The Adventures and Build of my 2007 4Runner!
- Thread starter Napalm
- Start date
Napalm
New member
Shop just called and it threw two codes -
Thermostat
Brake Switch/ABS
I told them to clear the codes and go ahead with the cooling system drain/flush and refill, as maybe that will help the thermostat, but the thermostat is brand new so I'm not sure why it might be throwing a code.
As for the brake switch/ABS, i'm at a loss on that one :shrug: no idea what it could be or how to fix it. Any idea from you experts?!
Thermostat
Brake Switch/ABS
I told them to clear the codes and go ahead with the cooling system drain/flush and refill, as maybe that will help the thermostat, but the thermostat is brand new so I'm not sure why it might be throwing a code.
As for the brake switch/ABS, i'm at a loss on that one :shrug: no idea what it could be or how to fix it. Any idea from you experts?!
Bluesky 07
Senior Member
Are your dash lights out? If not, read this post by [MENTION=66389]BlackWorksInc[/MENTION] explaining why those lights come on. His is much more detailed but it's important to know that Toyota has the system set up such that any fault activating the check engine light shuts off those other systems too so that's why their lights are on.
Napalm
New member
Thanks Bluesky! I’ll check it out!!
Yes after the reset them they’ve yet to come back on. I think it’s an issue with maybe the thermostat being colder than OEM and getting hung open. I’ve noticed ever since replacing it with the new thermostat it’s a little cooler than normal operating temps!
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Shout out to my fellow Texan!!
All buttoned up and out for the test drive. No further leaks!
I wasn’t able to flush the entire block so some of the universal coolant was still in there I’m sure.. my OCD is concerned but hoping for no problems now that I’m using Toyota Pink SLLC
so, fellow T4R'rs; I like to think "not all those dealer stories you hear are valid".. however, speaking of Pink SLLC this is true - Yesterday I went on the web [having heard coolant, ATF, etc in short supply], needing coolant for the wife's lexus and my T4R's. So located some "asian" from the box stores, and wanted to once again try to give local dealer a shot - so looked them up, got a price of 21.99/Gal, and had in stock. I thought - its only 5 bucks more so I'll buy from them JUST this time [management changed a couple of years ago, previous had AWFUL reputation well-deserved].
So with all that website work firmly in my head went in to parts dept, asked for 3 gallons, the parts guy brought them out, rang up the bill, $120... :jaw:
I liked him, very good guy, so I suggested that the website has diff price - without looking he said "oh no, everything's gone up" and as we had by then completed the paperwork I just thought I would take the time/trouble to see where this goes. so paid, grabbed the gallons, went out to my 4runner, got on the cellphone, looked up the dealer website BY NAME, Parts, plugged in the part num, pull up the page, ticked "pickup" instead of Shipping [ship was 9.99 PER GALLON], and rang a total - 21.99x3 plus tax. Went back inside, showed the prices and the parts Manager happen to be standing there... so gave ME a lecture on how they don't sell at that price UNLESS one places the order online and pays online, then waits 2 days, then drives to the dealer and picks up!!! :crazy:
I said 'you're kidding, right? I do the work...', he bowed his mental back and so I handed the CC to him, the product, said 'refund pls"... took them twice as long to produce the refund plus documentation - 4 pages, a signature, and I left. Wasted about 40 minutes of my time.
I took pictures etc and will give the Dealer a really Glowing [red] review online...
[footnote: the math is 68%.... they wanted +68% per gallon for my having had the grace to drive there and pick the stuff up same day.]
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Napalm
New member
Wow! That’s ridiculous! I had no idea the supply was short. I’ve bought 7 gallons in the past two weeks and paid $27 per gallon. My dealer has plenty, both times I was there he said we’ve got at least 70 gallons in the back.
Might pick up an extra one next time I’m around the dealer! I’ve got a leftover one from my radiator swap/flush but it’s only about halfway full!
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Napalm
New member
Got this new toy today!
Dash board is still lit up, so I went ahead and wanted to get one.
Here’s what code I pulled
The thermostat is brand new.. we replaced it last week with the radiator. I tested my heat and it isn’t working great. Any thoughts on this? Looks like I’m replacing another thermostat!
Dash board is still lit up, so I went ahead and wanted to get one.
