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Comments
Thanks
-good luck
In answer to your question, I don't know. If I read the problems of the other participants here, they ran the tank dry and were unable to put more than 15 gallons in it. That is a problem and if you have this, get it to your dealer.
Do the MY'01 4Runners have 4 channel or 2 channel, 4 wheel ABS brakes?
Also, is there supposed to be a re-design for the MY'02 4Runners. Possibly a change in the motor as well?
-thanks
I have not heard anything official on the next generation of Runners. Shockingly, I haven't even heard any rumors about it either. I'll keep my ear to the ground on this but I don't have anything yet.
-thanks again
with the sending unit in the tank and or gauge,since I seemed to have no indication for the bottom 1/3 of the tank. I took the vehicle into the my local Toyota dealer. They checked the
the gauge out and said it worked okay. I knew the gauge worked, just that is wasn't very ACCURATE.)
Their basic response was that (1) They were not sure if my vehicle had an 18.5 gallon tank. (2)
I should run my vehicle out of gas, then fill it up to determine the actual volume of my tank. (3)
Just use my odometer and keep track of my mileage.
All Total B.S.!!!
Here's what I have figured out on my own since then and what I believe to be the problem. I think the problem isn't with the gage,..but in GETTING THE LAST 4-5 GALLONS IN THE TANK. On the last two fill ups ( I ran it down on E with the low fuel light on ) again I was able to get maybe
13.5-14.0 gallons in before the pump clicked off.
Then stand there and NURSE THE NEXT 4 OR SO GALLONS IN. The pump will continuely click off and you have to be patient waiting for the gas to drain from the filler neck to the tank,..but on both occasions I was able to get 4 more gallons in the tank. This is much more closer to the 18.5 gallons this tank supposedly holds.
So,...I think the problems lies with getting the last few gallons in the tank, not the gauge.
My next more is to complain to Toyota directly..
Cheers..
Once you know what the tank will actually hold, you can figure that when the check engine light somes on, you have another 45 to 60 miles to go until dry.
I took my rig into the dealership, along with printouts from this site and from NHTSA, and they said they'd fix it. They, too, had to replace the sending unit in the tank, and pull the instrument head. Had to get the a new instrument head from the factory, calibrated to the correct mileage. I just got it back a week ago, and yesterday drove it around until it was on empty (several miles after the little light comes on). I was able to get 16.5 gallons in it. It works just fine, now.
I don't know that all 4Runners of this vintage have this problem. However, between this topic and 1303, I've seen quite a few postings, so I don't think it's rare, either. In my case, I live out west and take trips out into the boonies. Given that an 18.5-gallon tank is on the small side for a vehicle of this type (and mileage), I think an accurate gage is important. Now I have one. Otherwise, I think my 4Runner is one fine vehicle.
Claude
Thanks to the members of this forum for the great info. We are debating between 4WD and 2WD on a new Limited. We will be doing little off-road driving. Is 4WD a benefit in highway dry weather swerve-to-avoid-collision situations? Do those with 4Runner "Multi-Mode" 4WD leave it on all the time? Why or why not? Is there a speed "limit" for 4WD? Thanks in advance for any responses.
Happy Holidays!
Barry
How the Sequoia, 4Runner and Land Cruiser 4WD systems work:
These systems operate in essentially the same way with a few exceptions. When engaged, you have three open differentials working for you (front, rear and center). Open differentials are extremely reliable and require very little maintenance. If you have equal traction at all 4 wheels, power is evenly divided between them all. If one wheel begins to slip, the open differentials begin to send all available power to that one wheel. Normally, this would be very bad. This is when a traction control system (TRACS) takes over. TRACS, applies brakes selectively to a slipping wheel. This braking action literally fools the differentials into sending power everywhere except the slipping wheel.
When you are in 2WD (in the Sequoia and Runner), you still have traction control working for you. Obviously, this only will send power left to right but this is better than nothing. If neither wheel can gain traction and you are heavy on the throttle, you may end up tripping the second part of TRACS. If the wheels continue to slip, there is a rev limiter that takes over. This slows your engine down to about 2200 RPM. This reduced engine speed, combined with the selective braking will normally allow you to move forward at a reduced rate of speed.
On all three vehicle, you have the option of locking the center differential. It is rare that anybody would ever need to do this. On the Land Cruiser and 4Runner, this is accomplished by bushing a button on your dash. This turns off the TRACS computer and the VSC system. The vehicle is now in a conventional 4WD mode. All 4x4 Toyota trucks have operated in this condition. You should not ever use this mode on dry pavement as you will damage the drive system and tires.
