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New owner- things to check or must do mods?

Discussion in '4th Gen 4Runners (2003-2009)' started by spencermarkd, Jun 3, 2021.

  1. Jun 3, 2021 at 8:40 AM
    #1
    spencermarkd

    spencermarkd [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2021
    Member:
    #21754
    Messages:
    125
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Spencer
    Pullman, WA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Driftwood Pearl SR5
    Hey y'all,

    Just bought a 2007 4Runner, SR5 Sport, with the 4.0 1GR and about 183K miles. Service history has been apparently "regular 3500 mile changes" but who knows, really.

    Here's my initial list:
    - oil change, filter, air filter
    - cabin filter
    - power steering fluid
    - brake fluid
    - sway bar bushings
    - sway bar end links?
    - tie rod ends?
    - interior LED's
    - possibly a new set of headlights (PO has some aftermarket retros in there that aren't in great shape)
    - pull a plug and see what kind of shape they're in, possibly replace

    There's a clunk in the front that I'm guessing is one of the bushings somewhere.


    Maintenance items aside, any must have/must do mods? I came from a Tacoma and know there were a few quality of life mods I regretted not doing earlier.
     
    Moon Landing likes this.
  2. Jun 3, 2021 at 8:41 AM
    #2
    spencermarkd

    spencermarkd [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2021
    Member:
    #21754
    Messages:
    125
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Spencer
    Pullman, WA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Driftwood Pearl SR5
    Whoops, how dare I forget to include the obligatory pic:

    MicrosoftTeams-image (1).jpg
     
    Moon Landing likes this.
  3. Jun 3, 2021 at 10:13 AM
    #3
    iamincrediboy

    iamincrediboy New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2020
    Member:
    #18551
    Messages:
    527
    Gender:
    Male
    South FL
    Vehicle:
    2005 V8 4Runner Limited - Silver
    Welcome from MD!

    Few maintenance items for your consideration:
    - all 3 diff fluid drain + refill/flush
    - new water pump + thermostat (if you don't know if its been done, for peace of mind)
    - new battery
    - coolant flush
    - grease your drive shafts
    - grease every other thing you can find with a zerk
    - new spark plugs, or at least verify spacing


    Few mods for your consideration:
    - HCF delete
    - running board delete (unless your SO needs them)
    - TPMS light delete (depending on how frequent you wheel)
    - Fog + low/high beam mod (https://www.top4runners.com/ja/2007/fogmod.html)

    Anything else you can think of... be sure to include pics! :cheers:
     
    Moon Landing likes this.
  4. Jun 3, 2021 at 12:17 PM
    #4
    diverdon

    diverdon New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2021
    Member:
    #19018
    Messages:
    556
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Don
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    21 t4r sr5 premium
    Welcome from northern NY. Good looking rig
     
    spencermarkd[OP] likes this.
  5. Jun 3, 2021 at 1:23 PM
    #5
    spencermarkd

    spencermarkd [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2021
    Member:
    #21754
    Messages:
    125
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Spencer
    Pullman, WA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Driftwood Pearl SR5

    Oh man, I forgot about the diffs, I did those on the taco about six months before I sold it and I'm still getting whiffs of gear oil in the corner of the garage. You're right though, I should to those too. Battery is new-er, about a year old, so that's nice.

    HCF? Not sure what that acronym is, sorry. Search wasn't helpful either, just folks in their signatures with it.

    Fog anytime looks like the same relay mod that it was on the tacoma, that should be an easy one.

    Not sure about the running boards yet. My fiance is 5'2" and may like them, but I'm already annoyed of hitting my calf on it when I step out.

    Also spent an hour or so this morning looking at new head units. Looks much easier to change out than the tacos. No dash surround or anything needed which'll be nice.


    Random question: the center console latch, on the underside of the lid, is that supposed to have a spring or be springy? Mine just kind of flops and doesn't feel real secured.
     
