Should I replace parts on 21+ year old truck with 47,500 original miles

Super excited to join this forum. I have been reading quite a bit.

I recently acquired a 2001 V8 4x4 AC Limited Tundra that's been in my family since new. It has 47,500 original miles (not a typo) and runs great. I am planning to spend some money on it including, among other things new wheels/tires suspension upgrade and a complete paint job. I do have a question I hope folks you will answer. The vehicle has been located and driven only in Florida but has been through periods over the last 9 years where it has sat parked for months at a time. Even though it has low miles and runs great, I am concerned about the age (21 yrs) of the mechanical/electrical parts. I am planning to drive this daily and for towing my small boat. Consequently, I am wondering if I should as a precaution go ahead and have the timing belt changed and, to save on labor costs go ahead and replace the water pump, alternator, pulleys, tensioners etc. since they all have to be removed anyway to replace the timing belt. What do you think?

Look forward to your thoughts

 

I'd do it if you have the time and resources.

I had a 2000 for 20 years and never changed the alternator...just to note. I did change the other things you mentioned.

The front bearings started to wear and my brake booster failed. I replaced the brake booster but didn't want to spend the time with the front bearings. I didn't have a place where I could keep in under an extended maintenance period living in in condo and all...so I dumped it for a new Tundra.

My original radiator lasted 19 years.

The truck lived it's life in SoCA for reference.

 

Hold off on the lift kit and paint for now. If gas stays at $4.50 or higher running the Tundra as a daily driver may be untenable. I'd do all the fluids, grease the u-joints, and do the timing belt and water pump. Then I'd drive it for a while an see what other issues creep up. Automotive seals last a long time, but still dry out over 21 years. You may find you have leaking wheel cylinders and/or caliper seals, power steering rack may start leaking with everyday usage, axle seals and so on.

I think the 2001 had a weakness/flaw in the transmission that caused early death. Others may post with preventive maintenance, if any, to stave that off.

 

Do you have the link to forum for the transmission?

 

Timing belt is a must-do at least every 10 years/10k miles. I think Toyota recommended is 9yr/90k. If that belt snaps, and with age it'll do get brittle, crack up, and do just that, the motor is shot and your valuable sub-50k mile truck became worth significantly less. If not changed its entire life, get it done NOW. Drive gently to the shop if you're not doing it yourself.

That said, low mileage isn't always great, as I'm finding with mine, which is an '06 AC 4WD Limited with under 73k miles. If you're not splashing oil on rubber gaskets regularly and letting them sit, they get dry and brittle. My valve covers are leaking apparently because the gaskets are dried up. So ... Dunno.

There are other things on the truck, like the zerks on yoru 4WD driveline, which if lubed properly every 5k miles, will stay plenty healthy.

The main things I'd be worrying about on your vehicle are the rubber stuff and anything that gets greased. I'd confirm the ball joints were replaced if the '01 had the recall on it. Make sure you're up to date on recalls by registering the truck with Toyota Owners website @ https://www.toyota.com/owners

 

https://www.tundras.com/threads/old-news-overdrive-assembly-failure.101349/#post-2596017

Planetary gear.

 

Welcome from NY.

Change that timing belt first !!

 

I will search for the Transmission forum and check it out. My truck does have the factory tow package.

 

Only issue I had with the tranny was shifting. Swapped out very sensor I could find and it worked like butter, again.

 

If it hasn't been mentioned, I would consider replacing the 21 year old radiator and flushing out the old coolant. The top of the radiator is plastic and will get brittle over time.

Also, I would check all your rubber bushings in your suspension like the lower control arm and sway bar links. Rubber will degrade over time. If they still look good, let it ride!

