Loved my access cab so much, that thing never gave me a problem. Now I got a 06 double cab and it’s just a great simple truck. Gotta love the simplicity of an old Toyota truck
he wasn’t joking about the ball joints tho, definitely keep an eye on them. i have an 06 and it’s turning 290k miles! but this winter but my driver and passenger side ball joints gave out, once in motion at about 35mph🤷🏾 just because it’s simple make sure you aren’t neglecting the maintenance🫱🏾🫲🏻
@@nrenenra4287 don’t worry changed them before they ever had the chance to go out on me. I see a bunch of older Toyota’s on the road with a blown out ball joint, sucks to see it.
Have an 02 myself love it. I kept warping rotors and the brakes on the front of this thing have to be swapped out converted to the sequoias front brakes
Got my 02 SR5 Access Cab as my first car almost 10 years ago and it’s still my daily driver. She’s been through a lot and I love her so much. Don’t want anything else. Nice to know there’s a community behind these trucks.
I just purchased my first truck (First Gen Tundra) which happens to be my dream truck. Single cab, 8ft bed, 4x4, weekend warrior! I love how BASIC it is! Easy to work on for the most part lol! Thanks for the info Sal!
Perfect video. Informative, had his notes ready and stuck to the five points he set on making. Even adding some photos of other first gen models. Well done, sir.
Just got a 2005 double cab sr5 TRD 4x4. I love it! I want it to last forever. It really is fun to drive. All my life I've had tiny compact cars, so it's a big change for me.
So I'm perplexed maybe even on the fence with this LBJ thing. In my case that is... I've heard and viewed all I come across on these ridiculously absurd design life line to one of the most important aspects of operating a vehicle... Best I can tell from not being the sole owner, maybe 2nd or 3rd owner, I am running with factory never been swapped out and on the clock the odometer is just past 175K...LBJ's. My '03 SR5 is 2WD Access Cab w/4.7L and it runs really strong no leaks except the PS hose(s) near the bottom where they are snugged together enroute to & fro the rack. This has been a wee leak that in time sent caustic PS fluid down to the LCA and rotted/ate the bushing... I should have had this wee laek taken care of 15K miles back.... It was so tiny I kept forgetting about it and I had a different daily driver, so you know... Now I have LCA's and PS hoses which is a lot for my fixed income to facilitate all in one go. You can be sure the PS issue is 1st, why worry about my passenger side LCA that squeaks as a reminder of neglect only to have that wee leak now leaking in more noticable quantities between top offs ruin, eat up a new bushing. But my Lower Ball Joints have in these 175K not been ravaged from abuse off road and this has been until this year* a desert truck. Not a hint of frame rust. So I try to not worry myself about the two ares I know are coming due... the starter and the LBJ's. * I moved to NW Arkansas back in March 2024... No salt (?) certainly I won't be operating my TAWNY TUNDRA much being retired but I do love this beast with its foibles being what they are there is more power in this engine than I'll need here on, and with proper fluid changes the drivetrain will carry me 'til I die...Seriously! The finish, the clear coat after 20 years in the desert is gone but the paint still is golen or kind of tawny if you can imagine flat gold or is that called ...no idea?
If you do the timing belt,make sure the belt you get has the white timing marks.I bought one as part of a kit,water pump etc and it didn't have the marks,so you have to re-install the balancer to check your progress. The lower ball joint swap is an easy bolt on. The starters don't go out often and give plenty of warning usually.
Yeah, I cant imagine doing the timing belt job without the marks on the belt. The kit I was recommended and bought was from Aisin, and all of the parts were OE. Thanks for watching! - Sal
These trucks are a rare breed. I have a 2004 with 230k and runs smooth as silk. I’m telling you I would get up in the morning and drive it to California without blinking. I live in Tennessee lol.
Glad to keep seeing everyone loving these. I just picked up an 06 Tundra. 216k and only one previous owner. Also have a 92 4Runner and 21 Tacoma. Actually hate the Tacoma because of all the tech bs in it. Cannot wait to learn more about my Tundra.
02 Tundra 4x4 V8 SR5 - 282k Miles when I bought it last year with a rusted frame in the rust belt. Cut out the old rusted frame and replaced with a premanufactured Safe-T-Cap. Slowly swapping old parts as I can find time/issues. Well worth the $1500 total I have in the truck. Going on 285k Miles as a 2nd vehicle. The thing runs great, looking at cleaning and replacing a few parts and keeping this running for another few years.
That's sweet Kyle, sounds like a great project that should serve you well as long as you want to keep it around. And for $1500 you can't go wrong! haha thanks for watching - Sal
I just bought a single cab v6 with a full size bed. It has 265000 miles. I got it because it still runs smoothly and has a lot of power for what I need it for. It’s 341 hp.
I just replaced the starter in my 02 4.7L last weekend. It's definitely a project! I couldn't believe it when I finally figured out how I had to get to it! It took me about 5 hours. I also replaced three throttle body gasket and the intake manifold gasket since I was in there and they had never been replaced. I also cleaned a lot up too. One other issue I recently had was the driver side strut broke. The lower part of it that holds the bearing broke off completely! Seeing what happened I decided I'd better check the passenger side strut as well and the bearing was shot in that one. There's 270k miles on all of these parts though so really I'm surprised how long they lasted. But yeah, I love my truck! It's been the most reliable vehicle I've ever known. The starter going out is the first time I've had to do any real work on it that wasn't normal maintenance. I had the timing belt replaced about 10k miles ago but that's just because it was so old and had so many miles on it.
Hey Doug, yup the starter on the 4.7 is a big pain in the butt. Nice that you took advantage and freshened some other things up in there too. If you're in the FB group, I think I remember seeing your post about the strut breaking! It's crazy that happened, I didn't even know that could be a thing 😂 My bushings are pretty shot so I'm looking at options for a simple upgrade at some point in the future. Thanks for watching! - Sal
@@JDMDriveway I have an 06 DoubleCab where I blew out the strut earlier this year also. I went with a pair of Bilstein extended shocks (extended because PO put on 33s which caused rubbing), and a set of Monroe coilovers, and even with some aggressive offroading, they've been handling wonderfully for the past 9 months. Highly recommend!
It bet it was a reaction based decision since Toyota was starting to get more complaints with premature corrosion etc and I'd imagine the engineers assumed the most protective starter location was inside the engine? 😝
Just got a 2004 . For 8k with 87K miles. The fingers crossed part is it's a salvage rebuild title , I think a Dealer or wholesaler settled a dispute by swapping in a J frame . The frame actually looks pretty decent. Truck runs great so far , but knock wood. Thanks for the info on the starter , UGH. I'll check the timing belt myself , that was GREAT info. Kudos also on your positive attitude.
my 04 tundra double cab has been to hell and back a few times, its knocking the door of 740 000 kms, and still going strong. easy to work on, fun to drive and a pleasure to own..
I was looking for an older grandma / knockaround Toyota truck and found a one owner 2006 Tundra with 130K miles on Copart salvage site. From the photos it looked OK but I couldn't read the badges etc. When it came in it turned out to be a DCL (Double Cab Limited) with a huge sunroof & roll down back window among other nice features and the V8 ran like a top. It had a surprise in the bed, a box full of parts for front brakes! Only real problem a bad master cylinder, couldn't keep it full. It now has a nice stereo, backup cam, remote start, new shocks & Michelins. The timing chain on the V8 was done at 100K miles so that is good for many years. We hauled an ATV part way across the country and it averaged 16 MPG, a bit better on the way back w/o a load. My wife likes it so well that we sold her Lexus and this is now her main ride.
Please share your maintenance record experience to make it last that long, I'm looking into a 2002 tundra 4.7 v8 crew cab limited with 233k miles and test drive it today and drives smooth, they're asking $5500 for it and want to know I'd it's a good deal to get or pass?
Your videos have been extremely helpful with my 03 Tundra 4.7L. Like I always say to my wife, everything happens for a reason. Sorry to hear about your Suburu loss but without your videos, my truck ownership would have been challenging.
I bought my 2000 in '06 as a work/play vehicle. Still going strong today. There are a few recommendations I'd make, like doing a drop and swap on fluids every year or two. Past that, you seem to be on target. Most of the long term maintenance issues have been addressed.
That’s a good point, it’s cool you’ve been in the tundra game for so long! Have you been changing trans fluid too? Not sure if mine has been changed and I’m reluctant to do it now because it just works lol
@@JDMDriveway At 200k miles I dropped the pan and replaced the filter, and the fluid. I did it a few times at the start to get the black out and red in. Stopped the hard shifts it was starting to get. past that, just drop and tops every year or so. The tundra is easy, because it has a dipstick to refill. I do the same with power steering fluid(same fluid makes it easy). Pump out the reservoir, and fill once a year or so. Seems to keep everything happy.
*every tech I've talked to said to not hook it up to a pressurized fluid exchange machine, though. For some reason it can cause problems, unless you did it consistently from new.
Ok cool. Thank you so much for the information, I’ll probably end up doing this in the next couple of months. Just to keep it fresh and for peace of mind.
