I fixed something on the 4Runner

"BJ" (benjamin-bignell) 03/26/2016 at 21:15 • Filed to: Toyota 4runner

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For once, it was a success. Nothing broke, nothing was lost and no steps were skipped. I feel like a friggin’ hero!

That shiny piece of plastic was a bit of adventure. I ripped the old one into pieces, literally, because the door latch was defective and thus preventing the hatch from opening easily.

First stop: replace the defective latch mechanism. Remove the bottom trim plate and the interior trim panel, a couple of bolts, and it’s done. But the rust... Oh! The rust!

Nasty, nasty rust.

Old vs new.

The new piece bolted right in. It’s important to unplug the two blue connectors to the ECU inside the rear hatch during this procedure. This resets the ECU; if you don’t do this, the new latch won’t work.

Now that this is done, we replace the broken trim. Six nuts and it comes off. Two more screws to remove the switch. And four more screws for the license plate lights. At least, in theory. The screws for the lights were so rusted I had to break the light boxes out with much care.

Eww... Rust and lots of filth.

I found some stainless screws at the hardware store to replace the old ones. In a flash, everything was buttoned back up and working.

These LEDs are probably brighter at nighttime...

So there we have it. A successul project for once. I’m pretty sure the part colour doesn’t actually match, though...

Mostly white and almost white... Or am I imagining things?

Edit:

Footnote - all Toyota parts are Denso brand, so all I could think about while working on the truck was this:

-this space for rent- > BJ 03/26/2016 at 21:23

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How much did the latch run you? I had to grease mine a couple months ago bc it wasn’t releasing properly.

BJ > -this space for rent- 03/26/2016 at 21:25

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$300 Canadian including taxes, from Amazon. The trim piece nearly cost as much!

HammerheadFistpunch > BJ 03/26/2016 at 21:51

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Looks great but it makes me cring inside to think of all the hidden rust possibilities

OPPOsaurus WRX > BJ 03/26/2016 at 22:20

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I replaced the latch on my door and it required dismantling half the damn car. I had to take off the whole window and frame and the door assembly.

brianbrannon > BJ 03/26/2016 at 22:31

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I replaced one of those latches yesterday because it wouldn’t close. I put the new one in and it wouldn’t open. It eventually started working. Must have reset the computer in the process of diagnosing the not opening.

Gabriel > BJ 03/27/2016 at 04:11

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That remember that time when I changed mine on my former Land Cruiser.

Hope the color difference will not annoy you too much...

BJ > Gabriel 03/27/2016 at 06:51

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It’s very close. The paint is dirty and could probably use a clay bar or even a polish, so maybe they are the same? In any case, I’m not spending any more money in this project!

BJ > HammerheadFistpunch 03/27/2016 at 06:52

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The truck is very clean for it’s age and mileage, but the rear door design is a disaster. It’s a guaranteed rust trap.

BJ > OPPOsaurus WRX 03/27/2016 at 06:53

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Ouch. The only real challenge was having to work up in the air, or to hold the door down (but not closed) while attaching parts. Replacing the window mechanism would be a different story.

BJ > brianbrannon 03/27/2016 at 06:55

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Common tricks: unplug both blue connectors from rear door ECU, unplug the battery, or do the door lock reset procedure (described in the manual). You probably did that last one without realizing it.