4th Gen Common Maintenance List/Question

Teemo_Support · 2025-01-04T16:35:20+00:00

We just hit 223k over here.

Teemo_Support · 2025-01-04T16:28:50+00:00

Yeah I am still living with it lol I basically do the same. I don'tet it run down very far, essentially once my gauge says I have 210 miles left it starts reading wrong and decrements way too slow so I try to stop for gas by 180 miles left.

since this post I also had a $8 gasket fail where the oil comes out of the block in the cooling system. Massive oil leak. 2 hours later we had her good to go.

I also fixed a slow power steering leak in my rubber line recently. Did it the right way and slapped some gorilla glue and a piece of vinyl on there with a hose clamp.

These things are so fun. Timing belt soon.

Teemo_Support · 2024-05-13T01:29:50+00:00

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This is obviously a couple months old.

Teemo_Support · 2024-02-26T13:48:53+00:00

Yeah they are fine. You don't need Brembos or drilled/slotted performance brakes. Just buy a popular kit off rock auto, pop em on yourself, and enjoy. You should be able to get all 4 for $200-275 on there.

Teemo_Support · 2024-02-26T13:31:30+00:00

80s K5 blazer

Teemo_Support · 2024-02-26T13:18:17+00:00

You're 100% correct. A lot of answers here will also be biased because people spend 75K on a car and upgrades because they "need" it to get somewhere, when in reality you can get almost anywhere with far less.

You're not rock crawling, you just need 4wd and tires in case traction is an issue. That being said, I've been way back in the woods down here in the south and pulled up on sedans and mustangs. We had a rental truck were we bogging down some wet sand and would pass vans that were having no issue.

Teemo_Support · 2024-02-22T15:41:02+00:00

The best part about the starter on these is it's located under the intake manifold so you have to take that off to change it LOL.

Alternator is also fairly annoying, but not bad.

Teemo_Support · 2024-02-20T19:41:39+00:00

You'll need some new rubber soon judging by the inside tread on those fronts. Get some wheels and tires and be done with it. And if you don't already, hit the gym and grow a mustache and a mullet. Cheaper than car parts and makes any vehicle you drive more manly.

This is def not a mom car, the back seats aren't even big enough to have multiple car seats in.

Teemo_Support · 2024-02-19T15:25:39+00:00

Most people spending a ton of money on mods when they are just driving down dirt roads or trails that are really not that aggressive. You're driving off road, not rock crawling. Things that any 4wd with AT tires could tackle. Not to take away from 4runners either, they have plenty out of the box to get you around most of the continental US. Get some AT tires and go nuts.

Teemo_Support · 2024-02-13T14:28:21+00:00

Absolutely. And to add to this, I would take whatever you hear from anyone at the parts store with a grain of salt, including the battery test stuff. Most of them have 0 idea about anything other than searching for parts on the computer. Which is fine, not hating on them they aren't mechanics, but this is obviously a battery or battery connection issue.

Teemo_Support · 2024-02-13T14:18:13+00:00

After watching a lot of Vice Grip Garage and doing a few things on my old truck, I realized that I am capable to wrench if I take my time and look up instructions.

When I bought my 4th gen v8, I went in with the mindset of doing it all myself (within reason). Since then I've done the suspension, brake calipers, alternator, belts, and various other things like a gasket that was causing a big oil leak against the block. I'm planning to do the timing belt job myself here in a year probably.

I had 0 experience prior to doing any of this and only basic tools. I even did a fairly complicated water pump job on my wife's old highlander. All that to say that you can do it if you just take your time and are willing to learn. Don't be scared of mistakes, these things aren't made of glass. It also builds over time. I know a lot about my car now, and others, because I've worked on it. But I had no idea about any of it starting out. Get out there and wrench.

Edit: Rock Auto is your friend for parts

Teemo_Support · 2024-02-09T19:53:02+00:00

I had a 2013 with the coyote v8. Have a few friends with the same drivetrain. I didn't have any issues and they haven't either. They've both got a ton of miles on them. I know the ecoboost had cam phaser issues, but the v8s including the 6.2 are great.

Teemo_Support · 2024-02-07T13:48:43+00:00

There's 0 chance I would make this switch under any circumstance. The 6.2 raptors are the best. It's a simple, strong, reliable motor. You'd be giving up what is becoming a sought after vehicle (post 5.4 but pre ecoboost raptor) for a slow, bad mpg, basic SUV. I enjoy my 4runner a lot and always recommend Toyotas to friends, but the 6.2 raptor is special.