00 tundra bought it in december of 1999 upgraded to a ivan stewart clone the front rotors warp easily replaced them with 03 fixed that problem and the orbital gear in the transmisson great job making videos and content for the first gen thank you
I bought a new 2005 Tundra Double cab 4wd and kept it ten years. The one thing I wish I knew was how much I would miss it when I sold it. Ended up buying a 2015 Tundra and love it, but that first one was great.
Yep, that's definitely one of the best features of that truck and I am super jealous of it. Also, while my truck fits me and a passenger perfectly fine, any time I am transporting more stuff or more people, I wish I had the DC for that back seat space. Im honestly looking at upgrading to a DC if the right deal comes up. Thanks for watching!
I own a 2000 limited.. gave it a bedliner paint job and do all my own mechanic work on it. One thing I wish I had known, if one of your back axle seals starts to leak and you don’t take care of it before your differential fluid leaks out all over your brake drums, your differential will go to pieces… and it’s a little pricey to repair. That being said, I LOVE MY TRUCK !!! Thinking about supercharging it
Oh dang, I've seen people talk about rear axle seals, but I didn't realize how catastrophic it could be. Supercharging would be sweet tho! Thanks for watching - Sal
I have a 2000 tundra I got for 1k in 2020. Busted radiator, but apart from that ran fine. Only major repair I've done so far is rebuilding the rear end. Our towtruck broke down, and the big tow truck couldn't get down our driveway. I attached the chains to the rear axle of my tundra, and pulled the 15k+ pound truck up a real steep incline. Just popped it in 4low, and it didn't complain. Made a whining noise out of the rear end the next day, and I kept driving it almost every day for a year before I took it to the shop. Never left me stranded, even when the maf sensor went out, and it stopped being able to idle. Just kept it revved up and I made it to work.
lol I have a very different view of the truck now that I have owned it for a couple of years, definitely very popular among the younger crowd (although I will say there are a fair share of grandpas I see driving these around too haha) Thanks for watching!
I’m planning to buy a truck in the springtime, currently trying to decide between a tundra and a ridgeline. There’s pros & cons to each. I don’t need anything fancy, just a vehicle with some utility would be nice. Seems like the Tundra would be a solid choice! I enjoy watching your videos on this truck as it helps me learn more about them.
I'll honestly say that 90% of the time I don't use the utility of my truck, but that last 10% makes it worth it. So having a ridgeline would be nice to have a good ride and everyday amenities for a majority of the time you're driving around, but I still opted to have a "more truck" sort of vehicle. Personal preference, but I like the look of the truck, and the other big benefit would be towing capacity and bed size. The double cab tundras offer a lot of interior space and I would pick that option if I had a family. The ridgeline is probably the more logical answer (for me too), but may not be the coolest option lol thanks for watching! - Sal
Go with the tundra. I have been a chevy guy most of the time ive owned trucks, ranging from a 4 cylinder s10 to a 454 cubic inch big block 3/4 ton behemoth of a truck. Having said that, I absolutely love my tundra and probably wont look back. It gets pretty decent mileage for a v8, its comfortable and reliable, and it out pulls most of the trucks ive owned. The 4.7 in my tundra comes within 30 foot pounds of torque to the big block that was in my 3/4 ton, but double the mileage. My one and only complaint about my 06 is the oddball bed dimensions make finding a used toolbox that fits a challenge
I have had a 2003 tundra for 10+ years and I’m learning quite a lot from your videos. Aside from the bad gas mileage, this is the only thing I wanna drive.
They’re awesome trucks, and it’s always cool to hear of people holding onto them for a very long time like you have. Glad I can still make some helpful videos as a relative tundra newbie. Thanks for watching - Sal
Whenever your bummed about gas mileage just remember you’ve got a vehicle that will last and last. Imagine having to buy a new vehicle compared to having bad gas mileage. Then it doesnt seem that bad.
One thing you gotta think about, you can buy a truck that gets better gas mileage but the cost of repair will be more than what you would pay owning a tundra with bad mpg.
Mines a 04 just got it today july 3 rd 2024,I like mines so far,136,000 k ,,,and new timming belt on it or chain whatever they put in it ,like I said I got it today ,but seems nice n tight
I own the 2003 limited 4X4. I have owned it for 18 years. Never have had an issue other than recalls and did replace a front cv axle due to broken cv boot. Same starter. I just can’t see parting ways with it.
Sal, we’re living parallel lives! I killed my 2020 Outback XT in floodwaters and am looking for a Tundra now. I’ve been scouring for info about the best generations and clearly it’s the 1st Gen. Thanks for all the support info as it validates all the reasons why I want this to be my next vehicle.
Ugh sorry to hear about your outback! Definitely happy with my first gen, and a first gen Sequoia could be a good option to look into as well. Same exact truck as a tundra, but with an SUV body on top instead. Hope you find a good replacement though, and thanks for watching! - Sal
I love my first gen. Tundra too... but the suicide door arrangement is a problem - particularly when trying to load groceries in the back seat when parked between other cars.
I bought mine brand new 20 years ago, the only thing I've done to it is A/C coil, valve cover gaskets, and general maintenance. Until last week, I changed out upper and lower ball joints and the inner and outer tie rods. Mine is the XSP Model, which is the unspoken of model between SR5 and Limited
Glad to hear it, I've been looking at DCs near me and there's a surprising number of XSP trip ones. I guess it was popular in Southern VA and the Carolinas lol. Thanks for watching
glad your enjoying your 1st gen. I own one as well. 2000 I love it. Only thing I would I knew or would change is I wish I would have looked around a little longer and got a four-wheel drive one and maybe one that was a year or two newer but my frame is still totally solid everything alive soon and probably starter which if you're going to do that you might as well throw in water pumps and all the other stuff while you got halfway torn apart I am at 280,000 miles just over 7 years of ownership 2uz-fe access cab SR5. v8 6ft bed. lot of similarities with mine. now luckily I got a one owner when I got it and he took good care of it
I own two and this video is spot on. I will add the paint seal coating notoriously doesn't last long and patinas off. And the access cab door window latches always break, but that's a easy cheap fix. These are excellent trucks, a great size/power ratio for typical person needing a truck.
Thanks Tim, those are definitely worth mentioning too. I lucked out with some really good paint on my truck, but some look pretty rough. And my window latches broke and needed to be replaced as well. Thanks for watching - Sal
Just bought mine back in May with 195k. 2005 Black SR5 4X4 access cab with the LSD rear diff. I had to do the timing belt right off the bat. But hey, these are million mile engines. One of the best, if not best engine out there.
I love my tundra but one thing I wish I knew before buying a DC Tundra was that the aftermarket support is for the other versions of the Tundras and not as much for the DC tundra. I've made a couple custom parts for my truck such as a grille and I've wired in a small sub but other than that thats all I could really think to do as of now. Eventually I would like to widebody because thats one of the things i have noticed a lot of in this community but that's in the far future.
Hmm yeah that’s a good point, there’s definitely more aftermarket support for the AC tundras. I agree that the wide bodies look great, but that’s way in the future for me too. Thanks for watching Dillan! - Sal
I wish I knew how great these were when they were new. I’d have bought one then. Got my first SR5 in 09. Drove and worked the piss out of it for 14 years with minimal issues. Starter, radiator, coil packs, one rear wheel seal. That’s about it. I got spoiled driving that. Recently got another 01 SR5. Hoping for similar results.
I have two 2003 Tundras , I bought new twenty years ago. SR·5 TRD , 3 inch lift , K&N cold air filter. Denson Iridium Plugs . 110k limited with leather. I run a stock K&N air filter and Same Denson Iridium Plugs . 64K I swapped the 17 inch tires to my SR·5, and my limited runs the regular 16 inch. wheels. This became my city cruiser truck. With higher gas prices, I had to convert 2003 Corolla CE, into the CorollaVirus™. 137K Got ride of the standard 15 inch wheels and put on Scion TC 17 Inch wheels, lifted the body, cut the pre runner noise and make a Home made steal bumper skid plate and winch. Now my CorollaVirus™ goes everywhere my Tundra goes. What is going to brake on my Tundra , everything plastic. 1. The AC control knob 2. inside door handles front and back , Acces Cab. 3. plastic coupling that hold the roods of the tail gate. 4. the handdle to open and close and lock the back acces cab door windows. What I have had to replace. 1. Window Lift motor 2. Starter 3. rack n pinon Those happened on the 19th year of life my SR·5 4. Upper and lower tie rods. 5. second set of brakes and one disc. Planning on doing the timing belt & replace the water pump while I'm timing belt for Christmas. Recalls on the 03 Tundra are. Ball Joint Air Bag. The 2003 also has a air bag recall too
I also have a 2003 limited 4wd access cab that I bought new. I love this truck, such a blessing, 148k now, so just now really broken in :). It's been on sandy beaches, up three mountain ranges, in over a foot of snow, on all kinds of ice, and towed a 6000+ pound horse trailer across the country many times. A few simple upgrades have made it all the more fun/comfortable/capable too. A quick note about the plastic items breaking, in short, it's true. I replaced the rear tailgate handle, one of the side rear window hinges and have had small complications with the inside and outside drivers side door handles and the ac knob. The key on these items is temperature and how you use them. Let them get warm if you can before turning the ac knob for example and turn it a bit slower, the components behind it can break and are not cheap to replace, plus it was hard to figure which one actually caused the knob to fail. On the door handles, lift them a bit slower, the access cab rear drivers door acted up on me starting about 6 years ago since i use it to let my border collies in the back seat frequently. I was just gentle with it in cold weather and let it warm up first if i could and it's still the original parts. The original radiator also failed for me back in 2020, leaked out two gallons while i drove it gently waiting on the replacement Toyota part, but never over heated, just had that sick sweet smell to tell me there was a problem. Also replaced both front axels twice (lifetime warranty parts :), replaced the gear shifter, the timing belt and water pump, a couple of minor seals and the cd changer to more modern head unit. Need to replace the visor now as it keeps falling off on the left drivers side hinge, but can't find a charcoal gray replacement with the light option anywhere yet... feel free to ask about my truck, it's great to share experiences to keep these machines running strong 🙋♀️😊💖
nice truck got my tundra trd limited in 2002 with 2000 miles on it.i like it better than my 2018 sr 5. toyota put a new chasie on it a couple of years ago due to rust. got over 210,000 miles runs strong. keep up on maintenance and fix what's wrong.
