I have had my 4runner for about 12 years. I got it with about 68K miles and it is now well over 178K with a broken odometer. I have done sporadic maintenance and it has recently sat for a couple years being neglected even worse than I did on my father's property. This is a thread to let everyone know what issues I am having so I can get some helpful insight if needed as well as to motivate me to get her back on the road.

Issue #1 - For the past 20-30K miles, loss of overall power with so so acceleration (nothing like when I first got it). Oil sludge noticed. Also a very high cold idle with a return to normal after a few minutes. After a few searches I think these all may be linked. Tonight I ordered some gaskets through my local dealer (won't do that again after losing my left arm in the transaction) and pulled my throttle body and IAC. I unscrewed them and am cleaning them thoroughly. I tool the IAC apart and hope I am putting it back together correctly (yep apart). \






Issue # 2 - Brakes are needed badly to the point the pedal sometimes goes to the floor. I think the pistons are coming out so far due to worn pads and rotors. I have got to get on this but I really need to spend a few hundred on an entire overhaul.

Issue # 3 - Need a new timing belt (I had the dealer do the last one at about 110K with the head gasket recall and a new clutch.) and a new clutch soon.

Issue # 4 - 4 wheel drive has never seemed to work. This vehicle was in a pretty good accident before I got it and I don't know if anything was damaged or not put back after that. No light comes on that I notice and the front wheels don't seem to do much in 4H or 4L. I have read up on some posts reference the AAD and grey wire mod, so I will be trying a few ideas and let you guys know how it works.

Aside from that, I will be looking for some interior pieces as time goes on to put her back in her glory. Thanks for the site and any help.

 

So I cleaned everything out...put it all back together. Same deal. I paid attention to the RPM's upon first start and maybe it is normal IDK? Upon start up it is approximately 1600-1700 RPMS for about 3-4 minutes. Then it gradually drops over the next 3 minutes or so resting at about 700-800 RPMS. Is this normal for the RPM range? I noticed a loud whir almost a whine but not really squealy, from the cover/belt/alternator area that makes the engine sound really loud when revved up, probably much louder than it should. Thanks in advance for any help.

***Edit...I think the culprit may be the power steering pump. I spoke to pops today and he mentioned something about putting fluid in it over the past few years. Maybe he let it run dry too many times. I will check it tomorrow. In addition, after some spirited driving tonight to let the computer seat in the clean TB the throttle response seems to have improved greatly. Next, to the brakes (quickly).