The other part of this system is the VSC or vehicle skid control. VSC will selectively apply brakes and throttle to prevent understeer or oversteer. It works in both 2 and 4 wheel drive. This is a rather amazing system and does an incredible job of giving the driver control of the vehicle. Understeer is responsible for a large number of SUV rollovers and oversteer is very common on icy surfaces. The Sequoia will allow you to turn off the VSC but I see no reason to ever do this.
We both laughed at the mix up. I did tell her Washington DC is beautiful at Christmas if she wanted to make the trip but she declined. I was really bummed because she sounded like a very nice person and I would have loved to sell her a car.
I am interested in purchasing a rubber mat for the cargo area as well as heavy duty floor mats for the driver and passenger sides (too much snow and slush in Cleveland for carpeted floor mats). I know Toyota sells these, but I think I found better prices on http://store.yahoo.com/floormats4less/index.html
This site claims to have mats that are custom fitted for the 4Runner just like the mats Toyota sells. Has anyone else purchased these elsewhere or have any useful information? Thanks.
Check out http://www.accessconnect.com/huskylnr.htm
They are Husky Liners and custom fit to your 4Runner (I believe) and cost much less.
Bobby
Thanks in advance...
tan
I have had the same gas gauge problems as others posted here from the last month or so. ( Low fuel light on with 5 gals in tank.)
Toyota has a Technical Service Bulletin
( TB- ELO10-00 ) for this problem. This fix is to remove and replace the fuel tank sender. Another part of this Bulletin is to replace part
of a printed circuit board in the dash if necessary. ( wasn't in my case.) I just had this done by Toyota and I haven't tested it out yet ( ran it low) The dealer told me they are thinking about re designing the tank. I have been able to nurse 3-4 gallons of gas in the tank after its full. (So have others posted here.)
Hopefully this fixes your ( and mine) problem.
I really have my doubts though. I think the tank is of bad design and as such its hard to get the last few gallons in.... Cheers
and for services bulletins, the web address is:
http://www.nhtsa.org/cars/problems/tsb/Servicemmy5.cfm
Below is the text for the latter, regarding the fuel gage:
Service Bulletin Number: EL01099
Bulletin Sequence Number: 100
Date of Bulletin: 9912
NHTSA Item Number: SB610059
Make: TOYOTA TRUCK
Model: 4 RUNNER
Year: 2000
Component: INTERIOR SYSTEMS:INSTRUMENT PANEL:GAUGE:INDICATOR:GAS
Summary: SUBJECT REGARDING FUEL GAUGE HORIZONTAL CALIBRATION PROCEDURE. *TT
As has been posted previously (by Cliffy1??) spending several minutes filling the tank to the brim may screw up the vapor recovery system. See my previous posting (#114) for my experience in getting it fixed. Since the repair/replacement, if it gets down to "empty" and I fill it, it takes on over 16 gallons before the pump clicks off. I put the nozzle on the middle notch when I fill it, so the pump runs slightly slower, but otherwise do nothing special. Hope this helps.
I'm selling my 4Runner for $32,750--it has every option except leather. Does this sound like a reasonable price--it is 4 month's old with 8k. It also has a 5spd which you can no longer buy. I live in the Settle area. Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks
First, I put it into 4WD high. From a standing start, I mashed the pedal to the floor. The terms "shot out of a cannon" and "like a bat out of hell" are how I would describe it. It was like I was on dry pavement. The TRACS light came on and the brakes did their job at moving power from wheel to wheel. The rev limiter never kicked in.
I then tried it again with the center differential locked. You can't do this in the high gear range in the Sequoia but it also simulated what a conventional 4WD would do. In this mode, the TRACS and VSC are off. I still moved but could really feel the wheels spinning. Control was not great and I had a fair amount of side slipping. I did it again without mashing the pedal. This worked much better.
Next, I put it into 2WD and mashed the pedal. Now here is where it got interesting. The TRACS system quickly took over with both the brakes and the throttle. My RPMs were reduced to between 1500 and 2500. The brakes were clicking constantly but I was moving steadily forward. The throttle would cut in and out with my forward progress. If I eased up on the pedal, control improved even more but even with the pedal on the floor, I was able to move forward and turn with ease.
This was a stunning display of the TRACS/VSC. Even I was amazed at how well this 2WD vehicle was handling extremely slippery conditions. Obviously, the 4WD worked much better but the 2WD got me moving and in control.
Thanks
Any ideas?
mark
I can't think of anything else? Any ideas? For some reason I can't imagine that we are the only two who have heard this.