My 2006 V6 has a timing chain. Not a belt. And the starter which I got replaced like a month after I bought it had easy access. Guess I got lucky. Although i do get a little timing chain rattle on the first start of the day.
Yeah, those are definitely some of the benefits of the V6 (especially the starter lol). I can't believe I completely forgot to mention you V6 guys in this video. No hard feelings I hope haha thanks for watching - Sal
How is the v6 4.0? Any issues with it so far? Is the alternator in a decent location as well? Any idea of what it would take to service the timing chain?
Yup, same here. I love my access cab but I think had I known about the double cab, I probably would have opted for that style. Thanks for watching! - Sal
Good video. I’ve had my ‘06 ac since ‘16. The best driving truck I’ve had. One thing I don’t like is the turning radius. Hard to maneuver in tight spots. My all time fav truck was my ‘97 T-100. Drove like a sports car. I hated that it had no rear door so switched to the tundra
Thanks Dave, I agree that the turning radius is pretty bad. I wonder how it compares to other trucks like an F150 or 1500 or something from the same era. I haven't driven one of those in a long time. Thanks for watching! - Sal
I have had my 03 4x4 sr5 since day 1 when it showed up on the dealers lot. V6 and gets 25 mpg. It has never gave me a problem in all these years. I look at all the new trucks and can't see downgrading at this point.
I have a 04 access cab with 275k with the original starter that runs like the day I bought it. This truck tows and has been working since it had 26 miles on the OD. 80k miles for the timing belt is way too often. I have been changing mine at 120k and it still looks good. I wouldn't go longer because the water pump has needed to be changed both times. I like that the 4.7 makes all its torque at low RPM like below 3k so it doesn't hunt for gears like my 17' tundra does.
I have an 03 (bought in 04) w/ 250K miles.....short of the starter..I love this truck. Just replaced the dash lights w/ LED's... and new head lights. still runs like a top
Hi Sal, thanks so much for your videos. I share same affinity for my 2000 limited as you do for yours. Your programming key fob vid was well done and I expect to be trying out procedure soon. Thx again and happy motoring.
My first gen 2001 access cab is my fav car I’ve ever had, and I don’t regret it for a second. 340k miles and God Willing still climbing!Something I wish I’d known: the cost of ignition coils… *shudder*.
Hahaha yeah the ignition coils are super expensive. I wanted to replace all of them to refresh the engine but I don't want to drop like $400+ on that 😂 thanks for watching - Sal
We purchased an 04 SR5 double cab several years ago and it's been a good truck. I had the timing belt changed at 120,000 miles and changed the oil, that's all I have done to it. I don't drive it much, maybe 3,000 miles a year so I don't have to do much maintenance. My neighbor wants it really bad but I refuse to sell it even though I know eventually I am going to have to replace some things like the starter and wheel bearings. I'll just have my mechanic do it because I know it will be done right the first time and he uses quality parts.
I’m a family of 4 and honestly the access cab isn’t terrible with 2 car seats in the back definitely helps that i’m skinny also😂 We were a little cramped but we made due tel my girlfriend recently got a car. It’s a Pontiac vibe with a Toyota engine. Pretty interesting history with Pontiac and Toyota cross over.
One thing I had wish I had known and it's a major design flaw by Toyota is that they weld the differential covers on these trucks (and apparently up to the 2015 Tacoma). They're not bolt on. They use super thin gauge covers too and the welds aren’t the best. After a while it begins to rust out and you have to cut it off and weld a new cover on. I got myself an aftermarket cover from Barnes 4WD which is a much thicker 9 gauge material and made thicker welds. The key to putting an aftermarket cover is all prep, super clean and mate the surfaces otherwise it'll rust from the inside out again.
@@JDMDriveway No problem I ended up putting a Eaton TrueTrac LSD in mine so was a good opportunity to upgrade it but definitely something to be aware of. They don’t use a rubber seal like most diffs do so you’re relying entirely on Toyotas thin welds. I would use Por-15 on yours if it’s already rusting.
Thanks, yes I wish I would have watched your video before I bought my 04 SR5 crew. Supposed to be one owner salesman just retired, has 193k 4.7 nice n clean but he worked at Kolar Toyota in Duluth MN but trying to find service records after the sale has been terrible, And before I bought it they did front brake pads and rotor and one caliper and left the old one with no bleeder on the right. Really gives to the used car salesman promise everything and after the sale nothing lol. I was very disappointed with them but I'll check the belt the owner could not remember but thought it wasn't that long ago. Ya ya. OK thanks for the videos.
Too bad to hear about your experience there. It's so frustrating, and the similar experience that I had has really discouraged me from buying at another used car dealership. Hope the belt is looking fresh at least! Thanks for watching - Sal
Had my 2001 Access Cab since 2005 and with 200k miles, I have three main issues. Two are minor but still really annoying. First, HATE HATE HATE the suicide doors. They're just a pain, especially in parking lots. Second is the seatbelt. It has never gone back well and always gets caught in the door. Maybe it's just mine but I have heard others having the same issue. Again, minor and not something that makes me regret having it. Third is the turning radius. It's just huge. My brother-in-law has a 3/4 ton Dodge extended cab with an 8ft bed and it's way smaller than my Tundra. This is the one thing that does suck. Same as above that it wouldn't change my mind, but it's a pain in tight places.
Yes!! I can't stand the Suicide doors either haha I never gave the steering radius much thought because I assumed it was just a truck thing, but it is definitely really bad haha thanks for watching! - Sal
I’m like you I’m coming from the wrx community, just sold mine looking for a truck, in between a 4Runner and Tacoma, thundras come up but I feel like I wouldn’t truly use it for its full potential, yours looks like a great truck
Yeah I totally understand not using it to its full potential. I have towed with it a few times and used the bed to haul some house things here and there, but 90% of the time it's just a fuel inefficient daily driver. I'm not complaining, I really like driving it, but a newer tacoma or 4runner may have more creature comforts that are worth the trade off for towing capacity or payload. Up to you, you can't go wrong with any of those options! Thanks for watching, and best of luck with the search. - Sal
I have the same vehicle but in the V6.(3.4L)Bought it used and had to replace the starter motor IN 2008. On the V6 it's very easy. After 21 years it's working fine. I still have under a 80,000 miles, however I went ahead and changed the timing belt. Hope to have it for many more years.
I bought a 2004 Single Cab with the long Bed. It is amazing how big those beds. I have not seen another car with that size bed, I can fit my entire wood panels in it and close the tailgate. It aslo came with the v6 same as my 98 4runner. I know the ins and outs of it.
If it's 4WD, that sounds like a good deal in todays market. 2WD, I'd hope that the rest of the truck is in really good shape. Make sure to check over the frame and timing belt to see what you're getting yourself into. Best of luck!
Not sure where you want to be with the channel but I subscribed. Love the content you create and you seem like a good person so thought I'd try to help.
The starter on the V6 Tundra is sitting right above the exhaust manifold on the passenger side and you can see it when you open the hood....extremely accessible..The only problem with Tundra 4wd is that it consumes lots of gas (15 miles a gallon). My Dad's Tundra has only 27K miles and is silky smooth...
Holy crap 27k miles, that's collector grade!! 😂 the mpgs are definitely a downside, but also kinda expected on an older truck. I'm glad the V6 starters are more convenient! Thanks for watching - Sal
@@JDMDriveway my first tundra saved my life bad accident guy ran the light broadsided me I’m lucky to be alive but the side guard door beams saved my butt
For sure man! I agree, it’s not my style but I’d love to see more lowered tundras. I wish they made a single cab short bad, and you could make it into a ford lightning style truck. Thanks for watching! - Sal
you forgot about the stepside bed!! i have a 05 dc limited same color as yours and absolutely love it. sadly i’m in new england and the frame dosent have much time left but i love the truck :(
Add just change my Water pump Timing belt. And gears 2001. 125000 miles. And the Timing belt that I took off look like it was new Happy I did it anyway took me about a day.😊
My 2003 Tundra is approaching 95,000 miles and due for it's 1st timing belt svc. I called Toyota today and they gave me a quote: 2353.20 I was going to get it done five years ago, but complained about spending 1500.00 and put it off in thinking I still had low miles and needed to save. I wish I had it done then. Hard to keep up with inflation.
