Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
Options

Toyota 4Runner

1…137138140142143…221

Comments

  • beercoll1beercoll1 Member Posts: 88
    What model of Toyota do you own? Did the letter specify models/engines/etc.? Please advise.
  • rlopez2032rlopez2032 Member Posts: 10
    I own a 2003 4Runner V8 Sport Edition. Anyway, I took the car in today and had it checked, turned out I do not need my throttle body replaced but when I got home, I noticed that the plastic pieces that make up my center console (the part that houses the shifter, arm rest, cup holders, etc.) are no longer flushed with each other. There are visible signs that it was taken apart and not assembled quite right. This is really upsetting and the main reason why I was dreading taking my car to the dealer in the first place. I am going to call them first thing in the morning, hopefully they could restore my car to the same condition as when I brought it in.
  • rlopez2032rlopez2032 Member Posts: 10
    The letter did not specify what specific engine/model vehicle are affected. It was sent to me and stated that my car may need the throttle body replaced. If you are concerned that this may also affect your car, call your dealership and ask them about Toyota's 30I campaign, my dealership was aware of this ongoing campaign. Hope this helps.
  • pat84pat84 Member Posts: 817
    When they did my visor replacement on recall, I noticed they did another recall, too. It was for installing plastic gas line protection. They didn't have time to do any throttle body replacement. It took maybe 1/2 an hour after my V-8 Sport went in the shop.
  • 69mach169mach1 Member Posts: 60
    Just purchased a 2003 4-Runner Sport V-8 with optional moonroof. As you go down the highway, either the moon roof sliding door in the headliner or the moonroof mechanism itself seems to rattle at times. Dealer says its normal, to me that's baloney, Any body have similar experiences, if so what was the fix?
  • forerunnerforerunner Member Posts: 5
    Hi there,
       I also have an '03 Sport and had the same problem. You need to go back to your dealer and tell him he's full of it. My dealer solved the rattle. Unfortunately I don't know exactly what they did. I do know they took apart the whole headliner though. If they don't fix your problem, you'll notice the rattle will just get worse. Mine was unbearable before the fix. The dealer had already fixed another 4runner and were aware of the problem.
  • pat84pat84 Member Posts: 817
    The moon roof on my Sport has never rattled. so "it's normal" is a load of B.S. Find another dealer. Report the scoundrel to Toyota USA.
  • jorgjorgjorgjorg Member Posts: 8
    Thanks for your input.....here's the latest.

    Well after being unable to find a Sport V6 anywhere in the Colorado 7 state area I was resigned to waiting for an 04 build order. However on a recent business trip to California(bay area) I inquired through CarsDirect, found, purchased and drove home a new 4runner. I would recommend Carsdirect.
  • terrafirmaterrafirma Member Posts: 212
    congratulations!
    I gues the Sport V6 are more available here on the coast.
    Glad it worked out.
  • renshorensho Member Posts: 42
    with pictures?
    Looking for more info than just 3rd seat added to sr5/limited and sport gets new grill.
    Any help or links would be greatly appreciated.
  • allen42allen42 Member Posts: 12
    any pictures of the new 2004 4 runner as of yet? Would like to see the 3rd row seat.
  • sfc623sfc623 Member Posts: 4
    I was just looking back through some of the old messages in this discussion group, and found a message from a few months back that mentioned checking the tire pressure on new 4Runners, since they sometimes over inflate the tires when the vehicles are shipped over here.
    So I went out to the garage and checked the tire pressure on my new 4Runner (4x2 Limited with the 4.7L V8), which I purchased this past weekend. And sure enough, the tires were all at 54 psi! The amazing thing about this is that the maximum recommended tire pressure (on the tire sidewall) is 44 psi. And Toyota recommends only 32 psi (from the sticker on the inside of the driver's door jam).
    I adjusted the pressure of all 4 tires down to 34 psi, and the ride is MUCH smoother now (although I didn't really think it was all that rough before).
    But why would they inflate the tires so high before shipping the vehicle to North America?
  • kullenbergkullenberg Member Posts: 283
    It prevents flat spots while sitting. Dealer should have caught this in pre-delivery prep. Take him to task on it, that's what he gets paid for!
  • suvowner1suvowner1 Member Posts: 33
    did you check your tire pressure hot or cold ???
  • renshorensho Member Posts: 42
    Just went down to the dealer and they handed me a 2004 brochure. Other than the 3rd row seat, I can find a single change to the SR5.
    V6 still has the 4sp auto.
  • sfc623sfc623 Member Posts: 4
    Tires were cold when I checked the pressure (vehicle had not been driven since the day before).
  • 69mach169mach1 Member Posts: 60
    Tried to program the Homelink system on my new 2003 Sport V-8. No dice, the red LED doesn't blink (per owners manual), it stays on while I simultaneously press the 1st button on the Homelink system and the button on my remote control. I'm aiming the remote control at the small console above the rear view mirror that controls the moonroof. Is it this correct or am I doing something wrong?
  • rlopez2032rlopez2032 Member Posts: 10
    Do you know if your garage door opener has the intellicode or a revolving code system. Mine did and what I had to do was press a button on the actual garage door opener and then hit the button on the homelink garage door opener. If you still have the owner's manual of your garage door opener, it should tell you which button to push to program another remote opener (i.e. the homelink system on your 4-Runner).

