ELonGrad97
New member
As far as things falling out of the tailgate...has anyone tried the cargo net? Works fine for me and nothing falls out. Plus, I keep my reusable grocery bags in it when they're not in use.
Things I hate about my 4runner
- Thread starter Atlanta_man
- Start date
1)I really HATE the lag that takes place when you have to pass etc especially in emergency situations. Beside the 1/4 second delay in the throttle the transmission has to decide which gear it wants making it way to dangerous for my liking. 2)The brake assist sucks (emergency assist). I can control emergency braking much better on my own and wish I could disable this feature. Seems if you hit brakes just a tad to hard it goes into the assist mode almost making it impossible to reapply brake pressure without reingaging the assist. 3)I have the V8 Limited and miss not having the 2WD option like the V6. I believe the V8 would/could get even better gas mileage than the V6 if it had this option. My V8 get around 14 in town and 21 on the hiway. I had a V6 to start with but it was wrecked shortly after buying it. 4) One of the biggest things I dislike is that the console hits/rubs my leg. There's more room on the passenger side than the drivers in this way. Should be the other way around as there's always a driver but not a passenger. 5) I really miss not having an oil pressure gage and some other gages as well. This is minor but annoying on a vehile of this price range. 6) My outside rear view mirrors seem to distort or not be in focus. Seems like what one would expect if looky at cheap glass. That's about it except for what others have already posted.
hoggy said:
Ya know, I don't think having a two wheel drive option for the V8's would improve mileage. The hubs do not disconnect at all in the part time system on the V6. What this means is that instead of driving the front driveshaft, axles, and wheels through the transfer case, it is driving it the other way around: The rear wheels push against the road, the road drives the front wheels, drives the axle, drives the driveshaft. That uses the same exact amount of energy. A real disconnecting hub system would in fact give better mileage though. That's what I wish it had.
NCSCOTT
New member
Will816 said:
Not exactly.
There is a Differential Vacuum Actuator (DVA) in the front axle on the V-6 4Runners. This is called different names by different Manufactures, Dodge calls it a CAD (Center Axle disconnect). It functions in almost the same fashion as our V-6 4x4 4Runners even though we do not have solid front Axles. There is no (DVA) on the V-8 4x4 4Runners. Below is a description of how the CAD works in a dodge.
"The left wheel is connected to the axle directly in a similar fashion to a full-time 4wd axle. The right axleshaft consists of two shafts: one engaged to the differential, the other to the right wheel. A sliding sleeve connects the two separate shafts when 4wd is engaged. While in 2wd, the left wheel turns the spider gears and through it, the right inner axleshaft. Since the two right shafts aren't connected, the right wheel is free to turn independently of the left. While the spider gears spin, the ring gear, and thereby the front driveshaft, stay stationary -- allowing for a decreased amount of drag on the driveline."
http://www.4x4wire.com/dodge/tech/solid_axle_cad/
Here is another description
"There is a pneumatic device called an "actuator" attached to the front differential that effectively slides the driver side shaft out of the differential. On trucks that have ADD Toyota uses "live hubs" (see hubs section below). This means that both front half shafts and the front diff spin even in 2WD (but not the front drive shaft). There are a set of air bags inside the actuator that control the position of the ADD sleeve. This actuator will stay in it's current position until vacuum is applied to change it's position even if there is no vacuum at all. For 2WD operation vacuum is applied to driver side tube of the actuator and it holds the sleeve in the out position."
http://www.off-road.com/trucks4x4/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=399612
I would think the V-8s would gain a small improvement in mileage with the disconnect system since the drive shaft is not spinning and the passenger side axle shaft is free spinning, and the drivers side axle shaft is only driving the spider gears.
But it can also be just another point of failure. Vacuum lines damaged off-road ect...
I agree that with you that they would gain mileage from a true hub system. I believe the V-6 system would gain mileage from true hubs. Only spinning the hubs verses the axle shafts and spider gears.
I would be happy to have a true lever and have to get out and lock the hubs. No question about weather you are in 4WD then.
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Atlanta_man
New member
Thinking it over and the #1 bad thing has to be the 'emergency braking assist'. How did this ever get approved by the Toyota lawyers ? It's dangerous. Turns a hard slow down into a major over reaction.
ELonGrad97
New member
Oh. Yeah. Totally agree. Didn't know about that feature when I was being tailed at 80 mph on the turnpike. I decided to give my usual "tap of the brakes" as a warning and HOLY HANNA!:bugeye: I won't EVER do THAT again! 80 to 0 is NOT FUN!
NCSCOTT said:
I don't know about that. I had a friend with a 97 Tacoma w/ stock manual hubs. Got the exact same mileage as I did with ADD. I believe it might save the wear and tear on the CV's and get you home if you snap a front axle, but that's about it.
ADD's have worked great for me so far, so no complaints from me and I definitely do not want to stop and lock the hubs manually. Three reasons: 1) I do not rock crawl (hard core, anyway) and never had ADD fail on me. 2) It's dangerous to get out in the middle of a snow storm with everybody around you sliding around. 3) I'm a wuss and hate to get snowed on/rained on/get cold.
