Before i even start this let me just say i know... should never let them drive it but i did so now i live with the problem.

let the woman borrow my '01 Runner a couple weeks ago to take it to work cause it was snowing pretty bad. i showed her how to put it in multimode and 4wd. i figured they would have the roads mostly plowed so she will just need the 4wd button and not the diff lock.

everything goes fine and she ends up putting in 4hi locked just to be safe when she gets to where the road isnt plowed.

so this is the issue - i would say about 7/10 times i pull up to stop at a stop sign, stop light, and some times even just moving up a car length or two in traffic i get this click sound just about as the car is about to stop. its not violent or even really loud like when switching to 4wd but just loud enough for it to make me think something may be out of whack. it sounds to me like it is coming from somewhere around the front right axle. i know the cv's are a common problem but the truck has low miles and has never been off road.

any help would be great.

 

Nice to see some Sacramento area people.
My first guess would be your u-joints.
When was the last you hit those zerk fittings with a grease gun?
However, from your description, it could be something else.
I heard the same clicking but only when I let go of the gas pedal and also when stopping, there was a clunk.
From what you described, it may not be the same.

 

Im in Amador. Drive to Sac every week or so.

 

w00t for the REAL nor cal huh?! lol

i have done very little maintenence with this truck so far bc i just bought it a month or so ago. i will check out the u joints but i really thing it is more toward the front end of the vehicle. ive had a u joint that was wobbly on another car i had and i know how that feels. like a click when u first start rolling and when you let off. but i will check it out.

where are you from 2000t4r? im a little east near roseville

 

I think its cool when my chick drives my truck ive never had a problem before, i dont know what it is but seeing a girl doing some good wheeling is alright in my book and i can sit back and enjoy some clickers on the trail, i got pulled out this weekend by a chick in an fj with 40's on it.

 

id proly feel like a doucher if a girl pulled me out... then i would marry her.

 

when i let my ex drive mine she managed to slide it sideways into a dirt hill.... didnt do much damage, but i never let her drive it again... then we broke up and she moved shortly after. lol.

 

dang.. maybe we should start a "what a girl did to my truck" thread

 

Whatever it is, I'd make sure she's under that thing with you trying to fix it.

(I Couldn't let all you Sacramento folks converse without me)

 

haha will do.

 

Well the front axle U-joints are on the right side so it still might be them. There's two u-joints and the double cardan joint for a total of 5 zerks to grease on the front drive shaft not including the shaft itself which may or may not be grease able I can't remember right now.
A lot of shops I've noticed seem to ignore the double cardan [if they catch the front shaft at all] so your problem could be there.

 

ya ill definitely check the u's then.

 

I'd check the front U-joints. My 1999 is a 2wd, but when I got it the rear U-joints where bad and would making a popping sound when coming to a stop...

My now ex girlfriend doesn't drive.. but my Mom, Aunt, and Sister won't be able to borrow my 4runner again.. because the last time they did, they dented a running board.. and got sap all over the windshield.

 

yup the shaft sleeve is greaseable too....

 

What is 4hi locked? It sounds like the ADD might not have fully disengauged. May be a little sticky since you said it hasn't been off road. Try shifting to 4wheel a few times.

 

That could be also I had a partial blockage of the vacuum line to the switch once and it would not release.

 

It's good to be representing the 916!
I love in the Pocket/Greenhaven area on I-5.
Roseville is a about 20 mins from me depending on traffic.

 

ive had it in 4wd quite a few time and a couple times since then just to see if maybe it was partially engaged or something but to no prevail.

this vacuum blockage... where would this come from?

4hi locked meaning 4wd button in and diff lock on. sorry for incorrect terminology. idk what else to call it.

 

have you checked the front suspension at all? sway bar endlink, control arm bushings, she didn't say anything about climbing a curb did she?

 

Hmmm, mine has been doing that since the day I bought it. I believe it has to do with the brake booster. Search for some threads on it and that may be your answer. Does it make a vibrating noise for 2 - 3 seconds then the click?