So I'm new. 1997 FJ80 Collectors Edition White with 153k on it. Bought her about a month and a half ago from a mom (you wouldn't believe the stuff I found under the seats--if I'd broken down I could have eaten for a couple days). Just started a new career here in Reno and I used to have an 87 F250 until a drunk driver ruined it while it was parked outside of my house, so I and wanted to get a 4wd since rallying my other car up mountain roads has seriously taken some life out of it....amazing where a fwd hyundai santa fe will go if you place the tires correctly and keep momentum....
I assume people on here like stories, so I will tell you one. I also have some questions of the talented people on this site---summarized at the bottom.
Found her on Craigslist, looked clean-owner seemed to baby it, and I took it to the local dealership here in Reno to check it out. They gave it a clean bill of health, including electrical (foreshadowing). Only a few driving by braille dings (I'm in the market for a right rear fender flare and the mounting brackets--some lazy sob put a few hex nut screws in it to hold it on), needed new tires, rear brakes, new belts, and a left front bearing. Per that diagnosis I bought it from the owner. That week I fixed all of that at ole les schwabs or myself after toyota had quoted me a ridiculous price and they wouldn't even get me the tech to talk to who had looked at the car---don't think the service rep works there any more. Figured that would be the most I would have to do for awhile. It gets better though. No codes at that point....or any indications of trouble.
On the driver's side there was no sun visor and the wires were capped off. Thought nothing of it, except someone had torn off the visor--and had been too cheap to replace it. I noticed one night driving that my courtesy lights were dim--I have two cars so I had just been letting it sit except for weekend jaunts--, and also they didn't turn on when the doors were opened or closed, or if the radio was not on. To make a long story short, toyota had not looked under the hood at the dome circuit, it had no fuse in it, and when I put the dome fuse in it blew. Ended up trouble shooting it, found a huge short in the headliner, and had to replace the wire (blue with yellow stripe) and get rid of the short (actually had an import shop do it in town---don't like electrical and the chance of frying things). Also the stereo was hooked to the accessories power on the hazard lights, and must have been powering the dome circuit somehow. I rewired the stereo how it should have been. Thought my troubles where over......
Now the codes came up---lucky for me it came with a code reader-coincidence I think not. It had passed smog when I licensed here. I had a 130/133, thanks to the website, changed my pre cat o2, (which toyota comped me when I told the service manager they missed the short in my dome---now he will hear about my new problem). Fixed that, no more of those codes. I have also gotten a 401 (egr system I have found out), and I looked at my vacuum hoses, and well, they need to be changed (thanks for the good job toyota dealership). One of the egr hoses actually had a crunch to it and found one of the male ends of the egr valve had rusted under it. Also this weekend now that it's cold I got one of the 116 I think, indicating the engine doesn't heat up fast enough--confirmed by running the heat full out, not heating up fast enough when it is cold--so I assume I need to change the thermostat....no problem. I was fine with that....and it's all on my list to fix.
I was driving yesterday, got home, shut her off, pulled the key, and the park light on the dash was still on. As was one or two of the climate control lights that was pushed up. (also my headlights stayed on when I locked and shut the door...and I think I remember they used to shut off on their own). They all continued to stay on until I pulled the fuse to the dash lights (center fuse 2 down I think I remember). Then if the fuse is put back in it all stays off. Last night out of frustration as I couldn't find anything like my new problem on the site I subscribed for a month of the online fsm.
First, thanks for the great resource. And despite my disappointment in having so much in a short time to do on my new car I'm hooked on the LC. Excited to take it back to my hometown in Oregon and take it in the dunes, also out to desert here in NV, and it should be a great winter car. But I want to know if all is lost? Am I cursed with electrical issues? Are my other problems normal....seems like a good vehicle otherwise. I'm excited about customizing it and see holding onto it indefinitely....want to put some sliders on it, and an aux gas tank after I get egr, thermostat, and this new electrical problem dealt with.
Does anyone have any ideas on why my dash indicator light isn't turning off? Do I need to replace my ignition, or is there a simpler answer/explanation. I will be pulling it apart and checking all of the connection in the next few days, but right now working.... I would be eternally grateful, because for now I have to pull a fuse every time I get done driving....sort of inconvenient.
