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4. Rear Height Control Air Suspension (Limited option only).
~yotogene
From what I have gathered, from this site and my own expirence, is that it is probably due to high sulfer content in the fuel. Since there have been few instances in CA where they have lower sulfer content in the fuel.
For the first few months of ownership I never detected the smell. Probably because I was still being "nice" to my new baby during the break in period. But once that was over, I began doing some full throttle runs, (gotta love that exhaust note when passing the blue hairs). This is when I would get the "smell".
Interestingly enough, I have not had the "smell" lately, even when driving with a HEAVY foot. Fuel has been the same: ARCO regular. I have nearly 10K on it now.
To sum it up:
first 2500 mi - no smell
2500 to 6500 - smell, when flooring it
6500 to 9500 - little to no smell...
Hotdogonastick: While looking on the west coast, I found quite a few Galatic Gray sports at very aggressive prices. Just check the dealer inventories on the internet. The price you posted is about average, since if you haggle you can get $500 over and sometimes $100 over on 04s
1. relatively cheap rotor materials
2. calipers that didn't adequately let go of the rotor, rendering it to run hot
3. some have argued overtourqed wheel lugnuts, but if that is such as common problem for tire stores then why don't other vehicles have this problem so commonly, so I don't buy this explanation at all, and neither should you.
For 03 they redesigned the rotor and the problem has been dramatically reduced. Those who didn't get the rotor kit, would replace with good quality aftermarket rotors and the problem got much better.
I sure hope toyota isn't getting into a problem like jeep had.
This has nothing to do with the rotors, calipers or lugnuts.
Please don't try to diagnose problems on a vehicle which you don't own.
Perhaps you could be a bit more constructive in your criticism by offering a diagnosis of your own? :-)
tidester, host
brakes are brakes are brakes are brakes.....they have calipers and rotors, and if the rotor has an uneven surface then the brake pedal will vibrate/pulsate.......hence the short term solution previously mentioned on another post, to turn the rotor, which means to shave off the outer few hundreths of an inch to have a fresh even surface to brake on.
Now that more of the 03 4runners are starting to get some miles on them, it is interesting that brake pulsation issues are starting to show up. A large percentage of the time it is caused by one of the 3 problems I mentioned on my previous post, which despite terrafirms opinion I think could be helpful information to other readers. Talk to any good brake mechanic and they will agree with me.
It's the same vibration that occurs for 3-5 seconds when the car is started (when it does it's "self-check"). I believe the ECU computer controls this.
My question to anyone with an 03 4runner is this... is it supposed to do this every 4th time I apply the brakes? Does yours do it? Anyone? Anyone? Anyone? Bueler? Bueler?
To answer your question: No, the "PEDAL" should not be vibrating every 3rd or 4th time you use it.
Sounds like one or all the the things you mentioned are malfunctioning. I would take it in.
One person talks about pedal vibration and "it is interesting that brake pulsation issues are starting to show up"?
oscarz2
The pedal vibration maybe caused by one of 2 things:
1. The HAC. Go on a steep incline to activate the HAC, the brake pedal will have an exaggerated version of what you describe oscarz2.
Somehow this might be involved while you are braking
2. It may have to do with the 4 Runner's power assisted brakes.
Either way go to Toyota and have them look at it. That is the only way to confirm if there is a problem.
1 - I have never noticed it
10 - I have to sell my 4runner because it is not useable
Thanks in advance for your help!
This is a great truck. I bought it primarily for towing, and am very happy with it for that purpose and general driving. As others have noted, it is not a sports car - you sit higher, have to break sooner, and are generally aware of the 4500 odd pounds this thing weighs. The X-reas makes a big difference, and it rides generally flat, with no corner diving, even on sharp turns. The transmission is smooth. I have always wanted more power in every vehicle I drive, but I think any more in this particular vehicle would be overkill.
Good luck! If you do choose to buy one I think you will be very happy with it.
Oh yeah - to put a number on the sulphur ...........2.
Although it only occurs during hard acceleration, the smell is really intense and repugnant, to the point that I avoid heavy acceleration when driving with the sunroof open. I've had friends driving behind us describe the smell as "overpowering".
