The 3rd Gen All Questions Allowed Thread

[NotALakerFan]

I'm going to be new to the 4runner club soon. Picking up an 01 limited 4x4 soon and here go my idiotic questions. For reference, I'll be driving the car mostly for trips and around town, not AS much hardcore off roading but that's only because I don't have any experience with it...I'd love to learn how to do it.

-How does one drive a 4x4? I've driven full time AWD vehicles and there's nothing to do besides drive them, but what and when do I utilize the different settings in 4x4?

-How difficult will basic maintenance items be for someone with little background on cars? Will youtube DIY's suffice?

-Tire question: what are some decent tires I can put on for a more aggressive look without compensating too much on gas mileage/noise? I'll likely be on the stock suspension, at least for the time being.

TiA, feel free to roast me or harshly educate me on what I've asked and getting into.

 

[cl4Rk]

I'm going to be new to the 4runner club soon. Picking up an 01 limited 4x4 soon and here go my idiotic questions. For reference, I'll be driving the car mostly for trips and around town, not AS much hardcore off roading but that's only because I don't have any experience with it...I'd love to learn how to do it.

-How does one drive a 4x4? I've driven full time AWD vehicles and there's nothing to do besides drive them, but what and when do I utilize the different settings in 4x4?

-How difficult will basic maintenance items be for someone with little background on cars? Will youtube DIY's suffice?

-Tire question: what are some decent tires I can put on for a more aggressive look without compensating too much on gas mileage/noise? I'll likely be on the stock suspension, at least for the time being.

TiA, feel free to roast me or harshly educate me on what I've asked and getting into.

Welcome!

4x4: If it's a Limited, then you'll have a center differential, which lets you run basically AWD. Explained here: T-case Differences (all years of 3rd gens).. transfer case, AWD, multi-mode

DIY: You can absolutely work on these trucks yourself if you have the space, the tools, the time. Don't skimp on 6-ton jack stands and tire chocks. Get yourself an OBDII reader and a Factory Service Manual (hunt around this forum to find a digital copy). This forum is a great resource for DIY. Spend some real time reading:

- Start here: 3rd Gen 4Runner Buyer's Guide - Toyota 4Runner Forum - Largest 4Runner Forum
- And here: 3rd Gen Informational Threads --- A MUST READ For New Members
- And here: 3rd Gen T4R DIY Maintenance, Repair and Modification Videos

And watch [MENTION=120071]mtbtim[/MENTION]'s DIY repair and maintenance videos: Timmy The Toolman - YouTube

Tires: sounds like you want some All-Terrain tires maybe? You can run the stock 265/70/r16 or size up to 265/75/r16 without any real issues.

Best of luck!

 

[NotALakerFan]

Welcome!

4x4: If it's a Limited, then you'll have a center differential, which lets you run basically AWD. Explained here: T-case Differences (all years of 3rd gens).. transfer case, AWD, multi-mode

DIY: You can absolutely work on these trucks yourself if you have the space, the tools, the time. Don't skimp on 6-ton jack stands and tire chocks. Get yourself an OBDII reader and a Factory Service Manual (hunt around this forum to find a digital copy). This forum is a great resource for DIY. Spend some real time reading:

- Start here: 3rd Gen 4Runner Buyer's Guide - Toyota 4Runner Forum - Largest 4Runner Forum
- And here: 3rd Gen Informational Threads --- A MUST READ For New Members
- And here: 3rd Gen T4R DIY Maintenance, Repair and Modification Videos

And watch [MENTION=120071]mtbtim[/MENTION]'s DIY repair and maintenance videos: Timmy The Toolman - YouTube

Tires: sounds like you want some All-Terrain tires maybe? You can run the stock 265/70/r16 or size up to 265/75/r16 without any real issues.

Best of luck!

Awesome thank you for all of that. Looks like for my purposes currently I'll be mostly in 2hi and if in rough conditions 4hi?

And as far as tires go, are the 265/75/16 going to cause any rubbing or fitment issues on a stock height? Thank you again, great resources you linked, sifting my way through them now.

 

[cl4Rk]

Awesome thank you for all of that. Looks like for my purposes currently I'll be mostly in 2hi and if in rough conditions 4hi?

And as far as tires go, are the 265/75/16 going to cause any rubbing or fitment issues on a stock height? Thank you again, great resources you linked, sifting my way through them now.

No problem.

