What have you done to your 5th Gen 4Runner today?

Yikes both rear shock bellows had fallen all the way down. Cleaned exposed rods, enlarged bottom drainage holes. Replaced the shops tie straps with stainless hose clamps

 

Simply and oil and filter change today.
Shake my head each time at how dumb it all is. Way more difficult than it needs to be. Three different socket sizes, really Toyota?
Only vehicle that’s a whole other level of dumb to change oil on I’ve encountered is my daughters VW.
That and other items with it cured me on that NEVER will do another German vehicle.

welp even though the Runners oil change process hoops are dumb I LOVE this black beauty

 

If it makes you feel better, the 2023 highlander has a fully carpeted underbody. I shit you not. A bunch has to come off to get at the filter. Dumb. It’s a bit mindboggling really. Takes longer than the 4runner.

I bet you anyone that takes a highlander to a dealer or quick lube will either have their carpeting thrown away by the oil tech, or will never ever have the filter be changed out (but be charged for it).

This is from when I changed the oil on my parents brand new highlander…

 

Looks good! Congrats! I’m considering putting 285/70s on my factory offroad wheels.

You have KDSS. Make sure to read up on the threads about corrosion and how to regularly remove the skids and hose out dirt from the accumulator area.

Also, any other pics of that lower control arm? Looks like a stock LCA, but hard to tell from that angle.

 

Didn't really do anything, but got my MESO puddle lights in from 4Runnerlifestyle.com. install next week on my days off.

 

Hi everyone, thanks to this post and the people who replied to the message, I learned a lot in this post.

 

My wife's 2020 Highlander has that too. I noticed it when I was installing her running boards. Hers only has half of that though. Maybe some has already gone missing

 

That’s really odd. Gosh I would think that carpeting would hold moisture up there? Maybe not I assume it’s for sound deadening material?

 

A lot of new vehicles have this fuzzy cardboard covering the bottoms and even in the wheel wells. I guess it's sound deadening but I can see the roads littered with this crap as it deteriorates with time and getting torn off.

 

I thought they were really well made skid plates that contoured to your vehicle. Carpet? Why? To act as a splash guard perhaps?

 

Get some more picture! Stance looks great

 

Decided to pay it off a year early, which means more money for mods!

 

Don’t get me wrong. This is “engineered” carpet for lack of a better word. Looks like dense, smooth, indoor/outdoor carpet. It’s not going to deteriorate, but I can see it possibly coming off if a lube tech breaks plastic clips or re-installs them wrong. Which is why I doubt they’ll get reinstalled, or taken off for the filter replacement.

I bet they’re mostly for aerodynamics, and sound deadening. They dont work well as splash shields, as everything behind them was sprayed with salt.

4runner oil changes are nothing crazy in comparison.

 

If they’re missing from over the filter, I have a good guess why lol.

 

looks like you had a great day!

 

my 2011 sr5 went to 156k before i replacef the lca. Not because I forced to, just felt like it was time to freshen the front end up.

 

thats a 2.5” lift? Looks way higher than that unless the pictures skews things.

 

@SLVRFOX4R ya you might be higher, I thought I was nearly 3". I tried hard to match those angles you got lol. I have OME 2884 3" lift springs on Bilstein 5100 stock spring seat postition. Makes me wanna raise to the higher settings

 

Holy wow! The whole underbody

the wheel wells is common

also, it’s not carpet like it seems. It’s actually plastic which looks and feels like carpet…..

 

First oil change completed at 5000 miles

 

Just got 2 cans delivered today.

 

Yeah, and they didnt even break it up to be remotely convenient for an oil change. The piece I took out required loosening the air damn in front and taking out fasters on the piece behind it. Both ends were sandwiched.

Regular carpet is plastic made to look like carpet too Unless you get that fancy cotton berber carpet or something. On a serious note though, it’s durable stuff. We have some of it in the wheel well of our 18 highlander, and it doesn't even get dirty.

 

Finally was able to order the puddle lights before it became out of stock. I was quick enough this time.

 

I hope it's just as straight forward as it looked on a vid I found on Youtube.

 

Yesterday, detailed and cleaned both!

 

Replaced the fan belt and idler pulleys (including the one on the tensioner). The old belt had many cracks on it. All the original idler pulleys were rusted, but the bearings were in good condition and rotated smoothly.



The oil cooler crowds the lower pulley, so there was no room for a socket on the pulley bolt. I had to use the double-wrench method, held together with some duct tape to prevent slippage:



New belt and pulleys put in. Also replaced the radiator cap as cheap preventative maintenance:



Parts list:
Belt: Toyota 90916A2015 or Bando 7PK2150
Upper idler x2: Continental 49127 (made in Canada)
Upper idler bolt x2: Toyota 90105A0126
Lower idler: Continental 49129 (made in Canada)
Tensioner pulley: same Continental 49129, but re-use the LH-threaded factory bolt
Radiator cap: Motorad T37

 

Funny I have two Pearl Whites as well 2010 SR5 and new 2023 Limited.

 

Haven’t driven it in over a month, so I did some serious mall crawling …

 

installed a heritage grille and some raptor lights. I was very hesitant to do this but honestly I think all of the 4runners should come with the heritage grille.
(pardon the bug guts on the valence)

 

Maybe there is a Chuck Taylor model and they get a discount coming in as slippers?