2003 Toyota 4 Runner

AFTER SUFFERING THROUGH MONTHS OF ILLNESS CAUSED BY A NOXIOUS SMELL, WE HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT OUR V8 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER'S CATALYTIC CONVERTER EMITS OXIDES OF SULFUR (SO2, HS2, ETC.) ON THE MATTER OF SULFUR DIOXIDE ALONE, WE FOUND THAT ACCORDING TO THE EPA, SO2 CONTRIBUTES TO RESPIRATORY ILLNESS, PARTICULARLY IN CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY, AND AGGRAVATES EXISTING HEART AND LUNG DISEASES. PEOPLE WITH ASTHMA ARE PARTICULARLY AFFECTED BY PEAK LEVELS OF SO2. AS I AM PREGNANT, HAVE ASTHMA, AND USE THIS VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT MY 4-YEAR-OLD ON A DAILY BASIS, I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED BY GRESHAM TOYOTA'S REFUSAL TO ADDRESS THIS POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS HEALTH SITUATION. *LA

I AM EXPERIENCING A REPEATED CHEMICAL SULFUR ODOR IN MY VEHICLE CABIN ON EVEN MODERATE ACCELERATION. THE SMELL IS SIMPLY OVERWHELMING. THE WINDOWS ARE UP, THE SUNROOF IS CLOSED, AND THE AIR CONDITIONER IS SET TO RECIRCULATE. I UNDERSTAND FROM THOUSANDS OF OTHER POSTS ON THE INTERNET THAT TOYOTA CLAIMS THIS IS A GASOLINE ISSUE, BUT I HAVE RECENTLY TRAVELED ACROSS THE COUNTRY FROM MIAMI TO SEATTLE, AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM THROUGHOUT THE TRIP. I PERSONALLY WOULD NOT CARE ABOUT THE EXHAUST SMELL IF IT WAS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, BUT WITH ALL THE WINDOWS UP, WITH THE SUNROOF CLOSED, AND WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING ON RECIRCULATE, IT SCARES ME THAT SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF EXHAUST FUMES ARE ENTERING THE CABIN OF MY VEHICLE ON A REGULAR BASIS. ONLY THE SULFUR SMELL ON MODERATE ACCELERATION IS CLUE TO A LARGER PROBLEM. I FEAR THAT SOMETHING IS VERY, VERY WRONG WITH THIS TOYOTA PRODUCT. I REQUEST THAT THE NHTSA BEGIN INVESTIGATING THIS IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE DIES INSIDE THEIR TOYOTA 4RUNNER. *LA

2003 4 RUNNER V6 HAS LOUD TICKING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE CONMPARTMENT. I RAN IT BY THE DEALERSHIP 1 WEEK AFTER PURCHASE TOO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT WAS NORMAL. APPROXIMATLY 2 MONTHS LATER REAR SEAT WAS SQUEAKING. MADE APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER HAD THEM FIX THE SEAT AND DIAGNOSE THE NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT AGAIN. THEY FIXED THE SEAT AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE INJECTORS MAKING THE NOISE. I TOLD THE SEVICE MANAGER THAT I WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE QUALITY. THE 2002 4 RUNNER IS VERY QUIET. I AM PLANNING A RETURN TRIP TO THE DEALER WHEN I FIND ENOUGH INFORMATION ON THE PROBLEM.*AK

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW SPORTS EDITION 2003 4 RUNNER IN JULY OF 2003. THERE IS A SULFUR SMELL EMANATING FROM THE VEHICLE AT ALL TIMES. WHEN I COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA I WAS TOLD THE ODOR WAS CAUSED BY THE GAS I USE. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND TOYOTA JUST WASHES THEIR HANDS OF IT. I WAS GIVEN A PAPER WHICH PURPORTS TO BE A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. IT STATES: FEB 24 2003 - SOME OWNERS OF TOYOTA VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A SULFUR LIKE OR ROTTEN EGG ODOR FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. SULFUR IS A NATURAL COMPONENT OF CRUDE OIL FROM WHICH GASOLINE IS REFINED AND THE AMOUNT OF SULFUR CAN BE DECREASED THROUGH THE REFINING PROCESS. THE AMOUNT OF SULFUR IN FUEL SOLD IN CALIFORNIA IS REGULATED; HOWEVER, GASOLINE SOLD IN OTHER STATES CAN HAVE A HIGHER SULFUR CONTENT. SULFUR CONTENT ALSO VARIES CONSIDERABLY BETWEEN GASOLINE BRANDS AND LOCATIONS. APPLICABLE VEHICLES ALL MODELS REPAIR PROCEDURE : A SULFUR ODOR EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLES TAILPIPE DOES NOT NECESSARILY INDICATE THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLES RUNNING CONDITION BUT IS MOST LIKELY DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FUEL. IF VEHICLES IS EXHIBITING AN EXCESSIVE SULFUR ODOR THE FOLLOWING CHECKS SHOULD BE PERFORMED IF THE MIL LIGHT IS ON CHECK FOR DTC'S AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY INFORMATION TROUBLE IS FOUND AFTER PERFORMING THE ABOVE CHECK RECOMMEND THE CUSTOMER TRY A DIFFERENT SOURCE OF FUEL. REPLACEMENT OF OXYGEN SENSORS, AIR/FUEL RATIO SENSORS OR CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WILL NOT REDUCE THE ODOR AND THEREFORE NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR WARRANTY (SOUNDS LIKE A COP-OUT TO ME) TOYOTA SHOULD LOOK FOR A SOLUTION. *LA

THE DRIVER'S SEAT FOR MY 2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER SPORT V8, WHICH HAS A MANUAL ADJUSTMENT FOR THE SEAT BASE FORE-TO-AFT POSITION, HAS TOO MUCH PLAY WHEN LOCKED INTO POSITION. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE MOVEMENT, OR PLAY, WILL OVER TIME COMPROMISE THE LOCKED POSITION OF THE SEAT BASE. PREVIOUS OWNED CARS LIKE A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA AND 1996 TOYOTA RAV4, WHICH BOTH HAD MANUAL SEAT BASE ADJUSTMENTS, DID NOT HAVE THIS ISSUE. I BELIEVE ALL >= 2003 TOYOTA 4RUNNERS WITH MANUAL SEAT BASE ADJUSTMENTS HAVE THIS ISSUE - A LOCAL DEALER SHOWED ME 2 4RUNNERS ON THE LOT WHICH ALSO HAD THE SEAT BASE MOVEMENT WHEN LOCKED, AND DECLARED THIS ISSUE "NORMAL". I BELIEVE MANY OTHER 4RUNNER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS: HTTP://WWW.TOYOTA-4RUNNER.ORG/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=&THREADID=676. *AK