    Hope this helps.
  • forestergumpforestergump Member Posts: 119
    On a whim I decided to check Toyota's website to see if they had the "build your own function" for the '04 models up yet. To my suprise, they have changed the options, but still have the '03 models in it. On top of that, they have increased the price of the Sport V-8's to a base MSRP of $32,075 from $31,745. This is even higher than Toyota's recently announced '04 Sport V-8 price increase to $31,935. Additionally, Toyota has increased the prices on their options as well! I checked on both Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book, and they have the same pricing for base and options.

    What gives? It appears that they have not changed the pricing on the Limited V-8, however.

    Is Toyota trying to gouge customers who still want to buy an '03 Sport or am I missing something? I really like the 4Runners, but if they are trying something fishy, it could help sway me over to purchasing a different brand of suv this fall.
  • sfc623sfc623 Member Posts: 4
    When I programmed the homelink system in my 4Runner, I had to simultaneously press the 1st button on the homelink system and the button on my remote control for a good 30 seconds before the red homelink LED began to blink.
    Note that at this point, the homelink system would not yet open my garage door due to the fact that my door has the intellicode (or "revolving code" system). I then had to push the program button on the garage door motor unit, and then press the homelink button twice (as described in the 4Runner owner's manual).
    Now the homelink works like a charm!
    Another nice feature with homelink in the 4Runner: It will work without having the key in the ignition and turned to "on". I've had other cars with homelink, and in most cases, they won't work if the key is not in the ignition.
  • pat84pat84 Member Posts: 817
    Go to a dealer. See what you get an 03 for. It will be closer to invoice than the MSRP on the Toyota web site.
  • 69mach169mach1 Member Posts: 60
    Thanks for the replies on my moonroof and Homelink System.

    Re: moonroof, once I get the dealer to acknowledge that there's a problem, I hate to think that the dealer will have to tear into the headliner to fix the rattles. Seems they never get things back together right. Maybe I'll call the Toyota rep, perhaps he can instruct me where to take the vehicle.

    Re Homelink System, I don't know what system my garage door uses, it's 24 years old, but I'll try to find the owner's manual. I tried to follow the first set of instructions in the Toyota's owner's manual, I really didn't try the other method because I thought I was doing something wrong as the red LED wouldn't blink.

    To rlopez, what do you mean by "press a button on the actual garage door opener and then hit the button on the Homelink garage door opener"? While I was holding the remote control about 3" away from the Homelink System, I simultaneously pressed the button on my remote control and the 1st button on the Homelink system. Maybe I didn't press the buttons long enough if it takes 30 seconds.

    Thanks for the help, great site by the way.
  • forestergumpforestergump Member Posts: 119
    I understand that. But how am I to know what is actually invoice anymore if there is no consistent pricing information out there? I'm certainly not going to rely on the dealers to tell me what their invoice numbers are. Would you?
  • renshorensho Member Posts: 42
    All the models went up by ~.5% the sport went up by .7% IIRC.
  • mackabeemackabee Member Posts: 4,709
    Dark Charcoal is available in 03 Sport editions.
    SR5 V6 and V8 2WD and 4WD's base MSRP went up by $115.00 all other 4runner MSRP's went up by $190.00 which translates to 0.4% and 0.6% respectively.
               : )
               Mackabee
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    Picked one up today. It looks like the gray cladding is gone from all the models, including the Sport. I think the Sport also loses the silver grille too. This is the way they should have come in the first place.

    Toyota must have gotten a lot of flak about the gray cladding, as they changed it in it's second model year, which is almost unheard of.

    They had pics of the 3rd row seating in place, but not folded. My guess is that they fold up on to the sides like the Land Cruiser.

    Bob
  • #noname#noname Member Posts: 58
    The grey cladding was gone midway through 2003. A cosmetic change early in production happens - not all the time but it isn't uncommon. Yes it must have been very unpopular.
  • bryancosbryancos Member Posts: 282
    Came across this today... almost enough to make one cry! Only 39 miles shown on the odometer! Makes you wonder if it fell off the truck during delivery... According to the site it was never registered. :(

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&cate- - - - - gory=6442&item=2429094573

    Click on the photo to see other pics of the damage.
  • klaudnycklaudnyc Member Posts: 36
    Bought a blue 2003 Sport Edition V6 3 weeks ago.