Ouch yeah it's definitely a big job, maybe a reputable local shop could do it for a bit less money? But I certainly see the appeal of having the Toyota professionals do the work. Thanks for watching - Sal
My local independent repair shop owned by a Master Toyota mechanic charges about $650 to $750 for a timing belt replacement with Toyota parts. Shop around.
I've got around 220k miles on mine, bought it with around 195k. I love my truck, super simple and never fails me. I wasn't sure how I felt about the new ones at first but I've seen a few on the road and I think they look good in person 👍🏼 thanks for watching! - Sal
FYI, the starter was placed high atop the engine perimeter. For the reason you’re Subaru or Detroit vehicle would fail., and quite simply water level. Yes, these trucks can take punishment. So that’s why it is reliable. Pay attention or pay cash!
Although a major pain in the butt I would also say that it protects the starter from the elements so I'd say it might last longer than a normal one. Did you replace any gaskets while doing that? Like the manifold?
Yeah that's a good point about protecting it from the elements. I didn't replace any gaskets, I probably should have but haven't run into any issues. Thanks for watching
I totally regret getting a tundra. I have a 2006 double cab and I wish I would have known that the radiator tends to fail or at least the transmission cooler part of it and it fills your transmission full of coolant and it fills your motor full of transmission fluid so that's fun. Also there's no dipstick for the transmission that's cool too you have to take the bolt out of the bottom of the pan and fill it next to the slip yoke that's awesome engineering and like you said the starter being in the valley this thing's just a crap design and I am super surprised that these trucks have a good name for them at all because from my experience they're garbage
Dang dude, sorry to hear you had such a bad experience. The trans cooler lines running through the radiator is a poor design, and certainly causes big issues if the radiator fails. Replacing the radiator is one of those "preventative maintenance" things that can be easily overlooked. Those later models with the 5 speed trans unfortunately have the sealed trans, where the earlier 4 speed ones have a dipstick and fill tube. Again, too bad to hear about your experience, but good for other people to see both perspectives. Thanks for watching - Sal
There’s a 2002 Toyota Tundra for $3,200 there’s 157455 miles on it. It appears to be in good condition. This would be my first ever vehicle, is this a decent deal? I really want a truck but don’t have a lot of money. I can afford that tho.
Yes and no. Its better because it has more power and a more modern transmission which makes it feel smoother. However, the regular 4.7 has less moving parts, and doesn't include the secondary air injection system that's required for emissions regulations, but is a common failure point. Hope this answers your question, and thanks for watching!
Hey Herbie, it can be a bit of a pain to track down exactly which key fob you will need, so good luck with that. But once you've found one, I have another video here on my channel to help you pair it up. Thanks for watching! - Sal
I have a 2006 extended cab 4.7 L 2WD . I have allergies and was disappointed to discover there was no cabin filter. Apparently there is a piece of foam that the air Channels through. I have recently replaced the blower and found rocks embedded in the cage. Is there any way of replacing that foam?
I'm not sure about the foam, but if you have a Facebook, someone recently designed a filter for our trucks and has started selling them in the First Gen Tundras FB group. I haven't tried it personally, but other people have been picking them up and installing them in their trucks. Thanks for watching!
Hate to say it Martin, but I’m probably not going to be doing that project again if I don’t have to 😂 good news is that there are a bunch of other good tutorials here on RUclips. Best of luck with your truck though, hopefully the repair goes smoothly 👍🏼 - Sal
Yeah luckily the paint on my truck is in great shape. I ceramic coated it a few years ago and it's been holding up well. Best of luck on the search, and thanks for watching!
Loved my access cab so much, that thing never gave me a problem. Now I got a 06 double cab and it’s just a great simple truck. Gotta love the simplicity of an old Toyota truck
Yup exactly, cool to see you stayed in the first gen tundra fam! Thanks for watching - Sal
he wasn’t joking about the ball joints tho, definitely keep an eye on them. i have an 06 and it’s turning 290k miles! but this winter but my driver and passenger side ball joints gave out, once in motion at about 35mph🤷🏾 just because it’s simple make sure you aren’t neglecting the maintenance🫱🏾🫲🏻
Gas hurts :(😂
@@nrenenra4287 don’t worry changed them before they ever had the chance to go out on me. I see a bunch of older Toyota’s on the road with a blown out ball joint, sucks to see it.
Have an 02 myself love it. I kept warping rotors and the brakes on the front of this thing have to be swapped out converted to the sequoias front brakes
Got my 02 SR5 Access Cab as my first car almost 10 years ago and it’s still my daily driver. She’s been through a lot and I love her so much. Don’t want anything else. Nice to know there’s a community behind these trucks.
Yep for sure! Love to hear when people hold onto them for that long! Thanks for watching
I've got a 2003 Tundra....now with 265,000 miles. I keep it well maintained and it runs like Secretariat. Hope to see 500,000 plus one day.
Nice, what engine?
Got an 01 242k miles still running strong
@@taemac10he’s got the v8 can see on the grill, I have the 3.4l v6
Love my single cab, RWD, 8ft bed, 5speed manual, 3.4 v6 tundra!
That’s awesome!! Such a unique spec! Thanks for watching - Sal
I just purchased my first truck (First Gen Tundra) which happens to be my dream truck. Single cab, 8ft bed, 4x4, weekend warrior! I love how BASIC it is! Easy to work on for the most part lol! Thanks for the info Sal!
Awesome! Congrats on the new truck! Thanks for watching - Sal
Nice I want that but with the v6 and an extra cab
Perfect video. Informative, had his notes ready and stuck to the five points he set on making. Even adding some photos of other first gen models. Well done, sir.
Just got a 2005 double cab sr5 TRD 4x4. I love it! I want it to last forever. It really is fun to drive. All my life I've had tiny compact cars, so it's a big change for me.
Sweet, congrats on the new truck! Thanks for watching
I still got my 02 4x4 tundra. Currently getting new ball joints so I can love it long time.
So I'm perplexed maybe even on the fence with this LBJ thing.
In my case that is...
I've heard and viewed all I come across on these ridiculously absurd design life line to one of the most important aspects of operating a vehicle...
Best I can tell from not being the sole owner, maybe 2nd or 3rd owner, I am running with factory never been swapped out and on the clock the odometer is just past 175K...LBJ's.
My '03 SR5 is 2WD Access Cab w/4.7L and it runs really strong no leaks except the PS hose(s) near the bottom where they are snugged together enroute to & fro the rack. This has been a wee leak that in time sent caustic PS fluid down to the LCA and rotted/ate the bushing... I should have had this wee laek taken care of 15K miles back.... It was so tiny I kept forgetting about it and I had a different daily driver, so you know...
Now I have LCA's and PS hoses which is a lot for my fixed income to facilitate all in one go. You can be sure the PS issue is 1st, why worry about my passenger side LCA that squeaks as a reminder of neglect only to have that wee leak now leaking in more noticable quantities between top offs ruin, eat up a new bushing.
But my Lower Ball Joints have in these 175K not been ravaged from abuse off road and this has been until this year* a desert truck. Not a hint of frame rust.
So I try to not worry myself about the two ares I know are coming due... the starter and the LBJ's.
* I moved to NW Arkansas back in March 2024... No salt (?) certainly I won't be operating my TAWNY TUNDRA much being retired but I do love this beast with its foibles being what they are there is more power in this engine than I'll need here on, and with proper fluid changes the drivetrain will carry me 'til I die...Seriously!
The finish, the clear coat after 20 years in the desert is gone but the paint still is golen or kind of tawny if you can imagine flat gold
or is that called ...no idea?
thanks , good to know, just bought a 2002 today! after owning gmc, chevy and fords.
If you do the timing belt,make sure the belt you get has the white timing marks.I bought one as part of a kit,water pump etc and it didn't have the marks,so you have to re-install the balancer to check your progress. The lower ball joint swap is an easy bolt on. The starters don't go out often and give plenty of warning usually.
Yeah, I cant imagine doing the timing belt job without the marks on the belt. The kit I was recommended and bought was from Aisin, and all of the parts were OE. Thanks for watching! - Sal
These trucks are a rare breed. I have a 2004 with 230k and runs smooth as silk. I’m telling you I would get up in the morning and drive it to California without blinking. I live in Tennessee lol.
Glad to keep seeing everyone loving these. I just picked up an 06 Tundra. 216k and only one previous owner. Also have a 92 4Runner and 21 Tacoma. Actually hate the Tacoma because of all the tech bs in it. Cannot wait to learn more about my Tundra.
Awesome, congrats on the new truck. Thanks for watching! - Sal
If you haven't already, replace the upper ball joints. I love Toyota, but this is one time that they messed up. Google it.
