With 330k mi;
Hello there. Very VEERRRY longtime lurker here, jealous of all of your vehicles. I'm new to the forum, I did search for the following things before posting so I'll just ask the experts. Long story short, I've been eyeballing the vehicle since I moved into this area. Finally just asked the neighbor if I could buy it, they agreed to sell it for $1000 just to get it out of the yard. It has vehicle records up until they stopped driving it in 2020(was a spouses car that passed away). After checking out the underside, basic surface rust(I learned a lot about rust buying a 2001 4runner a few years ago that unfortunately some hit and run killed), and interior it seems like a good price for something that might be fun to tinker with. Im a complete novice with car repairs, but have the time and a budget cap before just parting it out or selling to Peddle or some online deal.
My main issue I'm trying to get a general consensus on is how to test the engine to see if it turns over manually. I've seen online sources that say I have to remove all belts, just the serpentine, remove spark plugs, don't do it at all until you change out all of the fluids, just start it up if it has oil, absolutely do not just start it up if it has oil, remove the gas first, if the gas still smells like gas its fine to start up! Haven't you seen those youtube videos!! etc. Logic for me dictates its been sitting so all the fluids should be changed before starting something mechanical, but I just do computers.
My plan, based on averaging was Step1. See if it cranks manually. This is my main struggle getting clear info on. I'm unable to find a good resource on this but I'd imagine that unlike my 1999 honda civic, I'd have to remove the fan? What steps are there, or is it really just turning the crankshaft bolt? I'm very unfamiliar with the 2uzFE. I'm clearly in over my head but figuring I might as well give it a go after it gets flat-bedded to my property. I've watched/read countless recovery videos / starting abandoned car videos for about 3-4 years at this point, and it seems to really vary.
Step2. Battery / Inspect spark plugs / New Gas / Oil Change / Oil Filter / Have a Fuel filter Pump / Remove air intake and try Starting fluid after to start it up/remove any rats nests that weren't visible from a cursory inspection. Then, go to a dealer to get my launder list of my hopeful new hobby. (I have none besides being a work-aholic) All of this I don't mind doing, but I just want to make sure this is the route to do it, or if there is something glaring im missing. Carfax/Lexus.Com/registration/clean title all lines up with their story. You get what you pay for of course, I'm just looking for something that can maybe turn out pretty cool. THEN i can FINALLY put a jurassic park wrap on it like I always wanted to since reading the novel! I kid, I kid...
I really appreciate any guidance, thank you for peeking in here.
Hello there. Very VEERRRY longtime lurker here, jealous of all of your vehicles. I'm new to the forum, I did search for the following things before posting so I'll just ask the experts. Long story short, I've been eyeballing the vehicle since I moved into this area. Finally just asked the neighbor if I could buy it, they agreed to sell it for $1000 just to get it out of the yard. It has vehicle records up until they stopped driving it in 2020(was a spouses car that passed away). After checking out the underside, basic surface rust(I learned a lot about rust buying a 2001 4runner a few years ago that unfortunately some hit and run killed), and interior it seems like a good price for something that might be fun to tinker with. Im a complete novice with car repairs, but have the time and a budget cap before just parting it out or selling to Peddle or some online deal.
My main issue I'm trying to get a general consensus on is how to test the engine to see if it turns over manually. I've seen online sources that say I have to remove all belts, just the serpentine, remove spark plugs, don't do it at all until you change out all of the fluids, just start it up if it has oil, absolutely do not just start it up if it has oil, remove the gas first, if the gas still smells like gas its fine to start up! Haven't you seen those youtube videos!! etc. Logic for me dictates its been sitting so all the fluids should be changed before starting something mechanical, but I just do computers.
My plan, based on averaging was Step1. See if it cranks manually. This is my main struggle getting clear info on. I'm unable to find a good resource on this but I'd imagine that unlike my 1999 honda civic, I'd have to remove the fan? What steps are there, or is it really just turning the crankshaft bolt? I'm very unfamiliar with the 2uzFE. I'm clearly in over my head but figuring I might as well give it a go after it gets flat-bedded to my property. I've watched/read countless recovery videos / starting abandoned car videos for about 3-4 years at this point, and it seems to really vary.
Step2. Battery / Inspect spark plugs / New Gas / Oil Change / Oil Filter / Have a Fuel filter Pump / Remove air intake and try Starting fluid after to start it up/remove any rats nests that weren't visible from a cursory inspection. Then, go to a dealer to get my launder list of my hopeful new hobby. (I have none besides being a work-aholic) All of this I don't mind doing, but I just want to make sure this is the route to do it, or if there is something glaring im missing. Carfax/Lexus.Com/registration/clean title all lines up with their story. You get what you pay for of course, I'm just looking for something that can maybe turn out pretty cool. THEN i can FINALLY put a jurassic park wrap on it like I always wanted to since reading the novel! I kid, I kid...
I really appreciate any guidance, thank you for peeking in here.
