Hey Team -
Need some help. Picked up my 2001 Hundy over the summer (in my rookie year still) and since have been accruing a list of 'small' deferred maintenance items (thanks previous owner), none of which I believe are that serious (fingers crossed). As a whole however (10 items total), it has become a PITA made worse by the fact that my wife drives the rig. To complicate matters further still, I have a newborn in the house, so my available time to knock out the simplest of items is basically zero. If you've never experienced this 'life with a newborn' thing, let me just tell you its insanely frustrating as they single-handedly make time evaporate. Like a chihuahua is biting you in the ankle but you can't do anything about it type of frustrating, something along those lines...
That being said, I recently took it into the local Yota Stealership for an oil change, because I wanted the multi-point inspection report to see if there were any additional surprises lurking in the darkness. Fortunately it came back clean with the 2 exceptions of a power steering flush and a 150k service (currently at 153k).
All this being said I wanted to float the list out there, and get your feedback/opinions/comments on how I can get all this knocked out and get my Hundy back on its A-game. My hunch is that I find a reputable private garage and have them get to work. That being said I need to warn you in advance that I don't come from a long line of mechanically gifted rugged over-landers (though I aspire to one day join these ranks), so some of the following questions will likely be so painful that I'm sure at least one if you will momentarily black out. My apologies.
1. 150k service - do I have this done at a Toyota dealership? Do I have Toyota garages bid against each other? Only reason I can think to do this at a Toyota dealership vs. other garage is because it 'looks nice' on a Carfax report, should I ever sell. I'm wincing as I write this so I'm guessing thats not the answer...private garage?
2. Power Steering flush - straightforward. Something I could do, except I'm too busy changing the power steering fluid constantly leaking out of my newborn, if you will...
3. Driver side power lock actuator - I think mine is shot, because it only fires the lock every other attempt or so. I only realized this while on the 1 yard line of doing my own master key replacement.
4. Master Key Replacement - Had 2 new keys ordered/cut based on advice on this blog (which was great btw). Was working great until I ran into the problem above. Pretty sure #4 doesn't complete until #3 is working correctly. #sodamnclose #sodamnfaraway
5. A/C Recharge - just needs it which I noticed late summer, just don't have an a/c re-charger machine sitting around anywhere handy turns out...
6. 'Rear' heat - too hot (like hotter than hell status), as in I thought the rig was on fire last weekend on the freeway. My kids were in the back and I was feeling some EXTREMELY hot air coming up through the driver's seat and center console. Stuck my hand back against the foot vent at the back of the center console and it was uncomfortably hot. Wondering if its related to #5.
7. Steering will clicks, especially when cold, especially turning left (I'm not making this up even though it sounds like it at this point). This is covered here on the blog and at some point the string turns into rocket science and I got completely lost. I'm wondering if I can pop the cover on the steering column and apply some lube somewhere. And by 'I' I mean the lucky mechanic that I'm going to hand this list 'o fun to at some point in the near future...
8. Undercarriage armor rattle - covered on the blog as well. Straightforward again. Just time that I still don't have...
9. Valve Cover Gasket Replacement - I'm getting the occasional 'burnt oil' smell coming through the cabin, and all searches point to gasket replacement (covered extensively on the blog). Parts are $37 on Amazon and the strings are full of alot of you more talented folks saying this is an 'easy job.'
10. The damn roof is leaking - yep saved the best for last here. I'm getting a leak that is dripping from the corner of the center roof console where you stick your garage remote clicker. Super old school feature that made me laugh when I was literally sticking my garage clicker in there. Anyway its getting the last laugh as it leaks on my leg lately. I believe this is due to 1)improper windshield seal and/or 2) bad sunroof seal 3) roof rack issues
Thanks in advance for any thoughts or direction. If any of you are in the Seattle area please suggest local shops that you would recommend. Much appreciated!
Need some help. Picked up my 2001 Hundy over the summer (in my rookie year still) and since have been accruing a list of 'small' deferred maintenance items (thanks previous owner), none of which I believe are that serious (fingers crossed). As a whole however (10 items total), it has become a PITA made worse by the fact that my wife drives the rig. To complicate matters further still, I have a newborn in the house, so my available time to knock out the simplest of items is basically zero. If you've never experienced this 'life with a newborn' thing, let me just tell you its insanely frustrating as they single-handedly make time evaporate. Like a chihuahua is biting you in the ankle but you can't do anything about it type of frustrating, something along those lines...
That being said, I recently took it into the local Yota Stealership for an oil change, because I wanted the multi-point inspection report to see if there were any additional surprises lurking in the darkness. Fortunately it came back clean with the 2 exceptions of a power steering flush and a 150k service (currently at 153k).
All this being said I wanted to float the list out there, and get your feedback/opinions/comments on how I can get all this knocked out and get my Hundy back on its A-game. My hunch is that I find a reputable private garage and have them get to work. That being said I need to warn you in advance that I don't come from a long line of mechanically gifted rugged over-landers (though I aspire to one day join these ranks), so some of the following questions will likely be so painful that I'm sure at least one if you will momentarily black out. My apologies.
1. 150k service - do I have this done at a Toyota dealership? Do I have Toyota garages bid against each other? Only reason I can think to do this at a Toyota dealership vs. other garage is because it 'looks nice' on a Carfax report, should I ever sell. I'm wincing as I write this so I'm guessing thats not the answer...private garage?
2. Power Steering flush - straightforward. Something I could do, except I'm too busy changing the power steering fluid constantly leaking out of my newborn, if you will...
3. Driver side power lock actuator - I think mine is shot, because it only fires the lock every other attempt or so. I only realized this while on the 1 yard line of doing my own master key replacement.
4. Master Key Replacement - Had 2 new keys ordered/cut based on advice on this blog (which was great btw). Was working great until I ran into the problem above. Pretty sure #4 doesn't complete until #3 is working correctly. #sodamnclose #sodamnfaraway
5. A/C Recharge - just needs it which I noticed late summer, just don't have an a/c re-charger machine sitting around anywhere handy turns out...
6. 'Rear' heat - too hot (like hotter than hell status), as in I thought the rig was on fire last weekend on the freeway. My kids were in the back and I was feeling some EXTREMELY hot air coming up through the driver's seat and center console. Stuck my hand back against the foot vent at the back of the center console and it was uncomfortably hot. Wondering if its related to #5.
7. Steering will clicks, especially when cold, especially turning left (I'm not making this up even though it sounds like it at this point). This is covered here on the blog and at some point the string turns into rocket science and I got completely lost. I'm wondering if I can pop the cover on the steering column and apply some lube somewhere. And by 'I' I mean the lucky mechanic that I'm going to hand this list 'o fun to at some point in the near future...
8. Undercarriage armor rattle - covered on the blog as well. Straightforward again. Just time that I still don't have...
9. Valve Cover Gasket Replacement - I'm getting the occasional 'burnt oil' smell coming through the cabin, and all searches point to gasket replacement (covered extensively on the blog). Parts are $37 on Amazon and the strings are full of alot of you more talented folks saying this is an 'easy job.'
10. The damn roof is leaking - yep saved the best for last here. I'm getting a leak that is dripping from the corner of the center roof console where you stick your garage remote clicker. Super old school feature that made me laugh when I was literally sticking my garage clicker in there. Anyway its getting the last laugh as it leaks on my leg lately. I believe this is due to 1)improper windshield seal and/or 2) bad sunroof seal 3) roof rack issues
Thanks in advance for any thoughts or direction. If any of you are in the Seattle area please suggest local shops that you would recommend. Much appreciated!