Snwwlkr7
New member
A Few Things Every Newbie Should Know
I just got my 1997 Limited 4x4 4runner a few months ago and even with the high miles I still can't believe how much I love it and how tight it is. Also in that time period I have learned a few really basic things from this forum that have been incredibly helpful and every newbie should know about their truck. These from reading appear to be commonly asked questions and common problems/issues. Here are just a few basics for starters.
1-Use the search engine on this forum, its your best friend to questions/answers. It works great and most hate to see the same common questions asked for the 100th time when a 1 min search would have answered all of your questions. That said, everyone is pretty cool on here with not much flaming going on like I've seen on lots of forums.
2-1999's were the best year for various reasons but they are all good with the differences not really being major and many things about the pre99 can be upgraded. See the "sticky" at the top of this forum and read all about it. Personally I wish mine was a 99 but I got a good deal and I am fine with my 97.
3-You are going to get about 21mpg highway and 17 city if you drive it easy. Some maybe more. some maybe less.
4-The power antenna's go bad, common problem. Cheap fix do the "Tacoma whip mod" with a fixed position antenna off of a Toyota Tacoma.
5-The belts will squeal like crazy sometimes at start-up. Replace or tighten your belts is the first thing to do before you start thinking that you have a pulley or a alternator etc going bad.
6-You smell oil burning?? The valve covers are notorious for leaking oil. The bolts tend to be loose from the factory or at least loose from age. You can not get to all of them without removing a lot of stuff = a lot of work. Try this first...I lightly snugged the ones I could get to. No more leak
. Note-- Lightly snugged is the key word. Don't over do it.
7-To those with the awesome E-Locker. The E-Locker or Rear Diff locker "only works in 4low" but it can be modified to work anytime it is pushed. Its generally referred to as the "gray wire mod" even though I think its not even a gray wire?? Having that ability to lock the diff whenever I thought would be nice but I chose to leave it alone on mine so I could disable ABS easily(see #7). The dash light for the locker will blink when the button is pushed but it is not actually engaged until the light shines solid.
8-Related to the E-locker.. You can disable your ABS if you find yourself in the need anytime in 4H or 4L by pushing the E-Locker button. I love that one
9-pre-99 headlights suck but the OEM headlights off the newer models(99+ junkyard or dealer) work and look much better and fit no problem. General consensus seems to be that the aftermarket headlights (such as ebay, etc) are a gamble, quality is not good and do not shine as well as OEM.
10-I did not like my headlights being on all of the time. (daytime running lights or DRL). It is very easy to disconnect them. It varies per model but my 97 is like this.Took all of 15 min. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/29681-how-disable-drl-your-3rd-gen-earlier-models.html
NOT TO WORRY THOUGH... Yes like anything man made they have a few problems.I'm 40 something and have had 4x4's of many makers and ages(chevys, fords, jeeps, nissan, even older toyota trucks) and without a doubt other than a 99 Tacoma 4x4 I had my 97 4runner is the best of them all. I do love my Subaru but its not a truck.
I just got my 1997 Limited 4x4 4runner a few months ago and even with the high miles I still can't believe how much I love it and how tight it is. Also in that time period I have learned a few really basic things from this forum that have been incredibly helpful and every newbie should know about their truck. These from reading appear to be commonly asked questions and common problems/issues. Here are just a few basics for starters.
1-Use the search engine on this forum, its your best friend to questions/answers. It works great and most hate to see the same common questions asked for the 100th time when a 1 min search would have answered all of your questions. That said, everyone is pretty cool on here with not much flaming going on like I've seen on lots of forums.
2-1999's were the best year for various reasons but they are all good with the differences not really being major and many things about the pre99 can be upgraded. See the "sticky" at the top of this forum and read all about it. Personally I wish mine was a 99 but I got a good deal and I am fine with my 97.
3-You are going to get about 21mpg highway and 17 city if you drive it easy. Some maybe more. some maybe less.
4-The power antenna's go bad, common problem. Cheap fix do the "Tacoma whip mod" with a fixed position antenna off of a Toyota Tacoma.
5-The belts will squeal like crazy sometimes at start-up. Replace or tighten your belts is the first thing to do before you start thinking that you have a pulley or a alternator etc going bad.
6-You smell oil burning?? The valve covers are notorious for leaking oil. The bolts tend to be loose from the factory or at least loose from age. You can not get to all of them without removing a lot of stuff = a lot of work. Try this first...I lightly snugged the ones I could get to. No more leak
. Note-- Lightly snugged is the key word. Don't over do it.7-To those with the awesome E-Locker. The E-Locker or Rear Diff locker "only works in 4low" but it can be modified to work anytime it is pushed. Its generally referred to as the "gray wire mod" even though I think its not even a gray wire?? Having that ability to lock the diff whenever I thought would be nice but I chose to leave it alone on mine so I could disable ABS easily(see #7). The dash light for the locker will blink when the button is pushed but it is not actually engaged until the light shines solid.
8-Related to the E-locker.. You can disable your ABS if you find yourself in the need anytime in 4H or 4L by pushing the E-Locker button. I love that one
9-pre-99 headlights suck but the OEM headlights off the newer models(99+ junkyard or dealer) work and look much better and fit no problem. General consensus seems to be that the aftermarket headlights (such as ebay, etc) are a gamble, quality is not good and do not shine as well as OEM.
10-I did not like my headlights being on all of the time. (daytime running lights or DRL). It is very easy to disconnect them. It varies per model but my 97 is like this.Took all of 15 min. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/29681-how-disable-drl-your-3rd-gen-earlier-models.html
NOT TO WORRY THOUGH... Yes like anything man made they have a few problems.I'm 40 something and have had 4x4's of many makers and ages(chevys, fords, jeeps, nissan, even older toyota trucks) and without a doubt other than a 99 Tacoma 4x4 I had my 97 4runner is the best of them all. I do love my Subaru but its not a truck.
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