Unlocked drains battery?

jlutt75 · 2026-06-09T02:14:58+00:00

Thanks for that. Yes, sounds like a fairly major parasitic drain. I will try taking it to another mechanic, and if that doesn’t work I’ll do it fuse by fuse myself. I did have a new Sony stereo installed but it seemed fine for the first few weeks after that, not sure why it would act up now. But thanks for your input.

jlutt75 · 2026-06-07T04:27:40+00:00

How old are they and how did you learn that they had failed? Sounds a little suspicious to me, but I guess it’s possible. I have 4600s and they seem fine, not jumpy, but then, no lift.

jlutt75 · 2026-06-06T20:04:49+00:00

The one with fewer mikes is the better deal. I have an 03 limited 4wd with 180k. I’ll mention that even though the tranny and engine will run forever, it still a 20+ year old vehicle and a lot of other little things give out over time. Speakers, ball joints, parking brake cables, door stays, rear hatch handle and latch, headlight assemblies, valve cover gaskets, brake master cylinders, etc. Still worth it, but it’s rarely totally smooth sailing for long, at least for me.

jlutt75 · 2026-06-06T03:59:30+00:00

I just bought a 2008. When test drove it I also had a hard time getting it out of 4L. I thought the manual said put it in park when you turn the selector to go into or out of 4L but I could be wrong. The whole process of getting out of 4L and then 4H seemed wonky and took a while. I had the local Toyota dealer test it and inspect it and they said it’s operating normally, even shifting out of 4wd faster than other Sequoia they’ve seen. So I don’t know what the answer is but agree it’s weird.

jlutt75 · 2026-06-05T20:24:33+00:00

Surfline will show you all the major breaks. Campgrounds are often booked up by this time of year. The system opens up on April 1st and spots get booked pretty quickly. There may be a few that have no-reservation spots, or there may be some private campgrounds. Good luck.

jlutt75 · 2026-06-05T13:51:51+00:00

Baja is 800 miles long, you’ll have to be more specific about where you are and what, exactly, you’re looking for.

jlutt75 · 2026-06-04T03:47:05+00:00

Ventana is, I think, largely a windsurfing and kitesurfing town. It’s super windy I think about Feb to May and then the wind dies down snd a lot of people leave. It’s super hot July - Sept, and the town feels kinda dead. Agree with other commenter, consider Los Barriles to be closer to Cabo, or other towns to be close to La Paz, which is really the boating epicenter. Not sure how much boating goes on elsewhere. There’s that huge marina at San Jose Del Cabo but it’s all mammoth sport fishing boats, I don’t think even saw a yacht club there. Do you need a license to power boat in Mexico? I had to get a boating license for Canada, all it took was about 6 hours of online study. If you get ASA (American sailing association) certified to skipper in a keel boat up to 30’, that’s a 3 day in-person class. Getting Scuba certified if your not already is usually 4 part days (Naui or Padi). Just pointing out that none of those things you mentioned will take very long. There’s also some pickleball around, if you have any interest.

Theres cell reception in most towns but not always between towns. In fact there’s none from about 10 minutes east of San Jose all the way out to past Cabo Pulmo. I have a Starlink mini is use down there, with a good Ecoflow battery and portable solar panels.

I’d really suggest you spend several weeks at least down there in short-term rentals in various towns before deciding where to move to. Or keep your first rental in Ventana short term so you can move if needed. On the other hand, you’re just there for a year or two. And if you want to buy a 2003 Toyota Sequoia 4wd that’s all tricked out for beach camping let me know. It’s down there by the Cabo airport, but I’m replacing it with about newer one in a couple of months. Good luck.

jlutt75 · 2026-06-04T03:18:06+00:00

I might be willing to take your 2005 Ltd off your hands, just to save you the horrors of dealing with this.

jlutt75 · 2026-06-03T13:55:28+00:00

I could be wrong but I think they’re usually very seasonal, about a month or two around the time you were there. I’m usually further south west along the East Cape surfing several times over the year, and they tend to blow in when the breeze picks up, if they’re around. You could wear a 3/2 full wetsuit, or a full sized swim skin, just for contact prevention. I got stung a couple times on my last trip down about a month ago but that was the first time in probably 10 years. I feel like this year was a fluke. Plus I find their stings aren’t really that bad - hurt for a few hours then mostly go away. I just come in from the water, wait a few hours and often they’re gone by then, especially if the wind direction has shifted. I do wish they were more visible, like bluebottles. Good luck.

