2001 with 290K

Hello,

Fairly new here, I've been shopping V8 4WD 1st gen Tundras off and on for months to replace my old 2WD Ranger. I found one with 290K miles and a full frame replacement at about 160K in 2012. I haven't seen it yet, but right now my biggest concern are the high miles and the unknown timing belt. One was done at the dealer at 90K, unknown if it's ever been done again. This guy's owned it for 6 years and has not changed it.

It's about an hour away, but it's cheap at $2500. Is it worth the drive to look at it?

I can do the timing belt, as long it'll get me home, LOL.

Anything else I ought to worry about?

 

Good luck with the timing belt this truck is the hardest truck to do the timing belt on, why was the frame replaced? Mine has 200,000 with A stock frame.

 

I believe up until 2003 there were some fairly serious frame rust issues and a lot were replaced by Toyota for free.

There's a stickied threat that talks about it in this forum.

@salguod , I say check it out. People say these engines can go for several hundred thousand. If the timing belt lasts you til you get a chance to replace it, I think all is well.

If it's an auto, the transmission is probably gonna be the first big problem. See if you can find out if it's seen mostly highway/city.

 

Yes, the 2000-2006 had some big problems with frame rot. Many were replaced by Toyota. Those that weren't replaced, the trucks had an undercoating applied, which only made the problem worse ( check out my thread for just one example). The 2UZ-FE is a fantastic engine that will last For ages with basic maintenance. As far as the Tundra being the hardest truck to do a TB on? Im thinking there are more complicated timing belt installs in the Titan, but I could be wrong...

 

It was under the frame rust recall. Dealer tried to replace the carrier but was unsuccessful and ended up replacing the entire frame.

I won't be able to tell how it was used. I could order a Carfax, but no guarantees that it would reveal more.

What's the transmission weaknesses?

 

https://www.toyota.com/owners/
run the VIN
check fluids. trans should have dip
check for leaks in rear diff
8 years since frame replacement, check for rust

I picked up an 02 2wd with 290k and have put on 7k flawless miles and it still runs like new, would buy another with high mileage and proper maintenance

 

I'm not saying the transmission is weak, just that the friction surfaces in an auto will tend to wear out before the 2UZ-FE does. Of course there are many factors that will affect longevity, but whether it's been driven city or highway would be a big one. Or if it's been used to tow heavy.

 

Do u live under a rock bucko?

 

Easy killer. Maybe he was just asking to make sure.

 

Welcome aboard from SoCal.

 

Sounds like a good deal to me. I'd jump on it.

 

I've already looked up the truck on the owner's site, that's where I got the frame info. Frame at 160K (including steering rack replacement, rear brakes, rear shock mount bushings, control arm bushings, brake lines, and rear spring shackles), timing belt service at 90K (plus coolant flush, trans fluid change, diff service, transfer case service) and a range of maintenance items at 200K. A lot of holes in the history, I might get a carfax to see if it fills in anything. I find they are hit and miss, some reveal a lot, others almost nothing.

 

Looking at the numbers, with no TB change in 6 years and the amount of miles since the first one, it’d be safe to just do it. Toyota reccos 9 years or 90k miles. The prior owner, to the prior owner, probably didn’t change it before selling.

Survey says: New Timing Belt asap.

 

Yeah, assuming I go buy it (still not sure), that's on the top of my list. Unless I spring for a Carfax and it shows up on there.

 

Take a peak at the belt and see what it looks like. Wait a 1-3 months till you get your funds back up and do the timing belt

 

Salgoud: I’m dealing with the same problem. Is it worth traveling and hour or 2 to look at a vehicle with 250-300k miles on it? Nothing worse than going that far to find out the “everything works great, no rust” car is not really that.

not suggesting you don’t go but it’s just a pain

 

JK and OP
just go look at the trucks
Low price, solid frame Tundra's, and trucks in general don't sit on CL / UH for more than a couple days around here
you can ask the million questions here, and miss out on the sale if you fiddle around before laying eyes on it
an hour each way really isn't any travel at all
I went 3 hours one way in same state just to inspect my 02

 

you’re probably right. I posted the other day about a 2006 I was looking at. This was only 30 minutes away. Needed a lot of work cosmetically (which I was fine with) but engine seemed great and no rust. Waited one extra day and she was gone.

this was the perfect vehicle for me. Cheap enough for me and allowed me to work on it on weekends but ran fine also. I missed it. Now all i can find are tundras $3k more and in really nice condition- sounds strange but not what I want. Looking for a first gen for 5-7k and that’s proving to be difficult

 

Exactly I didn’t know there was a frame rust problem with these years but here’s this guy asking me if I live under a rock

 

You’re straight up retarded he said the timing belt you can’t just look at the timing belt dumb ass that’s the serpentine belt you can just look at, you have to take the whole front of the motor off to get to the timing belt

 

Hey dummy, you can take a peak at the timing belt as long as you have mechanical ability of a housewife. All you have to do is remove a few of the bolts and pull the tb cover back to give a quick examination of the timing belt. If the belt looks fine on the top of it then your fine to go a couple more months at least

 

You didn't know the 1st gen tundras and other toyota trucks had severe frame rust issues costing the company hundreds of millions? Again, do you live under a rock?

 

Alright guys. Lets eat a veggie meal and reconsider things. Wurrld Peas is the goal here.

 

https://youtu.be/vz41KwmQzus. Your a big ole dummy arnt ya. If your belt looks like this, replace it.

 

Okay now tell me guy HOW TF DO YOU GET TO IT lolll

 

I clearly said this is a way to take a peak at the belt. Not get to it and replace it..

 

This thread is messing up my Chi. Someone make it stop.

 

turning into Chiraq in here

 

A whole hour away??--I found mine 2 hours away, after looking at several more than an hour away.
For $2500, I'd be on the road right now.