02 Tundra 4x4 V8 SR5 - 282k Miles when I bought it last year with a rusted frame in the rust belt. Cut out the old rusted frame and replaced with a premanufactured Safe-T-Cap. Slowly swapping old parts as I can find time/issues. Well worth the $1500 total I have in the truck. Going on 285k Miles as a 2nd vehicle. The thing runs great, looking at cleaning and replacing a few parts and keeping this running for another few years.
That's sweet Kyle, sounds like a great project that should serve you well as long as you want to keep it around. And for $1500 you can't go wrong! haha thanks for watching - Sal
I have 385k on mine
I just bought a single cab v6 with a full size bed. It has 265000 miles. I got it because it still runs smoothly and has a lot of power for what I need it for. It’s 341 hp.
I just replaced the starter in my 02 4.7L last weekend. It's definitely a project! I couldn't believe it when I finally figured out how I had to get to it! It took me about 5 hours. I also replaced three throttle body gasket and the intake manifold gasket since I was in there and they had never been replaced. I also cleaned a lot up too. One other issue I recently had was the driver side strut broke. The lower part of it that holds the bearing broke off completely! Seeing what happened I decided I'd better check the passenger side strut as well and the bearing was shot in that one. There's 270k miles on all of these parts though so really I'm surprised how long they lasted. But yeah, I love my truck! It's been the most reliable vehicle I've ever known. The starter going out is the first time I've had to do any real work on it that wasn't normal maintenance. I had the timing belt replaced about 10k miles ago but that's just because it was so old and had so many miles on it.
Hey Doug, yup the starter on the 4.7 is a big pain in the butt. Nice that you took advantage and freshened some other things up in there too. If you're in the FB group, I think I remember seeing your post about the strut breaking! It's crazy that happened, I didn't even know that could be a thing 😂 My bushings are pretty shot so I'm looking at options for a simple upgrade at some point in the future. Thanks for watching! - Sal
@@JDMDriveway I have an 06 DoubleCab where I blew out the strut earlier this year also. I went with a pair of Bilstein extended shocks (extended because PO put on 33s which caused rubbing), and a set of Monroe coilovers, and even with some aggressive offroading, they've been handling wonderfully for the past 9 months. Highly recommend!
It bet it was a reaction based decision since Toyota was starting to get more complaints with premature corrosion etc and I'd imagine the engineers assumed the most protective starter location was inside the engine? 😝
@@mjones04 it's a joy I love the torque in it working on a 2nd gen Tundra now it's just as reliable so far 2011 with 280k miles
Yes that intake, fuel rail removal is a chore 100%
Just got a 2004 . For 8k with 87K miles. The fingers crossed part is it's a salvage rebuild title , I think a Dealer or wholesaler settled a dispute by swapping in a J frame . The frame actually looks pretty decent. Truck runs great so far , but knock wood. Thanks for the info on the starter , UGH. I'll check the timing belt myself , that was GREAT info. Kudos also on your positive attitude.
my 04 tundra double cab has been to hell and back a few times, its knocking the door of 740 000 kms, and still going strong. easy to work on, fun to drive and a pleasure to own..
Wow! That's great to hear. Thanks for watching!
Hell ya🎉 I have the same truck, 251 thousand miles and going strong! Gotta love the double cab
I was looking for an older grandma / knockaround Toyota truck and found a one owner 2006 Tundra with 130K miles on Copart salvage site. From the photos it looked OK but I couldn't read the badges etc. When it came in it turned out to be a DCL (Double Cab Limited) with a huge sunroof & roll down back window among other nice features and the V8 ran like a top. It had a surprise in the bed, a box full of parts for front brakes! Only real problem a bad master cylinder, couldn't keep it full. It now has a nice stereo, backup cam, remote start, new shocks & Michelins. The timing chain on the V8 was done at 100K miles so that is good for many years. We hauled an ATV part way across the country and it averaged 16 MPG, a bit better on the way back w/o a load. My wife likes it so well that we sold her Lexus and this is now her main ride.
Dang that's awesome! What a good buy 👍🏼 thanks for watching - Sal
Not only do I have an 02 Tundra v8, but I had a 90 240sx manual!
I miss that car.
My 2000 tundra just hit 326K miles , same engine/trans . The timing belt was a huge surprise of how easy it was to get to
Oh nice, I always love to hear examples of our trucks getting up to that high of mileage. Thanks for watching! - Sal
Same !! Around the same miles runnin healthy in the snow
Please share your maintenance record experience to make it last that long, I'm looking into a 2002 tundra 4.7 v8 crew cab limited with 233k miles and test drive it today and drives smooth, they're asking $5500 for it and want to know I'd it's a good deal to get or pass?
385k on mine
Do you still have it?
Your videos have been extremely helpful with my 03 Tundra 4.7L. Like I always say to my wife, everything happens for a reason. Sorry to hear about your Suburu loss but without your videos, my truck ownership would have been challenging.
Love your video!! I have owned a 03 and now I own a 06!! I love first gen tundras! Best truck I have ever owned! Your tundra look awesome!!!!
Thank you Jorge! I love these trucks too! Thanks for watching - Sal
I bought my 2000 in '06 as a work/play vehicle. Still going strong today. There are a few recommendations I'd make, like doing a drop and swap on fluids every year or two. Past that, you seem to be on target. Most of the long term maintenance issues have been addressed.
That’s a good point, it’s cool you’ve been in the tundra game for so long! Have you been changing trans fluid too? Not sure if mine has been changed and I’m reluctant to do it now because it just works lol
@@JDMDriveway At 200k miles I dropped the pan and replaced the filter, and the fluid. I did it a few times at the start to get the black out and red in. Stopped the hard shifts it was starting to get. past that, just drop and tops every year or so. The tundra is easy, because it has a dipstick to refill. I do the same with power steering fluid(same fluid makes it easy). Pump out the reservoir, and fill once a year or so. Seems to keep everything happy.
*every tech I've talked to said to not hook it up to a pressurized fluid exchange machine, though. For some reason it can cause problems, unless you did it consistently from new.
Ok cool. Thank you so much for the information, I’ll probably end up doing this in the next couple of months. Just to keep it fresh and for peace of mind.
Looking at buying one.. thanks for the video, will keep the timing belt thing in mind when shopping!
Yeah it's a great tip for sure. I wish I had known when I was buying mine. I'd definitely recommend these trucks though! Thanks for watching - Sal
00 tundra bought it in december of 1999 upgraded to a ivan stewart clone the front rotors warp easily replaced them with 03 fixed that problem and the orbital gear in the transmisson great job making videos and content for the first gen thank you
Cool, glad to hear you were able to upgrade a few parts to those from an 03! Thanks for watching!
I bought a new 2005 Tundra Double cab 4wd and kept it ten years. The one thing I wish I knew was how much I would miss it when I sold it. Ended up buying a 2015 Tundra and love it, but that first one was great.
There's definitely something to be said for the simplicity and charm of an older truck like these. Thanks for watching!
Still looking but I couldn't decide between the AC and DC until I learned the DC rear window rolls down. I think that sold me on the DC.
Yep, that's definitely one of the best features of that truck and I am super jealous of it. Also, while my truck fits me and a passenger perfectly fine, any time I am transporting more stuff or more people, I wish I had the DC for that back seat space. Im honestly looking at upgrading to a DC if the right deal comes up. Thanks for watching!
I own a 2000 limited.. gave it a bedliner paint job and do all my own mechanic work on it.
One thing I wish I had known, if one of your back axle seals starts to leak and you don’t take care of it before your differential fluid leaks out all over your brake drums, your differential will go to pieces… and it’s a little pricey to repair.
That being said, I LOVE MY TRUCK !!!
Thinking about supercharging it
Oh dang, I've seen people talk about rear axle seals, but I didn't realize how catastrophic it could be. Supercharging would be sweet tho! Thanks for watching - Sal
Yep, had to replace both rear axle seals on mine.
I have a 2000 tundra I got for 1k in 2020. Busted radiator, but apart from that ran fine. Only major repair I've done so far is rebuilding the rear end. Our towtruck broke down, and the big tow truck couldn't get down our driveway. I attached the chains to the rear axle of my tundra, and pulled the 15k+ pound truck up a real steep incline. Just popped it in 4low, and it didn't complain. Made a whining noise out of the rear end the next day, and I kept driving it almost every day for a year before I took it to the shop. Never left me stranded, even when the maf sensor went out, and it stopped being able to idle. Just kept it revved up and I made it to work.
I am still enjoying my original 2004 Tundra SR5 . V8 100k. Regular maintenance keeps it going. Great truck. Thanks for the video.
Absolutely, thanks for watching!
Love the video, I still have my 2002 tundra, and the comment of ‘old grandpa truck’ really hit me. I was 33 when I bought mine. 😂 ride on grandpas!
lol I have a very different view of the truck now that I have owned it for a couple of years, definitely very popular among the younger crowd (although I will say there are a fair share of grandpas I see driving these around too haha) Thanks for watching!
yes I was 30 when I got my 2000
I’m planning to buy a truck in the springtime, currently trying to decide between a tundra and a ridgeline. There’s pros & cons to each. I don’t need anything fancy, just a vehicle with some utility would be nice. Seems like the Tundra would be a solid choice! I enjoy watching your videos on this truck as it helps me learn more about them.
