Couple of questions- Need advice

[slice]

I purchased a used 04 4runner for my wife last summer. It has not exactly been what we are used to from a Toyota vehicle, but at any rate here are some issues that we have and the dealer has not been able to help. I was wanting to know if these are common probelms or if anyone has an idea what I need to look for. I'm pretty car savy, but I don't know much about these newer 4runners specifically ( I drove a 90 for years).

-It has a driveline thud at slow speeds when getting on and off the gas, feels like the TC to me.

-The maintenance light stays on, even after we took it to the dealer for an oil change. Can I reset that myself, or read a code from it??

- There's a really strange noise that we hear when driving. The best way for me to describe it is the sound tires will make as you drive over some sticky asphalt patch on the road, only MUCh louder and nearly constant. We cannot pinpoint the location of this sound and the dealer said they can't find anything.. Are these known for extreme wind noise or something?

- Lastly, the brakes... They front brakes pulse badly when coming to a stop. We have taken it in twice (expecting the dealership to JUMP at the chance of doing an expensive brake job) but both times they told us we have over 10,000 miles left on the brakes?

Thanks for any help or suggestions you may have. I really want to love this 4runner, but it is making it hard to.

[RickMN]

To reset oil light, remove the plug from the instrument panel faceplate below the speedometer. Push a small punch or rod through the plug hole and press the button. Reset the mileage counter.

As for the pulsation, you have warped rotors. If your shop had performed a lateral run-out check, they would have spotted the problem. Rotor warp is most often caused by over-torqued lug nuts. It's best to have them replaced with new pads. It's only a little more to replace them rather then have them machined and they'll last longer because there's more metal on them.

Driveline thud is more likely a U-joint sounding off. That could also be the sound you hear. Have the shop check for play in the U-joints.

[jgonzales]

Originally Posted by slice

-It has a driveline thud at slow speeds when getting on and off the gas, feels like the TC to me.

I agree with Rick on this one, sounds like it's possibly U-joints.

Originally Posted by slice

-The maintenance light stays on, even after we took it to the dealer for an oil change. Can I reset that myself, or read a code from it??

From Toyota:
1. Turn the ignition switch to the "on" position
2. Set the odometer/trip display to the "ODO" mode
3. Turn the ignition switch to the "off" position
4. Depress and hold the trip meter "reset" button (same button you used to change from trip a/b) while turning the ignition switch to the "on" position.
5. The Maintenance light will illuminate, blink for 2 seconds, illuminate again, then turn off.
6. Release the trip meter "reset" button
7. Turn the ignition to the "off" position
8. Turn the ignition to the "on" position and confirm that the Maintenance reminder goes out.

Originally Posted by slice

- There's a really strange noise that we hear when driving. The best way for me to describe it is the sound tires will make as you drive over some sticky asphalt patch on the road, only MUCh louder and nearly constant. We cannot pinpoint the location of this sound and the dealer said they can't find anything.. Are these known for extreme wind noise or something?

There's not really a lot of wind noise, mine is pretty quiet (more quiet than I expected). You might want to take it to a tire shop, unfortunately, they're sometimes better than dealers with problems that have to do with tires.

Originally Posted by slice

- Lastly, the brakes... They front brakes pulse badly when coming to a stop. We have taken it in twice (expecting the dealership to JUMP at the chance of doing an expensive brake job) but both times they told us we have over 10,000 miles left on the brakes?

I agree with Rick on this one too, definitely sounds like your brake rotors are warped. However, I'd disagree with replacing them instead of having them turned (machined). You might as well replace the pads when/if you fix the rotors but it will usually be a LOT more to replace the rotors as opposed to having them turned. Price the work both ways if you want. If you have the capability of doing the job yourself, parts stores and somewhere like Sears or Firestone will charge $10-20 per rotor to turn them for you.

[jgonzales]

Just for reference, OEM rotors are $118 or $151 each depending on which model you have. You could probably get some cheap aftermarket rotors for $40-50 each.

[RickMN]

Just make sure you buy BEEP or D3EA certified rotors. That means a name brand like Wagner, NAPA, Raybestos, or Bendix. The white box Chinese rotors are cr.. well, they're not very good.

[pagemaster]

Lastly, the brakes... They front brakes pulse badly when coming to a stop. We have taken it in twice (expecting the dealership to JUMP at the chance of doing an expensive brake job) but both times they told us we have over 10,000 miles left on the brakes?

My parents have a 04 4runner. The dealer replaced the warped rotors under warranty at about 15k. They have never had a problem with the brakes since.

[RedToy]

I had the same problem on my 2004. I had about 57,000 miles on it and had a brake job. They turned the rotors and it still does it. The dealer says it cannot be the front rotors because you would notice the wobble in the steering wheel when stopping. Sounds right and I did not have any wobble. However, what about the back rotors since it is 4 wheel disc? Maybe the pulsing is coming from them. I didn't have it checked out.

I'm not dealing with it any longer....just traded it in on a new 2007 4Runner.