Hi everyone, newbie here! I just bought a 2001 4Runner and have a few questions. First of all, is this a "sport" edition? It has the hood scoop but doesn't have the aluminum engine protector. I was fortunate enough to find out that this was originally bought from a local dealer who installed the black leather and did all of the maintenance. I don't have an owners manual yet and have a question also about shifting into 4WD. Do I just push in the button on the 4WD shifter? My other vehicle is a 94 Toy 4X4 so not used to this set-up! With under 80,000 miles and in excellent condition I think I got an excellent deal, under 15K. What do you guys think?

 

Welcome to Yotatech Dianne. Very nice looking 4Runner. As for your questions, I am not sure what you mean by aluminum engine protector. If you are talking about the aluminum piece that fits under the bumper then I believe that it was only offered on the 2002 Sport Editions. Not sure about the 4wd though, mine is like your old one.

 

Good find! I paid $17,500 for my 01 sr5.
To engage 4 hi, just push the button. To use low-range you have to put it in neutral and use the shifter.
Welcome to Yotatech!!

 

Thanks for the replies guys! The aluminum plate under the bumper was what I was referring to, so I guess this is a sport edition then?

 

welcome to the board!...looks like that badboys got a locker!!!

Matt

 

Yes it is the sport edition.

 

Nice runner, welcome to yotatech.

You should also have an option to drive in awd mode. I think the button on the side of the small 4hi 4lo shifter should lock/unlock the center differential.

 

Looks nice! I have never seen a 4Runner with black leather seats....

 

Just went outside and took a pic of this button, is this for the locker? If so, when do I use it, if I'm stuck and one tire is spinning?

 

does it say sport edition on the sides of the doors.

 

No!!! I'm blonde but i'm not that dumb!

 

I hate you!!!!

 

Very easy to dye them black and not even that expensive. But I have not seen many black leather seats in runners either

 

LOL Just kidding! Great looking Runner!!!

 

I got the dealer this was originally purchased from to print out a copy of everything they had done to it and the first thing before it was purchased was to install leather. A local interior company installed it and also put the black leather in the doors. There is absolutely no wear at all in the seats, they look new!

 

looks great! silver is the best

 

No, that's for the the center differential to lock it into "true" 4x4 mode. When you push the button it actually puts it in an AWD mode so you can drive on snow & wet roads and throug parking lots w/o binding the front end during sharp turns.

Toyota discontinued factory rear lockers in 2001, replacing it with the ActiveTRAC/VSC system adopted from the UZJ-100 Land Cruiser. Do a search and you'll find many threads deling with this subject.

And yes, you do have the Sport edition; door badges and the decorative aluminum skid plate didn't appear until the 2002 model.

 

1) that is not a sport edition -- the trim is wood inside, not brushed aluminum
2) the 4wd shifter in a 2001 works as such:

when youre in 2wd, the button is out, and the shifter is placed in H. When you want 4wd to be on, you push the button in. the lights will begin to blink. you must be in motion for it to actually engage. once you get to a decent roll, youll hear a "pop"/"clunk!" and the lights will stay on. this means 4wd H is on. to go into low, come to a stop, shift your auto tranny into N, then shift the 4wd shifter all the way forward. dont do this too quick or youll hear the crunch!

the general rules are:
-dont shift into 4wd above 55mph or so, it will not engage
-if you want to turn it on while driving (say at 25 or 30 mph), it wont engage if you are accelerating (so let off the pedal while in motion and it should engage right away -- mine does)
- to disengage you must also be in motion.

3) you dont have a locker.. thats to disengage VSC when youre in 4wd. read about vsc in your owners manual

 

sorry, i take back #1, i didnt realize that was an aftermarket wood trim kit over the brushed aluminum.

taking a closer look at the pics, i see it now.

 

ups I was wrong on the buttons!