Sulfur (aka. Rotten Egg) Smell on '03 4Runners

[ollie]

TO OLLIE,

Would you please tell me which North Van dealer you went? I would like to fix mine too. Also did you bring the (TSB)statements?
Thank you

I just saw your post, sorry for the late reply! Any way it was JP Toyota in North Vancouver. Additionally the fix did not work as now we have a really bad ammonia stentch after driving up hills so really all that has changed is the smell itself. I'm going to bring this up with the deal next time I take it in.

 

[ginkang]

I just saw your post, sorry for the late reply! Any way it was JP Toyota in North Vancouver. Additionally the fix did not work as now we have a really bad ammonia stentch after driving up hills so really all that has changed is the smell itself. I'm going to bring this up with the deal next time I take it in.

Thanks for your reply. It's ok if it is late or not
I was going to fix the smell at my local dealer (Regency Toyo) but they told me that is only for the "US cars." Yeah Right! Liers!
It seems that this problem (sulfur smell) keep coming up with dealer fixes. So I have decided not to fix it.

 

[croatiangirl74]

Mine had that problem. Took the paper into my local Toyota dealer, sent it to Toyota Germany and it was fixed within 2 weeks. Longest was waiting for the new converter. No problems since. I guess it depends on the dealer. I did not even have to argue with either dealer or Toyota Germany. I just simply told them that I paid enough money for my truck and that I would appreciate it if it did not stink
I have no idea how dealers in the staes are but over here the Toyota dealer doubles over so that you as a customer are happy. They also give a warranty for Europe that is 100.000km's which translates to 64.000 miles or 3 years. Their Solgan here is " nothing is impossible...Toyota". I have a great dealer so I guess I am blessed. Whenver I have an issue I take it in, get a replacement car, and my issues get solved. Most of the time I do not pay even though now my warranty is expired. I love european curtesy!

 

[funk1337]

Hi everyone,

Just thought I would post my experience with this. Last April I bought a:

2007 4runner Sport Edition V8 4WD.

I have the sulfur smell...bad. I took it back to the dealship to have them look at it, and right off the bat the service manager told me...its the gas. I replied by pointing out that the 2006 models have a TSB (EG005-06) about this issue. Ok, so they decide to take a look at it. A while later they called me back and basically said that the 2007 models have the updated parts. (ECM, Cats, etc...) They do know about the problem, in fact the service manager told me that his Camary has the exact same problem. He also told me that a lot of gas in the North West (I live in Oregon) is refined in China which has the highest sulfur content. He also said to use gas from Mobile or BP...but I'm running gas from Mobile (local Chevron station with Plus) and still have the problem.

So...just thought I'd share...they won't do anything since there is no TSB for the 07s. I'm at my wits end. Who else can I call? I love the 4runner, and don't want to take a financial hit by getting rid of it, but I don't know if I can stand it smelling like a sewer...what a bummer...

-Funk

/pinching nose

 

[MDT4RNR]

Sulfur Smell on other SUV's

it just dawned on me to ask if any one else here has another SUV such as a xterra/ jeep/exploder/Aviator, etc..
The reason i ask is because we should have some one try opening the rear window and drive with it open and floor it and see if they get a similar funnky rotten egg smell. It may be difficult to replicate, but i am just trying to determine if this is something that affects our 4 runners only or does it exist on the other vehicles but they just don't notice since they drive with the rear window closed.

Ohh, I forgot, Sequoias have the same roll down window as 4runners, does any one here know if they also have the same problem?

DC

 

[tomhaney1]

I live in Washington state, which is apparently not regulated. I use only Chevron gasoline (because it's a convenient station, I always have, and I like the Techron that they put in it). In our SR5 V8s first 2000 miles we have noticed NO heavy sulpherous smell when driving, none at all, even with all of the windows down. Out of sheer curiosity, I went so far as to stand behind the vehicle as my wife reved the engine, the smell was apparent but not overwhelming by any means. I almost feel like filling the tank with cheap Arco gas from some AM PM mart (which, by the way is generally 10 to 15 cents cheaper per gallon) just to see if I can get it to make the smell everyone is complaining about!

My hypothesis: USE CHEVRON!!

I always use either Chevron or Shell myself and no smell either. I do always run premium also so maybe that is a factor...

PS You couldn't pay me to use that ARCO crap!

 

[nc211]

Back in the day, our new 1987 Acura Legend had this same problem. We bought it in Miami, but the problem only surfaced when we moved to Birmingham, Alabama "very hilly". Acura replaced the cats under warranty. I'd have to say this is a common problem that can happen to any car/truck/suv.

