Timmy the Toolman Invitation

[rglsr]

Just an idea for you. The clutch pedal torsion spring is a crummy design. I have all the original records for my truck and the PO took it back to the dealership about every 30k to complain about the squeaky clutch pedal. After I bought it I cut off the arm that engages the torsion spring and added an extension spring to compensate. Pedal force increased very, very slightly but now its a no-nonsense pedal. More than 40k miles after doing this mod and it still works perfectly.

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/2524321-post7.html

Thanks yes I'm aware of that option, I've had several manual 1st gen Tacomas, so I'm used to dealing with it. I've gotten many miles out of the OG design/components, just need to stay on top of it.

 

[rglsr]

Got it Tim, no prob. PM me and we'll talk, thanks.

 

[MagusWyatt]

How about a video of fixing the rear dome light switch, which is in the liftgate? Those often seem to die on our rigs due to dirt and age, and then (aside from not having a working rear dome light) you can get auto-locked out when you close the liftgate.

I recently took mine apart to clean it, and it would have been nice to have a good video showing the steps.

I reckon we could do this. We would need somebody that's having an issue with theirs to do the video though.

Mine was having issues at the end of last year, and now the light doesn't come on at all with the tailgate open. I'd be game to make a video if you are!

I can either go down there, or (considering your comment about your garage and lighting) you can come up here. I have a 2-car oversized garage that we can use as we please for the video. Either way works for me.

I'm also about to embark on a complete suspension rebuild. Everything in both front wheel wells is getting replaced or refreshed, new shocks and springs (giving a 2 inch lift) all around, new bushings all the way from the front to the rear, and a panhard bar correction kit. I'm pretty sure you have all of that covered in various videos, but maybe there's something in there that could be helpful.

 

[mtbtim]

Mine was having issues at the end of last year, and now the light doesn't come on at all with the tailgate open. I'd be game to make a video if you are!

I can either go down there, or (considering your comment about your garage and lighting) you can come up here. I have a 2-car oversized garage that we can use as we please for the video. Either way works for me.

I'm also about to embark on a complete suspension rebuild. Everything in both front wheel wells is getting replaced or refreshed, new shocks and springs (giving a 2 inch lift) all around, new bushings all the way from the front to the rear, and a panhard bar correction kit. I'm pretty sure you have all of that covered in various videos, but maybe there's something in there that could be helpful.

That's a long way to drive for a video. If I had a reason to already be in your neck of the woods, I'd stop in and shoot a video with you. The dome light switch video would be cool to make, but would you really drive to San Jose for just that? We've already covered all the suspension work and bushing replacements with our videos so we don't have a need to film those jobs anymore.

I'm assuming with the hatch dome light issue, you've checked the bulb? On my 98, it recently went out not from the filament breaking inside the bulb but because one of the metal ends of the bulb became separated from the glass and wasn't getting a proper connection anymore. So, a simple bulb replacement fixed mine.

If you're sure it's the switch and you're willing to make the drive to San Jose, I'll shoot this video with you.

 

[MagusWyatt]

That's a long way to drive for a video. If I had a reason to already be in your neck of the woods, I'd stop in and shoot a video with you. The dome light switch video would be cool to make, but would you really drive to San Jose for just that? We've already covered all the suspension work and bushing replacements with our videos so we don't have a need to film those jobs anymore.

I'm assuming with the hatch dome light issue, you've checked the bulb? On my 98, it recently went out not from the filament breaking inside the bulb but because one of the metal ends of the bulb became separated from the glass and wasn't getting a proper connection anymore. So, a simple bulb replacement fixed mine.

If you're sure it's the switch and you're willing to make the drive to San Jose, I'll shoot this video with you.

I don't mind making the drive, especially since there's some good off-roading in Truckee and things to do along the way. Plus, I just like to get out on the road sometimes.

I am going to respond about the bulb problem on here for informational purposes, but we can figure out our schedules via PM so as not to clutter the thread.

Yes, checking the bulb is the first thing I did. I even replaced it with a regular bulb as well as an LED (which is what is currently in there) and it still had intermittent problems that lacked a pattern. As of now, it doesn't work at all anymore. The bulb is still good, so at this point I figure it has to be the hatch. Does that sound right to everyone?

 

[mtbtim]

How about a video of fixing the rear dome light switch, which is in the liftgate? Those often seem to die on our rigs due to dirt and age, and then (aside from not having a working rear dome light) you can get auto-locked out when you close the liftgate.

I recently took mine apart to clean it, and it would have been nice to have a good video showing the steps.

Hey Leon, when you say you took yours apart to clean it, how exactly did you do that? I saw a write-up that said the rear latch mechanism is riveted together so they ground down the rivets so they could take off one side of the mechanism to get access to the switch inside.

 

[4Runner4Leon]

Hey Leon, when you say you took yours apart to clean it, how exactly did you do that? I saw a write-up that said the rear latch mechanism is riveted together so they ground down the rivets so they could take off one side of the mechanism to get access to the switch inside.