I'll honestly say that 90% of the time I don't use the utility of my truck, but that last 10% makes it worth it. So having a ridgeline would be nice to have a good ride and everyday amenities for a majority of the time you're driving around, but I still opted to have a "more truck" sort of vehicle. Personal preference, but I like the look of the truck, and the other big benefit would be towing capacity and bed size. The double cab tundras offer a lot of interior space and I would pick that option if I had a family. The ridgeline is probably the more logical answer (for me too), but may not be the coolest option lol thanks for watching! - Sal
Go with the tundra. I have been a chevy guy most of the time ive owned trucks, ranging from a 4 cylinder s10 to a 454 cubic inch big block 3/4 ton behemoth of a truck.
Having said that, I absolutely love my tundra and probably wont look back. It gets pretty decent mileage for a v8, its comfortable and reliable, and it out pulls most of the trucks ive owned. The 4.7 in my tundra comes within 30 foot pounds of torque to the big block that was in my 3/4 ton, but double the mileage. My one and only complaint about my 06 is the oddball bed dimensions make finding a used toolbox that fits a challenge
I have had a 2003 tundra for 10+ years and I’m learning quite a lot from your videos. Aside from the bad gas mileage, this is the only thing I wanna drive.
They’re awesome trucks, and it’s always cool to hear of people holding onto them for a very long time like you have. Glad I can still make some helpful videos as a relative tundra newbie. Thanks for watching - Sal
I’ve got an 02 I love dearly but the gas mileage is painful especially with gas prices now.
Whenever your bummed about gas mileage just remember you’ve got a vehicle that will last and last. Imagine having to buy a new vehicle compared to having bad gas mileage. Then it doesnt seem that bad.
One thing you gotta think about, you can buy a truck that gets better gas mileage but the cost of repair will be more than what you would pay owning a tundra with bad mpg.
I average 16 mpg which isn't bad for a truck.
Mines a 04 just got it today july 3 rd 2024,I like mines so far,136,000 k ,,,and new timming belt on it or chain whatever they put in it ,like I said I got it today ,but seems nice n tight
Sweet! Congrats on the new truck. Thanks for watching!
I own the 2003 limited 4X4. I have owned it for 18 years. Never have had an issue other than recalls and did replace a front cv axle due to broken cv boot. Same starter. I just can’t see parting ways with it.
Wow its always awesome to hear when people hold onto these trucks for so long. Thanks for watching
I have the same truck same color, 200 thou on milage, just did the timing belt! Running smooth!
Nice man, wishing you another easy 200k! Thanks for watching
Sal, we’re living parallel lives! I killed my 2020 Outback XT in floodwaters and am looking for a Tundra now. I’ve been scouring for info about the best generations and clearly it’s the 1st Gen. Thanks for all the support info as it validates all the reasons why I want this to be my next vehicle.
Ugh sorry to hear about your outback! Definitely happy with my first gen, and a first gen Sequoia could be a good option to look into as well. Same exact truck as a tundra, but with an SUV body on top instead. Hope you find a good replacement though, and thanks for watching! - Sal
I love my first gen. Tundra too... but the suicide door arrangement is a problem - particularly when trying to load groceries in the back seat when parked between other cars.
THIS!! I should have mentioned it, because I totally agree that it is super frustrating in parking lots lol thanks for watching! - Sal
You learn to park further out in the parking lot where there’s more empty space.
I bought mine brand new 20 years ago, the only thing I've done to it is A/C coil, valve cover gaskets, and general maintenance. Until last week, I changed out upper and lower ball joints and the inner and outer tie rods. Mine is the XSP Model, which is the unspoken of model between SR5 and Limited
Glad to hear it, I've been looking at DCs near me and there's a surprising number of XSP trip ones. I guess it was popular in Southern VA and the Carolinas lol. Thanks for watching
glad your enjoying your 1st gen. I own one as well. 2000 I love it. Only thing I would I knew or would change is I wish I would have looked around a little longer and got a four-wheel drive one and maybe one that was a year or two newer but my frame is still totally solid everything alive soon and probably starter which if you're going to do that you might as well throw in water pumps and all the other stuff while you got halfway torn apart I am at 280,000 miles just over 7 years of ownership 2uz-fe access cab SR5. v8 6ft bed. lot of similarities with mine. now luckily I got a one owner when I got it and he took good care of it
That's great to have a one owner and good knowledge about the history of the truck. I'm a little jealous to be honest haha
I own two and this video is spot on. I will add the paint seal coating notoriously doesn't last long and patinas off. And the access cab door window latches always break, but that's a easy cheap fix. These are excellent trucks, a great size/power ratio for typical person needing a truck.
Thanks Tim, those are definitely worth mentioning too. I lucked out with some really good paint on my truck, but some look pretty rough. And my window latches broke and needed to be replaced as well. Thanks for watching - Sal
Just bought mine back in May with 195k. 2005 Black SR5 4X4 access cab with the LSD rear diff. I had to do the timing belt right off the bat. But hey, these are million mile engines. One of the best, if not best engine out there.
Yup totally agree. Thanks for watching!
I've got a double cab and while it has its issues from time to time due to buying it in Minnesota but by far the best vehicle I've owned yet
I've been loving mine too, hoping to see a bit of snow in it this winter now that I've moved up to Virginia from Florida. Thanks for watching - Sal
I love my tundra but one thing I wish I knew before buying a DC Tundra was that the aftermarket support is for the other versions of the Tundras and not as much for the DC tundra. I've made a couple custom parts for my truck such as a grille and I've wired in a small sub but other than that thats all I could really think to do as of now. Eventually I would like to widebody because thats one of the things i have noticed a lot of in this community but that's in the far future.
Hmm yeah that’s a good point, there’s definitely more aftermarket support for the AC tundras. I agree that the wide bodies look great, but that’s way in the future for me too. Thanks for watching Dillan! - Sal
I wish I knew how great these were when they were new. I’d have bought one then.
Got my first SR5 in 09. Drove and worked the piss out of it for 14 years with minimal issues. Starter, radiator, coil packs, one rear wheel seal. That’s about it. I got spoiled driving that.
Recently got another 01 SR5. Hoping for similar results.
Yeah I totally agree. They're such great trucks, thanks for watching!
Do you know if a 2nd gen tacoma bumper or a 2nd gen tundra rear bumper will fit the 1st gen tundra?
I cant imagine that it would because those trucks are a lot more narrow than the tundra. Thanks for watching
I have two 2003 Tundras , I bought new twenty years ago.
SR·5 TRD , 3 inch lift , K&N cold air filter. Denson Iridium Plugs . 110k
limited with leather. I run a stock K&N air filter and Same Denson Iridium Plugs . 64K I swapped the 17 inch tires to my SR·5, and my limited runs the regular 16 inch. wheels. This became my city cruiser truck.
With higher gas prices, I had to convert 2003 Corolla CE, into the CorollaVirus™. 137K
Got ride of the standard 15 inch wheels and put on Scion TC 17 Inch wheels, lifted the body, cut the pre runner noise and make a Home made steal bumper skid plate and winch. Now my CorollaVirus™ goes everywhere my Tundra goes.
What is going to brake on my Tundra , everything plastic.
1. The AC control knob
2. inside door handles front and back , Acces Cab.
3. plastic coupling that hold the roods of the tail gate.
4. the handdle to open and close and lock the back acces cab door windows.
What I have had to replace.
1. Window Lift motor
2. Starter
3. rack n pinon
Those happened on the 19th year of life my SR·5
4. Upper and lower tie rods.
5. second set of brakes and one disc.
Planning on doing the timing belt & replace the water pump while I'm timing belt for Christmas.
Recalls on the 03 Tundra are.
Ball Joint
Air Bag.
The 2003 also has a air bag recall too
Wow that's a lot of great info! Thanks for checking out the video - Sal
I also have a 2003 limited 4wd access cab that I bought new. I love this truck, such a blessing, 148k now, so just now really broken in :). It's been on sandy beaches, up three mountain ranges, in over a foot of snow, on all kinds of ice, and towed a 6000+ pound horse trailer across the country many times. A few simple upgrades have made it all the more fun/comfortable/capable too. A quick note about the plastic items breaking, in short, it's true. I replaced the rear tailgate handle, one of the side rear window hinges and have had small complications with the inside and outside drivers side door handles and the ac knob. The key on these items is temperature and how you use them. Let them get warm if you can before turning the ac knob for example and turn it a bit slower, the components behind it can break and are not cheap to replace, plus it was hard to figure which one actually caused the knob to fail. On the door handles, lift them a bit slower, the access cab rear drivers door acted up on me starting about 6 years ago since i use it to let my border collies in the back seat frequently. I was just gentle with it in cold weather and let it warm up first if i could and it's still the original parts. The original radiator also failed for me back in 2020, leaked out two gallons while i drove it gently waiting on the replacement Toyota part, but never over heated, just had that sick sweet smell to tell me there was a problem. Also replaced both front axels twice (lifetime warranty parts :), replaced the gear shifter, the timing belt and water pump, a couple of minor seals and the cd changer to more modern head unit. Need to replace the visor now as it keeps falling off on the left drivers side hinge, but can't find a charcoal gray replacement with the light option anywhere yet... feel free to ask about my truck, it's great to share experiences to keep these machines running strong 🙋♀️😊💖
Wow, another awesome write up! Thanks so much, and it's very cool to hear from people like you with a lot of experience in these trucks - Sal
LMAO CorollaVirus™️
nice truck got my tundra trd limited in 2002 with 2000 miles on it.i like it better than my 2018 sr 5. toyota put a new chasie on it a couple of years ago due to rust. got over 210,000 miles runs strong. keep up on maintenance and fix what's wrong.
