Fortuner Owners

[PETERTHEEATER]

I've mentioned before on the forum difficulties in lowering the spare wheel on a Fortuner.

During my last warranty service at a main dealers, I got the mechanics to try and operate the winch, drop the spare wheel and find out what the problem was. It took two of them an hour to get the wheel down (my previous attempts were faster - only 30 minutes or so).

They deduced that lack of lubrication was the problem, said that they had had two other Fortuners complaining of the same problem. they greased the winch chain and wound the wheel back into stowage.

I have tried to lower it three times since without success. It seems to me that the problem is related to the way that the winch is 'locked'. The owners manual tells you to engage the tool and push forward. This implies that there is a spring loaded locking sleeve that must be depressed before the winch can be turned.

I tried again today and after 30 minutes of fiddling finally got it unlocked and down. I have had to modify the tool extension by drilling through two components so that they can be positively bolted together to prevent disengagement every few seconds.

This has to be the poorest design element on the vehicle and needs serious attention by Toyota.

My Fortuner is a 2005 (March) registered vehicle, an early model. Has this point been redesigned on the newer models? What about you guys that have the Limited edition.

Do you have problems getting at you spare wheel? Or, truthfully, have you never bothered?

[Meerkat]

B**ger. I promised myself after reading your excellent earlier thread about the difficulties of lowering the spare that I'd give it a go, and did I get off my backside and try? Did I hel_l...

Oh well, it's due for its second service now, so will get the Toyota bods to try it with me.

Cheers again for keeping us informed. Any other probs? I'm convinced the brakes feel a bit soft now (only 18k kms) but aside from that still very happy with it.

[JacknDanny]

I've mentioned before on the forum difficulties in lowering the spare wheel on a Fortuner.

During my last warranty service at a main dealers, I got the mechanics to try and operate the winch, drop the spare wheel and find out what the problem was. It took two of them an hour to get the wheel down (my previous attempts were faster - only 30 minutes or so).

They deduced that lack of lubrication was the problem, said that they had had two other Fortuners complaining of the same problem. they greased the winch chain and wound the wheel back into stowage.

I have tried to lower it three times since without success. It seems to me that the problem is related to the way that the winch is 'locked'. The owners manual tells you to engage the tool and push forward. This implies that there is a spring loaded locking sleeve that must be depressed before the winch can be turned.

I tried again today and after 30 minutes of fiddling finally got it unlocked and down. I have had to modify the tool extension by drilling through two components so that they can be positively bolted together to prevent disengagement every few seconds.

This has to be the poorest design element on the vehicle and needs serious attention by Toyota.

My Fortuner is a 2005 (March) registered vehicle, an early model. Has this point been redesigned on the newer models? What about you guys that have the Limited edition.

Do you have problems getting at you spare wheel? Or, truthfully, have you never bothered?

Good to know, although if truth be told I wouldnt even know where the spare wheel is!!!!!!

No idea where the tools are if any. If I get a puncture I would be up s#it creek without a paddle

[PETERTHEEATER]

B**ger. I promised myself after reading your excellent earlier thread about the difficulties of lowering the spare that I'd give it a go, and did I get off my backside and try? Did I hel_l...

Oh well, it's due for its second service now, so will get the Toyota bods to try it with me.

Cheers again for keeping us informed. Any other probs? I'm convinced the brakes feel a bit soft now (only 18k kms) but aside from that still very happy with it.

I've just hit 51k in mine and it will be in for service tomorrow. Ran up 3k in 7 days touring in the North.

No problem with the brakes on mine but then I am gentle braker, I read the road ahead (and behind) and use the throttle to adjust the speed of the vehicle and avoid braking.

I drove some really hilly roads in Chiengrai, very steep descents and climbs interspersed with hairpin bends so the autobox was used in manual mode to assist braking. Had to use first on some ups and downs but did not need to revert to low ratio. I had seven adults most of the time and the 2.7 gas engine was really on it's limit at times but never stalled out. If I had to drive roads like that regularly then the diesel version would be my choice, more torque at lower rpm. I was following my brother in law who was in his Isuzu 3 litre diesel twin cab PU with auto box and he was making easy work of the up-grades but constantly on the brakes on the descents to the point that after 34kms of hill driving his brakes were fading. The Fortuner would descent in low gear under control without brakes on all but the steepest descents.

I'm well pleased with the car; if only I could sort out the spare wheel access problem!

[PETERTHEEATER]

I've mentioned before on the forum difficulties in lowering the spare wheel on a Fortuner.

During my last warranty service at a main dealers, I got the mechanics to try and operate the winch, drop the spare wheel and find out what the problem was. It took two of them an hour to get the wheel down (my previous attempts were faster - only 30 minutes or so).

They deduced that lack of lubrication was the problem, said that they had had two other Fortuners complaining of the same problem. they greased the winch chain and wound the wheel back into stowage.

I have tried to lower it three times since without success. It seems to me that the problem is related to the way that the winch is 'locked'. The owners manual tells you to engage the tool and push forward. This implies that there is a spring loaded locking sleeve that must be depressed before the winch can be turned.

I tried again today and after 30 minutes of fiddling finally got it unlocked and down. I have had to modify the tool extension by drilling through two components so that they can be positively bolted together to prevent disengagement every few seconds.

This has to be the poorest design element on the vehicle and needs serious attention by Toyota.

My Fortuner is a 2005 (March) registered vehicle, an early model. Has this point been redesigned on the newer models? What about you guys that have the Limited edition.

