What is the current state of your 4Runner?

[paddlenbike]

I haven't seen some of you for a while, and certainly haven't seen the current state of your 4Runners, in particular, Lance, Chris, Matt, etc.

Mine has not changed at all in the past 2-3 years. I switched to Sequoia wheels when it was time for new tires, but not much else. No issues to speak of, but I have a small list of things I should do to it, such as preventative lower ball joint replacement, flush the power steering, radiator and clutch fluid, and it could really use a new head unit that has 20th century features like a USB port and bluetooth.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-MmurLfjhv90/U7C6LDmFqPI/AAAAAAAAM9I/MNUWhFKUFEo/s800/DSC_0394.jpg

It's a joy to drive, and I honestly couldn't wish for anything else. Today's SUVs have lost their offroad heritage (like the Pathfinder) or have quality/durability issues like the 5th gen. I have learned first-hand with our two new cars that all of the complicated systems on-board make them damn near impossible to diagnose or modify. My biggest pet-pieve to date....these damned electronics where the relays are integrated into the circuit boards! I can't even mod the DRLs or do a "fog light anytime mod" on our two new cars because what used to be a wire and relay has been replaced by a circuit trace and board integrated relay! Thankfully, Generations 1 through 4 of the 4Runner have none of this crap. I love modern day conveniences but some of those luxuries are causing me heartache in the first year of car ownership on our other cars. Don't get me started on tpms, no spare jacks/spare tires, or touchscreens that won't let you put an address into the nav if you're moving.

What is the current state of your 4Runner? What is on the list for wants and needs?

[Bob98SR5]

Last I heard, Lance is undergoing gender reassignment surgery, thanks to a special Obamacare clause. I hear the #1 choice of name will be "Lancita" (pronounced Lan-seeeta). You think this is a bad thing, but Obama personally called Lance and said he can still keep his own doctor to do the surgery. I knew that community organizer wasn't such a bad guy!

BREAKING NEWS: Post-op surgery pic. I think things went swell, fellas:

http://www.eyeballcircus.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/crossdresser.jpg

My truck hardly gets driven. I drive it mainly on the weekends just to keep the battery charged and the fluids flowing. It's been a lot of maintenance in the past two years or so, but things have definitely calmed down. I paid a mech to do some of the fluid replacements b/c quite frankly, this old goat is getting tired of doing maintenance stuff. I pay people now to do the dirty stuff. However this past two weekends, I changed out the front O2 sensor to pass smog (I was reminded about what a b###h this was b/c of the top mounted harness) and also did some wiring clean up in the interior. My next task is to rewire the e-locker. Yes that thing I spent so much time installing, but have not used once (mainly b/c I've never been stuck and/or in an area where I needed it). A few years ago I had a parasitic leak. And like any salt of the earth Korean guy in a frustrating situation, I f####g tore everything 12v accessory out like a bomb tech gone mad. Well it did eliminate the parasitic leak! Anyways, yesterday I spent some time grabbing the wires from the e-locker install and plugging them back into the momentary switch. No go. I think a wire might be missing in the equation. I'll have to pull the lower panel off and possibly retrace the wires from the relays and also from the locker itself.

My 4runner needs a good bath too. I just don't give it the love it deserves. However, the paint is still in great shape (I give it a wax at least twice a year), the motor runs well esp after the injector replacement, and the suspension gremlins have FINALLY been exorcised since my mechanic secured a nut/bolt combination on the panhard.

Time to sell? I've contemplated this over and over and over again. I probably wouldn't get more than $4k for it though. Decisions, decisions.

I agree with alot of what Ken wrote above. If there's a case for keeping it, its that the 3rd gens are so ultra reliable, maintenance is very easy, and little intangibles like the manufacturer supports field service manuals.

I don't plan on doing any mods because my time to off road and do something about it has been negated by time and the Golf. If I take a trip to meet up w/ you guys on a car camping trip (you know, just to hang out, no off roading), I'm taking the 42mpg highway Golf to meet you vs the 17 (if I'm lucky) 4runner. I do want to refresh the faded black wheel arch mouldings, the Stubbs sliders, and the roof rack rails. But in the grand list of chit to do, that's way at the bottom unless I sell it.

