2001 with 290K

I'm supposed to go tomorrow morning.

 

Post pics of the truck/frame when you check it out. The fine folks on here know every bolt on these trucks. We'll tell you concerns/issues based on pictures

 

I've got frame pics, let me get them off my phone and upload them. I think they look pretty good, but I'd love a "professional" opinion. :-D

 

Here are the images he texted me a couple of days ago. Let me know what you think.

 

It sounds like you're already aware of the critical need to maintain the timing belt. If you can't find definitive proof of the belt being changed in the last 200k miles, its something you're going to have to immediately replace along with other parts commonly changed with this service. I'm not sure about your mechanical abilities but its way out of my scope. I payed about 1,000 bucks at the dealer along with the water pump, tensioner and a few other parts I can't recall. I'd ask him to reduce the price or be ready to come out of pocket. Check the usual spots for service sticker; under the hood, door jam, owners manual. Good luck

 

He sent me the sticker under the hood. It only showed the TB service I saw on the Toyota owner's site from 90K miles.

I've changed timing belts on my 1999 Odyssey and 1993 Escort plus the timing chain on my 2002 RSX Type S. I'm not worried about doing the job myself.

I ran the CarFax and didn't learn much. I did learn it's had 3 owners and confirmed what the owner told me, that he's owned it for 6 years (and about 50K). Got inner & outer tie rods at 250K. That's it. Oddly, the frame replacement was listed on there as "Front crossmember replaced". The Toyota owner's site shows a full frame replacement, however.

The CarFax on my 2002 BMW was quite detailed in comparison.

 

In my neighbor hood, that frame is rust-free!
Get it!

 

Good luck Douglas!

 

Yeah, that rust on the frame isn't bad. The rear differential is a little concerning, but nothing that can't be cleaned up and potentially resealed. It would be worth an hour to get under the truck and spray the frame with Woolwax or Fluid Film. Ounce of prevention and all that...

 

Thanks. It's not often that folks get my username without explanation.

IRL I just go by Doug, I like the more formal Douglas online because it looks better backwards.

 

Lol, I second that.

 

I’m guessing some ppl here are thinking you’re a guido named Sal!

 

Got it. A little rust around the rear wheel wells, a dent on the RR and completely failed clear coat on the hood and roof, but otherwise looks pretty good. It is that unfortunate pinkish silver color, though.

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It needs that timing belt and the 4WD won't engage (flashing light when you hit the button), which I didn't know ahead of time, but the truck is generally quite clean, with little rust for the age and miles. The AC works, no CEL and runs and drives like half the miles. Everything else I found looked worse, cost more (like $1K more), had similar mileage and probably has their own issues to deal with.

He said the 4WD hasn't worked in maybe 3 years. Had it diagnosed by an independent mechanic last week. He sent me the estimate and it's $730 to fix some wiring and replace the "transfer case control unit".

 

You can swap out that transfer case control actuator in about 15 minutes and find a good clean used unit on eBay for less than 250 dollars. If you’re handy, it’s well worth doing it yourself... there are a few great videos on YT going over the install. Heck it might just need to have the cover removed and contacts cleaned. You should hear 2 definitive clicks when actuating 4Hi. The front ADD actuator and the transfer case actuator. I’d engage and see what you hear and where the click might be coming from

 

And it’s pretty much a twin to mine, although I don’t have the rust around the rear wheel wells though.

 

I need to dig into how to diagnose the flashing light. It's good to know that it should be inexpensive.

I looked through your build thread a bit earlier. You've put a lot into yours. Thankfully, that rust around the wheel arch is the most serious on the truck. There's a little under the bed, but nothing through, the best I can tell.

 

Congrats on the truck. I take mild offense to the "unfortunate" comment about the color. It's a little pearlescent which I happen to like. And the color's name was inspired by the greek gods, "Thunder Grey Mettalic!" (1C7) paint code. Consider yourself lucky!!

 

No offense intended, just not my preference. But, when you buy used, you don't often get your choice.