By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
I was driving a 99 Jeep Grand Cherokee before I bought the 4 Runner. The Jeep is the WORST SUV I ever owned. I had to have the rotors machined 4 times and replaced twice.(I was told it was driver error,sudden stops etc.)I also would hear a loud THUMP or CLUNK when I put the car in reverse on if I was just sitting at a red light.I also had a HUM coming from the drive train area at speeds over 50 mph. I was told this was all normal for a jeep and that I was driving a truck not a Lexus. They also told me that if it really bothered me I should just turn up the radio.I turned up the radio and drove straight to the Toyota dealership and bought a 4 Runner.I still have 7 lease payments left on my Jeep,but its going to just sit in my driveway.
The 4 Runner drives and handles great and my wife loves the size on the car. 200 miles with no Hums, Thumps,and major shaking when I apply the brakes. This is the first time in 3 years I have smiled while driving my car.I must be driving a Lexus.
If you scroll up this topic you can see some responses on the 2002 4Runner. On engines though, cliffy1 has said that the engine will be the 3.4 with vvt-i.
Real reason I'm posting is because I'm wondering if anyone here has done anything to reduce wind or road noise in their 4Runner. Things like dynamat for road noise and better sound? Some kind of foam for wind noise? I'm just wondering.
Cliffy, I'm wondering if aftermarket speakers would void my basic warranty. It shouldn't affect drivetrain warranty right? What about an amplifier? I'm just curious because I'd like to get some aftermarket speakers, an amplifier, and sound deadening materials and am wondering if any of it would void my warranty (I have an extended warranty). Thanks.
1. Pull the aft part of the "gear shifter panel" by holding both sides. This panel has 4 clips, 2 aft and 2 forward. Do the aft ones first then the forward ones.
2. You can now pull the "center dash trim", working your way up starting from the bottom (this has 7 clips).
Installing it back, you need to do an extra step:
1. Just do the opposite, push the center dash trim from top to bottom, working your way downwards.
2. Extra step: You need to lift JUST the forward part of the "hand brake panel" up to put the "gear shift panel" back in. Push in the AFT part of the "gear shift panel" first to hook its clips back in, then push in the forward part where it meets the "center dash trim".
3. Lastly, you can now press in the "hand brake panel" back in.
Michael
I drive 96 4runner SR5 automatic and love it.
I was told by Toyota service rep, that (front)
differential and transfer case is the same thing.
Is it so?
Also, in winter there's cold "wind" blowing on the passenger side from under glove compartment and other front plastic panels. If I switch air to inside circulation it stops. Looks like outside air is coming into the truck directly?
Any ideas?
Leon
The service mgr suggested it should have the 60k service and tune-up and that would probably fix the problem. It didn't. I drove it through the winter with this problem happening about 20-30% of the time I first transition to cruising speed from a start. I took it back for the dealer to look at again, and of course he reports "problem could not be duplicated." I asked if there was not some diagnostic they could run and was told their diagnostics would not find anything that did not cause a check engine light. Any one have any ideas. A few observations:
It started as the temperatures in PA started dropping below freezing overnight, and is always more noticeable in the cold morning than the warmer afternoon.
This same start time is approximately when the good PA EPA force feed the county's around here Oxygenated gas that a) costs 10% more, and b) delivers about 10% worse gas mileage (the combination is a real pain).
The dealer has been pleasant enough in conversation about this, but I didn't buy conversation, and I'm not appeased by their recommendation that I bring it in again and again. I don't think dealers appreciate what a pain it is for a person with an actual job to schedule a substitute ride to work along with a two way shuttle to and from the dealer twice in one day.
Sorry for the long post, all ideas appreciated,
Jere
on each of the rear passenger doors at the bottom
of the door just above the running board and close to the rear wheel, there is
an area about 3"x5" that looks like a patch.
It is rectangular in shape and has the same color as the rest of the exterior body. Is this normal? Is it used to cover up something?