Yeah, 2HI normally. AWD if medium/low traction. 4HI low traction only. 4LO in only low traction and low speeds (and prolonged steep grades with low traction and low speeds). It's explained here: T-case Differences (all years of 3rd gens).. transfer case, AWD, multi-mode

I personally did not get any rubbing with 265/75/r16 highway tires on stock/original suspension. But that doesn't guarantee you won't. But in general, 276/65/r16 seems to be no problem. (With your Limited-style fender flares, you'll get rubbing with 265/75/r16 if you add wheel spacers or new wheels with different back-spacing, but most likely only at full lock during compression.) All that to say, 265/75/r16 should be fine. FWIW, 276/75/r16 is the largest tire you can still fit fully inflated in the stock spare location under the truck.

 

[Kmanning]

P0171

I have had this p0171 code for a while being thrown, I know that it is running lean but have no idea what to do. I’ve put new o2 sensors in, changed the evap canister and replaced the mass airflow sensor but still nothing. Any suggestions?

 

[cl4Rk]

I have had this p0171 code for a while being thrown, I know that it is running lean but have no idea what to do. I’ve put new o2 sensors in, changed the evap canister and replaced the mass airflow sensor but still nothing. Any suggestions?

Have you done a "spray and listen" test? Maybe you have. If not, then with the engine running, methodically spray carb cleaner along all vacuum hoses and listen for things to temporarily bog down / RPMs to change. This should help you find a vacuum leak. Sometimes they're small and hard to find. The elbow/tube immediately before the throttle body is prone to cracking in a way that is hard to see/find.

Best of luck

 

[Bad Luck]

I finally had time at work yesterday and today to replace the grenaded transfer case and driveshafts on the manual 4Runner I picked up. This is the first manual 4Runner I've driven and have no idea if it's normal for the clutch to feel... for lack of a better description it's almost notchy. It's not a smooth consistent resistance like any other manual vehicle I've driven.

I also wasn't expecting the rpm's to be so much higher than my automatic 4Runner. Both are V6's and the manual is at least 300 rpm higher at 65 mph. Manual is 4.10 gears and the auto is 4.30 gears. I knew it would be higher just wasn't expecting that much.

Since I'm here, is there anyone running or that has run a V6/manual/4.10's with 35 inch tires? Playing with the gear ratio calculator a v6/manual/4.10/35's is about the same rpm at 70 mph's as a v6/auto/4.30/32's.

 

[JDG2000]

Replacing the contacts and plunger is pretty easy to do. You will want to confirm you have an OEM starter. You can see the starter by removing the front passenger side wheel and pulling back the rear flap. You should see a sticker that says Denso. If that's the case, you will also need to figure out which starter you have as there are two options, a 1.4kW and a 1.8kW. The 1.8kW is much more common than the 1.4kW, but I have never seen a definitive answer on what engine/ transmission/ options packages give you which starter. When I was doing mine, the dealership couldn't even tell me which one I had by doing a VIN lookup. The best I can do is that if you have the v6, you probably have the 1.8kW starter. If you have an automatic, you probably have the 1.8kW starter.

Yeah it's a Denso, I've seen some people using starter kits so i'll probably just get one of those from the dealership and go for it if we ever get some nice weather here in W Washington.

 

[JDG2000]

You could do either or; depends on how much you value your time. I think keeping one around as a spare is a little silly though, they very rarely up and die without at least a couple warnings first/can't be temporarily fixed without a good smack to the side

Right it is a little silly but what's sillier is not being able to get to work because my starter died and I knew about it! I think i'm just going to replace the internals. It's been a while since i've done something on this rig and seems like a fin challenge.

 

[Devbot]

Anybody ever remove their cabin vent with the rear bumper on? I bought a replacement from Opt Offroad thinking the OEM would be similarly shaped, only to find out it curves 90 degree upwards inside the vehicle. This makes it impossible to simply pull out with my CBI bumper in place, and given the bumper isn't the easiest to take off on a whim, I'm curious if I could maybe cut the end off with a dremel from within the trunk or something along those lines. Otherwise I'm gonna spend a couple hours messing around just getting everything disassembled and put together again for a tiny little vent :flame:

 

[Bad Luck]

Anybody ever remove their cabin vent with the rear bumper on? I bought a replacement from Opt Offroad thinking the OEM would be similarly shaped, only to find out it curves 90 degree upwards inside the vehicle. This makes it impossible to simply pull out with my CBI bumper in place, and given the bumper isn't the easiest to take off on a whim, I'm curious if I could maybe cut the end off with a dremel from within the trunk or something along those lines. Otherwise I'm gonna spend a couple hours messing around just getting everything disassembled and put together again for a tiny little vent :flame:

If I remember right from when I had my interior out chasing a water leak, there is enough room on the inside to get a multitool or dremel and cut off the interior portion of the vent. I'm not sure if that would get the size down enough to get it out but it's probably worth a try.