[DHC6twinotter]

I think the only thing I've done in the last year or so was install my BudBuilt skid plate. Things I need to do is a good wax/buff job, and I need to change the spark plugs. I'd like to change the diff, tranny, and tcase fluids too.

Part of me wants to do a lift, but I think I'll probably end up putting the money towards a newer vehicle. I would love a 100 series Land Cruiser/LX470, but may end up with a 4th or 5th gen, double cab taco, or maybe a GX470. That's all a couple years down the road.

Ken, I'm with you on all the new electronic gizmos. I think the only things I would like that my 4Runner doesn't have is a digital exterior temp gauge/compass and digital climate controls. Things like blind spot monitoring, automatic brakes, and lane departure warnings just seem to take all the skill out of driving.

[Seanz0rz]

I am DD mine now, about 50 miles per day round trip. I pulled the swingouts off in an attempt to gain a bit of MPG. I need to pull the roof rack but haven't due to a lack of storage space. Since blowing the 300 on the front diff, my funds for things like new shocks, timing belt kit, etc has taken a hit. I still have the horrible vibration that I can't pinpoint. Next week I will probably start rotating the spare tire through the truck to see if I can narrow it to a bad wheel/tire. I am almost at the point of buying a Craigslist set of newer take-offs to try out.

Today I hit 199930 miles. This week or next, I will roll over 200k. She is really starting to show her age, and I have been contemplating her replacement. In addition to fixing the above mentioned ills, she needs new engine and trans mounts, new U joints, new rear axle bearings, the paint is embarrassing, and the rear lift gate struts need replacing within the next year. I am casually looking at 100's, double cabs, late 4th gens, as well as a Pinz. Nothing serious though. I will likely keep the 4runner and dump a few grand into LT and several more into the engine, trans, and forced induction. It doesn't solve all of the problems of the 3rd gen, but it should make it more livable.

We are looking for a commuter car to buy in the next 6-9 months. Something new, I am sick of keeping old cars running constantly. Between the Focus and the Mazda 3 right now, but still looking.

[paddlenbike]

This thread has been a great read already. Bob, you kill me. You guys all need to move closer so we can sit around and poke fun at each other while enjoying evenings around the fire pit drinking beer and eating steak.

I can't believe you guys are thinking about replacing your 3rd gens with newer gas guzzlers. Seriously, in a few years, no one is going to be driving these things around anymore. In 2016 you'll be able to get a 150-200 mile Leaf or Tesla Bluestar for less than you pay for gas per month (like I do right now with my lowly 86 mile Gen 1 Leaf) and you'll have no interest in driving that 13 mpg 100-series around that you're still financing. Trust me on this. The secret formula is an EV for all sub-200 mile drives and your old, reliable, paid-for 4Runner for lifestyle and long trips.

Lance, I don't know what to say. You've let yourself go. I'm going to buy you a different bra.

[Bob98SR5]

Ken,

I'll be up there from Aug 1 to Aug 3. I'll email or message you on FB. I think I can sneak out on Sat, quick visit, and then head back to my mom's place.

[paddlenbike]

Where are Stover and Lance?

[troyboy162]

Lance went wheeling once back in 2011... That's pretty much the whole story for those two goobers :p

[paddlenbike]

Lance went wheeling once back in 2011... That's pretty much the whole story for those two goobers :p

We need to at least do some camping at Mammoth...

[troyboy162]

I looked up there and it doesn't seem like there is much terrain compared to the rest of the 395. laurel lake and dundaburge lake are the only two and those aren't even that close together.

[slomatt]

Mine hasn't changed much modification wise recently, but I'm currently in Oregon in the middle of a road trip so I have done a lot of maintenance recently.

- New O2 sensors (refer to my comments in a different thread cursing the location of the plug for the front one)
- New lower ball joints
- New outer tie rod ends
- Alignment
- Tires balanced
- New u-joint in the rear driveshaft
- Used (50%+ tread) 265/75/16 BFG AT for the spare tire ($35 mounted!)

