Tundra trouble

[wdfifteen]

My 2003 Toyota Tundra has 137k on the clock and things have begun going awry. It threw the annoying 0420 code saying the left cat was bad. While poking around under the truck I discovered the whole exhaust system was bad. While contemplating new rear tires I picked up a nail last week which made the decision immediate. Today I put the cat on. I broke two of the three studs at the manifold and I know I should have fixed it properly but at 137K I wasn't going to the trouble. What was left of the studs was just long enough to get two or three threads of a nut on, so I screwed it together as tight as I dared and started the truck to check for leaks. No leaks, so I welded the nuts to the studs
While I was there I noticed that the link from the roll bar to the frame had rusted in two and was lying on the steering tie rod. Another hour to get that off and out of the way. I don't yet know what a new one will cost.
I've put $2000 in this truck in the past two weeks and I still need a new windshield and front tires. If I had had a crystal ball I think I would have bailed on this truck last month.



The roll bar link dropped down right on the steering tie rod. I took it off because I was afraid it would foul the steering.

[porsche4life]

420 code? It just needs a good dose of the refer. .


Sorry pat. . Soundalike the old girl is showing her age finally. Hopefully you can get a few more years trouble free after it's all sorted.

[herr_oberst]

Man, I feel for ya, Pat.

It's so ironic that living here in the kingdom of rain, I never have anywhere close to that much rust on my dd's. Road salt is a natural-born killer.

Good luck!

[pete3799]

My 168K mile 2003 Tacoma still has the original exhaust on it..........the frame is another story.
The only parts I've replaced are shocks and one wheel bearing ( aside from tune up, tires, etc.).
2000.00 in 137K miles is less than a penny and a half a mile and that figure probably included your tires. Not bad in my book.

[unclebilly]

I have a 2011 tundra that I bought new. It is a POS!

[june82000]

For some reason I've never had much luck with Toyota products.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Man, I feel for ya, Pat.

It's so ironic that living here in the kingdom of rain, I never have anywhere close to that much rust on my dd's. Road salt is a natural-born killer.

Good luck!

I've never seen a vehicle with as much structural rust as this Toyota. They are infamous for frame rust-through (mine is OK), but bolts, shields, and now this suspension link have alarming amounts of rust on them. This truck won't be a DD any more. I'm using it only when I need to haul something.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

I have a 2011 tundra that I bought new. It is a POS!

Please tell me more. I've been considering getting a newer Tundra.
In spite of its shortcomings I like this Tundra more than any other truck I've ever owned. A friend bought a 2012 and I hate the new big, tall, boxy body style. For all its big bold looks outside, under the hood there are all these dinky, delicate little parts. The master cylinder is tiny, the piston can't be more than 13 mm, and the steering shaft is about the size of a pencil. Not exactly confidence-inspiring.

[HardDrive]

I'll stick with ma' F-150 thanks. *picks teeth with hunting knife*

[flatbutt]

I had to replace the steering rack in my '06 Taco due to rust. They ain't what they used to be.

[tedg04]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

I'll stick with ma' F-150 thanks. *picks teeth with hunting knife*

Sissy, get a F250 and a machete.

[speeder]

Living in The rust belt sucks in general for vehicles but Toyotas seem to turn to stone worse than others. Shame really, because they are great trucks to own out here.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by tedg04

Sissy, get a F250 and a machete.

Nope. F350 and a Colt 45.

[tedg04]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Nope. F350 and a Colt 45.

We're going to end up at a freightliner and a rpg aren't we?

[Rick V]

F450 Duelie and a chainsaw

[regency]

F550 and a Suitcase Nuke

1973 911 T MFI Coupe, Aubergine

Steve

[HHI944]

[yel911]

That link was $100 at Toyota..... $51 at the local parts store and $18 on Ebay. I bought the $51 first, not knowing and the second one on Ebay. Just to add to the fire, how's you're E-brake cable doing left to right? I traded my 02 with 146K on the clock. It was a good truck, but started to rattle etc.

[wdfifteen]

Thanks for the tip on the link. I didn't even consider that it was available from anyplace but Toyota.
The ebrake cables themselves are OK. I've had to take the pivots on the backing plates apart and clean the corrosion and rust off. First the left one locked up a couple of years ago, I fixed it, then last fall the right one seized up. In both cases it looked like the cables were loose because the ebrake wasn't releasing all the way. Thanks again for the tip.

[yel911]

FYI, $21 fr a pair, free shipping!!!
2 Front Sway Bar Links Suspension Part K90681 | eBay