(it's mostly the third reason).
NCSCOTT
New member
p nut said:
Well you could view the 2WD 4Runners like a 4WD with true hubs that could be unlocked. Granted the 4WD weighs more.
2004 2WD SR5 V-6 = 4035 lbs
http://www.top4runners.com/ja/runhist/4thgen/2004specs.pdf
2008 4WD SE V-6 = 4325
http://www.top4runners.com/ja/runhist/4thgen/2009specs.pdf
I went by the 09 specs since the SE weight was not listed for previous years.
I do not think 300lbs should make a 10% difference in mileage.
My 04 2WD (92k Miles) without a doubt gets better mileage than my 08 4WD (15k Miles) by about 2 MPG highway and about 1-1.5 city. Both are V-6s.
Even a 1.5 MPG increase on the Hwy for the V8 would be a 8% increase using 19MPG EPA and 9% increase using 17MPG EPA. That is a good increase in my mind. Granted this is all hypothetical.
2009 EPA Estimated Fuel Economy*
(city/highway MPG)
V6 16/21 (2WD)
V6 16/20 (4WD)
V8 15/19 (2WD)
V8 14/17 (4WD
Previous years EPA ratings were more forgiving to the V8.
2008 EPA Estimated Fuel Economy
city/highway MPG)
V6 18/21 (2WD)
V6 17/21 (4WD)
V8 16/20 (2WD)
V8 15/19 (4WD
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NCSCOTT said:
Yes, I agree the weight shouldn't be that much of an issue. IIRC, the main reason why the 2WD's and 4WD's differ is due to efficiency. The 4WD's have a greater drivetrain loss (transfer case), which is the major factor in the MPG drop. But we're not talking about 2WD vs. 4WD. We're talking about 4WD's with ADD and manual hubs. If you look at the Tacoma MPG specs back in the day, you'll see that they list it the same regardless of the ADD/manual hubs.
Re: radio stays on
______________________________
Another solution like somebody already mentioned, is to put the switch in accessory mode.
Here is the what I do, I went to the hardware store and got a key for the ignition. It will turn the car accessories on but can't start the engine.
I keep the key in my wallet in case I ever get locked out.
I'm also thinking about putting a USB switch to power 5v devices and I want to rig this up with a switch on one of the blank spots.
hope this helps
KREGS said:
______________________________
Another solution like somebody already mentioned, is to put the switch in accessory mode.
Here is the what I do, I went to the hardware store and got a key for the ignition. It will turn the car accessories on but can't start the engine.
I keep the key in my wallet in case I ever get locked out.
I'm also thinking about putting a USB switch to power 5v devices and I want to rig this up with a switch on one of the blank spots.
hope this helps
I haven't found anything I hate about my 4runner yet but the thing I hate about it isn't Toyota. It's the aftermarket Alpine stereo system. The thing I hate about this is my buttons on my steering wheel doesn't work with it and the radio for the rear seat. Also, I hate how the volume works. If I turn it down a notch then it's too small to hear but if I turn up a notch then it's just too loud. VERY ANNOYING !
Hey stranger. I have the original Synthesis part#P1803 10 disc changer than came out of my original 2007 4runner that was totaled with just 1500 miles on it. It's the upgraded radio/player. I'll let it go for $150 if you might be interested. I live in Renton if you want to check it out. It was for a 10 speaker system.
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Two things I hate about mine. One, the requirement to remove the undercarriage to get to the oil filter. Two, the sealed transmission. I wish I could service the transmission fluid on my own at 15k marks, as I do not trust that lifetime fluid. I think it's a con, and bullshit.
Forenaftrunner
New member
I've had my 4runner for a bit over a month and love it so far. Here's some of the things I'm less than thrilled with:
1. Radio (SR5) just plain sucks. Crappy sound and poor reception.
2. Mousefur headliner. Looks like it belongs in a Yugo.
3. Paint chips. I have more chips on the hood and bumper in one month than during the three or so years I've owned each of my previous cars.
4. Headroom - I can't close the sunroof shade. I have to sit with the top of my head just inside the sunroof opening or else I feel like I'm sitting on the floor.
5. Fuel economy. Great engine but this thing should get better mileage than my friend's full size GMC pickup, but it doesn't. 17-18 is all I've seen on the highway at a 70-75 cruise. (Same as the wife's GX). Hoping it gets better when winter fuel is done.
1. Radio (SR5) just plain sucks. Crappy sound and poor reception.
2. Mousefur headliner. Looks like it belongs in a Yugo.
3. Paint chips. I have more chips on the hood and bumper in one month than during the three or so years I've owned each of my previous cars.
4. Headroom - I can't close the sunroof shade. I have to sit with the top of my head just inside the sunroof opening or else I feel like I'm sitting on the floor.
5. Fuel economy. Great engine but this thing should get better mileage than my friend's full size GMC pickup, but it doesn't. 17-18 is all I've seen on the highway at a 70-75 cruise. (Same as the wife's GX). Hoping it gets better when winter fuel is done.
