David K - 6-29-2004 at 08:55 PM
Ok Nomads y Amigos, let's see what we can come up with to help Travelpearl (Debra).
She is 1,000 miles from home (Seattle area) in San Diego at son-in-laws for a one day layover, then on to L.A. Bay tomorrow (WED). Part of a month
long Baja summer in her recently aquired 4Runner, with son(11) and grand daughter(6) along.
This morning, no forward or reverse... it was making a sound like a rock in the tire tread previous to stalling. Automatic tranny, and everything was
serviced before she left Washington.
I have called Neal Johns and he is researching the problem and solution as I type this... He is a manual tranny guy, so not sure what it could be.
Someone mentioned a vacuum modulator?
Any ideas to help Debra get back on the road?
She is even willing to hop on a bus to the junction, but not sure about all the camping gear and 3 ice chests for the 41 miles into town and down to
Gecko where her cabin is paid and waiting!
Can the 4Runner be fixed fast and cheap? Could it be a simple modulator failure? Any other ideas to help someone with Baja Fever and 2 little kids get
to L.A. Bay!!??
I will phone your replies to her... Thanks!!
[Edited on 6-30-2004 by David K]
[Edited on 7-1-2004 by David K]
[Edited on 7-1-2004 by David K]
Joe Junior's on Moreno
FrankO - 6-29-2004 at 09:10 PM
They are in the phone book. Super honest/ethical/fast and very reasonable. I'd wait the day to get it fixed.
#1 - 6-29-2004 at 09:20 PM
You might try Hi Auto Repair, on Midway Dr, right off of Rosecrans. 619 223 0998. Good people.
UPDATE
David K - 6-29-2004 at 09:47 PM
A big rig mechanic got under the 4Runner and 'moved the linkage around' and was able to drive it!
In his opinion some metal shavings blocked something... Debra had the fluid changed, but was advised not to drop the pan, otherwise risk leaking.
In other words the shavings are still in the pan and could have floated free of the 'magnent' and clogged a port.
I advised her to call FrankO's mechanic (and I gave her #1's too) in the morning. She is in Mission Valley... Thanks everyone... I will check this
thread again before 11pm...
Grover
David K - 6-29-2004 at 09:51 PM
Thanks amigo, I saw your post on that forum... I couldn't add this without registering... but maybe add that it is a '92 4Runner automatic and perhaps
the above note that moving the linkage got it mobile.
Gracias!
[Edited on 6-30-2004 by David K]
Neal Johns - 6-29-2004 at 09:58 PM
Good job, Nomads!
What a team!!!
Mike Humfreville - 6-29-2004 at 10:12 PM
Deb, It sounds like all will work out but if you get stuck north of the border and it looks like an extended repair you know we will be looking for
you. I am, as I type, ordering 100 boxes of the finest red you can imagine! Hope you get to Bahia de Los Angeles before Kevin or he gets your
room!!! Take care and call us if you have an emergency. I'll dispatch our finest officer (Mary Ann, who just went through knee-replacement surgery).
Seriously, take care and good luck.
[Edited on 6-30-2004 by Mike Humfreville]
A slightly leaking tranny pan......
Hook - 6-29-2004 at 10:18 PM
....is far preferable to letting metal continue to float around down there. Pans rarely leak fast; she should be able to get there and back on 1 extra
quart.
Any reputable shop should be able to fix the leak with some form-a-gasket and/or a new gasket.
David K - 6-29-2004 at 10:48 PM
I agree Hook! She said that was the advice from the Toyota forums (heck, what do they know?)
Mike H., I will read your post to her in a short while when I make the final call of the night... that will be a good for a laugh.
Hey, is your Saturn probe doing okay? I hope you all were using the same measuring units, this time! You know, standard wine box lengths!
[Edited on 6-30-2004 by David K]
David
jrbaja - 6-30-2004 at 08:22 AM
Let us know what's up. Maybe we could help from down here. C's going up there today.
