What have you done to your 1st gen Tundra today?

My grill has no bars period though.
Make me suspect my tail gate handle to be a knock off because it's flimsy and black instead of white. The lock broke the handle feels cheap. Plus my buddies white 01 has a white tail gate handle.

 

The factory tailgate handles are pretty cheap feeling. Not 100% sure that they are painted on limited models.

Limited models don't have the bars, just painted bumper.

 

It's very simple really based on how ATs work. When you are in any given gear and trying to maintain a given speed and the vehicle detects a loss of speed it has two options (assuming you have not requested more power with your right foot). It can either shift down a gear or it can unlock the torque converter (or it can do a combination of both). Unlocking the torque converter will increase transmission fluid temps. Excessive trans fluid temps are the killers of transmissions.

If you tow a substantial amount in O/D and you are not on completely flat ground with no headwind, your transmission is going to be constantly unlocking the torque converter (and increasing trans fluid temps) trying to maintain speed. Over time, this can be problematic. You can somewhat mitigate this with your right foot and to a larger extent by turning O/D off. Like I said, I will tow in O/D if the load is not too heavy and it's not hilly. I will nearly never tow in O/D and use cruise control unless I'm somewhere like FL or the midwest where it's completely flat. This does not apply to just Tundras.

 

The transmissions in 1st Gen Tundra's are not what I would call particularly weak (like say late 90s Jeep ATs) or particularly robust (like the Aisin's they put in the late 90s Monteros or even A340Fs in 3rd Gen 4runners)...I personally
know of two 1st Gen Tundras that had transmissions replaced before 100K miles...one was my previous 2005 DC before I bought it. If you know what you are doing and don't abuse them, there is no reason the AT can't last the life of the truck...but if you combine any of these...lots heavy towing, steep hills, high outside temps, leaving it in OD (while towing) and not following the recommendations for changing your transmission fluid more frequently, you are asking for trouble with any AT, not just 1st Gen Tundras.

I would not hesitate to tow with a 1st Gen Tundra as an non-work vehicle and knowing what to do to mitigate the risks (like occasionally towing a camper/boat/utility trailer). I would not use a 1st Gen Tundra as a work vehicle if that entailed towing heavy loads very frequently...YMMV.

 

2000-2004 Tundras have the A340F.

 

Does the scan gauge 2 really give trnasmission temps for the early 1st gen tundras?

 

I was wondering the same thing.

This other one I found has a sensor you have to attach to the transmission. How would the scangauge work without that?

The scangauge seems like the better product if it can actually provide the trans temp.

 

I’d love to buy one of those $3k sensors that tells me everything... butt I digress. Tempting.

 

Yep, I should have been more specific...the A340F is "robust" with regard to what it's asked to do in
a 3rd gen 4runner...it's handling less torque and in a vehicle that has a lower tow rating (and is not asked to
tow like a 1/2 ton truck usually is). You rarely hear of people having AT issues with 3rd gen 4runners and 1st gen Tacomas. Lowis HP/TQ motors and nobody expects them to tow like they do with a 1/2 ton.

 

If you have a temp warning light, (Tundras do) then their must be a sensor reading tran. temps already. It would make sense that a ScanGauge could get that info then.

 

@lsaami and @FirstGenVol the answers are "yes" and "I don't know, but it does", respectively.

It either does not work for 05-06 or it does and the code is hard to find, but for 04 and older it works.

I named it "AT?" Because way back when I programmed mine it was unclear if it was correct.

 

my buddy's white 01 is a limited and his handle is white

 

Did this today.
TRD center caps are being shipped, they will go on later.
No rubbing on the UCA
No rubbing on the fender.
The offset is perfect they don't stick out past the fenders
5100 bills on the top notch.

Old wheels for sale
Price is very obo

https://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/wto/d/ramona-tundra-wheels-17/6831337235.html

 

Can you feel a difference in handling? Knowing you used the same tires, this is a good experiment.

 

The scan gauge works by using an algorithm. Basically you go online and find the "xgauge" and program it into your scan gauge. It uses the engine and transmission sensors available to fill in variables on the algorithm to reach a conclusion as to what your ATF temp is.

 

Not that I can tell. It's only been 25miles so far.
I removed my sway bar a while ago so I doned really drive to crazy in the truck.
I save the fun driving for my Benz

 

its plated, insured and home

 

Still deciding between Methods & SCS, what backspacing did you get, and I missed it earlier but am I correct that the tires are 285's?

 

Put my skid plate back on, that heavy sonvabitch. Then I crawled under the rear and spun the proportion valve up about 3/4 inch, I still have about 3/4 inch of thread above it. I'll see how the brakes feel now and adjust later if needed.

About to fill up the tank and take a drive to San Diego, excited to see what kind of mpg I get...

and to park next to my cousins ranger on 31s.

 

So, uh, like... Love your Tundra, but, ummm.. can we see pics of the Ranger too?

 

It's a stock truck. I told him get a Taco but noooo he got a step side ranger.

 

Hard choice there, 4x4 + step-side.... I'd be tempted as well. I've heard it's not TOO hard to drop a 302 in one, and, well, step-side.

 

A step side?! I bet you can haul more stuff in your element than in his bed.

 

Not even 4x4 it's a 2wd automatic splash. I told him that's a chick truck.

He got it for a thousand bucks and it belonged to his buddy, he described it as a project but its absolutely stock and leaks everywhere. @Professional Hand Model if you saw the seepage from the valve covers, the rear diff and the trans you'd go nuts.

I want to take the "R" off the badges so it says Ford Anger

 

Well that's disappointing, Hell, for 1k tell em to go buy the front diff out of a wrecked Explorer & do a v8 swap.

 

I considered that. I think it's a 2005 and I laughed when I realized the suspension is identical to a 96 Exploder I had long ago. The biggest kick in the nuts is his previous truck was an F250 4x4 with the V10.

 

brake dust creeping 1/2 way out the tire? You guys on water rationing or something? Yeech.

 

No
My tires are 275/70/17
The wheels are these.

Method Race Wheels NV Black Wheel with Machined Face (17x8.5"/6x5.5") 0 mm offset

 

Just finished these bad boys up.

 

Whatcha doing in San Diego?

Want me to call the entire SoCal Shenanigans crew out?!!