Anonymous
Unregistered
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I want to keep my 1989 Toyota Pickup 4WD, but I feel as if I'm getting in too deep over my head because of the age and my lack of knowlegde on the vehicle. When I say that, I mean the Toyota 4x4, not my actual vehicle.
I do have car knowledge, but not towards 4x4s. There are many things I could do to get the truck running to my satisfaction...but there are some "big" things that keep bothering me. Here is a small list:
~Timing chain(mileage is at 165xxx right now)
~Oil leak(not bad, but still there)
~4 wires hanging from various places(no clue as to what they might be, have pics, just ask)
~Bucks when you hit anything bigger then a pebble in the road
~Alignment(front tires lean in excessively) I haven't tried to align it yet, but it leans in EXCESSIVELY!
That is just a few things that are bothering me.
I really want a 4x4, but I might just get a Ford. That way, I have more knowledge about it, people at work have more knowledge about it, both they and I can work on it, and would have parts at my disposal for it. Yes, I do work at a Ford dealership.
I just don't know what to do....I guess this is a dumb question to ask since this is the Toyota forum, but what do you think?????? 
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Brian894X4
Trail Leader
Reged: 05/14/01
Posts: 6767
Loc: Gresham, Oregon
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Well, the first thing that goes through my mind is if you think you're having little problems now, trading it in on a Ford is going to be the nightmare from hell, IMO. That is unless you're going to buy a brand new one. Then you might get a good year or two out of it.
I know I'm bias, but seriously, I've driven dozens of domestic vehicles, including Fords and they just have one problem after another. Especially electrical problems.
As for your issues. If you don't hear any noises, your chain is probably fine. Don't worry about it right now. Worst case scenario, 22RE engines are dirt cheap comparitively, since they are so plentiful. If you just purchased the truck, it might have already been replaced. If you really worried about it, then just replace the chain. Parts are cheap if you get them from EB. It might take you a day to do the job, but it will help you learn about the truck also.
The wiring hanging down should be super easy to figure. Give us some more details.
The most common oil leaks on the 22RE are valve cover gaskets or gromlets or half moons which are super easy to fix. The other likely cause is the front oil seal, which is also not that difficult.
Not sure about the bucking. The tires leaning might have to do with the torsion bars being cranked up. Just get an alignment and have them reset the bars to the stock location. You might possibly need a new steering idler arm or rebuilt it.
The thing is, even if you had to replace all of the above items, including the timing chain, that's remarkably simple stuff for a truck with 165K miles on it and you'll probably get another 100K out of it, relatively trouble free.
The primary reasons for keeping a Toyota is they are extremely reliably, durable and very cost effective. They're cheap to work on and parts are cheap and plentiful.
Show me a similiar type Ford mini-truck that has similiar mileage and I'll show you a truck on its last leg. Many of us are running Toyotas with 200 or 300K miles on our original motors, trannys, etc and we're beating the snot out of them on the trail, not babying them on the highway.
That speaks volumes.
Just my opinion. Good luck.
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4Crawler
Toyota 4-Wheeling Forum Moderator
Reged: 01/12/00
Posts: 12144
Loc: N. California. USA
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The timing chain and oil leak have nothing to do w/ 4x4, straight forward to fix, search for links to writeups on the net and have at it.
The bucking ride problem seems pretty straight forward to fix, sounded like you decided the shocks were too short, so either pull the blocks and crank down the torsion bars up front or get proper length shocks. Again, really not 4x4 related, most all trucks will have 4 wheels and 4 shocks. And with the torsion bars cranked down, you'll probably find it easier to properly align the front tires. If yours is cranked up as high as it sounds, no wonder the wheels lean in and the ride is like a buckboard wagon. Dropping it back down to it's stock ride height will cost very little (maybe only the cost of an alignment that you need to do anyway).
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r.c.brown@ieee.org
TruckEditor@tlca.org
Project: 4Crawler
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J94_4runner
Roll Me Over
Reged: 10/02/03
Posts: 2661
Loc: Tampa, FL
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like 4crawler said, the timing chain is a typical "car" job. I'll give ya my 2cents on what I think.... pre '95 toyotas ROCK. for some reason I find the 96+'s crappy(er). They're not like our older ones. My girl's 2000 4runner has had more mechanical problems than my 94. she has 74K, I have 135K... So I don't really favor "newer" toyotas; not woth it. My dad bought a '98 F150 V6 5spd reg cab 2wd & it was a tank. Never had 1 problem with it. dirt cheap price too. I went off-road, learned how to drive stick in it, towed boats, did donuts... honestly that truck turned me on to Fords. Prior to that truck I hated Ford. It died a year or so ago when a old-fart rear-ended it at 60mph with his '86 Lincoln when my dad was stopped at a red light. Totaled both vehicles. I'm actually thinking about buying a Ford Ranger/Mazda B2300 in about 2-3 yrs when i'm done with school for my Daily driver; I need a pickup. But if you're not looking at a "new(er)" ford I'd fix your yota and call it a day. stay away from old worn out fords, that's where the problems begin. I'd only buy a ford new, or dang near new.
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www.celicasupra.com
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Quote:
The wiring hanging down should be super easy to figure. Give us some more details.