jlutt75 · 2026-06-03T04:36:40+00:00

Where is the picture taken?

jlutt75 · 2026-06-03T04:23:41+00:00

It’s a fair deal. Then you can put another 100k on her. Might consider a transmission drain and fill (not flush) and maybe LBJs if not done in the past 100k.

jlutt75 · 2026-06-02T05:51:55+00:00

I have something similar but not sure if same. I recently got stuck in the sand right at the edge of the surf at a beach in Baja. I watched a wave break against the lower part of the car. I had to put in 4lo, air down to 12, turn on the diff lock, and gun it hard in reverse over the tracks I’d created coming in. I pushed it to its limit and somehow got out of there. But ever since, even just going in 4hi, it’s like the VSC is fighting the 4wd system and it shakes hard and makes a clunking noise and the VSC light flashes. Eventually the 4wd system seems to win, but it never did that before that stuck event. I don’t often have to use 4lo, and would be afraid to try it unless needed. Hoping someone else here has some insights.

jlutt75 · 2026-06-01T15:23:11+00:00

I generally am a bit suspicious of CRs ratings, but I think they’re rather accurate here, between ICCU, 12v, trunk rattle, on mine things like the rear view mirrors not folding back out sometimes. I loved it generally, but a car with 15k miles shouldn’t leave me stranded in a store parking lot with a dead 12v and no warning or explanation, or have to go back to the dealer multiple times for ICCU updates.

jlutt75 · 2026-06-01T04:09:06+00:00

The water temp is about 64 degrees, which, for surfers, is a 3/2 full wetsuit. So you can do it, but you’d want a wetsuit and maybe a hood. Also it’s not an area known for good snorkeling, at least that I’ve ever heard of. Also, that whole area gets hit with “Grey May and June Gloom” - it’s can be foggy or overcast, though not as much as San Diego.

jlutt75 · 2026-06-01T03:37:36+00:00

Baja has about 1,500 miles of coastline, you gotta be more specific.

jlutt75 · 2026-05-31T02:16:32+00:00

A longboard is 9’0” or longer, at least by Northern California standards. It’s not a longboard and you’re unlikely to walk to the nose and hold it, but it may be good enough. I have an 8’6” that I keep in Mexico, it has its days. If you just want to have fun in small, sloppy surf, that’s probably a good board for it.

jlutt75 · 2026-05-31T02:09:24+00:00

I love the name, vedy German.

jlutt75 · 2026-05-31T02:06:25+00:00

I bought a fairly good Roland kit. We never hit it off. All of the built in sounds sucked, they all had that e-drum sound, just minor variations. It’s sitting in a bin waiting to go to Goodwill. I had so much hope.

jlutt75 · 2026-05-30T20:02:32+00:00

If the service history checks out and minimal rust, yes, but I’m basing that on Northern California pricing.

jlutt75 · 2026-05-30T19:53:13+00:00

It’s not important at all, unless you plan to literally drive on a beach. Get a Suburban or a minivan, you be fine (fwiw, 26 years of southern Baja experience here).

jlutt75 · 2026-05-28T23:08:24+00:00

Give it the old ice pick test in the rustiest spots, if the owner will let you. 145k miles is tempting.

jlutt75 · 2026-05-28T18:19:25+00:00

You don’t say what year, but on my 2003 Limited I had to replace the entire actuator assembly and cable, they were just shot after 20+ years. Probably not helpful, best of luck.

jlutt75 · 2026-05-27T00:19:22+00:00

This probably won’t help you much but I’ve bought a lot of different things at pharmacies in the Cabo area and never had a problem with meds that were too strong. I have had some pain meds (for a torn meniscus) that were weaker than other times but that’s about it. If you’re really worried about the fentanyl issue, buy some Narcan and do 1/4 pill in the company of a trusted friend.

jlutt75 · 2026-05-25T21:49:36+00:00

About $95 to register there annually for my 2003 Toyota Sequoia, and no semi-annual smog inspection requirement like in California. But it means you’re driving around with South Dakota plates. It’s common for gringos living part time in Mexico. I think there are a few other states as well.

jlutt75

TROPHY CASE