Here’s what code I pulled
The thermostat is brand new.. we replaced it last week with the radiator. I tested my heat and it isn’t working great. Any thoughts on this? Looks like I’m replacing another thermostat!
AuSeeker
Elite Member
Got this new toy today!
Dash board is still lit up, so I went ahead and wanted to get one.
Here’s what code I pulled
The thermostat is brand new.. we replaced it last week with the radiator. I tested my heat and it isn’t working great. Any thoughts on this? Looks like I’m replacing another thermostat!
Sounds like your thermostat is stuck open, not the worst thing in the world such as the thermostat being stuck closed which will make the engine overheat.
Not sure if you installed an OEM thermostat or aftermarket, I would replace it but highly recommend getting the proper OEM thermostat from Toyota, if you can't get the OEM you can get a Aisin thermostat, they are the OE supplier to Toyota, also read up on the proper position for your engine of the thermostat's "jiggle valve" when installing it or you have trouble getting all the air out of the system.
Napalm
New member
That jiggle valve is interesting. I honestly can’t remember if we put it at the 12 o’clock position(where it is supposed to be) that may be the cause. I’m gonna pull it apart tomorrow and look and see. Might reposition and give it a try for a few days. It’s an Aisin replacement so surely the thermostat isn’t defective.
EDIT- I just realized I reinstalled the new thermostat without a new gasket. I wonder if this could be causing an issue.
I’ve got a deadline of two weeks, two weeks from tomorrow we will be putting 3000 miles on her on our road trip!
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Last edited:
Napalm
New member
Okay I think we might have the problem fixed, I HOPE.
So I had a sneaking suspicion I installed the thermostat incorrectly and my theory was true. When I placed the new one, I failed to realize the thermostat is supposed to have a rubber gasket around the metal edge. When I pulled my old one out, the rubber gasket stayed in place and I didn’t even realize it. When I placed the new one, It didn’t sit flush in the housing because it was on top of that gasket, which I think was causing it not to seal/ sit in place which was causing my engine to run cooler while also throwing that code. Basically acting like it was open all the time due to not being sealed.
Today I brought it to work, opened up the thermostat housing and found it to just be sitting in there moving around and not in place. I pulled the old rubber gasket out, cleaned some dried silicone RTV gunk out that we used as a gasket/seal because we didn’t see the other rubber one and thought it needed one.
I then put a new rubber gasket on the Aisin thermostat(that i put in last week), placed it in and it fit like a champ, no more moving around. Buttoned everything back up, added some more coolant(I lost a bit when opening up) and started her up.
It quickly warmed up to normal operating temps which since the swap last week it’s been taking hours to get to normal operating temps. Checked the heat and it works. I cleared the codes to get rid of the light and hoping for no more check engine lights!!
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So I had a sneaking suspicion I installed the thermostat incorrectly and my theory was true. When I placed the new one, I failed to realize the thermostat is supposed to have a rubber gasket around the metal edge. When I pulled my old one out, the rubber gasket stayed in place and I didn’t even realize it. When I placed the new one, It didn’t sit flush in the housing because it was on top of that gasket, which I think was causing it not to seal/ sit in place which was causing my engine to run cooler while also throwing that code. Basically acting like it was open all the time due to not being sealed.
Today I brought it to work, opened up the thermostat housing and found it to just be sitting in there moving around and not in place. I pulled the old rubber gasket out, cleaned some dried silicone RTV gunk out that we used as a gasket/seal because we didn’t see the other rubber one and thought it needed one.
I then put a new rubber gasket on the Aisin thermostat(that i put in last week), placed it in and it fit like a champ, no more moving around. Buttoned everything back up, added some more coolant(I lost a bit when opening up) and started her up.
It quickly warmed up to normal operating temps which since the swap last week it’s been taking hours to get to normal operating temps. Checked the heat and it works. I cleared the codes to get rid of the light and hoping for no more check engine lights!!
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AuSeeker
Elite Member
Hopefully you've solved the warning lights/code issue by getting it installed correctly!
This also should tell you something about the garage that first diagnosed your warning lights/code since they told you..."The shop read it, and told me it was a brake switch/ABS issue."........, seems like they didn't read the codes correctly....or just trying to get you to have them replace parts that didn't need replacing!!
This also should tell you something about the garage that first diagnosed your warning lights/code since they told you..."The shop read it, and told me it was a brake switch/ABS issue."........, seems like they didn't read the codes correctly....or just trying to get you to have them replace parts that didn't need replacing!!