Oh, and can't forget the new factory rear wiper blade.

A couple of days ago the truck rolled 110k miles which was exciting.

Overall the truck is doing great and my wife and I plan to keep it for a long time. There are two issues I want to resolve though.

1) My clutch is still very heavy. I flushed clutch fluid which didn't help, and I adjusted the clutch pedal which also didn't help. A local mechanic thinks someone installed an aftermarket clutch at some point, but that doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I think the clutch is old and either something is sticking or the pressure plate has an issue.

2) My tires are howling and I've got some weird vibrations. I had been trying to track down a vibration at ~60mph which was the reason for many of the changes listed above. I thought I had it fixed, but now it is back. Also, when the tires were balanced they rotated them and my Maxxis Bighorns are now really loud and annoying. I think the vibration is partly the tread of the tires wearing, and mostly that nobody seems to understand the difference between lug centric and hub centric when balancing the tires. I'm seriously thinking of going to an aggressive AT instead of the MTs I have now.

Other than the above, everything is great. Like Ken I am strongly considering installing a new headunit with modern features.

- Matt

[4x4mike]

We've had a busy summer so I'm using the 4Runner more than anything else. Camping, day trips, some fishing, volunteering and logging miles. I know Sean just hit 200k, I think I'm at 157k.

Here's a load for a camping trip. 4 days, 3 nights with 37 kids and even fewer parents.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-kb5lVQG46oM/U65nI3ozbwI/AAAAAAAA-Rg/eztBFbcuCq4/s800/20140524_071408.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8HbaGIkoXSQ/U65nKh8F7yI/AAAAAAAA-Rw/Jt-v5BQ3404/s800/20140524_071433.jpg

Recently I replaced the factory tail lights with some Eagle Eye LED ones. I have my bike on the rear bike rack at least 5 days a week and people don't tend to respect following distances. On any other day I'd say bring it on but with a bike, that I really like, that is close to the value of the 4Runner I decided some brighter brake lights were in order. I also installed a small red LED light I got from superbrightleds.com to my home made bike rack to come on with the brake lights. I had to tap into the brake light circuit which took some time and was slightly a PITA. In the end the Eagle Eyes make the bike rack light like a tiny spark, figures.

Last week or so I finally decided to fill a bucket with soap and water. This was the first real wash since last Thanksgiving. It rained a little here and there so I'd sponge it down but nothing fancy.

I did manage to use the drop gate on my trailer to put a nasty dent on my rear tail gate. It looks really bad and was inches away from the window. Since the 4Runner was all loaded up for a trip to the coast I was glad it didn't break the window but it still messed up the metal. I've taken it two dent repair places and both said they would leave it as is. Any work started at $300.

Whilst out driving around I've seen the Bing and Google street mapping vehicles quite a bit lately. Here is a shot from the Bing-mobiles one day after work. It's a pretty good image of the current state of my 4Runner...along with my sh!t eating grin.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-19HyW1kym6w/U7Q6oHPdH2I/AAAAAAAA-Wo/bdVqfXFmzZU/s800/First.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-HYX08RV-Ro0/U7Q6oMs0QEI/AAAAAAAA-Ws/utsK1o5-w4o/s800/Second.jpg

By the looks of the picture my bike looks invisible which is probably why people tailgate so closely.

[AxleIke]

I got rid of mine and got a new one...Then starting building this one.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c263/AxleIke/IMG_0408.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c263/AxleIke/IMG_0495.jpg

[paddlenbike]

^^ I like the 87-88 era grille.

[AxleIke]

It also has the 87 "4wheelDrive 4Runner" rear badge and shift knobs. I miss my old 87 :D

[04 Rocko Taco]

I really like that....

I wonder how well the 85 grill hanging in my garage would fit on my '04 Taco?

[L33T35T Tacoma]

The Taco is pretty much stock these days, other than a set of bigger tires and some rock sliders. I really don't have any time or money for anything. I got a scholarship to CSU Fullerton so school and work consumes all my time. My girlfriend consumes all of the money (don't tell her I said that)! I wasn't even able to make it to Pismo last year because I've been so busy.