As far as dropping the pan
jrbaja - 6-30-2004 at 09:11 AM
Not a big deal. Used to do it regularly in the van. Try to replace the gasket but if you are careful, you can reuse the old one. Do not tighten the
bolts too tight!
UPDATE
David K - 6-30-2004 at 08:23 PM
Debra sends her thanks and appreciates all the help. Thanks to FrankO, the Toy is at Joe Jr's.
Aamco across the street spent the day on it, replaced a vacuum line, couldn't finish the diognostic because the engine was not performing correctly...
Debra says the 4Runner was very underpowered and poor gas milage... this after she had engine rebuilt (apparently a poor job, in Wash.). The poor
engine performance could be the problem, and not the tranny. Joe Jr.'s will check it out Thursday.
Mark at Aamco on Moreno (across from Joe Jr.'s) spent the day on Deb's 4Runner and wouldn't take a cent from her!
FrankO, Debra wants to know your last name and who you deal with at Joe Jr.'s.. so they know who refered her... I will U2U my cell phone...
[Edited on 7-1-2004 by David K]
FrankO - 7-1-2004 at 12:04 AM
David, it is midnight and we are up and down w/the new O'Gradys so I pm'd you the #. Obviously it is being handled and that is great. A little delay
for peace of mind on a long road is worth it. It doesn't matter who you deal w/there, they are all ethical and it is a family shop. Good people all.
Final UPDATE
David K - 7-1-2004 at 03:04 PM
The Toyota has a bad piston/rings(?) no compression. The Washington mechanic who rebuilt the motor has some explaining to do. FrankO's mechanic
(Junior) is working on it now through Saturday, to get Travelpearl on the road by SUNDAY!
Debra says to say BIG THANK YOU to FrankO and all the Nomad's who offered help!!!
TMW - 7-3-2004 at 09:06 AM
I had a problem with my 93 Toyota popping out of 4x4 low range. The local Toyota dealer couldn't work on it because he didn't have a mechanic qulified
on it so he sends me to the local Aamco dealer. They did a complete rebuild (recommended due to milage and use) for $2500. As they explained it in
simple terms, it is like an auto tranny on the input and a manual tranny on the output. That's why you can shift on the fly at low speed into 4x4 low.
That was 3 yrs ago and it's been working fine.
Update..........
Debra - 7-3-2004 at 11:11 AM
JR. called me this am , Toy will be ready by noon! YEAH!!!!!!
I'm throwing my bags in and hope to be out of here by 2PM.
Big thank-you to all of you who offered help and sending good vibes to us!
I'm going to drive as far as I dare today (I won't go past El Rosario) So BajaCactus, look for us if you see this message.
Special thanks to DK and 'Banco Humfreville'! You guys are the BEST!
Thank-you Doug for having this great board that puts us in touch when we need it most. 
If anyone is headed down today and sees this message.......tell David that if they all want Clam Chowder on the 4th. they had better get me some
clams, potatos and bacon.....I'm not going to be in any mood to go shopping by the time I get there! 
Thanks All!
Mike Humfreville - 7-3-2004 at 11:27 AM
Kevin and Carly and co. should be there by now, possibly hanging out in YOUR hut! Mary Ann gave him your list for David too.
[Edited on 7-3-2004 by Mike Humfreville]
Debra - 7-3-2004 at 11:31 AM
Oh sure! Rub it in Mike!
Well, I'll be there by tomorrow.......
I have a cold one for you and I will get a group together for a proper funeral for your boat motor! 
Thanks Putz!
Mike Humfreville - 7-3-2004 at 11:34 AM
Also some nice boxes of our finest boxed wine. Watch the highway and have fun.
Right on.
FrankO - 7-3-2004 at 07:25 PM
Can't say enough about those guys. Glad they helped you.
Hey Squarecircle!
David K - 2-4-2005 at 11:51 PM
I guess if we alll used Nomad Search, we would find stuff quicker... Here is the original thread regarding Frank O's mechanic for Debra's Toyota...