itself?

And lastly, I'll have to add to my mod list -- my stinky sulfur smelling exhaust when I go WOT with the rear window down.. it sure is stinky!

Thanks in advance :guitar3:

 

[ryangab]

As far as the caliper problem, I have the same thing going on. Although my rotors were not really that hot. I went to change the brake pads and sure enough I cannot get the inside driver side caliper piston to compress. I'm going to give it another shot this weekend and see if I can free it up with some C-Clamps. Wish me luck. I have done some looking around online and found a couple decent videos for that but its pretty straight forward from what I see. (I just Googled- 4runner caliper ) Brakes on 4runner are easy to change if you need to.

 

[superman3043]

That noise... May be a stuck caliper or it could possibly be a wheel bearing go bad. I've had a bad one.

I've got a neat trick for diagnosing issues that I'll share. I'll preface this by saying, "I hate dealerships". So what I'll do is take the truck in for an oil change and mention anything that might be concerning me (like your list), for them to check out while it's up on the lift. Once they diagnose what it is, I tell them thanks and then proceed to fix it myself. They charge about 30 something bucks for the oil change, which I'm cool with.

As far as touch up though, I can't really help you there. I just buy the old finger nail polish looking touch-up paint from the store and it works fine for me. I see commercials on TV for "Dr. Color Chip" which looks interesting. If you decide to give it a go, let me know how it works out for you.

Hope that helps. Good luck.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Well, I have a solution for at least one of your 'issues':

And lastly, I'll have to add to my mod list -- my stinky sulfur smelling exhaust when I go WOT with the rear window down.. it sure is stinky!

Thanks in advance :guitar3:

Put the window up. :wink2:



You're welcome.

 

[me_rikey]

Thanks for the input guys. I have done brakes in the past, and so far mine are tip-top, except for this potential developing issue. Definitely use a c-clamp on that one piston, you'd be surprised how tight they can be.

I will ask some of my friends who used to work in body shops, but it would be nice to find some sort of touch-up paint product that works as well as the ones you see advertised on television.

As far as putting the window up... Trust me I do it a lot, especially when I'm going along side a wall, traffic, etc., I definitely roll it up because the ticking and 'shh'ing sound is killing me!

I'm also curious to know if I'm being paranoid here; but, I've been noticing that sometimes I get some travel with the car, i.e. the tires really seem to follow the 'cresting' of the road, is this normal? I'm sure it could be my tires.. I suppose what I'm asking is that if there was an issue with my steering, how would I diagnose the rack/ pinion? Just see if it has some wiggle to it? I know how to look at bushings, but I think this travel is a little too dramatic for bushings -- most likely tires or the rack?

If anyone has any decent suggestions about diagnosing a failing wheel bearing, that would be awesome!

Thanks again.

 

[dadigab]

Thanks for the input guys. I have done brakes in the past, and so far mine are tip-top, except for this potential developing issue. Definitely use a c-clamp on that one piston, you'd be surprised how tight they can be.

I will ask some of my friends who used to work in body shops, but it would be nice to find some sort of touch-up paint product that works as well as the ones you see advertised on television.

As far as putting the window up... Trust me I do it a lot, especially when I'm going along side a wall, traffic, etc., I definitely roll it up because the ticking and 'shh'ing sound is killing me!

I'm also curious to know if I'm being paranoid here; but, I've been noticing that sometimes I get some travel with the car, i.e. the tires really seem to follow the 'cresting' of the road, is this normal? I'm sure it could be my tires.. I suppose what I'm asking is that if there was an issue with my steering, how would I diagnose the rack/ pinion? Just see if it has some wiggle to it? I know how to look at bushings, but I think this travel is a little too dramatic for bushings -- most likely tires or the rack?

If anyone has any decent suggestions about diagnosing a failing wheel bearing, that would be awesome!


Thanks again.

Everything looks better as seen on TV. Really it still looks like a touched up panel. Some of the best touch ups Ive seen came from a company called Chips Away. They filled chips with a body filler type product then airbrushed and polished spot. From ten feet cant tell five you see somethings amiss, standing next to it you see repairs plain as day. Solid colors touch up better, metallics at best look like crap. Pearls will look like black panel touched up with white to gray paint its so obvious. My advise is to have fun adding more personality (scratches).:banana:

 

[me_rikey]

Everything looks better as seen on TV. Really it still looks like a touched up panel. Some of the best touch ups Ive seen came from a company called Chips Away. They filled chips with a body filler type product then airbrushed and polished spot. From ten feet cant tell five you see somethings amiss, standing next to it you see repairs plain as day. Solid colors touch up better, metallics at best look like crap. Pearls will look like black panel touched up with white to gray paint its so obvious. My advise is to have fun adding more personality (scratches).:banana:

I totally agree about the TV thing.. I know touch up painting doesn't turn out too well, but if I do fix it, I want a good kit -- not the touch up pen itself.
Since I do trail the runner, I might just leave it.

 

[superman3043]

I'm also curious to know if I'm being paranoid here; but, I've been noticing that sometimes I get some travel with the car, i.e. the tires really seem to follow the 'cresting' of the road, is this normal? I'm sure it could be my tires.. I suppose what I'm asking is that if there was an issue with my steering, how would I diagnose the rack/ pinion? Just see if it has some wiggle to it? I know how to look at bushings, but I think this travel is a little too dramatic for bushings -- most likely tires or the rack?

If anyone has any decent suggestions about diagnosing a failing wheel bearing, that would be awesome!

Thanks again.