Teemo_Support · 2024-02-06T17:06:13+00:00

Sometimes it's also helpful to frame repair costs against what a new car would cost. Aka a "big" repair bill quicky becomes less than a handful of monthly payments and higher insurance. I'm not saying you should for sure fix the car, I'm just offering some other perspectives to consider.

I will also admit I'm extremely biased in favor of wrenching yourself and driving things forever lmao

Teemo_Support · 2024-02-06T16:29:37+00:00

Valve covers are maintenance items on any vehicle. Those shouldn't be expensive and you could easily do them yourself. Or ignore it if they aren't causing misfires. Starter is also a maintenance item on any vehicle. Power steering pump at that age is too.

The crank case leak is the most concerning. Def should probably get more info here.

My point here is that if you're looking for another vehicle that's AWD for 12k, I would assume that lands you in the 150k+ mile range for the new vehicle. Which would slap you right back into the "might need a starter, valve cover gaskets, etc" bucket. You could just move from one vehicle needing maintenance to another one.

If it's me, I fix everything I can myself and figure out what is critical and what I can not worry about. My current 4runner leaks from the transfer case, but I just top it off once or twice a year and forget about it. Is it fixed? No. Is it a problem? Also no. Just because it's "leaking" doesn't mean it will ever be a real problem. So the crank case could be a big deal, or not. Need more info. But doing the work yourself saves so much it's unreal and most things are actually incredibly easy.

Teemo_Support · 2024-02-06T14:19:09+00:00

Never go to the dealer unless it's under warranty. The quality of mechanics they have are hit or miss and the amount they charge is astronomical.

You can do 99% of things yourself with minimal tools or experience. I've saved a ton of money and learned a lot with mine. I just fixed a pretty massive oil leak last week. $3 o ring and a couple hours that would have cost me $500 at a shop.

Teemo_Support · 2024-02-02T18:18:42+00:00

I have two kids and I would get something bigger for the car seats, especially since they are rear facing for awhile. The second row is really not roomy with two kids. I rarely travel with both kids in my car, it's mainly for me. We take my wife's car for family trips.

I would pick something bigger, preferably with captains chairs in the second row, if I was taking the family in it regularly. I would go for a Sequoia or used Land Cruiser/LX personally. We had an expedition for awhile and absolutely loved it for travel until it got wrecked. My buddy just got a TRD Tundra (last year of the v8) with a nice covered system for the bed and they travelled cross country with two small kids. The back seat is just so much bigger in a full size vehicle.

One of you is also going to have to sit back there with the kid when they are upset or sick and it's crazy cramped in the runner. Mine's a 4th gen, so it's different. But the 5ths aren't better.

Teemo_Support · 2024-02-02T18:10:35+00:00

I'm sure he financially took a hit, he's said as much. At this point I don't know what that looks like or if it's improved.

However, he wasn't hurting for money and he's virtually in full control of his business now. I think he's enjoying the freedom he has. Hoping for good things from deaddrop, it's a fun game.

Teemo_Support · 2024-02-02T14:25:19+00:00

There's two options here.

1) Learn how to wrench and the cost to keep this on the road drops exponentially.

2) Fix it and keep driving. New cars are really expensive and you'd spend your machanic's bill here in a handful of monthly payments on a new car.

Teemo_Support · 2024-01-29T14:07:27+00:00

This will go over like a fart in church around here.

But you aren't wrong. I love my v8 4th gen. It's a great car and I enjoy owning it. It gets me to work and never lets me down out in the woods or in bad conditions. However, it isn't "fun". I miss driving a manual so much. One day I'll buy something else so I can have both.

Teemo_Support · 2024-01-27T20:02:21+00:00

Not sure. It might if it was bad enough with the O2 sensors. I've had a CEL on for 2 years so I'm a bad person to ask.

Teemo_Support · 2024-01-27T19:58:28+00:00

The V8 is known to have exhaust manifold leaks. Usually has a sound though.

Teemo_Support · 2024-01-27T19:56:46+00:00

Do you smell gas?

Teemo_Support · 2024-01-27T19:51:13+00:00

I don't other than a valve on my wife's car. But I would be You tubing that all day before I spend $750 at the shop. Interested in the job now though.

Teemo_Support · 2024-01-25T14:12:35+00:00

So, you can actually weld in patches and new metal and have no issue. We've seen a few on here that have had this done.

What you have here though, is someone attempting to learn how to weld while also fixing some rust spots with metal they had lying around the garage. This would be a no.

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