What have you done to your 4th Gen 4Runner today?

Leaking radiator. Water pump was due (making noise and weeping), as was the thermostat. Alt was preventative maintenance. Fan clutch thermistor was quite rusted and apparently a bad fan clutch can ruin a new water pump. Was worth changing it out while I was in there. Alot of 4th gen rads eventually leak from lower left drivers side. (Alot of good posts on this here and T4r.org) If you're ever losing coolant look there first. It's very subtle. Drip drip drip.

Oh and don't be afraid to do your own water pump. This was my first and if you can change spark plugs you can do this. I can't believe I was afraid of doing it the past few years. Buy an aisin water pump from

$116 AISIN WPT-802 New Engine Water Pump with Gaskets - Compatible with Select Toyota 4Runner, FJ Cruiser, Tacoma, Tundra

Amazon (it's the OEM). Great video here. Watch it twice and do it.

Rad was also straightforward. I spent more time cleaning up rust where the rad was, repainting and getting new hose clamps and transmission cooler hoses (and old ones off) than installing the radiator.

Side note: if you've ever worked in beer or plumbing or kegged homebrew, you will find replacing the radiator to be very very easy. Kegging can run 10-30 psi, depending the task. The 4runner and most cars run at 15.6 psi and we all know CO2 leaks are way more difficult to stop than liquid leaks.

 

Cool I was planning to do mine as preventative maintenance at 120k so I’ve got 10k to go. Guess I may look into the radiator while I’m in there.
I’m good with maintenance. I’ve done the timing belt on my Tacoma and my daily. So no worries there thanks for the info! I’m gonna keep that water pump in a shopping list much cheaper than others I’ve found.

 

Installed new skid plate from RCI

 

Changed the oil

 

A little spring cleaning! Washed and waxed it!

 

Painted my calipers with silver por15 caliper paint so they don't rust.

 

Installed wheel spacers https://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Toyota-6...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

 

Drove her a lot!
Half way to AL at Wolf Creek Dam

 

Installed a new OEM spare tire hoist (chain type) as the other one was rusted to hell.

Also I removed the OEM side steps a week ago and my wife still hasn’t noticed already makes the vehicle look way better.

The benefit of the PO keeping the side steps on for its past 14 years of life though is pristine rocker paint condition lol. So that’s nice.

Next plans are mild front lift with Taco shocks and replacing rear shocks at same time to be rid of the old and worn out XREAS.

 

Unclogged the breather on rear diff. Planning for the rear diff mod.
Cleaned my wipers with rubbing alcohol, looking to get a few more months with them.

 

Installed a rear backup cam finally.

And plugged the running board holes with plastic m8 bolts.

 

New tires.....kept the stock size 265/65-17 until I get my lower control arm cam bolts replaced so I can get it lifted and aligned. Went with Nitto Trail Grappler G2's. I will try to get pics later after I can get it cleaned up.

 

Replaced clunking Autozone Valucraft front sway bar end links. No more noise. So nice. 135000 miles

 

Replaced in the past week:

engine air filter
rear axle oil
spark plugs
floor mats
hood gas struts
driver's headlamp assembly
serpentine belt

205,000 miles

 

Replaced:

all LED bulbs in climate control/trip computer module
license plate lenses (2) and gaskets (2)

 

transfer case oil change

 

Replaced the front left CV shaft.

Tried to change the front axle oil but couldn't budge the fill plug. Broke a 10mm hex bit in the process. Need to regroup.

 

Cleaned and conditioned the leather, jeez it soaked up a lot of conditioner after sitting for five months in the dry Colorado air (garaged). I use Lexol, good product.

 

Toyota front diff Allen plugs are a longstanding problem, I hate them. Too bad it's the fill plug you're having a problem with, the fill is the only one you absolutely have to get out. The drain plug you can leave in, then use a transfer pump to suck the old fluid out via the fill plug.

Maybe soak the fill plug with Kroil or PB Blaster for a few days. You said "hex bit", that was a 10mm Allen bit on a socket wrench?

I wish you the best of luck, and when you get it out, you can replace the fill plug with a 24mm hex head from the transfer case or Tacoma manual transmission.

 

@chassis @SonofBert yeah I hate those plugs. Had to drain and fill with a pump from the fill plug. Couldn't open the drain plug. Maybe I'll use a torch next time. I found a 1/2 hex bit I need to try, 3/8 breaker bar bent so much it arced, still wouldn't budge.

Clay bared my 12 year old paint and waxed the chariot. Smooth as silk now.

 

Turned off the TPMS flashing light for good, using the splice fix.
Inflated all tires to 40psi cold.
Achieved 24mpg on an 8 mile urban/suburban drive.

205,000 miles

 

Upped the ante trying to get the front axle drain plug (I was wrong in the above post) out. Hammered on it with a 1/2" electric impact and 10mm impact allen/hex bit. No go.

Hit it again with Liquid Wrench.

Just got a 1000 ft-lb pneumatic impact, will give it a try if/when it stops raining.

 

Hammered on the drain plug with the 1000 ft-lb pneumatic impact, no go.

I will try some more Liquid Wrench and hammering, then see about a torch. Recently moved and can't find my torch...

 

Dammit I hate those plugs.

 

One of my tie rod end boots was ruptured so I swapped them both

 

I installed a Kenwood DDX9705S and Maestro RR iDatalink module so my wife could have CarPlay and keep the factory steering wheel buttons. A Kenwood backup camera is on its way and I will document that install.

 

Best of luck. Could just leave the drain plug in. You really can get almost all of the old fluid out via the fill plug using a transfer pump.

 

Thanks. I have conceded defeat to the front axle drain plug. Tried electric and pneumatic impact guns, Liquid Wrench and a cold chisel. Not going the torch route, because I choose not to invest in a limited use tool combined with meager torch skills. I'll leave well enough alone until I decide if I will change the oil with a transfer pump or take it to the dealer to remove the plug.

On a separate note, I changed the engine oil and filter today.

 

Replaced the front stabilizer bar bushings. Great improvement. One clunk removed from the front suspension. One or two softer clunks left to hunt down and eliminate.

Eliminated the source of a steering wheel vibration. Turns out it was a wheel. I replaced the suspect wheel with the full sized spare wheel (thanks Toyota!) and the vibration went away. Either the suspect wheel is bent or very far out of balance, or both. I will take it to a tire place to see what's what. The suspect wheel will be used as a spare.

 

Towed 80 miles with a 3,300lb boat and got 17mpg at 60mph on a level state highway. Pretty good for a 14 yr old vehicle with 205,000 miles. Engine, transmission and brakes all ran well.

I will put a few hundred miles on this rig this weekend, will report Monday afternoon.