My 4Runner hates me...

"BJ" (benjamin-bignell) 03/31/2015 at 22:55 • Filed to: 4runner blues

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Two weeks ago, I took the kids to their swimming class and the truck made some awful noises thay ended with a tow and no clear diagnosis. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

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Tonight, I fire up the truck to go to swimming lessons and the dash lights up like a goddamn Christmas tree. CEL + disabled traction control and disabled stability control. Looking over the forums, I have 3 likely culprits:

Leaky gas cap

Yaw + decel sensor went out of whack (there was a TSB for the reset procedure)

The cats need replacing

I'm obviously hoping it's one of the first two, because I can't really afford to replace the exhaust just yet - I have $1200 in new tires sitting at the garage...

Am I the only one who's so unlucky with a recent car purchase? I'm starting to think I should have bought the Land Rover I was looking at.

SVTyler > BJ 03/31/2015 at 23:05

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Yeah it happens. Not recent, but four years ago the clutch in my Focus grenaded after about a month of ownership (I learned to drive stick on it and its slave cylinder was going to shit anyways) and cost almost $2k to replace because only place that would take payment plans was a shady chain shop. Hope in your case it's something much simpler, but if it does end up needing cats just get them replaced and know that's one less thing you'll need to worry about in the future. Only way you can keep your sanity otherwise.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > BJ 03/31/2015 at 23:23

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Are there any parts that are due to be changed? I forget what year your 4Runner is.

Spaceball-Two > BJ 03/31/2015 at 23:24

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I had a 2004 that was a little buggy but otherwise solid. I'd start with anything evap related.

nlzmo400r > BJ 03/31/2015 at 23:28

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if it's throwing traction control malfunctions, it's almost definitely wheel speed sensor related. Check ABS sensors and rings, wheel speed sensors or any angular sensor on the truck (measuring rotation in degrees)

Dusty Ventures > BJ 03/31/2015 at 23:33

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Bought Outback XT in late November. Registered it and got the plates in late December. Developed misfire in late January. Replaced coil and plugs. Misfire returns in late February. Diagnosed as bad injector. 2+ week wait on parts, now replacing injectors, plugs, wires, an axle, struts (precautionary/better ride), oil pickup (precautionary), tires, sway bar bushings, brakes (they were due), and getting a tune to keep it from killing the injectors or burning a valve. All told probably looking at about $3k.

BJ > nlzmo400r 03/31/2015 at 23:43

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That was my first thought, but apparently the traction control is disabled any time an engine fault occurs. This is done to prevent extra load on the engine, which could cause more damage.

The lights came on the instant I started up the truck. So I'm going to go through the other ideas first. I'll see if I can get a scan on the codes, too.

BJ > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 03/31/2015 at 23:44

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It's a 2005 and it has a very complete service history. Nothing was due or expected.

BJ > Spaceball-Two 03/31/2015 at 23:46

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Yep. I'll test the gas cap, then go on from there. The sensor reset only takes 5 minutes, so that'll be easy to test as well.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > BJ 03/31/2015 at 23:52

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cheapest solution is to check the gas cap for any rust, it fixed a CEL on a family friend's Corolla.

Spaceball-Two > BJ 03/31/2015 at 23:59

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mine threw a code when some asshat tried to steal gas from me outside a bar. Mangled the cap and filler neck. Quick fix. But the tire pressure sensor was slways going off.

Gabriel > BJ 04/01/2015 at 06:34

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I hope you've been only lacking some luck and that the truck is reliable going forward. Think about your luck with a Land Rover...

I see a common pattern here: the swimming lessons! Think about it, it's all converging to this ;)

On a more serious note, I do have the Toyota Techstream software and proper cable to read/reset any codes that the truck might be throwing. Let me know and we could arrange something.

BJ > Gabriel 04/01/2015 at 08:19

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With my luck, the LR would have been resold already! I'm going to check the gas cap and see what happens. If that doesn't work, I'll let you know and we'll work something out. Thanks!