1999 Toyota 4Runner Logo
Posted on Oct 21, 2013
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Change thermostat in 1999 toyota 4Runner - 1999 Toyota 4Runner

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  • Posted on Oct 21, 2013
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Drain coolant, undo bolts at housing slowly and evenly, they are located at the end of the upper rad hose.Pull off housing, and pull out thermostat. Replace and do opposite to install. Top up with 50/50 coolant mixture. Make sure you clean gasket area and install new gasket. Do not over torque bolts...

  • kramreldan Feb 18, 2015

    This is all true. I found for my 2002 4runner that there was no gasket between the thermostat housing and the waterpump. The only gasket was a circular one for the thermostat itself. Make sure you clean off any corrosion on the surface of the thermostat housing and where it connects to the water pump. I did not clean this off the first time and it resulted in a leak. I removed the entire thermostat housing, leaving it connected to the lower hose but disconnected from radiator so I could more easily work on cleaning it. I used my dremmel with a soft/fine metal brush attachment to clean off any corrosion or small pits in the metal. Do not overdue this and be sure you are only clearing the surface and not making new divots or uneven surfaces on the housing. The first time around, I had issues with coolant going all over the place. I had a couple of containers under the vehicle to catch the fluid but my skid plate was in the way and caused the coolant to drain in several places. The second time around, I got smart about draining the coolant. I took off the skid plate on the bottom of my 4runner. This allowed me to place a pail directly under the lower hose/radiator connection. I lined the pail with a garbage bag so I could reuse any fluid that drained out. Once the thermostat had been replaced and bolted back on, I simply put a funnel in the radiator, held the bag full of coolant up and made a few small incisions in the corner of the bag, allowing the fluid to be reused. Factory Red Toyota coolant isn't cheap, as much as $38/gallon. Make sure you use a 50/50 coolant/water mixture. I always use distilled water to be safe but I'm not sure if it is required. Very easy repair once you know all that is involved.

  • kramreldan Feb 18, 2015

    Oh yeah, one more thing. To be safe, I used "blue" gasket maker sealant (gel is actually gray) on the thermostat housing and around the three bolts. I finger tightened the bolts until the gasket sealant started to push out between the water pump and thermostat housing seem. I waited an hour before fully torquing down the bolts. I then waited another 24 hours before adding the recycled coolant. It may take longer to cure in cold weather and quicker in warmer weather. I now have an awesome seal and don't worry about this issue any more.

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  • Posted on Feb 19, 2015
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I found for my 2002 4runner Sport, there was no gasket between the thermostat housing and the water pump. The only gasket was a circular one for the thermostat itself. Make sure you clean off any corrosion on the surface of the thermostat housing and where it connects to the water pump. I did not clean this off the first time and it resulted in a leak. I removed the entire thermostat housing, leaving it connected to the lower hose but disconnected from radiator so I could remove it and more easily work on cleaning it. I used my dremmel with a soft/fine metal brush attachment to clean off any corrosion or small pits in the metal. Do not overdue this and be sure you are only clearing the surface and not making new divots or uneven surfaces on the housing.

I had messy coolant spillage issues with coolant going all over the place the first time I disconnected the thermostat housing. I had a couple of containers under the vehicle to catch the fluid but my skid plate was in the way and caused the coolant to drain in several places and me scrambling to place many containers under my vehicle to catch the many flows of coolant. The second time around, I got smarter about draining the coolant. I took off the skid plate on the bottom of my 4runner Sport, six simple bolts (called Splash Guard Retainers 12mm ,(M8x20mm)). This allowed me to place a pail directly under the lower hose/radiator connection and remove the clamp there first to drain the coolant. Then, once all the coolant had drained, I removed the Thermostat housing 3 bolts again. Since I had already filled the system with new 50/50 red Toyota coolant, I decided to reuse the coolant I had to drain for the second time. I lined the pail with a garbage bag so I could catch any fluid that drained out without contaminating it with dust or other debris. Once the thermostat had been replaced, housing bolted back on, and lower hose clamped, I simply put a funnel in the radiator, held the bag full of coolant up and made a few small incisions in the corner of the bag, allowing the fluid slowly refill the coolant system. Factory Red Toyota coolant isn't cheap, as much as $38/gallon. Make sure you use a 50/50 coolant/water mixture. I always use distilled water to be safe but I'm not sure if it is required. Very easy repair once you know all that is involved.

One more thing. To be safe, I used "blue" gasket maker sealant (gel is actually gray) on the thermostat housing and around the three bolts. I finger tightened the bolts until the gasket sealant started to push out between the water pump and thermostat housing seem. I waited an hour before fully torquing down the bolts. I then waited another 24 hours before adding the recycled coolant. It may take longer to cure in cold weather and quicker in warmer weather. I now have an awesome seal and don't worry about this issue any more.

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5 Related Answers

toniegm

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SOURCE: 1999 toyota 4runner problem

Same thing happened to me, I had it computer analyzed and it turned out to be bad injector # 3, cost about $300 replaced.

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SOURCE: fuel filter replacement 1999 4runner

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  • Posted on Feb 14, 2010

SOURCE: 1999 Toyota 4runner starting problem

Turn on the headlights to check the battery and it's connections. If the lights fade out, the battery has likely lost charge, either because of a bad battery, or the alternator has failed. Charge the battery with an external charger overnight if the charger has a low charge rating, then start the engine and measure the battery voltage. The voltage should read 13.5 to 14.5 volts DC if the alternator is working, but 12.6 volts or less if it is not working. The battery should run the truck for a while until you can get the alternator and battery checked. Don't run any accessories until the system is repaired as needed.

Anonymous

  • 784 Answers
  • Posted on Aug 11, 2010

SOURCE: My 4runner breaks fail atimes. what can I do to

Calipers need to be replaced.
Brake fluid needs to be flushed completely through 4 wheels.
If you are not comfortable to do it your self then have a shop to do it. These calipers can be rebuilt, but I would go with new ones.It is recommended to have brake fluid flushed every 3 years. The brake fluid is subjected to absorb moisture over time. When it has moisture, it combines with dust causing some clogged up at moving surface locations as cylinders inside calipers. New brake fluid in the line can maintain the brake performance as it is designed to do so. Flushing is not the same as filling up. Good luck.

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