Awesome to hear that, always cool to hear from people who have had them basically since new. Thanks for watching!
Purchased 06 Tundra 3yrs ago, 113,000 miles on it. Just getting broking in. Going to get 500,000 miles on it.
Nice! Glad to hear it, thanks for watching!
My 2006 V6 has a timing chain. Not a belt. And the starter which I got replaced like a month after I bought it had easy access. Guess I got lucky. Although i do get a little timing chain rattle on the first start of the day.
Yeah, those are definitely some of the benefits of the V6 (especially the starter lol). I can't believe I completely forgot to mention you V6 guys in this video. No hard feelings I hope haha thanks for watching - Sal
Never knew the V-6 have a timing chain. Talking about the 3.4L 5VZFE ?
Sorry answered my own question. Didn’t realize that Toyota went to the 4.0 L in those later years
@@rthomas2157 no its a 2006 with a 4.0
How is the v6 4.0? Any issues with it so far? Is the alternator in a decent location as well? Any idea of what it would take to service the timing chain?
Gotta love them staters, iv got two of these trucks. Did the starter on one and yes its not the easiest job
lol yup, thanks for watching
Have a 2003 tundra ases cab here in Houston tx love this truck after years it run’s like new, only thing a wish a knew to get the 2005 4 doors 4x4
Yup, same here. I love my access cab but I think had I known about the double cab, I probably would have opted for that style. Thanks for watching! - Sal
Good video. I’ve had my ‘06 ac since ‘16. The best driving truck I’ve had. One thing I don’t like is the turning radius. Hard to maneuver in tight spots. My all time fav truck was my ‘97 T-100. Drove like a sports car. I hated that it had no rear door so switched to the tundra
Thanks Dave, I agree that the turning radius is pretty bad. I wonder how it compares to other trucks like an F150 or 1500 or something from the same era. I haven't driven one of those in a long time. Thanks for watching! - Sal
@@JDMDriveway good question Sal? I know it was way worse than my T-100
@@JDMDriveway the turning radius on a f150 is awesome brother
Turning radius is like turning the Queen Mary in a bath tub!
😂😂
I have had my 03 4x4 sr5 since day 1 when it showed up on the dealers lot. V6 and gets 25 mpg. It has never gave me a problem in all these years. I look at all the new trucks and can't see downgrading at this point.
That's so cool you've had it since day 1. And I didn't realize the V6s got such good gas mileage! Thanks for watching
I have a 04 access cab with 275k with the original starter that runs like the day I bought it. This truck tows and has been working since it had 26 miles on the OD. 80k miles for the timing belt is way too often. I have been changing mine at 120k and it still looks good. I wouldn't go longer because the water pump has needed to be changed both times. I like that the 4.7 makes all its torque at low RPM like below 3k so it doesn't hunt for gears like my 17' tundra does.
Gotcha, thanks for the input. And yeah I agree that the truck makes great torque down low and gets the job done. Thanks for watching
I have an 03 (bought in 04) w/ 250K miles.....short of the starter..I love this truck. Just replaced the dash lights w/ LED's... and new head lights. still runs like a top
Glad to hear it, thanks for watching!
Hi Sal, thanks so much for your videos. I share same affinity for my 2000 limited as you do for yours. Your programming key fob vid was well done and I expect to be trying out procedure soon. Thx again and happy motoring.
Thank you, I appreciate the support! Best of luck with the fob! - Sal
My first gen 2001 access cab is my fav car I’ve ever had, and I don’t regret it for a second. 340k miles and God Willing still climbing!Something I wish I’d known: the cost of ignition coils… *shudder*.
Hahaha yeah the ignition coils are super expensive. I wanted to replace all of them to refresh the engine but I don't want to drop like $400+ on that 😂 thanks for watching - Sal
We purchased an 04 SR5 double cab several years ago and it's been a good truck. I had the timing belt changed at 120,000 miles and changed the oil, that's all I have done to it. I don't drive it much, maybe 3,000 miles a year so I don't have to do much maintenance. My neighbor wants it really bad but I refuse to sell it even though I know eventually I am going to have to replace some things like the starter and wheel bearings. I'll just have my mechanic do it because I know it will be done right the first time and he uses quality parts.
That's a good plan, definitely a huge pain to do the wheel bearings and the starter wasn't super fun either. Thanks for watching! - Sal
great looking truck! One of my favourite trucks of all time. Access cab first gen is fantastic.
Yup I agree! Thanks for watching - Sal
I got 2001 access cab, love this car would never get rid of it.
Same here! Thanks for watching - Sal
I’m a family of 4 and honestly the access cab isn’t terrible with 2 car seats in the back definitely helps that i’m skinny also😂
We were a little cramped but we made due tel my girlfriend recently got a car.
It’s a Pontiac vibe with a Toyota engine. Pretty interesting history with Pontiac and Toyota cross over.
I took my 06 Tundra 4.0L in to get its timing belt changed and they told me it had a timing chain, so that was a nice surprise.
Oh nice, I definitely don't know too much about the V6s. That's good to hear though. Thanks for watching!
One thing I had wish I had known and it's a major design flaw by Toyota is that they weld the differential covers on these trucks (and apparently up to the 2015 Tacoma). They're not bolt on. They use super thin gauge covers too and the welds aren’t the best. After a while it begins to rust out and you have to cut it off and weld a new cover on. I got myself an aftermarket cover from Barnes 4WD which is a much thicker 9 gauge material and made thicker welds. The key to putting an aftermarket cover is all prep, super clean and mate the surfaces otherwise it'll rust from the inside out again.
Dang, I had no idea. Let's just hope my diff doesn't need any servicing anytime soon 😂 thanks for the info though! - Sal
@@JDMDriveway No problem I ended up putting a Eaton TrueTrac LSD in mine so was a good opportunity to upgrade it but definitely something to be aware of. They don’t use a rubber seal like most diffs do so you’re relying entirely on Toyotas thin welds. I would use Por-15 on yours if it’s already rusting.
Thanks, yes I wish I would have watched your video before I bought my 04 SR5 crew. Supposed to be one owner salesman just retired, has 193k 4.7 nice n clean but he worked at Kolar Toyota in Duluth MN but trying to find service records after the sale has been terrible, And before I bought it they did front brake pads and rotor and one caliper and left the old one with no bleeder on the right. Really gives to the used car salesman promise everything and after the sale nothing lol. I was very disappointed with them but I'll check the belt the owner could not remember but thought it wasn't that long ago. Ya ya. OK thanks for the videos.
Too bad to hear about your experience there. It's so frustrating, and the similar experience that I had has really discouraged me from buying at another used car dealership. Hope the belt is looking fresh at least! Thanks for watching - Sal
Had my 2001 Access Cab since 2005 and with 200k miles, I have three main issues. Two are minor but still really annoying. First, HATE HATE HATE the suicide doors. They're just a pain, especially in parking lots. Second is the seatbelt. It has never gone back well and always gets caught in the door. Maybe it's just mine but I have heard others having the same issue. Again, minor and not something that makes me regret having it.
Third is the turning radius. It's just huge. My brother-in-law has a 3/4 ton Dodge extended cab with an 8ft bed and it's way smaller than my Tundra. This is the one thing that does suck. Same as above that it wouldn't change my mind, but it's a pain in tight places.
Yes!! I can't stand the Suicide doors either haha I never gave the steering radius much thought because I assumed it was just a truck thing, but it is definitely really bad haha thanks for watching! - Sal
I’m like you I’m coming from the wrx community, just sold mine looking for a truck, in between a 4Runner and Tacoma, thundras come up but I feel like I wouldn’t truly use it for its full potential, yours looks like a great truck
Yeah I totally understand not using it to its full potential. I have towed with it a few times and used the bed to haul some house things here and there, but 90% of the time it's just a fuel inefficient daily driver. I'm not complaining, I really like driving it, but a newer tacoma or 4runner may have more creature comforts that are worth the trade off for towing capacity or payload. Up to you, you can't go wrong with any of those options! Thanks for watching, and best of luck with the search. - Sal
I have the same vehicle but in the V6.(3.4L)Bought it used and had to replace the starter motor IN 2008. On the V6 it's very easy. After 21 years it's working fine. I still have under a 80,000 miles, however I went ahead and changed the timing belt. Hope to have it for many more years.
That's great to hear, I'd love to get behind the wheel of a V6 Tundra, especially one with a manual. Thanks for watching! - Sal
@JDMDriveway hows the power from a v6 tundra with the 5sp?
