Purchase advise 2015 5.7 SR5

Hello all -

First time poster and hopefully soon to be tundra owner. I found a 2015 Tundra double cab with 5.7 in it. Has 240k on it, body has bumps and bruises as the owner (original) used it for his construction business. He says there is any issue with reverse, and has priced it at $4500, because he wasn’t sure what the reverse problem involves. He immediately said he was willing to take $4,000 in the same conversation. Clean title.

It seems like a heck of a deal. I am planning to use it as a Lowe’s runner and to tow a travel trailer (yet to be purchased).

Everything I’ve read said these are bulletproof but the potential transmission issue worries me, even at the price.

I anticipate going to get a better look at it in person maybe today or tomorrow, any insight on the transmission issue or other things to look out for?

Thanks in advance!

 

Heck of a deal usually means beware; but, with that being said.... maybe he's just looking to off it, write off the loss, and get into something new!

I'd take a good code reader w/you, plug it in and do an 'all systems' check (not just CEL and not just 'common dash lights')....

Your code reader should tell you the last time codes were cleared from the vehicle, and if so what they were. This will give you insight if something has been cleared recently, then he probably knows more than he's saying...

For the most part these transmissions are strong, but they have several 'shift solenoids' that can out; they are not hard to change if you don't mind dropping the pan and access them. Usually about $200-$400 for one (parts only), and if you take it somewhere probably about $1k installed...

Most dealers now won't do much w/the transmissions and just recommend replacement (which he may have been told) and that is $$$. However, if you have or know of a good transmission shop, they are generally more than willing to work on them.

If you can, crawl under the truck and look at the transmission pans bolts for marks and signs of recent removal (tooling); if they appear to have touched recently, again you have another indicator that someone's been in there and they were not able to resolve the issue and gave up.

Prior to looking at the truck also get the VIN from the owner and ask a manager at a Toyota dealer's service shop for a history on the truck; maybe you can learn something from their report as well.

Also, just know some of these trucks don't get well maintained and something as simple as a drain n fill of the transmission fluid will resolve these kind of issues. Although I can't imagine someone who works out of their truck not maintaining it.

Finally, make sure to engage 4Hi and 4LO to verify they are working also...

Good luck!!!

 

I only have a cheap code reader but does do some live data, so I can at least see when the engine light was last cleared etc.

Trying to set up a time to back in person and take a look.

Stay tuned!

 

Wonder how many pan bolts will break?

 

So I was able to look at the truck better today and talk more with the owner… it is much rougher than I thought.

Interior doesn’t look like it has ever been cleaned in the 9 years of its life, engine light was on (forgot my scanner) and TPMS light on. Windshield cracked along bottom. Underneath the frame and cross members were scaled with rust but didn’t appear rotten. Didn’t get a great look at the trans pan but it did appear to be leaking around the pan, which makes me think it has come off at some point. Oil leak somewhere up front too.

Truck is also a 4.6 instead of the 5.7…

I put the truck in reverse and gear light indicated, rear camera came on, no movement. The owner said that he was backing up with a trailer and got stuck and was spinning the tires and thinks it might have burned reverse up. Said he drove it for a couple months with no reverse after that. Forward gears shifted fine when I went a 1/4 up the road. Almost no brakes though.

Also concerning was the steering, hard spots that stuck and took a lot of force to spin through. Not sure if the u joints in the steering shaft were binding or if there was a potential rack issue which may have been contributing to the leak.

I wound up telling the guy I’d sleep on it but I’m leaning towards a pass. I’m hesitant even after fixing it up to put my family in and take long trips camping. Feel like it would be fix one thing, another breaks etc.

So unless anyone here can convince me otherwise….. I think I’ll continue searching.

 

Don’t walk….RUN. Not worth the time, money or aggravation.