Back when mine was stock I always felt like it would track with road grooves more than it should. Wider tires seemed to help out, but the best thing you can do is max your caster out. If you have a lift and stock upper control arms, your next investment should be a nice set of after market ones. It'll make a world of difference if your truck feels like it's wandering.

I guess you can try pushing your tie rods around from below and see if you got any play. I'm not really well versed on steering rack issues, but you could probably google a diagnosis.

As far as wheel bearings go, I think the symptoms are mainly audible. I think you could put in on a lift and free turn the tires with your hands and listen for a grinding type noise. Not sure if there's any way other way to diagnose when one is failing... But you'll probably know when it actually does fail

Hope that helps. Good luck.

 

[me_rikey]

Back when mine was stock I always felt like it would track with road grooves more than it should. Wider tires seemed to help out, but the best thing you can do is max your caster out. If you have a lift and stock upper control arms, your next investment should be a nice set of after market ones. It'll make a world of difference if your truck feels like it's wandering.

I guess you can try pushing your tie rods around from below and see if you got any play. I'm not really well versed on steering rack issues, but you could probably google a diagnosis.

As far as wheel bearings go, I think the symptoms are mainly audible. I think you could put in on a lift and free turn the tires with your hands and listen for a grinding type noise. Not sure if there's any way other way to diagnose when one is failing... But you'll probably know when it actually does fail

Hope that helps. Good luck.

I just need to stop being lazy and lift it up
I do not have a lift, just rocking my X-REAS until it goes out, which is certainly taking its sweet time! From there I'm looking at FJ coils and adjustable 5100s. I should go through and do the control arms at that point. I think it's probably just my tires -- there in great shape as far as tread life goes; however, it seems like they may have flat spotting/ were mounted without an alignment, so that could be the issue there.

The next thing this forum needs is a "How-To" on installing the rear cargo nets >: )

 

[me_rikey]

any thoughts on the burnt organic smell?

TIA

 

[lexunet]

any thoughts on the burnt organic smell?

TIA

I have a weird smell too. It almost smells like burning oil, but I have no leaks anywhere, no signs of seeping, and no burnt residue anywhere. Where is the smell coming from? Front? Fender? Undercarriage?

 

[scottydoo79]

My experience with some Toyota v8's is the water pumps leak a little but not enough to drip. The coolant burns off before that. But you occasionally get a wired smell cause of it. And the exhaust sulfer smell is helped a little if you side exit the exhaust like I did. I can tell a big difference in the smell. Just my 2cents.

 

[me_rikey]

I always notice the smell when I get out of the vehicle, coming from where the driver side hood and quarter panel meet. However it seems to quickly vanish a few seconds later. Just a few minutes ago I smelled a little further, and notice the apparent smell coming from the grill where the V8 badge is by the radiator. I started thinking maybe it's coolant/ the water pump.

I too haven't been able to see any leaks anywhere. My runner is as clean as a whistle in that regard.

As usual I really appreciate everyone's help, and certainly welcome any further help/ suggestions.

 

[lexunet]

I always notice the smell when I get out of the vehicle, coming from where the driver side hood and quarter panel meet. However it seems to quickly vanish a few seconds later. Just a few minutes ago I smelled a little further, and notice the apparent smell coming from the grill where the V8 badge is by the radiator. I started thinking maybe it's coolant/ the water pump.

I too haven't been able to see any leaks anywhere. My runner is as clean as a whistle in that regard.

As usual I really appreciate everyone's help, and certainly welcome any further help/ suggestions.

We for sure have the same problem. Might be on the right track with the coolant water pump thing. I have looked for that as well by leaving the engine running and looking throughout the engine bay with a flashlight. Deninitely frustrating, but if this is the only problem that I end up having with my T4R... I'm Happy.

Next oil change I'm going to see if my mechanic can help me track the smell down. Please post if you figure this out, and I will do the same.

 

[scottydoo79]

Ya it's weird my 4runner had no visible signs of a coolant leak but I noticed a funny smell every so often. Then I did the timing belt at about 100k and when I took the timing covers off the w/p had a bunch of crusty dryed up coolant around it. Since doing the belt and w/p I haven't noticed any smell and I have put about 15k on it. I'm gonna be doing a timing belt on my pops tundra in the next couple days and I curious to see if that is going to be the same case. His has just under 90k.

 

[sonerick]

FWIW, sometimes grease from the u-joints and/or slip yoke gets slung onto the exhaust system and heat shields, causing a burning smell.

 

[scottydoo79]

Weeeell I got board and curious so I called my pops and had him bring his tundra over for the timing belt today. Guess what I found? Leaking coolant!
He hadn't noticed any smells yet though. But his truck only has 89k. His leak wasn't nearly as bad as mine but I only had 10k more. So if you are approaching the time for your timing belt this smell may becoming more evident. :violin:

 

[me_rikey]

Good info here everyone.. Again after going out for groceries and such I checked for the smell by the grill, and sure enough same smell, and makes me think more and more that it's burning coolant. I'll take a look tomorrow or Tuesday and see what I can figure out.

 

[scottydoo79]

Well it can always be worse. Just for fun here is a pic of one of the timing belts jobs I did a couple weeks ago. The water pump failed and started shredding the timing timing belt, it almost cost them a very expensive engine. It's a 3.0 Audi a6. They were lucky they shut the engine off when it started acting wired and had it towed in.

 

[me_rikey]

^man that is crazy! making me nervous now.. i need to find a shop around the Longmont, CO area, and get a t-belt & wp put in!