On your question of outside air, if your vent selector is in the fresh position and no fan speed is selected, you will get outside air moving through the system. If your heat selector is set warm, it will be warmed before coming through. This does not happen in the recirculate setting but in the winter, you will fog your windows in this setting.
I gave up looking at used units in August and purchased a new loaded SR5 w/leather, Limited fender flares, etc., for $30k and got factory 3.9% financing on top of that. It's a great vehicle!
I don't know how new it has to be, but I picked mine up yesterday and all of that stuff is listed under the Standard Features heading on the sticker.
Edmunds shows that in 99 the 4runner received a change to the electronic climate control system. And did this occur at the same time a change to the digital odometer did?? The dealer told me that happened in 2k.
Secondly, which years are the solid (not 2 tone) limited avail. Was it 98, 98-99, or 98-2k.
Lastly, was the new 4wd system I/ center miff. avail in 2k or is it new for 2001.
I'm trying to get everything I want for under 30k including the mileage being under 30k. You current owners could help me out a great deal by telling me what you have!! Thanks.
Before you buy, make the dealership show you the long use demo or better yet, ask for 5 previous customers. This type of "defect" is not covered under the "Lemon Laws" because it "does significantly affect the value." Toyota offered $1000.00 towards a trade in on another vehicle... if we were willing take about a $4000.00 loss on the trade. Not what we expected from a $38,000 vehicle... but I guess it is Toyota's idea of value added.
When the new pads/shoes are put on the pistons will be forced back inside the cylinders, pushing the brake fluid back into the master cylinder, causing it to go above the maximum line.
If this is not the case then there might be a leak in the brake lines, wheel cylinders, master cylinder. The fluid has to be going somewhere.
But to get to my point, about 6 weeks after I bought my Runner, I was entering onto the highway when something hit my windshield in the lower right corner on the passenger side. I assume it was a rock, but was very surprised that tiny slivers of glass scattered inside the vehicle. Some even got into my hair (I was driving). The point of impact on the outside was very small - my pinky couldn't fit into it - but the object didn't completely penetrate the windshield. I took pictures of the damage before having it replaced.
Question to Cliffy - is this typical for the glass to to shatter like that? I thought windshields were made of tempered glass designed not to do that.
I had the windshield replaced at the dealership with a Toyota windshield, but here it is only 6 months later and another object coming from the road hit my windshield and has caused a crack which is slowly creeping across the windshield. Could Toyota's windshields be of poor quality or are SUVs more prone to this type of thing because they sit up high? I've only had to replace the windshield in my Honda Accord twice in the 9 1/2 years I've owned it. Any feedback would be much appreciated. Thanks.
I thought they were defrosters also. Thanks for the antenna info Cliffy 1.
I just put my first 1000 miles on my 2001 4 Runner. I am delighted to say that all is well. The 4 Runner rides so much better than my soon to be ex 99 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I'm really impressed on how quiet the ride is.The is my first Toyota,but it won't be my last. Toyota has brought pleasure back to driving.
I also noticed that the rear view mirror is not attached to the windshield. This makes it alot easier to clean the inside windshield.(you don't have to clean around the mirror.)This is a small point,but it's the little things that add up.
You're the expert Cliffy.
When towing any load, I prefer the use the power mode on the transmission. If the load is over 1000 pounds, I would also turn off the overdrive. If you don't, you run the risk of overheating the transmission, even though you have a transmission oil cooler.
I really hope that the next generation 4Runner measures up well against the competition in areas other than durability and reliability, for which Toyota is famous for.
Steve
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
My employer has asked me to do some research on new tires for her 97 4 Runner. She is looking for All Terrain tires, that would mostly be used in the Northern California area. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks so much!
Any ideas: additives, a second tune-up, kidnapping a service manager and holding him hostage in my back seat till he witnesses it too, I'll try anything.
Thanks,
Jere