I really like the smaller size of the early Tundras. That's a nice truck.
Same! One of my favorite parts of the truck, thanks for watching!
I bought a 2004 Single Cab with the long Bed. It is amazing how big those beds. I have not seen another car with that size bed, I can fit my entire wood panels in it and close the tailgate. It aslo came with the v6 same as my 98 4runner. I know the ins and outs of it.
Yeah I'm always amazed at just how big the bed is when I see a single cab tundra! Haha thanks for watching - Sal
At least there is a glove box for storage!
Any advise? A guy selling his toyota tundra for 9,500 with 155 k miles on it. Just curious i iits worth buying ?
If it's 4WD, that sounds like a good deal in todays market. 2WD, I'd hope that the rest of the truck is in really good shape. Make sure to check over the frame and timing belt to see what you're getting yourself into. Best of luck!
@JDMDriveway update. I bought it . Truck is wonderful
Not sure where you want to be with the channel but I subscribed. Love the content you create and you seem like a good person so thought I'd try to help.
I appreciate that Edwin, thanks for watching! - Sal
The starter on the V6 Tundra is sitting right above the exhaust manifold on the passenger side and you can see it when you open the hood....extremely accessible..The only problem with Tundra 4wd is that it consumes lots of gas (15 miles a gallon). My Dad's Tundra has only 27K miles and is silky smooth...
Holy crap 27k miles, that's collector grade!! 😂 the mpgs are definitely a downside, but also kinda expected on an older truck. I'm glad the V6 starters are more convenient! Thanks for watching - Sal
watching this before buying a tundra and just noticed the s13 in the back, nice
You've got good taste lol thanks for watching - Sal
Good review I’ve had 4 tundras since 2000 brand new and I love them. My 5.7 4wd Trd dc is my last tho
Thank you! Always cool to see people staying in the tundra family. Thanks for watching! - Sal
@@JDMDriveway my first tundra saved my life bad accident guy ran the light broadsided me I’m lucky to be alive but the side guard door beams saved my butt
Oh geez that's too bad. Glad you made it out ok!
Love my 04 dc and the community behind them just wish I knew more about the rust given I’m in the rust belt
Ah yep, I don’t envy you guys up there one bit lol rust sucks! 😂 thanks for watching - Sal
I love my 1st gen tundra, but I wish they made drop kits for it.
For sure man! I agree, it’s not my style but I’d love to see more lowered tundras. I wish they made a single cab short bad, and you could make it into a ford lightning style truck. Thanks for watching! - Sal
you forgot about the stepside bed!! i have a 05 dc limited same color as yours and absolutely love it. sadly i’m in new england and the frame dosent have much time left but i love the truck :(
Yeah, good point!! I didn't give the stepside the love it deserves lol. Thanks for watching
Add just change my Water pump Timing belt. And gears 2001. 125000 miles. And the Timing belt that I took off look like it was new Happy I did it anyway took me about a day.😊
Yep, definitely smart to do for peace of mind. Glad it all went smoothly. Thanks for watching!
These take regular unleaded gas or premium? I know somw of the fancier lexus/Toyota v8's require premium fuel.
My 2003 Tundra is approaching 95,000 miles and due for it's 1st timing belt svc.
I called Toyota today and they gave me a quote: 2353.20
I was going to get it done five years ago, but complained about spending 1500.00 and put it off in thinking I still had low miles and needed to save. I wish I had it done then. Hard to keep up with inflation.
Ouch yeah it's definitely a big job, maybe a reputable local shop could do it for a bit less money? But I certainly see the appeal of having the Toyota professionals do the work. Thanks for watching - Sal
My local independent repair shop owned by a Master Toyota mechanic charges about $650 to $750 for a timing belt replacement with Toyota parts. Shop around.
@@thedetective8150 I just had it done for 1300.00. Everything has gone up here in California.
How many miles? You can never go wrong with a tundra, I’ve owned 4 best truck by far in my opinion, just recently bought the 22 another great truck
I've got around 220k miles on mine, bought it with around 195k. I love my truck, super simple and never fails me. I wasn't sure how I felt about the new ones at first but I've seen a few on the road and I think they look good in person 👍🏼 thanks for watching! - Sal
FYI, the starter was placed high atop the engine perimeter. For the reason you’re Subaru or Detroit vehicle would fail., and quite simply water level. Yes, these trucks can take punishment. So that’s why it is reliable. Pay attention or pay cash!
Huh didn't know that! Makes sense though, thanks for the insight! - Sal
How does it tow a fishing boat?
Would you post the FCC ID number to your remote? Thanks,.
Yup it's BAB237131-022! - Sal
Although a major pain in the butt I would also say that it protects the starter from the elements so I'd say it might last longer than a normal one. Did you replace any gaskets while doing that? Like the manifold?
Yeah that's a good point about protecting it from the elements. I didn't replace any gaskets, I probably should have but haven't run into any issues. Thanks for watching
besides mpg part this a great truck vehicle made to perfection ,
Yup haha mpgs hurt a bit, especially with my 10 ply A/T tires. I guess there's pros and cons to having a bulletproof V8 😂 thanks for watching - Sal
@@JDMDriveway How many miles to a gallon for your V8? Is that 4WD?
I only drive around in 2wd but I generally get between 15-16 mpgs. On the highway I can hit upper 16s
I totally regret getting a tundra. I have a 2006 double cab and I wish I would have known that the radiator tends to fail or at least the transmission cooler part of it and it fills your transmission full of coolant and it fills your motor full of transmission fluid so that's fun. Also there's no dipstick for the transmission that's cool too you have to take the bolt out of the bottom of the pan and fill it next to the slip yoke that's awesome engineering and like you said the starter being in the valley this thing's just a crap design and I am super surprised that these trucks have a good name for them at all because from my experience they're garbage
Dang dude, sorry to hear you had such a bad experience. The trans cooler lines running through the radiator is a poor design, and certainly causes big issues if the radiator fails. Replacing the radiator is one of those "preventative maintenance" things that can be easily overlooked. Those later models with the 5 speed trans unfortunately have the sealed trans, where the earlier 4 speed ones have a dipstick and fill tube. Again, too bad to hear about your experience, but good for other people to see both perspectives. Thanks for watching - Sal
lol mines 5 speed manual don’t have to worry about atf fluid in radiator 😮
There’s a 2002 Toyota Tundra for $3,200 there’s 157455 miles on it. It appears to be in good condition. This would be my first ever vehicle, is this a decent deal? I really want a truck but don’t have a lot of money. I can afford that tho.
I see that 240 sitting in the back! .... Nice 👌
I love that car! Thanks for watching
I’ve had my 05 DC 4x4 6 years. Love the truck. What wheels and tires you running? Looks great. Nice channel
I own an 00 Tundra 4.7.it has had many issues but to be expected on a 23 year old vehicle.
Yeah, they're certainly reliable trucks, but at this point they're starting to show their age a little. Thanks for watching - Sal
Coming from the Subaru community I was surprised by reliability.
Yup, Toyota reliability is living up to its reputation! Haha thanks for watching - Sal
Does the Gen 1 community consider the VVTI w/ 5-spd auto better than the regular 4.7 w/ 4 speed?
Yes and no. Its better because it has more power and a more modern transmission which makes it feel smoother. However, the regular 4.7 has less moving parts, and doesn't include the secondary air injection system that's required for emissions regulations, but is a common failure point. Hope this answers your question, and thanks for watching!
I appreciate you for this video. I own 2000 Toyota Tundra. My alarm always on, I need to buy FOB key romote. Maybe my starter is bad? I will check it.
Hey Herbie, it can be a bit of a pain to track down exactly which key fob you will need, so good luck with that. But once you've found one, I have another video here on my channel to help you pair it up. Thanks for watching! - Sal
I have a 2006 extended cab 4.7 L 2WD . I have allergies and was disappointed to discover there was no cabin filter. Apparently there is a piece of foam that the air Channels through. I have recently replaced the blower and found rocks embedded in the cage. Is there any way of replacing that foam?
I'm not sure about the foam, but if you have a Facebook, someone recently designed a filter for our trucks and has started selling them in the First Gen Tundras FB group. I haven't tried it personally, but other people have been picking them up and installing them in their trucks. Thanks for watching!
You should do a starter replacement video. My 02 tundra just recently failed on me and I’m pretty sure it’s the stater
Hate to say it Martin, but I’m probably not going to be doing that project again if I don’t have to 😂 good news is that there are a bunch of other good tutorials here on RUclips. Best of luck with your truck though, hopefully the repair goes smoothly 👍🏼 - Sal
You’re the man buddy thanks for the advice
Thanks for watching!
I just bought a 02 SR5 and I currently own a 2020 WRX she's up for sale !!
Hey! You've got good taste lol congrats on the new truck, and thanks for watching! - Sal
@JDM Driveway yeah it's crazy how clean the thing is runs like a Swiss watch
currently looking for one. your paint looks great, or maybe it's just the lighting :)
Yeah luckily the paint on my truck is in great shape. I ceramic coated it a few years ago and it's been holding up well. Best of luck on the search, and thanks for watching!