 

Stay away from getting OCD about the truck. Just Do scheduled maintenance on it and fix whatever when it stops working as should be done. You invest all that expensive really doesn't need it parts money on it and then when finished something goes wrong like an accident, or theft and the insurance company might give you 2 grand back because it's old. Then they will take the truck away saying they bought the piece of junk from you. Or the criminals don't give you anything and say keep it. I would, though, paint it if the original paint is bad. Also would replace carpet if needed. Would put good seat covers on and let them wear down instead, get the rims I like and get a nice clean sounding stereo system put in. Thus, the trk looks good inside out and sounds are great when driving. From there it's easy street and can take your time on the trk because there's not much left to do after that.

1st gen trucks already feel like driving a truck and not like a Cadillac like the new ones feel like, so remember about adding some lift kits or off roading aftermarket suspension that can make it feel more like you have no suspension. Driving on the pavement a lot can make that a miserable choice. The timing belt and water pump are done together and people typically get the Aisin Timing Belt*Water Pump*Component Kit for the job. RockAuto is where I bought mine. I did replace all my pulleys due to not knowing anything about the truck, but you know about the usage if being left sitting to rot or used normally. If left sitting for a long long time then replace the pulleys. Mine were squealing when I got it, so I gave them a single squirt each of PB and they lasted w/o a squeak till finally replacing them 2 years later when doing the timing belt/water pump change.

 

Yes, do the maintenance work you listed, and keep that truck for another 300,000 miles. The only reason I’d give opposite advice would be if it’s got significant rust.

 

I would just flush all the fluids and replace with new. Like someone else said have the timing belt done for peace of mind, Sounds like you have a rust free gem there. After some maintenance I would just drive it. Enjoy and congratulations!

 

I would just do some basic maintenance and not replace parts unnecessarily. Since it's a family vehicle you should have an idea how it's been treated for the last 20 years. Let that be a guide going forward. I have a 2001, I bought new, and it has 98,000 miles on it now. It sits for periods of time too. No problems, I've only ever done required maintenance, such as fluids and filters, and 1 timing belt replacement. I think the only other parts I've replaced were the shocks which were shot around 90,000 miles. Pictures or it never happened.

 

If the timing belt is original I wouldn't drive it another inch till it gets done. That's an old ass belt. As others have said radiator may not be a bad thing to replace.

 

If it's in good exterior and interior condition get all the routine maintenance done and baseline it. Have a Toyota specific shop do it. Clean it up really nice and then list it on BAT for $35K. That's what I'd do.

 

Welcome from LA (Lower Alabama)! I'm not going to add anything, but what people here have said about rubber parts, without regular exposure to oil, drying our over time makes sense.

 

Last year I picked up a 2006 DC 2WD from my neighbor who had it as a garage queen. It had 56K miles on it.
As far as maintenance, he had just done the timing belt, water pump, transmission drain fill, brakes, radiator flush, new tires and shocks, and a few other things.

FWIW I put a new battery in, cleaned the mass air flow sensor, pulled the throttle body and cleaned the whole area inside of there. I did an air/ oil/ filter change and went with Mobil 1. I pulled the plugs and replaced them with new Denso Iridiums, dumped the rear end fluid and put new Lucas gear lube in. So with all that, I feel pretty good that it's in good shape.

I did a bunch of other stuff, but that was mostly cosmetic nonsense that I wanted to do.

(Edit) . . . for the 1st few tanks of gas, I ran Lucas Oil Upper Cylinder Lubricant at a little stronger ratio than the bottle states. Many will say it's 'Snake Oil', but it gives me some piece of mind.

 

At that age you need a timing belt more than anything.

 

Timing belt and tires are the two things I'd worry about most. Great buy OP with your low mileage unicorn.

 

Some sheep fur seat covers might be a nice upgrade as well

 

Nah, wood beads. Wood beads all the way.

 

My mom had those in a light blue dodge caravan!

 

I think it's something @Tundra2 mentioned while he was here. I'd completely forgotten about those f'n things.

 

Wood beads? Hell yah. Need some.

 

Pics or it didn't happen.....

 

All this attention paid to aramid fiber timing belts and not one mention of flushing the turn signal fluid tank or repacking catalytic converter bearings.

 

Dammit Now I'm craving corndogs for lunch. I hate you guys sometimes.