Here are the wire pics...I can take as many as needed, I have a digital camera.
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4Crawler
Toyota 4-Wheeling Forum Moderator
Reged: 01/12/00
Posts: 12144
Loc: N. California. USA
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O2 sensor(s) would be on the driver's side. The sensor(s) are in the exhaust, one between the engine and catalytic convertor and if a 2nd one is present, it would be after the cat. Passenger side of engine has the knock sensor up between the oil filter and the fuel filter, the oil pressure sender or switch below the oil filter as well as temperature senders for the ECU and gauge.
On the tranny, reverse light switch is on the driver's side next to the oil fill plug. On the t-case, passenger side is the 4WD switch and the speedometer cable or VSS and wire.
There are often extra plugs on the engine, mine has two on the passenger side that don't seem to go anywhere.
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TruckEditor@tlca.org
Project: 4Crawler
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Quote:
The timing chain and oil leak have nothing to do w/ 4x4
Yes and no...you have to drop the diff the replace it, right?! But I guess if there are no abnormal sounds with the motor, I won't worry about that. Oil leak is around the pan. Don't you have to drop the front diff to access the pan and fix the leak?
I tried to loosen up the torsion bars, but it didn't seem like it did anything to the height of the truck. The pass. side was turing. I loosened the nut about 10 times and the driver side was about 2 turns until it wouldn't move anymore. I sprayed PB blaster on it, but it wouldn't budge. Maybe the nut and bolt need to be replaced then?! Still, the pass. side didn't do anything.
I want to get the alignment fixed, then I can worry about the "right" shocks to get, tires, etc...
I really like the Toyota. I just have mixed feelings about it. *Should I get rid of it or should I spend the money to get it right?* Not a question to you all, just what I'm thinking about. I'll probably end up spending the money on the Toyota. I really want it AND my wife doesn't mind.
What to do?!
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Quote:
On the t-case, passenger side is the 4WD switch and the speedometer cable or VSS and wire.
My speedo seems to work fine, but there is not 4WD light coming on when I engage it. It might not even have a light though. What is VSS?
I don't see any wires coming from t-case. Only 2 that go directly into tranny. Then 2 more on driver side that seem to go nowhere and come from nowhere. I'll post better pics tomorrow. I'm not 100% sure that they are to the 02 sensor, only guessing.
Also, I don't have reverse lights. There are no wires coming from the driver side near the oil fill plug.
I'll post better pics tomorrow.
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4Crawler
Toyota 4-Wheeling Forum Moderator
Reged: 01/12/00
Posts: 12144
Loc: N. California. USA
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VSS = Vehicle Speed Sensor, used on the later trucks with electronic speedometers. I think the '89 is mechanical.
There must be a connection for the reverse light switch in the transmission. That is where "reverse gear" lives, so that is where the swicth must be. Maybe someone has cut the wires off the switch, but look for something screwed into the side of the transmission that is not a bolt and that is likely the reverse light switch. Same on the t-case, that is where "4WD" lives so that is where the 4WD switch is. It is usually up high near where the shifter is attached. On my '85 is it on the passenger side, on a '94 pickup I worked on it is on the passenger side, both 22RE, both 5-speeds, so I would guess yours in there, too. Those two switches connector to a short wiring harness that runs from the passenger side of the engine bay, up and over the engine to pick up the two switches.
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r.c.brown@ieee.org
TruckEditor@tlca.org
Project: 4Crawler
4Crawler OffRoad - 4x4Wire discount code
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4Crawler
Toyota 4-Wheeling Forum Moderator
Reged: 01/12/00
Posts: 12144
Loc: N. California. USA
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Quote:
Quote:
The timing chain and oil leak have nothing to do w/ 4x4
Yes and no...you have to drop the diff the replace it, right?! But I guess if there are no abnormal sounds with the motor, I won't worry about that. Oil leak is around the pan. Don't you have to drop the front diff to access the pan and fix the leak?
I tried to loosen up the torsion bars, but it didn't seem like it did anything to the height of the truck. The pass. side was turing. I loosened the nut about 10 times and the driver side was about 2 turns until it wouldn't move anymore. I sprayed PB blaster on it, but it wouldn't budge. Maybe the nut and bolt need to be replaced then?! Still, the pass. side didn't do anything.
I want to get the alignment fixed, then I can worry about the "right" shocks to get, tires, etc...
I really like the Toyota. I just have mixed feelings about it. *Should I get rid of it or should I spend the money to get it right?* Not a question to you all, just what I'm thinking about. I'll probably end up spending the money on the Toyota. I really want it AND my wife doesn't mind.
What to do?!
Timing chain R&R. Dropping the oil pan helps but is not required. Dropping the oil pan does require dropping the front diff, that is easy, remove 3 bolts and and lower it with a floor jack. Pretty simple operation.
Your torsion bars and/or adjuster bolts may be frozen in place, could also explain the rough riding: http://www.off-road.com/toyota/tech/torsion/index.htm
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r.c.brown@ieee.org
TruckEditor@tlca.org
Project: 4Crawler
4Crawler OffRoad - 4x4Wire discount code
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