Also, anyone have a suggestion to fill a small whole in my left front headlight glass--eventually want to replace it, but $$ and it's only a tad smaller than a bb sized hole.
Thanks in advance for the advice in advance....any help or suggestions are appreciated.
I assume people on here like stories, so I will tell you one. I also have some questions of the talented people on this site---summarized at the bottom.
Found her on Craigslist, looked clean-owner seemed to baby it, and I took it to the local dealership here in Reno to check it out. They gave it a clean bill of health, including electrical (foreshadowing). Only a few driving by braille dings (I'm in the market for a right rear fender flare and the mounting brackets--some lazy sob put a few hex nut screws in it to hold it on), needed new tires, rear brakes, new belts, and a left front bearing. Per that diagnosis I bought it from the owner. That week I fixed all of that at ole les schwabs or myself after toyota had quoted me a ridiculous price and they wouldn't even get me the tech to talk to who had looked at the car---don't think the service rep works there any more. Figured that would be the most I would have to do for awhile. It gets better though. No codes at that point....or any indications of trouble.
On the driver's side there was no sun visor and the wires were capped off. Thought nothing of it, except someone had torn off the visor--and had been too cheap to replace it. I noticed one night driving that my courtesy lights were dim--I have two cars so I had just been letting it sit except for weekend jaunts--, and also they didn't turn on when the doors were opened or closed, or if the radio was not on. To make a long story short, toyota had not looked under the hood at the dome circuit, it had no fuse in it, and when I put the dome fuse in it blew. Ended up trouble shooting it, found a huge short in the headliner, and had to replace the wire (blue with yellow stripe) and get rid of the short (actually had an import shop do it in town---don't like electrical and the chance of frying things). Also the stereo was hooked to the accessories power on the hazard lights, and must have been powering the dome circuit somehow. I rewired the stereo how it should have been. Thought my troubles where over......
Now the codes came up---lucky for me it came with a code reader-coincidence I think not. It had passed smog when I licensed here. I had a 130/133, thanks to the website, changed my pre cat o2, (which toyota comped me when I told the service manager they missed the short in my dome---now he will hear about my new problem). Fixed that, no more of those codes. I have also gotten a 401 (egr system I have found out), and I looked at my vacuum hoses, and well, they need to be changed (thanks for the good job toyota dealership). One of the egr hoses actually had a crunch to it and found one of the male ends of the egr valve had rusted under it. Also this weekend now that it's cold I got one of the 116 I think, indicating the engine doesn't heat up fast enough--confirmed by running the heat full out, not heating up fast enough when it is cold--so I assume I need to change the thermostat....no problem. I was fine with that....and it's all on my list to fix.
I was driving yesterday, got home, shut her off, pulled the key, and the park light on the dash was still on. As was one or two of the climate control lights that was pushed up. (also my headlights stayed on when I locked and shut the door...and I think I remember they used to shut off on their own). They all continued to stay on until I pulled the fuse to the dash lights (center fuse 2 down I think I remember). Then if the fuse is put back in it all stays off. Last night out of frustration as I couldn't find anything like my new problem on the site I subscribed for a month of the online fsm.
First, thanks for the great resource. And despite my disappointment in having so much in a short time to do on my new car I'm hooked on the LC. Excited to take it back to my hometown in Oregon and take it in the dunes, also out to desert here in NV, and it should be a great winter car. But I want to know if all is lost? Am I cursed with electrical issues? Are my other problems normal....seems like a good vehicle otherwise. I'm excited about customizing it and see holding onto it indefinitely....want to put some sliders on it, and an aux gas tank after I get egr, thermostat, and this new electrical problem dealt with.
Does anyone have any ideas on why my dash indicator light isn't turning off? Do I need to replace my ignition, or is there a simpler answer/explanation. I will be pulling it apart and checking all of the connection in the next few days, but right now working.... I would be eternally grateful, because for now I have to pull a fuse every time I get done driving....sort of inconvenient.
Also, anyone have a suggestion to fill a small whole in my left front headlight glass--eventually want to replace it, but $$ and it's only a tad smaller than a bb sized hole.
Thanks in advance for the advice in advance....any help or suggestions are appreciated.
