Brand New 2024 SR5 need some advice on three things

Hi,

Love my new 4Runner, but there are three things I need advice on.

1. Dealer told me they stopped suggesting rustproofing under these vehicles. Said just do undercarriage washes each time you go to car wash and it will minimize potential rust. Said newer models aren't as rust prone anymore.

Yet watching YouTube videos of owners who say the opposite.

What do you recommend?

2. The headlights seem strange to me. When I drive in areas with no lights or toward my garage at night it looks like a black line across my line of vision. Never had a vehicle like that. Does it sound like the headlights are too low?

3. The back up camera clarity at night in areas with no external light to help is extremely blurry. Daytime it looks great. First time it was wet so I dried it by dabbing with a soft towel. Then I put LED backup lights in (tight fit but they are in). There are two bright spots now in the middle of blurry surroundings but only at night with no external lights. (Rural).
Normal?

Thanks as always,

John

 

1. Never heard that before. Depending on where you are you might consider just doing it anyway.

2. Low beams have a definite top line and my SR5P is a little higher in the rear. I got used to them though.

3. I got nothin on this one except I changed my backup lamps to LED too and it made a lot of difference.

 

1. I strongly recommend fluid filming your frame and undercarriage. Just washing the underbody every time you wash your car is asking for trouble.
2. The lights are normal and your eyes will adjust to it but you can always adjust the beam level to suit your needs.
3. Factory rear view camera is adequate at best in low light scenarios .

 

1. Can't believe you'd still have to do any kind of rustproofing on a modern Toyota. My daughter had a Gen 1 Tundra that had terrible rust underneath, would've probably failed the state safety inspection in a year. So she traded it in on a '22 Tacoma, which in turn she traded in on a '23 TRD ORP. Me personally, I'm not concerned with rust at all.
2. The LED headlights on my '23 Limited looks like they have a definite cut-off at top, but to me that's just the nature of LED lights.
3. The clarity on the OEM rear view camera is a joke. The one I had on my '22 Explorer ST was a LOT better, both in clarity and function.

 

From my experience 4Runners can easily survive over 11 years without rust proofing, but they will be pretty rusty after 11 years in salt belt. So personally I would use fluid film or something similar if you intend to keep your truck long time and sell it at the top price.

 

Taking advice from a car dealer is somewhat akin to believing that your military recruiter is your friend and has your best interests at heart.

1. Woolwax, Fluid Film, or Blaster Surface Shield. Any of these will help to reduce rust on the underside of your new 4Runner.
2. LED's seem to have this hard cutoff at the top of the low beam field. Headlights get brighter, aiming and controlling where they shine helps reduce the impact on oncoming traffic.
3. As others have said - the backup camera is NOT high definition.

 

1. It sounds like the dealer wants to sell you another 4R a few years early. Rust kills. The preferred treatments aren't too costly and they can save thousands on a premature demise.
2. The headlights take some getting used to, mainly because of the hard cutoff. It seems more dramatic because they're so bright right up to that edge.
3. The rear camera is horrible, but it's better than nothing. It's especially bad in rain or snow. I think auxiliary lighting could help, but you would probably have to do a lot of fine tuning on intensity, location, pointing direction, etc.

 

My understanding of the camera quality was not the cameras themselves it's the resolution of the head unit's display. My wife has a Venza so likely the same cameras but the display is so clear and crisp.

 

My issue isn't really with the resolution, which I find adequate. It's how much distortion raindrops cause, and how even light mist or dust casts much of the scene into a hopeless blur.

 

LOL - I'm picturing a little tiny wiper and washer fluid sprayer... Or my thumb works okay, for a few minutes.

 

1. Depends on where you live. I have done nothing in the almost 5 years of ownership, not even wash the undercarriage after crappy weather. Not a lick of rust. But I live in the desert southwest. What the dealer told you is a fantasy more than likely, though. If you live where the roads are salted, you need some type of treatment.

2. This is often posted about. Some learn to live with it, others go aftermarket.

3. Nature of the beast. See #2.

 

Very bad advice. 4Runners last forever UNLESS you let frame rust. Use oil spray based treatment on a new car and make sure to spray inside frame rails.

 

1) I use krown to treat the frame and underside.
2) I got used to them. They are actually bright. Just a hard cutoff. Unless you’re coming from luxury brand then hard cutoffs are not the norm.
3) upgraded my reverse lights to a bright LED. Makes a world of difference.

 

Do not let Krown rustproofing to drill additional holes for rustproofing body. It has enough holes

 

Wow !
I am really sorry guys. I never got email notices about all these posts. I just came back here to ask again and found all these fantastic responses. Maybe it's my settings. Will check after this post.

Thank you so much Beachguy, LC200, Tank010, bronzestar1, scanny, seakuv, backpacker, MusashiSushi, glwood54, sin4R, JS222STL, and Startrek.

1. Great to know that I should rustproof it. I'm 79 and want this to be my last car. I'll check out Fluid Film, Woolwax, and Blaster Surface Shield. I can probably get a local mechanic to spray it on for me. I live in New York State so "rustbelt". There is Ziebart, but I haven't heard very many good things about them.

