Ease of working on

Hi folks, new member with questions.
How easy are the 1st gen tundras to work on? Seems like there's lots of room for activities under the hood even with the V8. How about under the truck such as trans fluid pan access, etc? I have a suburban and pretty much have to drop the exhaust to drop the trans pan.

 

Welcome to the forum. I'd consider my mechanical abilities to be fairly skilled and consider my '00 to be toward the 'easy' side of working on things, can't speak for newer versions. Lots of room under the truck and in the engine compartment. Most of the fuel delivery, ECU, and emission systems are fairly simple and OBD2 diagnosable. Suspension is not complicated.
Ask me again in a year, lol.

 

... forgot to add... rear wheel bearings are unusually difficult to replace on this model. Requires a special die for the press to get them in and out. Not a great design there.

 

That's perfect info, exactly what I was looking for. I'm in the same boat as you and will be doing all of my own work except maybe timing belt cuz I heard it's a pita. That's good to know it's fairly easy to work on. Thanks!

 

Well every truck has to have its quirk I guess lol

 

That's about where I draw the line too.

 

Nailed it right there, OP. (Make your own front-bearing tool for an F350 dually 4X4 and use it just one time before it finds a forever home in the back of your toolbox and comes out only for show-and-tell.)
This is my first Tundra and I've found it relatively easy to work on so far.

 

Pretty straight forward truck to work. Lots of engine room. Timing Belt is not as bad as it may seem. Plenty of DIY vids out there, but it does take about 2 days minimum for first timer. It took me 3 days with extras. Could probably do it in 2 days now with experience.

Wheel bearings most goofy mechanics do not know how to do properly, so plan on investing in the special presses tools and DIY it right the first time in less time.

Truck is tall enough to crawl under for most work without jacks.

Parts are available through Toy Dealership Special Programme if yours is participating. Aisin and Denso have their own sites for direct OEM Source when Stealer is too high.

 

Timing belt is actually pretty easy. Just time consuming. My first timing belt attempt ever was on a 3UZ-FE, only difference between the 2UZ is lower displacement and an e-fan so I don’t have a fan clutch to get out of the way. Things like spark plugs are super easy, 1 hour at most with basic hand tools.

 

Timing belt is easy if you have done a few in the past and know the general procedure. Just need a special tool for holding the crank pulley and a big torque wrench.

05-06 years have a sealed tranny so probably don't need to worry about dropping the pan. I just had dealer flush it at 100k.

Suspension, fuel, sensors and all that have pretty good access. Lots of online how tos as well.

Welcome from the right side of washington!

 

05-06 are a little different. Previous years are pretty easy. Here is the downside that no one mentioned- these trucks don't need much work. Not a lot goes wrong in the engine bay.

Seriously, I have owned mine since the start of 08 and only had two things fail. My brake booster/master cylinder started leaking, it was a bit of a wrestling match but pretty easy. My rear diff broke (because I was duck walking off road like an idiot). That job I paid for. 230k miles, nothing else has gone bad.

 

This is all good info. I'm mainly looking at 05-06 due to the increase in hp and the extra gear in the transmission. Is it worth it?

 

I needed a double cab so didn't have much choice, but glad it has the 5 speed. 4 speeds in general seem a little rough. Especially if you have driven newer 6-8 speed vehicles. I think in general the last year's of a generation are the most solid and more likely to find one in better condition.

 

Makes sense. I'll be coming from a 94 f250 diesel so anything will ride smoother

 

Depends on your budget.
When I found my 04DC I was looking at 06DCs but couldn't afford a couple I liked and wouldn't touch a couple others.

 

I’ve done everything myself BUT the timing belt and waterpump the water pump is in the weirdest spot

 

I watched a video of a dude changing out a starter on one of these 4.7 and the entire time I was thinking, why Toyota, why under the intake? He didn't cover the intake openings and I was just waiting for something to fall down in there that he wouldn't see or notice as he was working on getting it removed. Sheesh.

 

Was talking with my Local Stealer Programme parts guy who was formerly a tech and he told me to tape off those intakes when doing the starter. He said all kinds of stuff falls down in there on people that don’t pay attention.

 

Absolutely. Anytime you remove the intake, gotta cover or block off those intake ports.

 

I know this to be true.

 

This is the way.

 

Just as, or even easier that most stuff on your 94 250...only you won't doing it on the side of the road...at night...far away from the parts store. Just make sure the maintenance has been done, then keep it current.