4R TRD Sport - Issues Resolved

LOL! Right you are! SOMEONE has to be around to sell gas for that 1967 GTO or Chevelle!
There are ton's of brand new gas guzzlers on the road. I doubt we will be left high and dry, but, in 5-10 years, the new cars may be all EVs, so maybe gas stations will add a few Quick Charge "pumps". All the Safeway grocery stores here in San Francisco are adding 3-4 EV charging stalls to their parking lots.

 

Is black Permatex silicone a good sealant to stick to that black, rubberized undercoating crap?

 

And here is that same seat belt anchor bolt in the rear wheel well of my 2000 4runner..... 22 salted winters later and 250k miles. A little surface rust and never leaked. Pretty sure it will make it at least another 22 years.

Same as my old 97,06,10 and now my 22 4Runner too. When I took my 2010 apart years ago pretty sure all bolts going through the body are sealed with that sticky black butyl rubber and there are actually a bunch of them like this ,not just the ones you see in the wheel well.

 

From your photo, it looks as if the bolt was installed, then a rubberized Undercoating was sprayed on. On my 2022, the undercoating almost looks like a sheet of foam material was glued to the inner fender well, then the bolt was screwed in, popping a hole in the sheet of glued down material.

 

I’m confused, because the body mounts have exposed bolts on them as well, is that a design flaw?

 

Apparently, yes. Better write Toyota.

 

There is no design flaw or defect.
It’s in the sequence of assembly. There’s a lot of robotic processes before hand assembly steps. I can imagine the wheel well spraying is robotic and comes before the installation of interior components like seat belt hardware.

 

I laughed in approval to the sarcasm in your “QC correction” option.

But then my sarcasm went around the horn, and now I actually think it’s a good idea lol.

Im not going to lie, I’d pay for a galvanized frame and other rustproofing just so that I can smugly feel my car is going to last forever. That would have more value to me than paying for the features of a lexus gx.

You may have created a new car segment. The ultra-durability class, appointed with the richest corinthian zinc.

 

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"appointed with the richest corinthian zinc"...sounds so Luxurious
In all seriousness, Toyota should be galvanizing frames, or at least do a better job of painting them. The frame rot issue on vehicles in the Rust Belt goes back DECADES, and covers all their truck lines.

 

In all seriousness while I was saracastic with that comment they do this for boat trailers.

How many rusty boat trailers do you see regardless of what state you live in. Obviously salt water boat trailers take the most abuse.

Even in fresh water up here the paint is thin and cheap and in two years just being used in summer with no salt it starts to look cheap.

My grandfather bought a galvanized trailer for his last boat that still one and it’s a 1990 and sat outside for many years even in winter. It costs an extra $150 back then and still looks great.

I think something cold be done like this on a vehicle.

Here is my 1990 Shorelander Galvanized trailer. In all fairness always in Michigan/Ontario in summer so no salt. But outside and dipped in water. No fluid film required. Outside of cost I wonder why vehicle could not have this done

 

As far as I know, a lot of the body panels are galvanized. Don't have a clue why not the frames as they are out of sight and collect corrosive elements more than body panels. I think Toyota is being Penny Wise and Pound Foolish. But we keep buyin' em'.

 

Love it!

 

Speaking as one who spent over 36 years in manufacturing, that's one of the silliest statements I've ever seen. Why?

1) Do you know if the standard assembly process is to have that bolt exposed or not? (No.)
2) Is it a true "defect" or just something you don't agree with? (Most likely the latter.)
3) Do you really think anyone could build a complex vehicle like a 4Runner with "no quality assurance?" Look at the quality record of the 4Runner. It's one of the highest rated vehicles on the market today.
4) And I could go on and on.

 

Isses reported earlier in the post resolved somehow

(1) Groaning noise from the front drivetrain. Dealer couldn't reproduce (of course). They had it for two days total.