Hey Tim,

Yes indeed! Here is what's involved:


Remove the inner tailgate trim to get access to the cables and connectors, and undo them all:

Remove the three screws holding the latch and take the latch assembly to a workbench:

Lift up the rubber cover off the mounting surface of the latch assembly:

Now you can see the two rivets. Grind those suckers down:

Now separate the two halves, so you can see the internals:

Take out the switch assembly:

Now you need to figure what the issue is - some folks had bugs stuck in there, mine had nothing so obvious. So I disassembled it down to every piece part, cleaned off corrosion where I saw it, and lubed it all up with dielectric grease:

Reassemble everything (no need to worry about the rivets, the screws hold everything together):

Have a brew .

 

[Toyotadirtdevil]

Should just get a rewound alternator. That's what I run and have never had any issues with it and it bolts right back up. It puts out 190 amps in relaxed mode whatever that means.

C.A.E. INC.
14710 Lull Street
Van Nuys, Ca.
91405

818-442-9884

 

[mtbtim]

Hey Tim,

Yes indeed! Here is what's involved:


Remove the inner tailgate trim to get access to the cables and connectors, and undo them all:

Remove the three screws holding the latch and take the latch assembly to a workbench:

Lift up the rubber cover off the mounting surface of the latch assembly:

Now you can see the two rivets. Grind those suckers down:

Now separate the two halves, so you can see the internals:

Take out the switch assembly:

Now you need to figure what the issue is - some folks had bugs stuck in there, mine had nothing so obvious. So I disassembled it down to every piece part, cleaned off corrosion where I saw it, and lubed it all up with dielectric grease:

Reassemble everything (no need to worry about the rivets, the screws hold everything together):

Have a brew .

Thanks Leon. Super helpful!

 

[Gary Blake]

Hi Tim

I have a 2000 3.4 with a 5 speed manual transmission.

Trying to get more in to doing my own repairs and maintenance and would love to see a video on changing all the fluids in the manual transmission, transfer case and both differentials.

Although draining is fairly simple you could also get in to the tools for refilling, and more importantly the best gear oils to use for each application.

Love the vids, just did almost the entire front end including new lower control arms, shocks, springs, sway bar end links, bumps stops and diff support bushings. Pretty straight forward after watching all your videos.

Keep up the good work!

Gary

 

[JZiggy]

Thanks Leon. Super helpful!

Vid-e-o! Vid-e-o!

I should do that too.

 

[mtbtim]

Hi Tim

I have a 2000 3.4 with a 5 speed manual transmission.

Trying to get more in to doing my own repairs and maintenance and would love to see a video on changing all the fluids in the manual transmission, transfer case and both differentials.

Although draining is fairly simple you could also get in to the tools for refilling, and more importantly the best gear oils to use for each application.

Love the vids, just did almost the entire front end including new lower control arms, shocks, springs, sway bar end links, bumps stops and diff support bushings. Pretty straight forward after watching all your videos.

Keep up the good work!

Gary

We have a video for replacing the fluids on our rigs. It was done on a automatic transmission model but renewing the fluid on a manual transmission is the same procedure as it is for a transfer case or differential. You get your rig on level ground. You remove the drain plug and drain out the old fluid. You replace the drain plug with a new washer. You fill it up with your gear oil of choice until the gear oil starts spilling out the bottom of the fill plug hole and then you put the fill plug back in with a new washer. Easy Peasy.

In the video description, we list suggested engine oil, and gear oils. For your manual trans, I'd use Red Line MT-90. Red Line gear oils are pretty pricey but I'm now using it for my transfer case and differentials. I use MT-90 for my girlfriends BMW Z3 manual transmission. Amazon.com: Red Line (50305) Manual Transmission (MT) 90W Gear Oil - Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Gallon: Automotive

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a81i1Cayf_I" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[mtbtim]

Vid-e-o! Vid-e-o!

I should do that too.

I wonder how common this problem is though. There's a good chance we will be shooting this video.

 

[4Runner4Leon]

Vid-e-o! Vid-e-o!

I should do that too.

Agreed! Mine's already done though, so it's on you now! What better excuse to visit beautiful Nor Cal, where it's 107 today (I walked right past your old digs today ).

 

[rglsr]

I'll second the recommendation on Redline MT-90, good stuff, the hype is true. And get a cheap gear oil pump, makes the trans refill easier, esp the top off.

 

[cashflow50]

Tim did you guys do a video on the rear main seal job? If not then it should be cool to have one to watch from you guys. Thanks for all you do bro!


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[mtbtim]

Tim did you guys do a video on the rear main seal job? If not then it should be cool to have one to watch from you guys. Thanks for all you do bro!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes, we do, sort of. We show all the work to pull an auto trans and manual trans in different video series. The manual trans we pulled was to do a clutch job which included replacing the rear main seal.

Here's the first of three videos for the Auto Trans Replacement:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oZDSjlxl2Q4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>


Here's the first of two videos for the Clutch Job:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5PJPZ5-AK-I" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[2TH4IST]

Have you made a vid for the installation of a trans go shift kit? That would be pretty sweet.

 

[mtbtim]

Have you made a vid for the installation of a trans go shift kit? That would be pretty sweet.

No, we haven't made a video of that. Never heard of it. What does it entail?

 

[toverturf]

No, we haven't made a video of that. Never heard of it. What does it entail?

I think he's talking about this kit. Transgo 340-hd2 install and reveiw