Hello and THANK YOU!!

I have a Taco with 385K. I bought a 2010 Tundra (Platinum CrewMax, 5.7L, 4WD) in 2012 and she has 287K on her now. I can't begin to thank you guys for all the help I have gotten over the years. So I decided to join today and thank you for help with my most recent chain of debacles. I will thank each of the following posters but enjoy the story to follow.

1. I was travelling in SoCal and I got rear-ended in May (see attached pic). I ordered a new taillight, slapped it on and drove back to the PNW. I continued to drive ol' trusty until June, while going back and forth with insurance due to the uninsured motorist claim it turned out to be. Body shop quoted $9500 but Insurance wanted to total it because their break-even was $12K. I couldn't afford to take the money and look for another truck. Especially at today's used and new car prices. Thank you to Tundras.com posters for the discussion on tactics claims investigators will take to devalue a vehicle so they can send it to auction!!! I got my truck fixed!
2. While driving it before the repairs, the crumpled metal was wearing through the tail light wires and eventually shorted out. Drained the battery, which killed the alternator. No dimmed lights, no slow accessories, etc... driving along and the truck shut down in the middle of the street. I couldn't believe it was the alternator since the signs were different. But Tundras.com again gave me the info I needed. They also gave me the help in replacing the alternator (the direction of doing everything from under the fender well... that was a weekend of wrenching). Thank you brothers & sisters!!!
3. While attempting to replace the alternator, I was going to lower the sway bar to get access. However, the nut inside the frame for the rear driver-side bolt to the sway bar bracket broke it's weld and I couldn't get the bolt out or tightened back down. Again, Tundras.com poster gave me ingenious idea for a larger 19MM crowfoot with a retrieval string in the small access ports. I got that thing tightened up just last night.

I have gotten so many tips over the years, without being a member. Thank you for all those. But the comical chain of events above, well... you all came through for me!

Thank you to this forum, all the people willing to give advice and help, and letting me join!

 

Welcome from NY.
No after (repair) picture.

 

If you insist...

 

Welcome from LA (Lower Alabama)!

 

Howdy from TX!