Another new 100, and a couple rookie questions

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Joined
Feb 4, 2013
Threads
10
Messages
72
Location
Seattle, WA
After years of beater 4Runners and Pickups, I finally got a 'nice' truck.

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Well, my wife mostly gets to drive it, and I'm still in my '91 single cab, but at least it's in the family, and she's a a pretty good sport about letting me fix this truck up. Here's what I've done already.

1. Tossed the fuzzy steering wheel cover.
2. Bought Tundra 18's off CL with BFGs.
3. Trying to sell the sweet sweet chrome they came with here: https://forum.ih8mud.com/tires-wheels/723337-lc100-seattle-wheels-16-5x150-chrome-tires-100-a.html
4. Mr.Lou struts should arrive today.
5. Cabin air filters on the way today.
6. Got a good deal on third row seats off Mud. This place is great.

Questions:

1. Wood trim just comes off with a heat gun? Nothing more to it?

2. They can't balance my used tundra tires. They tried, I still get a steering wheel shimmy over 60mph. Is this because they no longer have the tire pressure sensors on the stems? Or is it really just bad tires and I need to buy new ones? I'm leaning toward LTX M/S2's as this truck won't see a ton of mud for a few years.

3. I went to fix my embarrassing exhaust rattle right at 1800 rpm and discovered a flowmaster catback. That explains the exhaust tone anyway... Any guesses on where the rattle is coming from? None of the heat shields I could get to easily seemed to be the right one. I'll get back under there with someone on the throttle this weekend.

4. The stereo. I have an alpine tape head, 6 disc changer in the back, that sweet equalizer from way back when, 3 functional speakers (passenger rear is out?) and no less than two amps where the factory sub would be. I'm not looking forward to seeing what they did, and how to undo it. My plan now is to get pioneer double din, try to reuse one of the alpine amps, but put it under passenger seat, and hope the speakers are ok. I figure I can replace them later anyway.

5. Can I really just crank the torsion bars to get level (or close to it?). No adverse affects on alignment, ride quality, etc? She's looking very low up front right now, and I can't quite swing the OME lift yet...

6. Does everyone else have 4 or 5 wire connectors not connected to anything beside the air intake box?

I've got tons more questions, most I'm sure have been answered around here already. I do search more than the above would indicate, but I wanted to introduce myself, and maybe get some clarity on some of these issues. Looking forward to building this rig up. Thanks for all the info I've already gotten off of this site.
 
I'll start with a common response to newcomers - check the FAQ (https://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series-cruisers/30754-100-series-lc-lx-faq-featured-trucks.html) and do a search (top right forum tool) with any question you may have.

You may be surprised, as most of our questions have been asked before, sometimes followed by a good response or two (or 200). The problem I run into is sifting through the multitude of opinions.

Congratulation on the buy and welcome to MUD!

:grinpimp:
 
I wouldn't take a heat gun to the dash... Those get pretty hot and you could end up melting the actual plastic behind it... Use a hairdryer instead. Congrats on the purchase!!
 
I wouldn't take a heat gun to the dash... Those get pretty hot and you could end up melting the actual plastic behind it... Use a hairdryer instead. Congrats on the purchase!!

Also, wait for a warm or hot day day, it will only make the job easier.
 
I used a heat gun and it did not harm the plastic. It does get to hot and makes it hard to clean the glue. Take the center piece out and put in it the sun. The trim comes right off with little glue left behind.
 
Torsion lift is the route unless you have a winch/ bumper. Your caster will disappear but so will any other lift.
 
2. They can't balance my used tundra tires. They tried, I still get a steering wheel shimmy over 60mph. Is this because they no longer have the tire pressure sensors on the stems? Or is it really just bad tires and I need to buy new ones? I'm leaning toward LTX M/S2's as this truck won't see a ton of mud for a few years.

6. Does everyone else have 4 or 5 wire connectors not connected to anything beside the air intake box?

The Michelin's should last almost forever. I ran AT's for a few years w/ good treadware and outstanding grab in the snow.

If the connectors are aft of the airbox, they'd be for the AHC system if she were a Lexus LX.

Best suggestion I could give you would be to find the factory shop manual (aka 'fsm') and wiring diagram book online and score a copy. There's also a 2004 (?) fsm for download, info in the FAQ section.

Steve
 
Hey Seattle100, new owner here too. I drive right past your truck nearly every day. Just found this thread.
 
nice rig oftpiste. If you see me wrenching, stop by and say hi.

I haven't done much lately, but I have done a couple things.

1. Throttle body and MAF cleaning. I haven't had a chance to calculate the mpg since, but judging from how dirty they were, I'm guessing it will help a lot.

2. Cabin air filters. Easy job. Too bad Toyota didn't install them standard.

3. I sold those chrome 16's and got 18" tundra wheels. Now I'm looking for one more, so I can get the spare into the rotation. Anyone have a single for sale? I might buy 4 and try to sell the other 3. Anyone need a single?

4. Fog lights don't work. I need to see if if the rear heater is out too. I'm worried my truck is one of the ones that Toyota "forgot" to install the relays for those items. I talked to my dealer about it; he says no way Mr. T forgot, no way he replaces them for me for free. I've seen at least 3 others on this site with the problem.

5. Installed the kiddo seat. That *might* reduce the amount of time I get to spend working on the truck...

Thanks for the wealth of information here guys. Much appreciated.
 
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