Sorry for the repeat post, but I never got any responses the last time I posted.

First question: I have a rattling sound coming from the front end of the truck, a 94 ex-cab 4x4 w/22re. The sound happens when I hit bumps in the road or go over speed bumps. When I bought the truck my mechanic said that the idler arm on the front suspension needed to be replaced. I'm not asking for a compete diagnostic analysis here, but wondering if the idler arm could cause things on the front end to sound loose and clunky?

Second question: The back end of my truck sags. Pretty sure the former owner didn't haul stuff with it. He barely used the truck. My roommate, a mechanic, said the springs are shot and if I'm going to replace them I want to replace them with an upgraded version. I'm just looking to get the truck back to stock height, but for it to have enough strength for me to build a storage system in the bed and not have the truck sagging again. So, are there any good leaf springs that folks can recommend? Should I go aftermarket or replace with Toyota/TRD?

One last question: Are the heater/vent controls supposed to light up? This is my second Toyota truck and neither have/had a lighted heater/vent control panel. My friend swears that her friends 4-runner heater/vent control panel does indeed light up. Do I just have a burnt out bulb? If so, how do I replace it?

Thanks everyone.
matthew

 

Idler arm will clunk and make a bit of racket. You may also have other issues in there as well.

If your replacing springs get upgraded ones they don't cost much more.

They should light. My 92 pickup do not but my 95 4Runner do. I don't worry about it. 4 slides 3 you use. If you can't figure out what they do, I don't know what to tell ya.

 

I plan on replacing the idler arm as soon as i get back from India. No time beforehand. What else could be going on with the front suspension? My mechanic didn't mention anything when I had the truck inspected, before purchase. Also, the other day I had my tires siped and they mentioned the idler arm, but nothing else.

I'll check out those sites for springs. What's your opinion on the springs from Northwest Offroad?

As for the lights...I just want them to light up if they're supposed to. Don't need the light as I know the controls by heart, but if it's easy to fix, then why not?

 

You might be able to wiggle things and move things about to see what is giving you and issue.

I have yet to swap mine...I do need to though, I just tossed a set of Add A leaf on for now.

Just gotta pop part of the dash out I think. I have not been ambitious enough to do so. Someday when I have and extra hour or so I get to it.

 

The hvac controls are supposed to light up afaik. Mine do. Pretty sure you gotta pull the dash to remove the hvac faceplate though.

 

i'm gonna look it up in my repair manuals and see what the procedure is. hopefully, i can access what i need to by just removing the plate around the HVAC because i'm not taking the dash out. just not worth it.

 

Try 3 or 4 hours man. tons of tiny little screws to remove, then replace the bulb, and then you have to figure out where everything went again.

 

Your 16 year old suspension bushings could also be causing some rattling over bumps.

 

are worn out by now. i can see that some of them are, but those just aren't on my to do list in the very near future. some day yes, but probably not this year.

i think i'll start with the idler arm and see how that goes.

*by the way, does anyone have a recommendation on a GOOD aftermarket idler arm? or should i just replace with a stock one? i don't do any rock crawling, or other hardcore off-roading right now, but i always prefer to upgrade to better components when possible.

 

Total Chaos has an upgraded Idler Arm but its pricey.

 

Yes, they should light up. It's very, very easy to replace the bulb as well.

1) Remove knobs from sliders, and A/C button by pulling straight out.
2) with a small screwdriver, pry from the right side out, the HVAC panel will pop right out.
3) See bulb in the center, pull it out, replace.
4) put faceplate back on.
5) put knobs back on
6 Enjoy.

Total time invested: 3 minutes

 

i'm gonna give this a try as soon as possible. thanks for the info!

 

No problem!

 

Goin to have to wait for it to warm up a bit...Don't wanna mess with plastic when it's so cold.

 

lol i wasabout to post this up until i started reading down

 

check the bulb for continuity before replacing it. You may have a short. My panel lights up, then goes dark....I bang the corner of the dash and it lights up again. I've had it apart but can't find the short. I know the bulb is good.