Do you have problems getting at you spare wheel? Or, truthfully, have you never bothered?

Good to know, although if truth be told I wouldnt even know where the spare wheel is!!!!!!

No idea where the tools are if any. If I get a puncture I would be up s#it creek without a paddle

Come on now Jack. Lift the backdoor and look at floor level left hand side. There is a little door. Open it and your tools should be inside along with the jack.

[JacknDanny]

I've mentioned before on the forum difficulties in lowering the spare wheel on a Fortuner.

During my last warranty service at a main dealers, I got the mechanics to try and operate the winch, drop the spare wheel and find out what the problem was. It took two of them an hour to get the wheel down (my previous attempts were faster - only 30 minutes or so).

They deduced that lack of lubrication was the problem, said that they had had two other Fortuners complaining of the same problem. they greased the winch chain and wound the wheel back into stowage.

I have tried to lower it three times since without success. It seems to me that the problem is related to the way that the winch is 'locked'. The owners manual tells you to engage the tool and push forward. This implies that there is a spring loaded locking sleeve that must be depressed before the winch can be turned.

I tried again today and after 30 minutes of fiddling finally got it unlocked and down. I have had to modify the tool extension by drilling through two components so that they can be positively bolted together to prevent disengagement every few seconds.

This has to be the poorest design element on the vehicle and needs serious attention by Toyota.

My Fortuner is a 2005 (March) registered vehicle, an early model. Has this point been redesigned on the newer models? What about you guys that have the Limited edition.

Do you have problems getting at you spare wheel? Or, truthfully, have you never bothered?

Good to know, although if truth be told I wouldnt even know where the spare wheel is!!!!!!

No idea where the tools are if any. If I get a puncture I would be up s#it creek without a paddle

Come on now Jack. Lift the backdoor and look at floor level left hand side. There is a little door. Open it and your tools should be inside along with the jack.

Thanks for that!! Just hope I never get called upon to use them! That would be a sight to see I can promise

[Nordlys]

My Fortuner is a 2005 (March) registered vehicle, an early model. Has this point been redesigned on the newer models? What about you guys that have the Limited edition.

I've never tried it myself with my exclusive edition white Fortuner, but it seems the mechanism/process is the same according to the owner's manual. You assemble jack handle end, jack handle extension and wheel nut wrench together and insert it into the access hole after opening the back door (never realized there was one), turn it counterclockwise with a light push forward. I bought my white Fortuner in April this year and I'm referring to the owner's manual printed in March 2006. So is it pushing to unlock the winch that is the difficult part or is it turning?

[bangsaenguy]

Don't all colours come with the same jack? Does the exclusive white model have a white jack or what?

[PETERTHEEATER]

My Fortuner is a 2005 (March) registered vehicle, an early model. Has this point been redesigned on the newer models? What about you guys that have the Limited edition.

I've never tried it myself with my exclusive edition white Fortuner, but it seems the mechanism/process is the same according to the owner's manual. You assemble jack handle end, jack handle extension and wheel nut wrench together and insert it into the access hole after opening the back door (never realized there was one), turn it counterclockwise with a light push forward. I bought my white Fortuner in April this year and I'm referring to the owner's manual printed in March 2006. So is it pushing to unlock the winch that is the difficult part or is it turning?

Do you mean that you never knew that it had a back door or an access hole?

The problem seems to be with the 'push' after inserting the tool which, presumably, unlocks the winch (normally a spring loaded sleeve). Then you turn counter-clockwise to lower the wheel. But, before you reach that challenge you have to get the assembled tool (the hook end) to engage the dog (slotted sleeve) of the winch. It's next to impossible in broad daylight so trying to do it in pouring rain at night on the side of an expressway should produce some interesting language.

I think that I will have to get a couple of aerosol cans of tubeless tyre puncture sealand and keep them in the car for such an emergency.

[Cuban]

......with auto box and he was making easy work of the up-grades but constantly on the brakes on the descents to the point that after 34kms of hill driving his brakes were fading.

Are you saying BIL was not using engine breaking on the desecnts, just riding the brakes?

[stuandchris]

Hi

I have a flat on the fortuner and have no manual, could someone please run me through the routine to lower the wheel, eg where is the access hole etc?

It is pissing down and I am totally pissed off!

Many thanks in advance

[Gary A]

......with auto box and he was making easy work of the up-grades but constantly on the brakes on the descents to the point that after 34kms of hill driving his brakes were fading.

Are you saying BIL was not using engine breaking on the desecnts, just riding the brakes?

That's something that always amazes me. When following a Thai in the mountains you will always see brake lights. I don't think they realize that they can somewhat control their speed with the gears. My Ford Focus has an automatic with a position for holding it in whatever gear you want. My wife was angry at me for using the gears going up and down the mountain roads. She was convinced that I was going to ruin the car. No amount of explaining could convince her that that was better than riding the brakes.

[Cuban]

I have a flat on the fortuner and have no manual, could someone please run me through the routine to lower the wheel, eg where is the access hole etc?

Sorry, I'm not an owner but have hired one for a week or so a year ago. If I remember correctly there is a two or three part rod that you snap together to create a long shaft handle - best with the aid of a small torch find a small hole below the tailgate - feed the shaft through to locate the gear end of a mechanism to lower the spare wheel - looks like an old fashioned starter handle sticking out of the back of the car. I didn't need to change a wheel on the one I had so I didn't get further than finding the hole. HTH

It is pissing down and I am totally pissed off!

It is for this reason that when I get a rental I always check that they haven't lost the jack or the spare is no good.