 

[Endlessblockades]

I missed the Gobi vs Whitson lawsuit BS era. Can I feel OK about buying a used Gobi ladder for $150 or will i be advertising (to no one - I'm not an IG brand or anything) that I am a heartless d-bag? I plan to kick it up on my new roof rack and the gymnastics needed to get up from the rear tire aren't something I want to do forever. The wife in not down with that either. I don't see many real 3rd gen ladder options out there.....

Renamed the rig Pigpen BTW......

 

[Bad Luck]

Does anyone know the part number for the 2 backlight bulbs with green covers that go in the hvac controls for an SR5 (not an automatic ac unit)?

 

[Spiker Engineering]

Does anyone know the part number for the 2 backlight bulbs with green covers that go in the hvac controls for an SR5 (not an automatic ac unit)?

I'm guessing this - 90010-05152

 

[queens770]

I picked up a 2002 SR5 2WD. I plan on replacing the entire front suspension. Everything. I plan on having this fun buggy for a while so let’s do things right the first time. Question is, should I simply just replace the front suspension and ball joints, control arms, tie end rods etc….with OEM or is it worth it to upgrade parts. I don’t go out romping but I would like a nice ride. I like a stiffer suspension, I’m not a fan of squishy. Again, I just want to do it right the first time. I don’t mind paying for quality but I also don’t wanna waste money. FYI, no lift, at least I don’t think so, I’ll measure to make sure before I begin anything. Afterwards I’ll obviously replace the rear as well.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Brian.]

Question is, should I simply just replace…with OEM or is it worth it to upgrade parts. I don’t go out romping...

My opinion... if you're not going "romping" (no clue what that means, I could interpret it as not going off pavement or doing everything shy of a Baja 1000), then the only reason to deviate from stock is cost or lack of availability.

Generally, things are decided based on the tires. If you're sticking with stock sized tires, then nothing else Needs to be altered. To get bigger tires, you need a lift... if you go big enough with the lift, you need aftermarket upper control arms for proper alignment. If you're lifting because you're using it Hard, then you'll probably be finding the physical limitations of some parts that need to be replaced or improved (like spindle gussets).

If your plan is simply a reliable rig that'll handle every forest service road out there, then stick with stock or stock-like replacements. Stock tends to be soft and cushy though, so if you'd like a little firmer (I do too), you'll probably want to replace just the bushings and not the whole control arms.. unless your budget allows for all aftermarket control arms. Shocks are a little easier as I think nearly Everything is a little firmer than stock.

There isn't one path, heck there are probably a hundred different paths, you'll have to do the research yourself to decide which is right for you. Generally, if you're not wheeling and KNOW what limitations to address, you'd be better off stock (for the hard parts, like control arms).

 

[bmason8159]

Auto trans question

Hi everyone. I have a 99 Ltd 3.4 auto trans. My question is when the transmission shifts from second to 3rd when I’m getting on the gas the rpms drop about 500 the drop another five hundred rpms then take a couple seconds to get the rpms back up. If I manually shift from second into drive when it shifts to 3rd the rpms don’t drop when I’m getting on it. Why are the rpms dropping and losing power with the auto?

 

[Bad Luck]

Hi everyone. I have a 99 Ltd 3.4 auto trans. My question is when the transmission shifts from second to 3rd when I’m getting on the gas the rpms drop about 500 the drop another five hundred rpms then take a couple seconds to get the rpms back up. If I manually shift from second into drive when it shifts to 3rd the rpms don’t drop when I’m getting on it. Why are the rpms dropping and losing power with the auto?

Any chance you could take a video of what you’re talking about?

 

[7racer]

hey [MENTION=315156]Brian.[/MENTION] I saw an old post awhile ago saying that you had some front seats for a 3rd gen 4Runner. If you still have them I'm interested, and was wondering if I would be able to come pick them up? Thanks for your time.
I know this is unrelated to the post above, sorry I just could not find a other way to contact you.

 

[octanejunkie]

Just tuning in and finding this, I wonder has [MENTION=7105]Scramble[/MENTION] seen this thread yet LOL

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