My first toyota

I just purchased a 2002 4dr tundra with the V6 engine. It is currently sitting at 172k miles and running great.

I just swapped out the spark plugs, ignition coils, and wire set. I also noticed the brake fluid was disgusting and changed that out. Other than that, I plan on doing the brakes.

I don't know when the timing belt was changed but I've heard this is a must do every 100k miles? Is there a goto kit for this? I saw some kits that includes a water pump. Is this also important to change during that time?

I also wanted to ask if it is recommended to change the transmission fluid and if so how often.

I noticed every time I try to search up information on the V6 model I seem to get mostly information on the v8 edition.

Anyways, let me know what else I should look into changing or to keep the truck in tip top shape. I want to keep this truck going for as long as possible.

Thanks

 

Paging @Tundra2

 

If you tow regularly it’s advised per the maintenance guide to change tranny fluid every 30k miles and every 60k miles if you don’t, IIRC. I highly recommend you use full synthetic although most tranny fluids are nowadays.

I can’t recall if the v6 had a timing chain or not. Water pump should be changed proactively but it isn’t critical unless it leaks. If I had your setup, I’d probably change the radiator, water pump and thermostat together.

The radiator has a known issue of corrosion at the junction where the tranny fluid enters the lower portion of the radiator causing the coolant and tranny fluid to mix. If you don’t catch it in time, you get a pink milkshake condition which could warrant a tranny replacement. Most here recommend to replace the radiator every 200k miles or so.

 

Welcome from NY.

 

The 3.4 has a belt

 

I do not tow. I'm always skeptical changing the atf after doing research and people saying wild things or how the transmission has to be replaced shortly after. Or how you have to get the exact amount you took out back in...

Anyways, where can I get the OEM atf?

 

I don’t think Toyota sells the Dexron 3 anymore. Wally World has a synthetic equivalent you can use recommended by others here. I used Mobil 1 but that’s when I could get it cheap.

 

So just the 4.0 v6 has a chain? Bastards!

 

But the 4.0s are known for a timing chain cover leak, that the engine has to be pulled to address, our 4runner has it.

 

You can’t get the timing cover off without pulling the engine?

That’s either a crappy design or I’m missing something here.

 

They just call it the timing cover leak, I think it’s where the head and block meet but it’s right behind the cover. I think it’s like the cam tower leaks that the turd gens have; just keep an eye on it, only do it if your dripping oil

 

Yes. The v6 was relatively rare compared to the v8.

Welcome to Toyota.

 

The 3.4 was an excellent engine! It does have a timing belt which isn't terrible to change out, but it is expensive and they recommend you change it every 90k. I wouldn't hesitate to go 150k on a timing belt, but I would make sure to change the water pump and, at the very least, the belt tensioner too. I think you have the A340 transmission which was pretty robust, especially behind the V6.

There are a lot of grease points on the drive line. I would hit them with some good grease every oil change, or every other oil change.

The power is not all that impressive with the V6 but you do have low gearing which will help with drivability.

That truck will be on the road for a very long time.

 

Is there a kit that includes a lot of the parts mentioned such as the water pump, belt tensioner, and timing belt together? I have no idea when those parts were changed out and figure I'll just go ahead and plan to do that next.

 

My guess is Aisin TKT005 (manual) or

$187 TKT007 AISIN TKT-007 Engine Timing Belt Kit with Water Pump - Compatible with Select Toyota T100, Tacoma, Tundra

TKT007 (automatic). You can search on Rockauto.com for your year Tundra under 3.4L V6 -> engine -> timing belt, water pump kit

 

Unless you buy it on scAmazon, like one other member recently, whose belt was cracked to hell and back after 20k miles.

@omgcorey where you buy your parts is just as important as which brand you buy. Never buy parts from any vendor who allows 3rd party sales, like scAmazon, fleaBay, or WallyMart, or Sears/Kmart. They all allow unverified 3rd party sellers, and have all become a haven for very authentic-looking knockoff parts that'll do more damage than good. Try to buy OEM, or if OEM from Toyota is too expensive, consider buying from their manufacturers, Denso or Aisin. Hitachi also makes at least the MAF and maybe other electronics. A list of parts you can skate by with as non-OEM (and ones to avoid) are over here.

Welcome to the forum - congrats on your "new" Toyota. You're in good hands to learn here - lots of experience in this nook of the internet!

 

I appreciate all the advice. So far I have been using my brothers discount at O'reillys to buy parts. I will continue to do that I think. They don't have a lot of denso products though.

 

This thread will help you get some deep discounts buying direct from Toyota.

This thread has a ton of info you may need to know about these trucks.

RockAuto often has Denso parts, and always have 5% off coupons at RetailMeNot.

Furthermore, you can use Denso's part finder here to find part numbers and they'll link you to two online vendors who typically have stuff in stock. This is the vendor they recommend, which I've used recently and paid less, even with shipping, than what other stores were asking when I bought new cabin filters for my wife.

 

Welcome from LA (Lower Alabama)!

 

Thanks a lot. I been on a lot of car forums and you guys might be the nicest group out of them all. I must stick with Toyota just for that. Lol

Does anyone have a good install video of the timing belt along with the other parts I should replace whole on there? This will be the first time doing something like that.

 

We HAVE to be nice. We are all here with 20+ year old trucks we want to keep going for a million miles. If we don't have each other, we don't have anyone else to help us.

 

Given I don't have the 5VZ-FE in my truck - only person I can think of readily who does is @Tundra2 - I don't have any favorite videos. A lot of people like Timmy's videos, even though he has a reputation as a d-bag with some of our crowd.

Here's his pt.1 and pt.2 videos showing the process - part 2 is only important to see something he f'ed up, and it shows how to re-compress the tensioner if you need and he also shows an easier way to install the belt - watch them both! If you hit the Y-Tube site directly for the part 1 video, he has a link to the lot of parts he uses to refresh the entire front of the engine, but it's from an eBay buyer I don't know, so ... Well, see my comments above. It's possible that seller is legit, if Timmy is linking, but I don't know:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHC46ypHxWc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mErd7xoBS9I​

 

I have noticed the engine is misfiring off and on. I changed out the spark plugs, ignition coils, and wire set. It went away for about 200 miles and now its back again. The code reader says it's cylinder 1 and 2 and a random misfire. Not sure what else to do. I put a can of seafoam in it and I guess that didn't help much either.

 

Where'd you buy the coil packs, and what brand are they?

Which plugs did you buy, and where'd you buy those, and did you gap them and/or need to gap them?

Cylinder 2 are the forward-most cylinders, closest to the radiator, on the passenger and driver side. If you swap the coil packs on those cylinders with the cylinder next to them (1 cylinder closer to the firewall, cylinders 3 and 4) does the random misfire code follow them?