My personal feeling is that a $40K vehicle should not subject its passengers and others to this sort of unpleasantness, and it angers me that Toyota is stonewalling its customers over what is clearly a pervasive (and probably remediable) problem. Never the less, I'd also rate the problem as no worse than a "2". If I habitually drove with the windows open, though, I think I'd probably feel quite different!
Thanks
'03 SR5 4x4 V8, 1800 miles
I have a v8 2003 4runner with about 2000 miles and the rear spoiler. The only time that I personally smell any sulfur is when the rear cargo area window is open. Having the rear cargo window open while driving is not recommended, according to the owner's manual. With the rear cargo window closed and any of the OTHER windows open, I do not smell any sulfur.
If you smell sulfur and your rear cargo window is closed, then I would try going back to the dealer to address this issue.
I agree that it should not matter if you drive with the rear cargo window open or closed, but I guess there is some aerodynamic reason that causes exaust to enter through the open cargo window. It may be interesting to note that other SUV owners of other brands do not notice this problem as TOYOTA 4Runners are one of the few SUVs out there with a sliding rear cargo window.
---
A possible fix? Perhaps add a tailpipe extension that directs exhaust towards the right of the vehicle. Has anyone tried this? I am interested in knowing the results.
Best regards to all. KH
Oh the poor people behind us, or caravaning with us...(I guess they'll just have to use recirc the entire drive)
Lukily for me, being in CA, I have not smelled the sulfur issue since the first day. And it had nothing to do with heavy throttle. That was my initial drive home, and I can tell you that if i use less throttle, the truck would not have moved past the parking lot. It was an extremely easy/slow drive home.
Now let say up front: "I'M A WEENIE" but I just didn't want to battle over this so I figured if I left no room for confusion, I wouldn't spend time later trying to pursuade them something was wrong.
To make a short story shorter, they special ordered me a new Master Cylinder Assembly. That's all the ppwk stated and my service advisor was gone for the day so I don't know if it's actually a cure or if it's part of the troubleshooting process but it's obviously an acknowledgement that the recurring vibration isn't normal and that's my main concern.
As far as the sulfur smell goes, I can't really tell. I haven't floored it yet or driven with the back window down but when the car is in the garage, there is a somewhat funky aroma that seems kinda sulfury but rubbery as well. I would attribute that more to new materials being heated than I would fuel but maybe it's both? At any rate, it's not an issue for me (yet). Time will tell.
This is problem # 3 for me. #1 is blurry sideview mirror and #2 is sunroof rattle.
BTW, how come Tundras and Lexus's with the same V8 don't stink? Or their owners don't complain as much?
(1) Are those mirrors good/important? [I'd think so.]
(2) Has anyone removed those speakers and put the mirrors back in?
Thanks.
3toyboy - I'm not much of an audiophile. But glad you say that those mirrors are not fantastic. However, I REALLY want someone to tell me how they ditched those speakers and slipped those mirrors back in. [My dealer says the speakers are "permanent."]
Part of my reaction is that I'm annoyed that to get basic safety and a good ride (side bags and X-REAS) I may need to get so many expensive things I don't want: Limited, moonroof, JBL, and Leather.
I'd be most happy with a Sport and side bags (the Sport comes with X-REAS).
Also, I was told that one could wait 6 months for a special order.
Good luck.
If you are concerned about driving in reverse, you might want to consider purchasing an aftermarket reverse video system, similar to one available on the 04 4runners with the optional NAV. There are also aftermarked sonar systems available.
The smell is what it is. The smell is here in our Toyotas and with other vehicles. And the other auto makers aren't fixing theirs either, so bad-mouthing Toyota for not fixing the problem is a waste of time. We all just have to sit tight and wait for the low-sulfur fuels in 2005. From what I can tell in the posts, those low-sulfur fuel states like California don't have the smell problem. If we still have the smell at that time, THEN lets complain.
In the meantime, I am going to enjoy my truck, and put a lot of miles on it, just like my last 3 4-Runners. And in the end, I'll get a great trade-in, just like my other 3.