Crossing bridges!

Figured I'd come on over and introduce myself. I've been a longtime lurking member, haven't posted much but I've become more active in recent months, and I just joined the 1st gen ranks. I'm a long time Toyota owner, a former Toyota dealer tech, but this is the first 1st gen I've ever owned. My dad had a '00 that I grew up in the back seat of, but he didn't own it long after I started with Toyota in '07.

So, without further ado, here is the purchase. I picked up this '02 off Facebook, with 278k, with the previous owner saying she has a blown transmission. She starts, and has a rattle from the bellhousing area, but no codes and no movement whatsoever which has me leaning towards a bad flex plate. I've never personally seen a 4.7 or a 1st gen lose a flex plate but I suppose anything is possible. She's in great shape otherwise, motor sounds good, no leaking manifolds, new tires, new LCA's but old lower ball joints, and a newer steering rack.

I'll probably be in to see what ideas you all have for this old girl; I'm going to be fixing her up for my son's first truck. I've joined a few 1st gen Facebook groups but I'm not a fan, as the advice over here seems much more sound and less hectic/opinionated. He's 11 now but with the prices of used cars/trucks constantly going up I pounced on this one because of the price.

 

Nice. We have a few threads here on the flexplate cracking issue, but you probably already know since you’ve been lurking.

 

Two known killers of these trucks are the timing belts and LBJs. Make sure those are done in a timely manner. I trust you've read the MASSIVE info dump on 1GTs? https://www.tundras.com/threads/so-you-wanna-buy-just-bought-a-1st-gen-tundra-eh.115928/
Pretty much all you need to know is in there.

 

Welcome.

Sounds like a good project. Will your boy be helping you?

 

Flexplate cracking is a thing, and it's ione of the many quirks we inform members about in the "you just bought a 1st gen, eh?" community megathread: https://www.tundras.com/threads/so-you-wanna-buy-just-bought-a-1st-gen-tundra-eh.115928/

• Strange rattle noises at back of engine, like marbles rolling around: Several people here and at other forums have found this issue where they describe the sound as loose marbles banging around. Then found their flex plate was cracked in multiple places. Ticking timebomb. Check it out and another one with videos.

Why did they say the transmission is bad? I realize the '00-'02 had the weak planetary issue that would grenade the trans, but ... is there anything specific they mentioned, or was it just the flexplate?

 

The previous owner said they assumed the transmission was bad because it wouldn't move at all anymore. He said he was at a stop light on a state highway, and heard a pop. Then, when he accelerated, he said he got close to highway speed then the engine redlined, so he pulled over. He tried all gears, and got nothing, just as I did.

I didn't want to show my hand while negotiating on it, but while looking at it, there was no check engine light, no current/pending codes when I scanned it, and there was no load change in the RPM when shifting through the gears. Park still held so that ruled out any sort of output shaft or transfer case failure. From my experience, I haven't seen a Toyota auto trans with a complete catastrophic failure that took out ALL gears. Usually there are 1-2 that are still partially functional.

I've done quite a few of both as a tech, but I'll touch base in there. I had 10 years as a tech, with the bulk of that being a Toyota dealer tech. I used both the over due timing belt and old LBJ's to chisel away at his asking price, as both haven't been done in a long time. The timing belt is at about 120k, I've seen worse but definitely a concern. And whoever did the lower control arms reused the LBJ's, which tells me they likely were just in it for the money, not the safety. It's got newer sway bar links, outer tie rods and a newer rack.

Ideally, yes. We'll see how it goes lol.

 

Right on. Yeah, I was suspicious on that. But the "pop" is suspect. I take it you checked dipstick on level ground already to confirm that wasn't it, eh? But if it ws redlining, the transmission may've very well been spinning the driveshaft just fine, but something down the driveline broke. Let's hope, I think that's an easier fix, with more "fun" options for upgrades.

Anyway, yes, flex plate. Let us know if yours is cracked, take pics. I looooooove when I can link up more "evidence" threads of what to expect into the megathread. And if you haven't checked out that thread for other stuff, it may be worth 20mins to read.

 

I forgot to mention that in my previous response. Trans fluid looked and smelled great, and at high hot mark with the engine running, which again adds to the suspicion that the converter/pump is not turning. If it were, I'd assume it to be lower than the high level. All this doesn't rule out the pump grenading, but I would assume I'd have pressure codes then as well due to the lack of pressure when activating solenoids. This is kind of a moot point, as I'd assume there would be something associated with the loss of a flex plate as well, as you wouldn't have any pressure changes or speed changes seen by the ECM when selecting gears with a cracked flex plate either.

Regardless, further investigation will be had.

 

Welcome! That looks exactly like the one my brother has loaned me.

 

I've gotta look around, but my Dad bought a '00 in the same color on Valentines Day 2000. I was 12, and spent a lot of time in that truck growing up. I didn't drive it much though; it was always his pride and joy. It became his work truck when he bought a 2010 Tacoma.

 

Welcome to the best genncrew! Hope you brought beer.

 

Yeah, you all are the old guard of the Tundra world. I'm excited. I listened to a few of the videos on the cracked post that @shifty` posted, it sounds dang similar. It's been a minute since I've done work under a first gen, is there an inspection plate I can pull? Or am I looking at starter removal?

 

YES!, there's a small plastic cover at around the back of the motor/bellhousing you can pop off. It's smile-shaped. Let me post a couple of pics with the cover off, and the cover on, hopefully you can find it. Note the pan and the cat in the 1st pic for referential. Lst two are from my truck, others are from different members. NOTE: It's normal there's only one bolt holding the cover on.

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The starter is under the intake manifold.

 

That's awesome.... best part? I see the little fella in the cab getting familiar with the layout! Hopefully he takes intrest and can work along side you. Good stuff, congrats.
You won't find a better, more helpful group of people than right here. It's kind of legendary
Read the MegaThread https://www.tundras.com/threads/so-you-wanna-buy-just-bought-a-1st-gen-tundra-eh.115928/
The Bible of the first gen here.

 

//Nervous laugh//

Everybody be cool for a while so we don’t scare this guy off haha

Welcome!!

 

I hope you did budget for a transmission.

Your description sounds exactly like the planatary gear assembly grenading.

 

https://www.tundras.com/threads/wha...-gen-tundra-today.2558/page-2169#post-3736914

 

Thanks! I thought there was one but again, I haven’t had my head under the hood of a first gen in a minute.

I’ve done a few unfortunately. I mentioned it in my first post, I spent almost a decade as a tech, the bulk of that as a Toyota dealer tech. You see one or two when you’ve wrenched as long as I did.

You can’t scare me. I used to hold the flashlight for my dad

Time will tell. I’m prepared for a trans if I have to. I only paid $1250 for the truck, and I’ve got 5 years or so till my son can drive.