1st Gen. Lunch Table - General Discussion

I woke up this morning concerned about previous work done by my mechanic. If he used aftermarket ball joints even after I specifically asked for Toyota ball joints... what if he used an aftermarket timing belt as well?!? Guessing I have to take the front of the engine apart just to check?

Fairly soon after the timing belt change I started getting a squeaking/screeching sound when I’d 1st start my truck in cold weather. I thought it could be my power steering pump on its way out but it’s been over a year now and my power steering is still working. Became constant at start ups a couple months ago and I did a power steering flush. Sound still there 50% of the time on start ups, gets quieter once warmed up but there is still a little whining sound that’s constant, even when I don’t have the louder screeching sound on start up.

Checking my timing belt is a must for me at this point. I sure would like your thoughts and opinions on this as well.

Thanks!

 

The belt changes require the cooling system to be opened up. The coolant that spills onto the belts and pulleys is slippery. If it's not cleaned up, it can cause slippage and squealing. Bad tensioner bearing, bad new water pump bearing, obviously could be the power steering, but I hate to believe in coincidences. They do exist, I just try to chase back what I've recently changed that could be causing it.

 

In just a few minutes you can pull back the timing cover on the passenger side to see the belt. I'm not sure if you could easily tell what brand it is without pulling it back a bit more though.

 

You just reminded me, soon after the timing belt change, I had some sort of leak where most of the front of my engine was covered in a pink fluid. Mechanic fixed it at no charge, told me it was a faulty gasket we hadn’t changed. That stuff would’ve of definitely gotten on the belts.

 

Pricing is kind of fixed. Most plumbing shops I have worked at have a book price that includes replacing supply lines and the gas line, the problem is not a single shop monitors prices actually charged. Changing the shut off is commonly needed if its a gate valve but is considered extra. Depending where you live (outside of earthquake country) if your heater is hard lined with copper, thats what he should have replaced the piping with.

I hate plastic lines. As if we didn't learn our lesson with butyl 50 years ago, it drives me nuts to see plumbers using pex and wirsbro and I cringe when I see them using sharkbite couplers.

 

All my copper cold water pipes sprung leaks under the slab. Everyone in my neighborhood had the same. Also the 5 sq. mile radius around me had the same thing. Copper ain't the end all be all. Replumbed with PEX.

 

With stock exhaust it fits. With duals or anything custom its harder to say.

 

Yeah I’m still wondering if I can fit anything underneath at all

 

Mine doesn't fit for now but im going to revise things some day and maybe make it fit. I'm tired of the spare being in the bed.

 

The shop mechanics here should start some "customer states" editions

 

Depends where you live really but slab leaks are more common than they should be. The lime in cement will eat through copper, copper should be shielded from the cement but if it isn't thats what happens. Most slab leaks I have fixed revealed copper through cement. Similar happens if you have galvanized touching copper directly. You'll eventually leak at a joint or get a random pinhole.

Its trading one problem for another. Pex won't likely leak under a slab but in the walls or ceiling I have seen rodents chew through it. Never seen a rat eat copper.

 

Cool or not? You decide

https://www.instagram.com/p/CN4o6vvFoF-/?igshid=d6y3uuqd4k64

 

Load me up in there when I die.

 

Is it a BMW M3? I would never buy it but I don't hate it. Reminds me of something you'd see in that DIWhy subreddit.

 

I was thinking M4 but not sure. I would love to drive it but like you wouldn't want to own it.

 

I’ll be going custom after the 33s.. I can make that work

 

Perfect kennel for my WolfDog!

 

My 255/80/17 fits a charm...

 

I’m just praying I won’t rub! Lok

 

So I've heard there is a shortage of new vehicle inventory on some models because of the microchip issue but I didn't realize the extent of it. I drove past our Toyota dealer Saturday and the lot was only around 60% full. In 15 years, I've never seen more than a few open spots in their lot. Maybe demand is high as people spend their stimmy?

@empty_lord is your dealer low on inventory?

 

We have probably 40% inventory

 

I've knocked toyota for being behind the times here and there. My wife's gx is no exception. There are some things that mercedes did better and that's comparing a 2012 gx and a 2013 ml350. I'd say they are similar vehicles or for a similar potential customer. I have much more faith in the gx after the 150 or 200k mark than the mercedes. Not much on the gx is untried technology or design, even starting at 2010 (the first year of the gx460).

Sounds about right.

 

We have the same 'take a seat' sign above the commode in our main floor bathroom.

 

I don't think it's the chips. When I was looking at motorcycles the dealers had low stock then too. Basically like 1 of each type to choose from.

 

New wheels for tundra will be here tomorrow

 

Why am I thinking it’s a 95 Taurus heavily modified? The camper looks too small for humans unless you’re one of those creatures from the movie Phantasm.

 

VOLK TE37?

 

I think just for sleeping I could work with it, but it sends me back to my own method of "carrying a tent is better". The amount of fabrication they did is a bit of unnecessary effort I think.

 

Just ordered new lower ball joints from one of the sites I've seen reco'd here... About 40% less than what stealer wanted AND, these OEM ball joints are cheaper than the aftermarket ones I paid for through the mechanic. Good start to the week.

 

That mechanic is an asshole. You should let him know.