  6. Jun 3, 2021 at 1:34 PM
    #6
    Londonrain

    Londonrain Trigger

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2020
    Member:
    #13721
    Messages:
    59
    Gender:
    Female
    First Name:
    Heather
    Rancho Cucamonga, CA
    Vehicle:
    2004 4th Gen 4 Runner
    Demello Bumper Original Version Demello Rock Sliders (Not produced anymore) Baja Designs Fog lights Baja Designs Ditch lights KC lights turn signals Onboard ARB Compressor Rough Country-Black Series Cree 30" Light bar with DRL Rago Fabrication mounting hardware CB/Ham Radio with PA system Big Bad Max air horn Spec D headlights Runner lights on sides of bumper 3 light set up center grill JBA upper control arms Icon Stage 2 lift kit (with icon socks) front and back Body Mount Chop (BMC) Fender Liner
    When we first got ours we did a seafoam flush and it did wonders.
     
    spencermarkd[OP] likes this.
  7. Jun 3, 2021 at 1:49 PM
    #7
    mousemeat

    mousemeat New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2020
    Member:
    #17209
    Messages:
    1,184
    Gender:
    Male
    Memphis, TN.
    Vehicle:
    1997 4 runner limited
    upgraded suspension, large all terrain tires
    nice rig...welcome
     
    spencermarkd[OP] likes this.
  8. Jun 3, 2021 at 1:57 PM
    #8
    Ironguy

    Ironguy New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2019
    Member:
    #12421
    Messages:
    6,230
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    First Name:
    Ralph
    Bisbee AZ
    Vehicle:
    2020 Black 4Runner Venture 1967 FJ40 Land Cruiser
    New pine scent hanger, new sun shade
    Welcome from Arizona!
     
    spencermarkd[OP] and mousemeat like this.
  9. Jun 4, 2021 at 9:43 AM
    #9
    spencermarkd

    spencermarkd [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2021
    Member:
    #21754
    Messages:
    125
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Spencer
    Pullman, WA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Driftwood Pearl SR5
    So many parts bought:

    - PCV valve
    - wiper blades all around
    - front sway bar end links
    - front sway bar bushings
    - spark plugs
    - main belt
    - a haynes manual (always buy one for my vehicles)
    - interior LED lights and plate lights
    - fog lamp bulbs
    - brake fluid
    - ATF for PS
    - center console latch
    - the little rubber cover for the hatch button/handle (mine is all gooey and gross for some reason...)
    - oil filter
    - air filter
    - cabin air filter
    - valve stem caps (they don't match and it irks me)
    - a set of crush washers for all 3 diffs
    - injector cleaner
    - license plate bolt set (to replace the rusty ones on there now)
    - radiator cap


    Still need to pick up gear oil and coolant. Should be a good couple weekends, woo.
     
    iamincrediboy likes this.
  10. Jun 4, 2021 at 10:02 AM
    #10
    Moon Landing

    Moon Landing AFFTC 1967/68 Eddies Air Patch

    Joined:
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    Jer
    La Quinta, Ca. AKA "The Skillet"
    Vehicle:
    Moon Rock 4Runner
    Nam 68/69
  11. Jun 5, 2021 at 9:39 PM
    #11
    spencermarkd

    spencermarkd [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2021
    Member:
    #21754
    Messages:
    125
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Spencer
    Pullman, WA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Driftwood Pearl SR5
    Well, just ordered new coilovers for up front and shocks for the rear. I don't do much offroad anymore so just went with KYB gas a just pre-builts. Seems to be real hard to find anyone with 5100s in stock and these fit the budget.

    I drove around this evening and just about got sea sick from how little the (I'm assuming) original shocks were doing to damp. Just bouncing everywhere ugh.
     
  12. Jun 7, 2021 at 3:03 AM
    #12
    Letsflyman

    Letsflyman New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2021
    Member:
    #21826
    Messages:
    73
    Vehicle:
    96 Tacoma 400k running strong
    Welp. Guess I better start stocking up on stuff. My suggestion would be to go Amsoil for all the lubes. My 96 Taco with 400k thanks me every day for it. Used Amsoil from the first oil change I ever did...and every 20 to 30k miles after.
     
  13. Jun 8, 2021 at 6:37 AM
    #13
    iamincrediboy

    iamincrediboy New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2020
    Member:
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    Messages:
    527
    Gender:
    Male
    South FL
    Vehicle:
    2005 V8 4Runner Limited - Silver

    HCF is the hydro-carbon filter. So when you open up your engine bay air filter to swap to something better, there should be a separate flimsy little thin screen between the top of the filter and the rest of the housing going towards the engine. That is the HCF. Toyota installed it as a quick response to all of the new EPA regulations back when. Does it reaaallyy need to come out? Eh probably not. Is it just some thing else marginal effect that is one more thing in the way of getting air into the engine? Yep. So, I like many others just rip it out.


    Also, when you look into greasing your drive train. Make sure to follow the manual, one of the spec pages in the back will stipulate exactly what the requirement is - look for something like NLGI 2 lithium grease or moly grease. Cause it matters for the longevity of your spider joints and slip yokes
     

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