ECT Button and Ball Joint Help.

I recently bought an '02 4x4 Double Cab TRD from a Marine deploying to Afghanistan for CHEAP and I'm trying to troubleshoot a few things.

1. The ECT doesn't work when the button is pushed. Any ideas?

2. There is a knocking noise when hitting bumps, ruts, pot holes, etc. coming from my left front tire area. It's very irritating hearing that all the time. Could it be ball joints? If so, are they easy to change?

Thanks guys

 

In my wife's 4Runner you can feel the ECT and in my Tacoma you can't feel anything. The light doesn't even come on.

I can do the ball joints myself? What special tool do I need?

 

"I recently bought an '02 4x4 Double Cab TRD from a Marine deploying to Afghanistan for CHEAP"

Does this have a familiar ring to anyone besides me ?


Pretty sure that theres a relay & a fuse in the fuse box in engine compartment to check for ECT & there is a tool (fork) just for ball joint removal if you don't feel like beating the shit out of it.....

 

You do not need any special tools. I think the nut that holds the ball joint to the lower control arm is a 24mm. You need a torque wrench.

 

On some 2001s (and perhaps later, but not sure), there was a lower ball joint recall. You can run the VIN at toyotaownersonline.com (after you register) or call a dealership and give them a VIN, and they will tell you if it has been done. If it has not, the dealer will do it free and will align it for free, too.

 

No recalls for my Tacoma.

What was the issue with the 2001 ball joints?

 

A manufacturing process defect caused scratches on some batches, and these were prone to failure. I believe it was specific to mfg. batches, and not to model years. I recall seeing some later model year trucks affected, too.

 

X2,

how ya doing SOCAR ??

& the ball joints can be a do it yourself thing, but you'd want a press to install probably...

 

re yuo makint fin fo mu typpung? ro do yoi suck at tyopung to?

 

You can check the VIN without registering the truck here:

https://auth2.toyota.com/owners/SSCInfo-index.html?siteid=too_toyota_recall_vinlookup

I have 2004 Regular Cab and it was included in the recall, as mentioned they replaced the ball joints and do a free front alignment as well.

 

OOOOPPSS !! my bad buddy socar = SCOCAR

Yeah your typing sucks & I'm grammatically challenged....

 

There are no open TSB's for my VIN. I was hoping for some free service. I guess I'll tackle those suckers on my own.

 

It's really not that hard Robby, just back the nut off until theres a couple of threads from the stud just below the top of the nut (if its a castle nut, just flip it over & use the flat side of that, same procedeure though) & a medium to heavy SINGLE JACK & if you hit it square, it'll pop out in a few swings, if you have a torch you can use it too to expand the metal around the ball joint. (probably even better ) If you was closer I'd say bring me a 12/24 pack & we'd blow them out

 

I had a tire shop check for sloppy ball joints and they said they are good. They put a floor jack under the lower control arms and lifted the tire slightly off the ground and put a long pry bar under the tire and lifted it up and down and there was no play. I didn't have time right then and there to have them keep the truck and let them try to diagnose it so I have to live the knocking until I have more time to leave it with them. Do any of you all have any other ideas or do you think there still could be a ball joint issue?

 

did you ever solve your ect problem? mine dose same thing. light comes on but no shift difference.

thanks,

m