Napalm
New member
Thanks vonRunner! Yes, hard to beat that titanium silver metallic! It just cleans up so well!!
Maybe one day this thing will be rocking a similar set up to your 4th gen.
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Napalm
New member
We’ve just made it back from our 14 day cross country trip! I’ll be posting pictures from each day! It’ll take me a bit to get them all uploaded but they will slowly be posted as I sort through all of em!
DAY 1 - made it to our first destination or Palo Duro Canyon. This is the second largest canyon in the USA second to the Grand Canyon and it was cool! Some great hiking down in it.
Making it there after the 7 hour trip from home. The canyon was awesome!
The hike for the day was the Lighthouse trail, and this was the large structure at the end - the lighthouse that stood over 300ft
Headed back up out of the canyon!
Making it to the cabin for the night, our 4Runner was in good company!
Sunset off the side of the canyon - can’t beat it!
DAY 2
Headed back on the road - next stop Colorado!
Only 6 hours - but all flat until we hit New Mexico/CO
Stopping into some small New Mexico downtowns
Finally made it - destination #2 - Colorado Springs!
Our first stop was the IAFF Fallen Firefighters Memorial
To be continued!!
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DAY 1 - made it to our first destination or Palo Duro Canyon. This is the second largest canyon in the USA second to the Grand Canyon and it was cool! Some great hiking down in it.
Making it there after the 7 hour trip from home. The canyon was awesome!
The hike for the day was the Lighthouse trail, and this was the large structure at the end - the lighthouse that stood over 300ft
Headed back up out of the canyon!
Making it to the cabin for the night, our 4Runner was in good company!
Sunset off the side of the canyon - can’t beat it!
DAY 2
Headed back on the road - next stop Colorado!
Only 6 hours - but all flat until we hit New Mexico/CO
Stopping into some small New Mexico downtowns
Finally made it - destination #2 - Colorado Springs!
Our first stop was the IAFF Fallen Firefighters Memorial
To be continued!!
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Napalm
New member
DAY 3 - one of my favorite days of the whole trip! The 4Runner made the 14,115ft climb into the clouds and the 29 degree weather at the top of Pike’s Peak highway! I white knuckled the steering wheel the whole way up, and even worse on the way down!
As we came down the mountain, I had to get a shot with some of these changing Aspen trees! The leaves were changing and such a cool sight!
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As we came down the mountain, I had to get a shot with some of these changing Aspen trees! The leaves were changing and such a cool sight!
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Napalm
New member
DAY 6 - Time to get off road in Moab! First trail of the day was Long Canyon OHV trail!
Stopping to air down
Headed deeper into the canyon - lots of cool balancing rock structures
Further in the canyon opens up with beautiful sky high walls each side!
Deeper you get in, the canyon starts narrowing before heading up some amazing switchbacks
Unfortunately at the top we had to turn around due to no four wheel drive and not being able to make it over a large obstacle. But the 4Runner did awesome and got us this far up for some amazing views of Long Canyon!
Off the trail - great success!
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Stopping to air down
Headed deeper into the canyon - lots of cool balancing rock structures
Further in the canyon opens up with beautiful sky high walls each side!
Deeper you get in, the canyon starts narrowing before heading up some amazing switchbacks
Unfortunately at the top we had to turn around due to no four wheel drive and not being able to make it over a large obstacle. But the 4Runner did awesome and got us this far up for some amazing views of Long Canyon!
Off the trail - great success!
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Napalm
New member
DAY 6 - continued! Our second trail of the day was Sand Flats Road which is essentially just a dirt road with a few small rock obstacles but some awesome views! My wife took the helm and ran this one, her first time off road!
Some steep shelf roads that provided some great views!
Some of the local wildlife!
The trail is a constant incline, but when you make it to the top of the 18 mile road, you are rewarded with some amazing views all around
DAY 7 - Day 7 was spent at Canyonlands National Park. No pictures of the 4Runner but here are a few of the amazing views!
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Some steep shelf roads that provided some great views!
Some of the local wildlife!
The trail is a constant incline, but when you make it to the top of the 18 mile road, you are rewarded with some amazing views all around
DAY 7 - Day 7 was spent at Canyonlands National Park. No pictures of the 4Runner but here are a few of the amazing views!
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