Toyota FJ Cruiser: Bad Torque Converter → Symptoms + Diagnosis

Your Toyota FJ Cruiser’s torque converter is responsible for converting the energy generated by the engine at the flywheel and transferring it to the transmission, creating a bridge between the engine and the transmission.   In the Toyota FJ Cruiser, a bad torque converter is often caused by bad transmission fluid, worn clutches, bad seals, … Read more

Toyota FJ Cruiser Battery Light: Why It’s On and How to Fix

If your Toyota FJ Cruiser’s battery light is on, it is trying to warn you that there is an issue with the charging system. The charging system itself is relatively simple.  The battery light comes on because the voltage level at the battery is too low. Quick Facts Common Causes Faulty Battery, Bad Alternator, Battery … Read more

Toyota FJ Cruiser Burning Smell: Causes + How to Fix

A burning smell is one of the most troublesome problems you can experience in a vehicle.  If your Toyota FJ Cruiser has a burning smell, there are many potential causes.   Typically, the smell is caused by some type of fluid (oil, trans fluid, etc…) hitting the exhaust or other hot parts of the engine … Read more

Toyota FJ Cruiser:  Burning Oil Diagnosis

  The engine burning oil is one of the most common problems that a vehicle can encounter, particularly one with high mileage.  If your Toyota FJ Cruiser is burning oil it is typically caused by piston rings or valve guides.     How Much Oil Consumption is Normal? Most auto manufacturers are hesitant to tell … Read more

Toyota FJ Cruiser: Backfiring Causes

  One of the more jarring vehicle problems that you can experience is a backfire.  It sounds like a shotgun blast and can scare you if you’re not prepared for it.  If your Toyota FJ Cruiser is backfiring, common causes include improper engine timing, bad spark plugs, engine running rich, and plug wires (if so … Read more

Toyota FJ Cruiser:  Oil in Coolant Diagnosis

If you’ve recently checked your Toyota FJ Cruiser’s coolant, and it looks almost like it has butter in it, then you probably have oil in it.  Oil in your coolant is most often caused by a blown head gasket. It can also be caused by a cracked head or even a bad radiator (well sorta, … Read more

Toyota FJ Cruiser:  Oil in Coolant Diagnosis

If you’ve recently checked your Toyota FJ Cruiser’s coolant, and it looks almost like it has butter in it, then you probably have oil in it.  Oil in your coolant is most often caused by a blown head gasket. It can also be caused by a cracked head or even a bad radiator (well sorta, … Read more

Toyota FJ Cruiser:  Overheating → Symptoms + Causes

One of the worst problems that can happen to your Toyota FJ Cruiser is overheating.  Common symptoms of overheating include smoke coming from under the hood, a pegged temperature gauge, and (eventually) a blown head gasket. If your FJ Cruiser is overheating, stop driving it immediately to avoid damaging the engine. Ignoring an overheating engine … Read more