What have you done to your 3rd Gen 4Runner today?

Wash + Buff + Wax/Polish = 3rd Gen Goodness!! (yup my Thule Rack looking coolio too! I will paint it later)

colour changing betta fish



My pride and joy....

 

my pride and joy...as she's getting repaired ...she's coming home on tuesday June 15th. biggest hold up ? collision shop getting the proper suspension items from Toyota...as they sent the wrong items, from time to time...anyhow, new bumper , new running lights, new passenger fender, new antenna, new inner fender, misc suspension, new speed censor, new rim, new tire, etc...been in the shop 3 weeks. can't wait to get her home..

 

I masked everthing off and painted my trailer hitch on my '98 Limited. It had rust on each end...ugly.
Sanded the rusty parts with my DeWalt multi tool which worked very well. I then washed all the rust dust off using Dawn.
Let that dry. Then masked and painted. I'm very pleased with the results. Only thing I would have done differently was use flat paint. My mistake was getting the wife's opinion. She suggested satin. Doesn't look bad though, and will clean easier than flat. Will post a pic FWIW, after I wash the whole vehicle again.

 

Took my 99 to my mechanic. Just so y'all know, there was a time not so long ago, I could do all this fun stuff myself. Not so much any more. Anywho, he replaced the knock sensors, and the pigtails for them. It was throwing the codes for them. He used after market sensors, and they are perfectly functional, no retarding the timing, it advances and backs off normally, or anything, but still throwing the codes. More on this in a minute.

He also replaced the front rotors and pads. Definitely necessary, when I looked at the rotors, I can tell you. I think a PO ran the pads down to metal on the rotors at least once. My ex wife did that to my pickup. I mean she TOTALLY ran it until there wasn't ANY pad materiel left, just the metal backing, and the rivets. Totally trashed the rotors. I was overseas at the time, so I knew nothing of this. Really T'd me off, let me tell you.

Anywho, I had to then take it to the dealership. I have a bad oil seal on the passenger side of the rear axle, and the shoes on that side are soaked with oil. My mechanic will tackle nearly anything, but he says that you need a special press to replace the bearings on the rear axle, and he doesn't have one. So, the dealership is replacing the oil seal, if needed the breather valve and bearing(s), and the brake shoes. Anything else, they'll ask before tackling.

Once the stealership gets done, back to my mech to get OEM knock sensors in. All I'll have to pay for is the cost difference between the current, aftermarket jobs, and the OEM sensors. Abot $40.00. The rest is free. He backs up his work. Anything wrong with what he's done, he fixes it free. Still have a CE light on, but the engine runs perfectly, according to their test box.

I expect the truck back in about 3-4 weeks. The dealership is busy apparently. Glad I have the pickup!

All this sounds like a lot, but once it's all done, I feel the truck will be so new all over, I won't have to do anything except the regular tune up stuff for the rest of my life. After that, it's my kids' problem

Have fun with YOUR Runners, all!
Pat☺

 

Put on a full size spare finally.

My tires have been out of stock since Oct of '21

 

Good looking tires!
I put a new set of Toyo AT's on my 99 shortly after we got it. I like, LIKE the way they ride. I can't wait for winter to see how they handle the snow and ice. I have faith in them so far...

Pat☺

 

Went camping for the weekend

 

4R+Boat+Fireworks+Catfish+poss thunderstorm=Sat night

 

Went camping as well -



Think my wife was asserting some sort of dominance over the avocado dip



Rear end

 

Hey, ya can't be too careful with that avocado dip. Never know what it might get up to. Better to establish who's boss early on!

Looks like an enjoyable camping trip. ope you had fun

Pat☺

 

Maintenance time. Water pump/timing belt, valve cover gaskets, rear wheel bearings and axle seals.

 

I generally prefer to hit up some BLM for primitive camping; when its us as a family, we hit up national or state parks.

Either way, it's always a fun time!

That chicken though...





Bronx wasn't having any of my shit; he really wanted some

 

Repaired my starter by replacing the plunger and contacts -

 

Great work, and I understand your frustrations. Been there, done that. Only wish my middle finger was more commanding. . Detailed mine today and decided, this is as good as it will ever look, at least from this physical body!
Gettn' old SUCKS!!

 

Due to a goof, I re-replaced my lower ball joints. First time around I didn’t do enough research and bought a crappy kit off of Ebay about 8 months ago, I felt a bit silly afterward so I bought OEM ones and redid the lower ball joint’s.

I just gotta brag on myself a little, I bought my 4R last September, and since then I’ve done the valve cover gasket job and everything related, the timing belt job and everything related, the ball joints and everything related, the rear axle seals and everything related, rack and pinion bushings, along with that I lifted him 2”, gave him the 231mm tundra brake upgrade treatment, gave him extra lighting with projector light housings from BX Built and offroad lights, a new sound system, a roof rack, and swapped all lights, interior and exterior with LED bulbs, to top it off I saved a crap ton of money by doing it all myself with some assistance from relatives. The only thing left to do (for now) is replace my driveshaft and wait for my rims and tires. Theres still so much more I wanna do but considering I’ve barely had him a year, I’d say I’ve got a lot accomplished, so I’d say this constitutes a break, if I can help it. Anyway, I’m putting my ego down now.

 

Over the past few days I changed the oil, installed a Fumoto drain valve, replaced my antenna, and stayed hydrated







Don't worry, I rotate my tires on the same schedule as my oil changes

 

Now, that drain valve is a good idea! I never even knew they existed. That would have saved me a lot of burned fingers, since I prefer warm oil changes. I'm going to see about one next time I change ANY of the truck's oil. Very cool indeed, no pun intended.

I do the same thing to make a funnel out of the first oil quart I put in, but I cut it about half way down. Doesn't stack up so high.

Glad you stayed well hydrated. Make sure you truck does too!

Now, take it out and get it nice and dirty. 4Runners love dirt.
Pat☺

 

As much as I would like to get my new ball joints and front shocks and springs replaced I guess I better take care of my new hip I had replaced Monday

 

I used to live in RSM...Went to Holy Jim a lot, being that it was right in my backyard. You must work close by. Its so awesome.

 

Oh wow!! OK...my next repair...I have 320K miles and they have never been replaced.

 

You have me beat by 5k miles. Mine look good, have them checked at tire replacements/alignments.

 

Well, this was beyond MY capabilities, but we just got our 99 4Runner back from the stealership. We had to get both rear axle seals, and, because of them, rear brakes replaced. By the time we get done this is going to be a new truck!

I had my mechanic replace the knock sensors before that, but the new ones, while they work fine, trip a CL light. No reason that could be seen, even with the super-duper OBDII tester my mechanic has. Everything is in parameters, the ECU just doesn't like these aftermarket knock sensors. No reason, just personal preference on the part of the ECU. So, next wednesday, back it goes to the mechanic to put in OEM knock sensors. FREE!!

Have fun, all!
Pat☺

 

Added some rock/rain gaurds and flare badging. Getting ready for my stainless front grill.

 

Installed stainless front grill. Which was light, and well made. Fixed a rattle from a broken grill mount too.

 

I wrapped my badging on backwards on the other side. I’m such an idiot. So I’m going to need help should the stripes angle forward? Or backwards?

 

I can’t believe this Toyota dash has not cracked. When people ask me why it hasn’t I tell them that there is whale in it. So I covered, to protect it with a dash pad.

 

Put ko2s on 265/75/16

 

Rotated to my “GT Radials”.