TSB on sulfur smell for V8 03-04 4 Runners

[4route]

Pitbull ... hahaha, yeah, that point has been brought up many times. Fortunately, us girls don't have as much use for that, so it was okay for me to get mine fixed.

but you boys ... definitely consider keeping it, and/or getting some more mods to make it even more stinky!!

Just kidding you guys.

 

[Kanab]

Hey just go on a low carb diet, even a girl will need that sulfur smell problem to cover their butt

 

[kglueck]

well, for the record, my sulphur stink problem (on the 4runner, silly) seems to be fixed. I did have a moment of nervousness as I picked it up from the dealer today. As I was getting in, I noticed that the VSC TRAC and TRAC OFF lights on the dash were on solid and the trac off button did nothing, nor did a shutdown and restart of the vehicle. so I walked back in and the ran it around to the bay and 30 minutes later brought it back. apparently they forgot to set something on the new ecu or something...but it works now and no stink.

Kevin

 

[DawgRunner]

Well, I tried to make an appointment with the service department to get the TSB taken care of, and the service manager swore up and down that the TSB said that all I needed was to try a different brand of gas. She then yelled at me for using what she claims is crappy BP and Exxon gas.

Thanks to T4R.org, I handed her my hard copy of the NEW TSB explaining the ECU reprogramming and the possible cat swap, and she told me that, quote, "that's the first I've heard of it." And, naturally, my truck is about 70 out of the VIN range for the TSB, so she claimed that my ECU had already been reprogrammed and it no longer smells. I chose to ignore the fact that she had JUST told me she didn't even know about the ECU business until 20 seconds earlier, and asked them to check it anyway, since after smelling it for a week, I was fairly sure the problem WASN'T fixed. Instead, she sent me off with the instructions to use Texaco or Shell gas from now on and to come back if it persists. So I figure after a couple tanks, I'll go by and pick her up and we'll go for a little ride uphill. Maybe after sucking on rotten eggs for ten minutes, she'll take care of it for me. :bash:

Sorry for the vent... just wanted to let everyone know that apparently word hasn't leaked out to all the dealerships just yet about the new TSB.

On a side note, why is it that I apparently know more after a month of research and a week of ownership than the service and parts departments who supposedly do this stuff for a living? Right after arguing with the service lady for 10 minutes about a TSB that apparently didn't exist, I had to convince the parts guy to order me the supposedly non-existent door sill enhancements for my Runner. Just unbelieveable.

 

[linhsy]

On a side note, why is it that I apparently know more after a month of research and a week of ownership than the service and parts departments who supposedly do this stuff for a living?

I think because we have more 4Runners' ears around here than at the dealer. Once, one 4Runner owner knows about a TSB, he/she will spread the news out quicker than the dealers. Maybe, the Toyota manafacture only sends the TSB notice to the dealers who have sold 4runners with the certain range of VIN numbers. :dunno:

 

[kimboy]

Two months after the TSB and no sulfer smell at all. I did have a problem with a loose bolt rattling at low speeds... but it was recently fixed.

 

[DawgRunner]

Has anyone with a Runner outside of the TSB's VIN range had the reprogramming/cat fix done? If so, did you notice an improvement as well?

 

[toyo]

My 04 v8 is in the shop as we speak getting it done. I will let you know how it goes.

 

[bernieman]

Just want to let you all know that this forum is great. I'm learning all kind of stuff about my T4R 03 that I would not have discovered with out it. Keep up the good info flowing! The only thing I can add is that I installed a grill under my radiator. There is this big open space under the front bumper that makes me feel that a big rock will fly in and hit my radiators. I purchase the screen from Home Depo and connected it from the two bolts coming from the front bumper. Just made feel safer. I'll send pictures as soon as I can.

 

[4RunnerBubba]

New 4Runner How does the new CAT look compared to old

Just picked up an new SE V8. My VIN number states it was produced after the TSB so it should have the fix from the factory.

How can I check? I don't notice any sulfer smell but it only has 35 miles on it right now. Haven't really pushed it hard yet.

 

[slowginjoe]

well, for the record, my sulphur stink problem (on the 4runner, silly) seems to be fixed. I did have a moment of nervousness as I picked it up from the dealer today. As I was getting in, I noticed that the VSC TRAC and TRAC OFF lights on the dash were on solid and the trac off button did nothing, nor did a shutdown and restart of the vehicle. so I walked back in and the ran it around to the bay and 30 minutes later brought it back. apparently they forgot to set something on the new ecu or something...but it works now and no stink.

Kevin

Same thing happened when I had the TSB fix yesterday. After reprogramming the ECM, the VSC light came on. You need to reprogram the yaw sensor as well after programming the ECM. The yaw sensor is one of the 3 sensors which make up the VSC functionaility. Driving the 4Runner back from the dealership right after the fix I still noticed the smell. But then taking a second trip later, I could not reproduce the smell with the back window down under hard acceleration..