(2) The bolts poking through all the wheel wells (Front and Rear). Bought 3M undercoating and sprayed those protruding bolts. looks nicer now. Counted over ten. Seems the more you drive. Another one rears its heads.

 

Seriously?
It proves that you were never using the gas pedal correctly on any vehicle,should be driving like you have an egg under your foot.

 

Wut?

 

Since when does a rav4 have sensitive gas pedal?
I have owned 5 of them of various generations.
Currently have a 4runner,all toyotas feel similar to drive.
It is no wonder some complain about poor mpg in their 4 runners, it's not great but in mixed driving it isn't a lot worse than the 8speed highlander.

 

I don't think it's a matter of the RAV4 having a sensitive pedal, as much as the 4Runner's pedal requiring more input. When you get used to the 4Runner, other vehicles can feel touchy.

I definitely don't think anyone should be driving as if there's an egg under their foot. If they do, they should probably stay home so they don't get in the way of people who are trying to drive.

 

This thread has my vote for the most ridiculous of the year. We've got people blanket bashing sales people of any type, people expecting Rolls Royce quality on a damn Toyota, people expecting Bellagio service from their random Toyota dealer, and people freaking out over slightly protruding bolts that have proven to have literally no negative impact. Appreciate the 4R for what it is, not for what it isn't. Good God.

 

Said no man ever

 

So I just got back from visiting family in Puerto Rico. I was using my dad’s 1999 (or 2000) Rav4 to get around. I noticed a noise in the drum brakes and discovered the lining of a shoe had come off. While we were replacing them, I spent some time admiring how clean 22 year old toyotas can be when not exposed to road salt. Then I saw it!!! Guess what it is! Anything look familiar?



A few days after that, I went to take my aunt’s 2000 Highlander to get new tires installed. Well, guess what I found?



I think these pictures prove that Toyota’s attention to detail has been declining for decades. Maybe their quality has been declining from the very beginning!!!

To be honest though, Im kinda miffed we dont get the “exposed bolt surrounds”. That really sets off the bolt, makes it look classy and a “on purpose” when the bolt is bordered lke it is in the pictures. But then again, it’s apparent the thick matting in the wheel well wasnt sprayed within the bordered areas. Hmm, maybe running the bolt through the wheel well lining is actually an improvement!

 

I had forgotten about this thread for months until it was recently resurrected...I still can't figure out why protruding bolt threads in a wheel well mean Toyota's reputation of quality control is inexorably hurtling toward the level of Yugo.

 

The bolt thing while not mechanically an issue is just is tacky. This is not the 1970s or 80s where you’d expect shizzo like that from Ford or GM.

Manufacturing is much more advanced and precise these days and there is just no need for that.

If you’re going to do something do it right and not half ass.

 

That is why vehicles have gears bro
Are you telling me you are stomping the firewall at 75 mph?

 

Lol, what?

Yes, sometimes.

Ordinarily, I don't get above 3K RPM's. But, I'm not afraid to floor it when I need to. The 4Runner can handle it.

 

I'm a hardcore offroader badass so I just replaced the protruding fasteners with Grade 8 Tactical Armored Babyseat Rentention System Anchor Points.

The come in raw so you can sprap with bedliner, black satin powdercoat, and natural stainless so you can see and profile behind the heat affected zone discoloration. Since I'm a badass, I chose option 3.

Took about 18 hours in my garage because I had to remove the 33s, the armored sliders, the molle panels, the rooftop tent, the front and rear winches, the swing out spare carrier, the side fuel and water packs, the . . .

 

Someone has a stock weight 4runner.

 

But, even when mine was stock, I'd hammer down if I needed to pass or get out of someone's way.

 

Nothing wrong with a good ol italian tune up, do it several times a year to my vehicles and they always run smooth

 

Sorry to bring back an old thread. Had close this out.
The mysterious groaning during cold spells on my 2022 TRD Sports had been isolated to the Plastic Engine Splash guard and the 8MM Pins.
Am enjoying my ride now.
Cheers.