A 4Runner - not a build

[little_joe]

As mentioned in my Trade for a Subaru thread, I just picked up a 2004 4Runner Limited V8. 240k miles, X-REAS suspension, appears to have been maintained; 90k and 180k timing belt change stickers are intact. PO tinted the windows, put new 265/75r17 BFG AT KO2's on it, replaced the JBL sub and installed a zooty Kenwood Excelon touchscreen head unit with 865 features I'll never use - but it sounds fantastic. Gray leather interior, driver's seat is torn but the remainder looks great; carpet is properly dirty and soiled. The dash is pretty much s***, and the hood has hail pock-marks.

I already love this thing! It runs strong and feels like it's on rails w/ the cross-linked X-REAS (purely a hydraulic system).

I was on my way to my scheduled fashion photo shoot but got sidetracked when I saw the following:

Someone had a bit much fun and drink Saturday night and is very fortunate to be alive!

Anyway, here are the fashion photos which I had to do on my own in the Harris-Teeter parking lot. The photographer and models couldn't come since I missed my appointment, but I tried:

 

[little_joe]

Photo shoot continued:

Immediate plans are simple:

• Drive it and enjoy it!
• Religiously maintain it.
• Replace radiator and gas caps (done).
• Install amber LED's throughout interior (mostly done).
• Find out which TPMS sensor is bad and replace it. Better yet, find some Trail wheels and replace all wheels.
• Kayak rack.
• Full baseline - started already, will be done this week.
• Hope X-REAS doesn't leak; when it starts, find a take-off suspension or some quality (Bilstein) shocks. No lift.
• Check into paintless dent removal for hood.
• Seat covers - IH8Leather.
• Longer term, find an e-locked 8.2" rear axle from an FJC or 4R. Just onaccountabecause.

I got this for a song, and do not plan to invest gobs of money - rather, I plan to maintain it and drive it and enjoy it - just have that mindset that any time I want, I can jump in and go wherever I want w/o flinching.

I was going to do a Youtube video for the gas cap and radiator cap replacements, but forgot. May end up posting photos of ongoing work in this thread...

 

[little_joe]

PO detritus included:

• Couple bucks worth of coins.
• Air/train horn with lighted switch. My neighbor's daughter wanted the horn, but my neighbor decided he wanted it, they got into an argument about it and he won. Haven't removed the switch yet.
• A really nice pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses.
• 3 poker chips.
• LED flashlight/worklight.
• So far I've found 6 BIC lighters. "LB," as I call the PO's son who primarily drove this, was keeping some secrets from daddy. (LB == little b!tch)
• Really nice fidget-spinner.
• A nice young lady's ring.
• Hand sanitizer.
• Medical masks.
• LB's ID from Green Hope High School.

In addition to work previously noted, I also replaced the cabin air filter. Guessing it was original, that is always a most unpleasant surprise. I also forgot to make a Youtube video of that.

 

[mountainibis]

Looks like a solid ride. We just sold my wife’s ‘05 V8 4Runner, which served us well. 2 things about the tpms: 1. Check the pressure in the spare (it has a sensor). 2. If you don’t care about tpms and you just want the dash light to turn off, there’s an easy fix for it. If I remember right, you splice a wire in or near the front passenger floor board. I don’t have the link saved, but the fix for it is somewhere on Toyota-4Runner.org.

 

[little_joe]

Looks like a solid ride. We just sold my wife’s ‘05 V8 4Runner, which served us well. 2 things about the tpms: 1. Check the pressure in the spare (it has a sensor). 2. If you don’t care about tpms and you just want the dash light to turn off, there’s an easy fix for it. If I remember right, you splice a wire in or near the front passenger floor board. I don’t have the link saved, but the fix for it is somewhere on Toyota-4Runner.org.

Yeah I dropped the spare and made sure all 5 are at the same psi. Kinda like TPMS, it saved our asses on a road trip....

 

[mtweller]

Nice Joe! Drive it like you stole it... or nearly stole it

 

[stevezero]

You should have done videos for the gram and the YouTubes.cause then you'll get sponsors and they will hurl parts and money at you, all just to display their sticker


Ill.sell the naming rights to Little Joeverland

 

[Fort Knox]

Just let me know when you're ready to cut the roof off. Pretty sure Johnny and I can do it faster the 2nd time.

Looks great Joe! Enjoy it! I've never driven one of the V8Runners, but I bet it's got some zip.

 

[little_joe]

Turns out 1 wheel is missing the TPMS, the other 4 were all dead. After spending 6.5 hrs following overlanders on Instagram and watching YouTube videos on this topic and truly understanding the nuances of how it impacts vehicle performance when on expo to the grocery or a park, I am going to splice the wire coming out of the harness and disable TPMS. If any vendors reading this want to sponsor this mod, happy to put your sticker on the wires tucked up behind the glovebox.

 

[onemanarmy]

Don't get me wrong, I hate TPMS and every single thing like that on cars today, but why not get it fixed?

Discount tire will do each tire for $50 or $60, including dismounting, remounting and programming. Takes about an hour.

 

[little_joe]

Don't get me wrong, I hate TPMS and every single thing like that on cars today, but why not get it fixed?

