Handed down a 2000 SR5

Hi All,

I was handed down a 2000 Tundra SR5 250K miles a while back, it was driven regularly, at a lot of work done to it, radiator, water pump, timing chain and cover, thermostat and new exhaust. It wasn't running when I got my hands on it and sat probably for about 1 year in the drive way and I was told the alternator is junk on it.

Well before I start sinking money into I want to at least make sure it runs, I have an older battery I use for my Willys Jeep that was from my Bronco, I only keep it on a trickle charger. I replaced the alternator fuse (120amp) on the Tundra as it was blown, put the older battery in, put fresh gas in with stabilizer and tried to start it. It will crank over, nothing is seized, it almost wants to start but will not. I've never worked on a Tundra before so looking for a little guidance.

Will it still run even with a dead alternator with a good battery? Or should I stop wasting my time and replace the alternator and get a new battery for it, then try?

Anything else I should try? I was thinking trying to drain the fuel lines to get rid of any old gas. I'm used to distributors and it looks like these don't have one, is there a method of checking to make sure I have spark?

Any help would be great, thanks!

 

Welcome. Most parts stores can test the alternator for you free of charge..... yep pun intended.

 

When my alternator was dying the truck did run on battery alone, for shorter periods of time. The battery light would come on while accelerating and it started throwing some weird codes but it ran.

Battery/alternator testers are pretty inexpensive and if you could get it to a parts store they can test them for free. They’ll even bench test it (I think) if you pull the alternator out.

I went with a rebuilt alternator for my 3.4L v6 and put it in myself. $120 and an hour or so of work and it was a pretty easy fix.

 

Welcome!

 

Thanks for the input and welcomes, I think I'll pull the alternator and get it tested as well as grabbing a new battery right away, sounds like the battery I have is to weak to get it to start.

The truck does have some body rust so I may just cut the panel back and put on fender flares or see what I can get for patch panels and just weld up some new ones. The frame has been completely undercoated a few years back and still looks great. I'm excited to get this truck running again.

 

Yeah I’d probably just start working my way down the chain until you’ve got it running. If you’ve got a good battery and alternator and it’s getting fresh gas, maybe spark plugs next?