I want to go do some wheeling though, just needs to be while school is out!

[YotaFun]

I can't win with my 4Runner it seems.
This past winter I got it road worthy again for the winter by returning it to 4.10 with an open rear.
Went and hit the trails a few weeks ago.

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Rausch%2006-22-2014/DSC_6430_zpsc8e7a65a.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/Rausch%2006-22-2014/DSC_6430_zpsc8e7a65a.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Rausch%2006-22-2014/DSC_6446_zps01c1e6df.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/Rausch%2006-22-2014/DSC_6446_zps01c1e6df.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Rausch%2006-22-2014/DSC_6442_zpsdbe0df89.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/Rausch%2006-22-2014/DSC_6442_zpsdbe0df89.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Rausch%2006-22-2014/DSC_6419_zps23089488.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/Rausch%2006-22-2014/DSC_6419_zps23089488.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Rausch%2006-22-2014/DSC_6411_zps4c498f45.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/Rausch%2006-22-2014/DSC_6411_zps4c498f45.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Rausch%2006-22-2014/DSC_6410_zps015ab70e.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/Rausch%2006-22-2014/DSC_6410_zps015ab70e.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Rausch%2006-22-2014/DSC_6409_zpsba732d7b.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/Rausch%2006-22-2014/DSC_6409_zpsba732d7b.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Rausch%2006-22-2014/DSC_6408_zps984ebe35.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/Rausch%2006-22-2014/DSC_6408_zps984ebe35.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Rausch%2006-22-2014/DSC_6393_zpsf644f0ff.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/Rausch%2006-22-2014/DSC_6393_zpsf644f0ff.jpg.html)

Current state of Tess:
Needs:
Rack and Pinon
Power Steering Pump
Windshield (crack started middle of winter)

In some of the pictures you can see where my drivers side rear flare came off,
Well when that happen that exposed some seriously bad rust on the body, just after putting a new frame on the truck this is what I got.
The interesting thing is the passenger side is perfectly fine, which leads me to believe it was a bad repair job from the body shop when I was broad sided years ago. Currently trying to figure out how I want to tackle this new Rust issue...

[04 Rocko Taco]

Avy - that's exactly why I would never wheel a DD. I dont know how you put up with that headache.

A DD with rust is an issue that needs a correct repair, with good body work and paint.

A wheeler never needs good body work and paint cause its a waste of money to beat it up, so my wheeler would get wire wheeled, POR 15, and rattle can paint.

[YotaFun]

Chris,
I don't nessisarily dd Tess anymore, I have the Camry for that now.
She is a trailer queen in my mind but I still drive her on the street.

Once I get the rack and pump replace and a new windshield I'll be registering it in DE and not having to deal with PA stupid laws.

I will probably cut out what I can and do a sime patch, I like having an enclosed body, I just don't see myself making it a buggy.

[YotaFun]

Here is a closer look at the rust, I made a mark where the paint stops bubbling, coincidently it is also where the well starts to turn into the body:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Rausch%2006-22-2014/AF5A5481-9C3E-491C-8415-2CC57181F228_zps98elpuih.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/Rausch%2006-22-2014/AF5A5481-9C3E-491C-8415-2CC57181F228_zps98elpuih.jpg.html)

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Rausch%2006-22-2014/903262FE-B884-4249-9222-336FD98F0B97_zpsop9tw09c.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/Rausch%2006-22-2014/903262FE-B884-4249-9222-336FD98F0B97_zpsop9tw09c.jpg.html)

[Kryptoroxx]

You should be able to control that with a bit of the rust conversion stuff Eastwood sells. Then top coat it with por and then paint it. As long as you caught it all you will be ok. Rust is really hard to stop on a yota but in your situation at leat you don't have to worry about the frame. I remember that from your build thread.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

[4x4mike]

How good does the repair need to be? The fender flare covers it right? Could you cut it out, prep, paint and cover?

[YotaFun]

The problem is, that is interior cab past that hole, while yes I can cut it I still need to get the hole closed up before I paint and put the flare back on.