Anyone hear anything about the TSB for the 05's w/ V8's yet?

 

[thebionicman]

My 07 V-6 has the smell too. I am on the road all the time so I am not sure where I got the last tank of gas from. Today is a very nice day out so I drove with the windows open, what a big mistake.

 

[aSpO]

i GOT A 05 SR5 2WD V6 MODEL.ORIGINALLY FROM FLORIDA....I BOUGHT THE CAR UNDER FINANCE AND IF I TAKE MY CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP..ARE THEY GOING TO FIX IT WITH THE TSB..OR R THEY GUNNA TELL ME IM NOT ELIGEBLE?!

 

[jayp1981]

I only notice the smell after I floor the accelerator for a little bit.

When I drive around at a normal pace I haven't smelt it.

My 4Runner is a 2007 V8 4x4 SR5.

- JP

 

[mtnet2000]

I was just wondering, money is kind of tight these days with a newborn in the house, and I've been doing most of the driving and the sulfur smell is really bothering my wife, does anyone have the TSB for a 04 V6 4runner so I can get this repaired instead of paying for a ALLDATA or Toyota TIS subscription, thanks in advance

 

[RPM04]

mtnet2000, I just purchased a V6 04 4runner and I have the same smell.
I found the tsb link:http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=393&perpage=15&pagenumber=6 (5th post down)

I called my dealer to set up an appointment, but she said I would have to pay for the ecm flash (about $90), she said the cat. portion of the tsb was covered for 96 months or 130,000km, but the flash was only covered for 3 years.
I ended up calling another dealer, but have not heard back yet.

RPM

 

[skiwindjunkie]

my coverter was covered

Replacement of oxygen sensors, air/fuel ratio sensors or catalytic converters will not reduce the odor and therefore will not be considered warrantable

03' runner.

I complained about the stink. Dealer #1 replaced my converter at no charge. I still smelled it. Dealer #2 replaced it a second time saying that Dealer #1 did not set the computer configs right and that it needed another one. Again, at no charge.

Whatever, it still smells.

 

[Freddyboy]

rotten egg

I have an '03 4-runner and have had this same smell problem especially when I have the rear window down. It's overwhelming! One friend told me to let the gas tank down as low as possible and fill it up with 93 grade gasoline and it will take care of the problem. It seems to have worked now for the last two years. Hope it works for you.

 

[miagi]

Sorry if this was already covered...I didn't read through all pages of this post.

I never notice the sulfur smell unless my rear window is down AND I am either accelerating hard or driving up a hill. The air flow at the back of the truck forces air into the cabin. Since I realized this, I just keep my back window up most of the time.

 

[Freddyboy]

Yes that is a good option but as I was saying that if you wanted to drive with the back window down, you could avoid the smell by using BP 93 grade gasoline in your tank once or twice to cut most of it out. Hope it helps you.

 

[thrak]

Has anyone tried rerouting the exhaust exit to the side, instead of straight out the back?

I believe that all exhaust smells bad regardless of vehicle, and since we only notice it with the rear window down and accelerating, that points to an aerodynamic problem. ie - the air coming out from under the truck is swirling up, pulling the exhaust with it, and into the cabin.

A side exit exhaust might eliminate this totally. Maybe even something as simple as bending the stock outlet to the side.

 

[sharp4runr]

Rear window should not be down while driving , that's what it says in the manual anyways. I've never seen the need to drive with the rear window down at all. With the way the aerodynamics are, it's just asking for exhaust and dust to fly into the back of your truck. Makes no sense to me...

 

[yabedude]

Has anyone tried rerouting the exhaust exit to the side, instead of straight out the back?

Borla dual exhaust here ... pipes out (both) sides. Still stinks when the peddle is tromped on.

 

[simple]

Haha...I've had my runner for a few weeks. I drive kind of like a grandma since gas is about 3.50, although sometime I do like to be a bit liberal with my interpretation of the speed limit. Its an 04, and the VIN number is below the one posted in the TSB. But I've smelt some ass in my few weeks in the 4runner, and I NEVER once thought the source could be from my runner. To be honest I've had it about 4 times I can remember the smell. Once I dropped off a friend, the door was open in my runner, and it stank so bad, I hella cut the conversation short and left. I'm slightly embarrased now that I know its coming from my car. What do you guys think... 4 or 5 times in about 800miles of driving(mostly grandma driving)...should I take her in?