Bought our first 100 series

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M

mdemeglio

Joined
Dec 27, 2007
Threads
84
Messages
375
Location
Southport, NC
Well we pulled the plug and bought a very well used 100 series (03) cruiser yesterday. It's got right around 250k on the clock but runs and drives great and Joy is in love with it - it's navy blue and I've never seen her react like this to a vehicle.

It doesn't need too much cosmetically, a small dent in one of the doors and some of the interior parts are showing their age. But mechanically it seems good, but I'm looking for some advice - I'm pretty sure it's going to be due for a timing belt soon (I've done 3 so far on a T100, and a few VW's) and I don't know when the transmission or cooling system was flushed last but we do have a pretty complete carfax with service history at one SC or NC Toyota dealership.

I typically replace all fluids right away and steam clean everything I can, then visual inspections of brakes and any other systems.

What would you recommend I do or NOT do at this point?


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Congrats Mike!
Love the blue and looks like it was up this way.

Sounds like your on it for general new car list. Fluids all around, inspect brakes for wear, test wheel bearing and ball joints while tire off the ground.

100s have some specific items.

TB and WP every 90k by the book
Heater T's and hoses asap
Front diff support bushing

Read/learn about brake failure warning beep just so you aware of the indications. Not frequent but ignored alarm has preceeded sudden brake failures.

May want to pick up a single
Coilpack to keep as a spare in glove box.

As far as trans id just drain the pan and add that amount back each oil change for a while.
 
Thanks guys - yep Jason we were in Kernersville. Didn't want to buy from a dealer but it just worked out that way - and they did some work on it for free as a condition of buying it so it all worked out. What's the deal with the heater T's anyway? I will definitely take your advise on the coil pack - I was thinking of pulling the plugs and inspecting them anyway.

Where's the best place to get the correct heater hoses and T's?

Seems like a good time to do a cooling system flush also.

Thanks!
 
The t's are like the 80s heater valve. Plastic piece sseeing hot coolant its entire life. The 3 sets ive swapped have crumbled during removal.

Great time for flush although if it looked great or had been recently changed T's are on back of block up high in system so you wont lose much coolant with a quick swap.

I personnaly would buy toyota hoses and T's. Add it to the 90k services.

I followed Al's link to the metal barbed ones on amazon and all i got was called a shotty mechanic for it :flipoff2: They are slightly offsize and require you to crank down on some hose clamps as the OEM tension bands wont seal it up with aftermarket stuff. Or use $3 constant tension breeze clamps. It gets tight with big clamps though.


Check your records for starter replace or rebuild. Its .... um..... kinda deep and buried under intake. Would rather face that one intentionally on a saturday in the driveway.
 
The starter's under the intake??? Wow. Agreed, rather get in front of that one if it's never been replaced. Are they rebuildable or best to just buy a reman unit?
 
Heehee. Yup.

Believe easily rebuildable denso unit. Contact and plunger kit and you should be good.
 
Since it's so hard to get to, I'd be inclined to put a brand new OEM Toyota starter on. Not a job you want to do twice.

Nice truck!
 
Nice 100

Things to replace right away if not sure when done before TB/WP, heater Tees and hoses, air/fuel filter pcv valve and grommet.

Things to check.
all bushings and ball joints
steering rack for leaks
CV axles for leaks
check the brake and ps fluid... swap if needed
i'd just do as jason said with the trans and drain and fill every few months or with oil changes unless the fluid is dirty
get some new grease to the front bearings (don't want what happened to Adam to happen again) you can buy the slee tool for this or make your own for pretty cheap
If you are going to take the time to check the plugs and pull all the coils off i'd just go ahead and replace them... they are cheap and you are already in there.

Seems that most of the OEM starters go out between 230-300+ miles..... so if it hasn't been done its right in that range. Since it is your wife's car you may want to replace, it's not really that hard to get to, but leaving a wife stranded is never a good thing, lol. You can get Denso reman's for fairly cheapish (in toyota parts)
 
jfz80 said:
I followed Al's link to the metal barbed ones on amazon and all i got was called a shotty mechanic for it :flipoff2:
Click to expand...

didn't know it was you at the time of that quote thought it was the yota dealer that screwed him :flipoff2:

can't ever fault a friend for helping out another even if something doesn't go perfect....... well except my one friend that didn't tighten down my oil filter on the camaro when he "helped" me do that while I was changing plugs. Oil shot out 30 feet down the road and caught my back wheels on a turn and I ended up in someones front yard, couldn't move the car because there was no oil in the engine. Good times LOL
 
Nice truck. Can I ask how much you paid? Thinking of something like this for a DD.
 
Jason, do you know the part number for the coolant T's?? I think one just went, headed to check it out now at my wife's work.
 
Bummer man. I do not. Have two here at house but not much help. Fred anderson or another local dealer may have some in stock.

Amazon can get you barbed brass variety in a couple days :/


Edit. Here ya go

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Last edited:
(1) Gallon of coolant - PN# 00272-1LLAC-01
(2) Coolant Tees - PN# 87248-60460
(1) Coolant hose - PN# 87245-6A220
(1) Coolant hose - PN# 87245-6A210
(1) Coolant hose - PN# 87245-6A190
(1) Coolant hose - PN# 87245-6A180
(1) Coolant hose - PN# 87245-6A800
(1) Coolant hose - PN# 99556-20155
 
would be a good idea to replace the clamps also at that mileage just to make sure you don't get any leaking after
 
lt1fire said:
(1) Gallon of coolant - PN# 00272-1LLAC-01
(2) Coolant Tees - PN# 87248-60460
(1) Coolant hose - PN# 87245-6A220
(1) Coolant hose - PN# 87245-6A210
(1) Coolant hose - PN# 87245-6A190
(1) Coolant hose - PN# 87245-6A180
(1) Coolant hose - PN# 87245-6A800
(1) Coolant hose - PN# 99556-20155
Click to expand...


I recommend this as well. Cut out the old tees to prevent one from breaking off and leaving plastic in the system. Of course, may be too late now...

I cut out old tess, assembled the new pipes and tees on the workbench then installed complete assemblies. Easy job.
 
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