    Checked the pressure for the heck of it, thinking I was wasting my time because surely the dealer did this while prepping the vehicle. 3 Tires were 38 psi, and the front right tire was 68psi! I thought my gauge was wacky so I used a second gauge to confirm. Luckily I had only driven about 150 miles. I called my salesman and told him and his response was "Oh, ok, must have been the fault of the port guys".
  • nedzelnedzel Member Posts: 787
    69mach1: If your garage door opener is 20+ years old, then it does not have rolling codes. I pressed and held the door opener first, then while still holding down the door opener button, I pressed and held the homelink button. You do need to hold both for quite some time before the homelink button starts to blink.

    klaudnyc: All 4 of mine were well over 40 psi. I'm not sure how high because my guage stops at 40. The dealer should have caught it during dealer prep.
  • mhallackmhallack Member Posts: 32
    Go to NHTSA's website and look for TSBs (technical service bulletins), there are at least two discussing taking apart the moonroof and lubricating to prevent rattles. This is why I searched far and wide for a 4Runner WITHOUT the moonroof (besides the fact that its a hole in the roof that costs money to add, and removes head space, and interferes with the placement of a DVD RES).
  • mhallackmhallack Member Posts: 32
    You might try putting in a different zip code. Depending on what you enter decides which distributor you go through (yes, each one is a different website), which also controls which options you see and probably some slight differences in base price.
  • leej2leej2 Member Posts: 7
    Anybody care to speculate whether we'll be able to retro the third row seats into an '03 SR5?
    I'm considering trading for an MDX to get the 3rd row seating.
  • forestergumpforestergump Member Posts: 119
    Thanks. I actually did that for the Chicago and Denver areas, and got the same base MSRP. It looks like Toyota increased the base MSRP for the '03 Sport Edition $330, and then also increased the price of any of the options packages by the $345 for "inclusion" of the black running boards. I'm more surprised that the MSRP price is now higher than the recently announced price for the corresponding '04 Sport.
  • nedzelnedzel Member Posts: 787
    If you really need 3rd row seats, I'd look at something other than the 4Runner. There's just not much room back there. The 3rd row seats will only be big enough for munchkins, and small munchkins at that.
  • vodgutvodgut Member Posts: 162
    Just curious, what's the redline on the V6? Does it actually rev that high when floored?

    The V8 seems to be around 5200, but when floored the tranny will shift at just before 5K....
  • #noname#noname Member Posts: 58
    Looks like that poor trashed 4Runner was mauled in a hurricane or something. Very strange damage, definitely not from a collision or being dropped from a truck. Looks like a T-rex took some bites from it

    And who would want a car like that?
  • agimelagimel Member Posts: 3
    http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/- www/story/08-18-2003/0002002700&EDATE=
  • bulychbulych Member Posts: 10
    does anyone know what is happening regarding the availability of the proposed frame hitch capable of towing 7200 # using an equalizer for the 2003 toyota 4runner.that is the towing capability of the v8 with two wheel drive
  • mm3051mm3051 Member Posts: 10
    Decided to order a 2004 4Runner Limited. Would like to have it in silver but, as I have traveled around I seem to have noticed that depending on the model year there seems to be more "intense" shades of silver than others. Anyone have any insight on this? Thanks!
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
    What method does the new 4.0 V6 and 4.7 V8 use? If it's a timing belt, at what mileage does it need to be replaced?

    Bob
  • rentschlrentschl Member Posts: 69
    As far as I can tell it's not available in the US but it is available in Canada (see www.toyota.ca and they even show the price of $248 I believe).

    The local dealer here claimed it didn't even exist as an option anywhere.

    It seems strange that they wouldn't offer it in the US. Someone mentioned that gee, maybe there are other parts (suspension?) that are different when you go to the higher towing capacity. But someone else said that's not the case.

    Maybe it's a legality thing where you can't legally tow greator than a specified amount simply because of some government paperwork that manufacturers provide on each vehicle model.

    Who knows?

    -Eric
  • renshorensho Member Posts: 42
    Full frame, class 3/4 hitch.

    Try jcwhitney.com
  • rogers12rogers12 Member Posts: 140
    If you can go by the same engine when installed in a Land Cruiser, it's 90K
  • rshollandrsholland Member Posts: 19,788
  • terrafirmaterrafirma Member Posts: 212
    I think the V6 has a chain- never needs changing.
  • kjack100kjack100 Member Posts: 133
    The "cage" looks to have done it's job though. Looks like a nasty rollover by an excited new 4Runner owner. Even the cladding held up....oh, well.
  • peter78peter78 Member Posts: 284
    Yes, I think the V6 has a timing chain, but as far as never needing changing I am not so sure of that. I know other engines with a timing chain, Toyota's and Nissan's and they recommend changing eventually, something like 120,000 to 180,000. But I have never known anyone to change it. When it gets that old, it is sometimes to justify the cost. I know some companies say you never need replacing, such as some BMW's, but I am not so sure about the new 4.0 V6.
  • Galileo757Galileo757 Member Posts: 37
    Had the same problem, when the vehicle was right under the garage door opener, move the vehicle outside of the garage door and it work as advertised using the Toyota owners manual.

    <<Tried to program the Homelink system on my new 2003 Sport V-8. No dice, the red LED doesn't blink (per owners manual), it stays on while I simultaneously press the 1st button on the Homelink system and the button on my remote control. I'm aiming the remote control at the small console above the rear view mirror that controls the moon roof. Is it this correct or am I doing something wrong?>>
  • bpl646bpl646 Member Posts: 4
    had this problem with my new 03 4runner.Looked up the tsb at NHTSA,brought the tsb# to the dealer,fix worked on mine
Sign In or Register to comment.

Helpful Tools

Most popular vehicles