For the record, one service advisor at the dealership who I talked to on the phone when making an appointment knew nothing about the TSB. When I went to the appointment, the service advisor who helped me knew the TSB number by heart right when I mentioned the 'sulfur smell'. So if any of you are having a hard time convincing your dealer to do the fix, try talking to the service manager or a different technician if you hit a wall with someone. If your VIN falls in the TSB list, then the only acceptable answer from their mouths should be "we'll order the parts and schedule you an appointment for when they arrive.".

 

[slowginjoe]

Also, for those of you who are considering 'living with' the sulfur smell instead of doing the tsb fix, here's something I found about sulfur dioxide and your health. Don't know at what level the sulfur dioxide is at before and after the fix, but less definitely can't hurt!

http://www.epa.gov/air/urbanair/so2/chf1.html


Chief Causes for Concern

SO2 contributes to respiratory illness, particularly in children and the elderly, and aggravates existing heart and lung diseases.

SO2contributes to the formation of acid rain, which:

* damages trees, crops, historic buildings, and monuments; and
* makes soils, lakes, and streams acidic.

SO2 contributes to the formation of atmospheric particles that cause visibility impairment, most noticeably in national parks.

SO2 can be transported over long distances.

SO2 and the pollutants formed from SO2, such as sulfate particles, can be transported over long distances and deposited far from the point of origin. This means that problems with SO2 are not confined to areas where it is emitted.

Short-term Peak Levels:

High levels of SO2emitted over a short period, such as a day, can be particularly problematic for people with asthma. EPA encourages communities to learn about the types of industries in their communities and to work with local industrial facilities to address pollution control equipment failures or process upsets that could result in peak levels of SO2.

 

[Kanab]

Also, for those of you who are considering 'living with' the sulfur smell instead of doing the tsb fix, here's something I found about sulfur dioxide and your health.

SO2 contributes to respiratory illness, particularly in children and the elderly, and aggravates existing heart and lung diseases.

Thanks for the heads up, I'll make sure Grandma and the Kids ride in the 3rd row seats and crack the rear window. I'll post results. Only problem I see with this is compared to the way old people and kids create their own sulfur smelling gas I don't know if we will get any solid results. Has anyone tried putting BeanO in their gas tank???

 

[rando]

Mine goes in for the TSB repairs on Monday. I only smelled the stench a few times so it will be a while before I know if anything is fixed or not. Thanks for the heads up about the common VSC screw up. I'll be on the look-out for that.

Also, for what it's worth, my dealer too claimed to not know anything about the TSB. I had the service writer put "CHECK TSBS" on the work order. I'm holding off on the sunroof rattle fixes until I see how they do on this one (crossing my fingers).

 

[greasefingers]

My dealer told me that knowing could be done about the smell, except that I could switch to buying BP gasoline. Has anyone tried this to reduce the smell? BP is supposed to have a lower SO2 concentration. Or is he giving me a line to get rid of me?

 

[slowginjoe]

My dealer told me that knowing could be done about the smell, except that I could switch to buying BP gasoline. Has anyone tried this to reduce the smell? BP is supposed to have a lower SO2 concentration. Or is he giving me a line to get rid of me?

did you bring a copy of the tsb to show them? maybe they don't know about it. since i had mine done the smell is hardly noticeable at all, except when i've got the pedal to the metal going up the freeway ramp with the back window open!

 

[greasefingers]

No I did not bring the TSB with me I can never open my cargo window. If I do then my kids start cracking up...then they accuse me of cutting the cheese

 

[DawgRunner]

That's interesting. When the service lady shooed me away last time I brought my TSB in, she told me NOT to use Exxon or BP, that that was "crappy gas," and to only use Texaco or Shell premium. As much as I like the new Shell VPower, I don't feel that that's the issue...

 

[greasefingers]

All major petrol companies provide adequate fuel. If they made a crappy one then they would miss out on a very lucrative market. Some of the smaller companies can be questionable. Oil is the biggest industry in the world. Now if it were true that one brand had a significantly lower SO2 content, then it would make more sense to use it rather than to add a device to adsorb it or mask it. Just my 2 cents. BTW did you add that Alpine HU yet? I just added a CDA-9827. Do not forget about supplying a 12V lead to the antenna amplifier.

 

[slowginjoe]

does your vin fall into the range in the tsb? if so then you should have no problem getting them to do it after showing the report to them. here's the tsb so you can print it out and take it with you: <A HREF="http://www.toyota-4runner.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=31585">TSB_EG020_04.PDF</A>

good luck!