2. Good to know that cutoff line on the LED headlights. I am sure (as you guys said) I'll get used to it. Or adjust them a "little" higher

3. So the backup camera is poor at night. Knowing that beats having it replaced under warranty. I watched a YouTube video on how it is done and it looks like major disassembly of the hatch door which means the service dept might screw something up in the process.

Happy to be a member of this wonderful forum.

John

 

@craftech. Congratulations on the new rig! Not sure if you're interested in more details about these rustproofing products, but I found the real world testing from this fellow pretty interesting.

 

These are the right answers. You definitely didnt want the coating they used to sell, but I wouldnt do nothing. I had mine undercoated by an independent shop I trust that uses a product similar to fluid film.

 

You should be able to find local shops on Fluid Film's website. I'd go that route before going to ziebart for anything.

 

4Runner bones essentially date back to 2003, it's not what one would consider a "modern" vehicle.

Even if the rust is not structural on newer ones, it looks terrible, negatively impacts resale because of Toyota's bad reputation in this aspect, and makes it harder to work on.

 

Great to hear, and excellent choice buying a 4Runner.
Took me a little while to figure out the website.
We struck gold finding this forum though, for sure.

1. Absolutely get someone, anyone; either a shop or a friend, to help you spray that undercarriage with clear fluid film, or I recommend clear B'laster Surface Shield even more.
I really wish I did this when I bought new in 2016, I live in a salty rust belt area. A few rattle can's would have been all it took.

3. Pay someone to add rear auxiliary lights (if you'd rather not install yourself), your unsatisfactory rear camera view will improve dramatically. I did it

GOODLUCK

 

John one word of caution I’ve read time and again is to stay away from Ziebart. Apparently their product can “trap” moisture and cause the rusting to occur faster. Maybe want to research more before making your decision

 

I will second this, DO NOT use tar-like coating as it dries out and makes things worse long-term. You have to use oil-based solutions. I use Krown, because there is one in town and I don't have to make a mess myself.

Also, the first thing I did when I got home with the new 4Runner is climbed under it (caution, do it over a tarp and wear overalls) and sprayed the heck out of it inside frame rails with Fluid Film. My understanding that problematic rust starts inside frame rails, so that is where you want most protection.

 

Thanks. I looked and there are a few that are 30 miles from me.

John

 

That's quite a dramatic difference.
Thanks,
John

 

I saw some videos about Krown. They are mostly in Canada, but I looked and there is one around 60 miles North of me in Germantown, NY
Thanks,
John

 

In looking at the options, The Blaster Surface Shield seems to have a lot of complaints regarding defective spray cans (not the product). Read a bunch of

$46 B'laster Surface Shield – Rust Protectant Spray and Undercoating for Vehicles – Long-Lasting Corrosion Protection with Lanolin-Based Formula – 12oz Aerosol Can (6 Pack)

Amazon reviews. They seem like recent complaints. I know I have had that problem with certain paint spray cans as well.

John

 

I recently went down the path of deciding what I was going to use for rust prevention on my new 4Runner. Ultimately my choices narrowed down to Fluid Film, Woolwax and Blaster's Surface Shield. They all had their own pros and cons, as with almost anything. After reviewing things, one of my conclusions was that small, individual spray cans - for these relatively thick concoctions, probably wouldn't work very well. Which put me into the position of needing to buy a sprayer (I live in a place where no one is listed by any of these manufacturers as having an affiliated installer/applicator). I went with a sprayer from Woolwax, partially because it was easy to just pick a kit and know that everything would fit and work well together (~$110). I already own a compressor that will work for the spray gun. This would enable me to spray any of the three products above - just purchase gallon containers and transfer the product into the spray bottles. Ultimately I chose Woolwax - and a gallon ran me another $65. Should be enough for the full initial application. From my perspective, it's a pretty reasonable price to pay for what seems to be a good level of protection. And if I'm not happy with the performance of Woolwax, I can always use the spray rig to switch over to one of the others. All three companies sell "bulk" containers of their product.

I haven't done the first application yet - so this is all theory on my part. (I think that my Woolwax shipment may be at the Post office today). At my age (62), I'm still comfortable rolling around on the floor under my 4Runner and doing this myself, but even if you're not, maybe you find someone who can spray it for you - no matter what product you select. (Note - I may end up using a small aerosol can or two of Fluid Film, Surface Shield, or Krown to spray into some tight areas that I think would benefit from a slightly less viscous product). Mix and Match seems to be "okay" in terms of overall results.

I'll post my results - but it'll be a few weeks. I'm planning to install my RSG Rock Sliders before I undercoat and they won't be here for a few more weeks.

 

Looking forward to the results.
But I was wondering. How high are you able to raise the 4Runner to do the spraying?

John

 

@craftech

I had my WoolWax done by a vendor, but I've done touchups at home on ramps. They give me enough room to maneuver on a creeper, which my aging bones tolerate better than sliding around on a big piece of cardboard. I could go another 6-8" on jack stands if I wanted.

 

What kind of ramps do you have backpacker? I have always used a floor jack and jack stands for safety. Are you able to drive up on them safely?

Thanks,
John