What have you done to your 5th Gen 4Runner today?

It's safety inspections specifically that are gone, a number of counties as you found still have emissions but hey, delegation of powers and all that. The statement says "needed" too which means there's room for counties. County rights am I right?

I know the whole safety inspection thing isn't perfect but the guy pushing the change had some whole statement about trusting Texans to keep their vehicles safe and all that. We're still being charged for it though since it was moved to registration I believe.

I suppose I don't have to worry about my technically improper front tint but I'm not too happy knowing plenty of folks give their car as much thought as their dishwasher.

On-topic, I'm figuring out how I want to route this rear diff breather relocate kit...

 

The place I took my 4Runner too had no issues at all with my tint. The manager actually complimented me on it "Dude, the dark tint with the retro stripe & bronze accents really sets it off. Tight ride, bro."

 

Just had my truck inspected in NC (no front windshield tint allowed), so going to add 70% and see what happens next year. They are supposed to test any tint applied outside the factory ($10 charge) but didn't charge me last year or this, so thinking they don't care about tint. Will see.

 

Same here with my safety last year (70% front), just not too big of a fan of having a technical violation hanging!

Diff breather relocation also completed. Routed it up behind the filler cap. (but not through it since it didn’t seem like it’d fit)

Bought an 8’ kit but chopped a lot of it off after seeing how much slack Toyota left in the brake lines.

 

Do you have a photo after you've wiped it off?

 

It's been some time, but I believe I chose the void behind the DS tail light, not the jack storage area. Worked fine for me.

 

I tried just now. Sorry for the bad lighting.

 

Wrapping up a roughly 4,000 mile road trip to visit family in NY (CO to NY and back) because we wanted to bring our dog. I’ve been super impressed with how great the 4runner is as a road trip vehicle (minus the mpg). I split the drive into two days of driving each way, roughly 16.5 hours the first and 7.5 the second day each way. The seats are very comfortable in my opinion and haven’t given me or my fiancée any issues. Just one more 7.5 hour drive until we are home!

 

16.5hours on the first day? Dang..!!! I keep 7 / 7.5hours max with rest with some water and little walk every 3 hours ish. What I learn if you keep at speed limit it gives very respectable mpg.

I love to do a trip to MD & NY just me and my dog. Family was a pain on last trip when it comes to food.

Back story-
Our last trip was mainly to Yellowstone. I had the worst food in my life inside Yellowstone park. I told my family going outside the park for food is a waste of time.

 

I renew mine and choose "im out of state" and you don't need the inspection. They just send you the window sticker and tell you to get it when you can.

 

There are a lot of opinions here Camel, ask away.

 

You shady mofo! That's illegal.

...I respect that.

 

Don't speed, that is too.

 

What a scam that is.

Does Texas really think a 2023 is going to fail emissions?

 

Yeah here in Pa. it's I believe last time Nov $60 total scam!! Then the "safety Insp. I don't remember cause my buddy didn't charge me for that because I only had 5+k on it after the 1st year.

 

That's crazy!

I haven't had a single smog check in CA yet with my 2018.

They don't even start checking until a car is 8 years old. After that, I believe it's once every 2 years.

No safety inspections ever......unless a cop pulls you over and tells you to fix something. Then you have to go to the police station to get it signed off that it was fixed.

 

What a rip off for emissions. Luckily I’m in schuylkill county we don’t have them. I even had to tell my service guy at the GM dealer when I took my Vette for inspection. took it there a few years ago for state inspection had to remind him where I live we don’t have them or he would have tried to charge me.

 

A few things:

1) I did my usual weekly gas up and want to remind you all that I am still the reigning champion gas saver! Plus I averaged 20.873 MPG's for the tank average.



2) While washing/cleaning my ride I noticed that when the bronze wheels get really dirty (Brake dust, mainly) they look brown. I notice it because I have OCD and cleaning the small areas of the wheels so they shine again can be a pain in the butt. First world problems, am I right?

3) While detailing I noticed the front bump (the area between the grill, but below it) seemed to have a lot of rock chips and dirt/road grime on it. I've been thinking about putting a steel bumper on it for a few weeks now. My 21' Taco had one and I think I may put the same brand/model on this truck. I went looking on Extreme Terrain and found the bumper I want. The best part was, I was able to see what it would look like on a Barcelona Red 4Runner. I have some extra cash lying around; so I may do this in a few months. If/When I do, I'll add a light bar & interior switch to the dash for light. I doubt I'll add a winch, because I'm just a mall crawler.

 

parked on vehicle ramps off the curb

removed spare tire following road trip

removed 2/4 skids for the service dude
(skid drain access not right)

took whole fam to the Valvoline service center I like.

got gasstation lollipops now took the 4r to the waterpark.

 

Got this fixed today, marking another OEM part failure at 166k miles. Symptom is cruise control straight up doesn't work, no green indicator in the dash, nothing. I also noticed an intermittent plastic rubbing sound when I turned the steering wheel. Later I unbolted the airbag to test the cruise control switch per FSM and it was OK. By deduction that left the spiral cable aka clock spring as the culprit. Unfortunately there were no trustworthy aftermarket alternatives offered by SMP, WVE, VDO, etc., so I had to line Akio's pockets and order Toyota P/N 84307-35010

When the part arrived, the reason for its $720 USD MSRP was clear - fucking Toyota bundles the steering angle sensor together with the clock spring. (For reference, the corresponding parts on Tacomas of the same era were sold separately.)



Circuit check of the old clock spring confirmed no continuity between connectors z9 pin 4 and F23 pin 2:



Old clock spring removed and new one installed, before breaking off the shipping tab:

 

Spent a couple nights sleeping in the back of the 4runner on a guy’s fishing trip in Red Feather Lakes. I slept 2 nights in the front seat in Albuquerque, but wasn’t too bad in the back. I do see why people build the platforms and I may consider doing the same. Used a towel to help level it out

 

Good Day Today!

 

400-mile road trip for a family visit and some "quality time" on the tractor.

 

Congrats

 

75 degrees is a great day. It’s 95 here. Oh, and the 100,000 miles is good too.

 

When's the solid front axle swap to match the pictogram?

 

Catching up

 

chased rear frame holes

 

finished recovery points