Discount tire will do each tire for $50 or $60, including dismounting, remounting and programming. Takes about an hour.

I'll have to check with them. The tire shop near me quoted, um, $700 so I passed. I'm looking for some used wheels since the original wheel surfaces are corroded (and I'm not crazy about them anyway), might make sense to fix it when I score wheels. The splice to disable is easily undone.

 

[Pick]

All five (5) were dead on my '06 LX when I got it. Discount tire was $75/wheel for everything. Hated to do it but I didn't want to hack the system and I really didn't want that light flashing at me any more.

 

[lumbee1]

I'll have to check with them. The tire shop near me quoted, um, $700 so I passed. I'm looking for some used wheels since the original wheel surfaces are corroded (and I'm not crazy about them anyway), might make sense to fix it when I score wheels. The splice to disable is easily undone.

Discount Tire separated my tires and wheels for free since I was selling the tires. I told them I would be back to purchase new tires from them shortly afterwards and I did. Garner Discount Tire is better than Cary/Apex Discount Tire.

Is the TPMS on the 4runner the dumb TPMS (one wheel has a problem so it flashes) or smart TPMS (actually reads tire pressure). We have smart TPMS on my wife's MDX and I love that feature.

The GTI has dumb TPMS and has a mind of it's own. After several false positives on a low tire, I ran over a nail and deflated the tire. I thought it was another false positive until I felt the rear end starting to slide around from driving around on a flat tire. Now when the TPMS comes on in the GTI, I pull over immediately and check. After 20+ false positives, I've had one where the tire had a slow leak and was down to 26psi.

 

[suboptimusprime]

If you care about the dash, I'm fairly certain there is a recall on cracking dashes in 4th gen 4runners. I'm sure there is something about it on t4R

 

[little_joe]

@lumbee1 I believe this TPMS is very basic, it seems to have a low psi cutoff of 27psi, but doesn't display or provide any info at all - unless a tire is below or sensor is bad.

@suboptimusprime Having owned a GX and being aware of their dash problems, which I did not experience, even if Toyota did anything for 4R's, mine is way too old - Lexus limited it to like 9 years from date of service (1st sale). I'll check around, but at this point I'll probably just put a cover on it.

Got a kayak load assist which I'll put on today - really excited that I found it used, locally, with some nice extras!

 

[lumbee1]

@lumbee1 I believe this TPMS is very basic, it seems to have a low psi cutoff of 27psi, but doesn't display or provide any info at all - unless a tire is below or sensor is bad.

@suboptimusprime Having owned a GX and being aware of their dash problems, which I did not experience, even if Toyota did anything for 4R's, mine is way too old - Lexus limited it to like 9 years from date of service (1st sale). I'll check around, but at this point I'll probably just put a cover on it.

Got a kayak load assist which I'll put on today - really excited that I found it used, locally, with some nice extras!

We were just contacted by Toyota about our airbag recall on our 06 Tundra.

 

[little_joe]

Big news to share, today I scored a brand new rear cargo cover!!!!!1!11!

I did manage to acquire 4 brand new 4Runner Trail wheels. These never had tires mounted, the center caps were still sealed up. $350, about shat my drawers. Went over to Discount Tire and had them mounted & balanced; got 5 new TPMS sensors; and they had a used 2017 BFG AT KO2 with tons of life left in the same size as my 4 tires so I have a matching spare that's not 16 years old. Tickled, as they say....

 

[little_joe]

IH8Leather, so I got some front seat covers. Took a flyer on CalTrend SportsTex covers: I am incredibly happy with them! The stitching is fantastic (approved by my wife, who knows such things), the fit is perfect, and the material is very comfortable - sort of a firm mesh, backed by a foam layer, with decent airflow. I happen to think they look great too. If these hold up for several years, I'd give them an unequivocal recommendation; for now, and the price I got them through carID, super-duper happy with them!

 

[little_joe]

Dang I've not been updating this thread. But it's ok, bc no-one gives a s***! Got many things done recently:

• Replaced the Kenwood touch screen radio + associated gear with a simple Sony with a big knob. Incredibly happy with this.
• Replaced all rotors with Centric; brake pads with Akebono ProACT; flushed brake fluid. Love the brakes now. Parking brakes adjusted and work great now too.
• Removed the fold-up cargo shelf in the rear.
• All fluids baselined.
• Washed and waxed. I know this is silly, but goodness this thing was filthy. In fact, it still is. Shoulda just thrown it in the parts washer.
• Been chasing a small evap leak code, and it's not the gas cap. Started replacing lines to/from charcoal canister. Think I need at least 1 new VSV, anyone have any they want to let go? (presuming they're all the same? Probably wrong here.)
• New group 24F AGM battery.
• Started wiring project to rear cargo area for fridge + accessories.
• Refinished a headlight (other is newish). Didn't do a great job, but it's not yellow any longer and light is emitted, so I call it a win.
• Just noticed one shock has started leaking, which == death of XREAS. Started shopping for a suspension.
• Think I finally am free of the silly wiring hacks PO performed. It appears one of his hacks caused an issue, as I found evidence of burning (melted plastic, blackened carpet) under the rear seat. Really?

 

[weejub]

I care Joe. I would care even more with pics. Fight the hacks!