I got intimate with a Tundra today

[Gryphon Rider]

No, not a motorcycle accident, but I'm helping a friend with charging system troubles. He is unemployed (as are more and more here in Alberta with the price of oil as it is), and had his '07 4.7L Tundra break down. He got it towed to his home, and was quoted $700-800 to replace the alternator, if that turned out to be the problem. I got the call for help, and now have his battery and alternator at my place, but what a pain! On my old truck, the alternator is right in front, at the top, so would take about 10 relaxed minutes to get it out. To get the Tundra's out I had to alternate between leaning over the radiator and lying under the engine. The power steering pump had to be moved, and I had to remove the fan and shroud (which meant disconnecting the upper rad hose) to pull the alternator up and out. All this outside in fading light at 0°C temperatures. I'm hoping that it'll be something as simple as worn brushes so I'll be able to get him running for the price of a rebuild kit.

[Valkorado]

Very good on you to help your buddy out, favors like that are never forgotten.

[cookiedough]

face it,  not many vehicles out there the last 10 or more years you can do much on or you can but takes 3x's as long or more to do.

Heck,  my neighbor wanted me to test ride with him the 2.7L Ford F150 ecoboost and when I popped the hood,  I was unable to either check the oil dipstick or put oil in the engine without a mini-step ladder having to be almost 7 feet tall to reach - now that is F'ed up.

The 2007-current tundra have to remove 8 bolts or so to take off the entire skid plate to get at the pain in the butt oil filter housing above the skid plate.  Why Toyota could not make a cutout area of the skid plate or safety drop down latch to access the oil filter is beyond rationialized thinking I guess?

Nice of you to help out your friend in need, not many would take that amount of time to help a fellow out.   Once you start something though you really want to finish it no matter what it takes.   I have helped out my neighbors but most projects are 1 hour or less, much over that hire a pro?  My new neighbor up the street though building his fancy house did though have the nerve to knock on my door a few days ago not knowing me nor him total strangers asking to borrow my new enclosed trailer that cost me some dough.  He is 73 years old and I said not willing to let anyone borrow it, but if he cannot find his rich builder up the street as well (his first cousin even) and use his trailer,  if I am home that weekend I will help him move his belongings some 13 miles one way to his new home, just basically said will not let anyone borrow my new trailer  (not cheap).   Sort of like coming up to a stranger asking him to borrow your Valk for a few hours. 

[The emperor has no clothes]

You scared me for a minute there GR. I hope it's a simple fix for you. And I hope the job market improves for your friend soon.

[Robert]

I was a bit worried also when you posted this. Glad its only the alternator and surprised its already that cold.

[Gryphon Rider]

I was a bit worried also when you posted this. Glad its only the alternator and surprised its already that cold.

Yup, that cold.

[MarkT]

My new neighbor up the street though building his fancy house did though have the nerve to knock on my door a few days ago not knowing me nor him total strangers asking to borrow my new enclosed trailer that cost me some dough.  He is 73 years old and I said not willing to let anyone borrow it, but if he cannot find his rich builder up the street as well (his first cousin even) and use his trailer,  if I am home that weekend I will help him move his belongings some 13 miles one way to his new home, just basically said will not let anyone borrow my new trailer  (not cheap).   Sort of like coming up to a stranger asking him to borrow your Valk for a few hours. 

Really generous of you.  I've seen bumper stickers that say "Yes this is my truck and No I won't help you move."

Had a neighbor like that.  Borrowed my tools.  Then kept them too long and if he returned them, they were abused and damaged.  Borrowed a tarp and destroyed it.  Replaced it with a different size.  His kids had leaky tires on their bikes.  I filled them and told them how to fix them, or get dad to do it.  Instead they wanted to come over daily for a tire refill.  I figured dad was the Superhero "Borrowman".  I told him, the last time he asked to borrow another tool, he should go over to Harbor Freight, they have really low tool prices.  He said he would but his kids would just lose them.   I said "so instead you prefer your kids lose mine. Do you think a doctor would loan you his stethoscope?  Same thing for me.  I make my living with these, so no more borrowing tools."  He bought a Harley instead of making his mortgage payment so his house was repossessed and he was evicted. Turns out he was the youngest child in a huge family and never learned fiscal responsibility or the value of property.  When I moved in here I suggested to another neighbor - the guy I bought the property from who had bought the adjacent lot and built his retirement home - I'd like to rent his small trailer to haul some stuff.  He recoiled in horror; it was shortly apparent why.  He figured I was another Borrowman.

[cookiedough]

Hey, I was nice enough though last year before I got my new 7K trailer to help my other neighbor who rented a U-haul trailer, but I had to take my truck to go get it and return it as well as drive near 100 miles one way and help his daughter move from college back home.  It was only near 4 hours of driving time total and a full tank of gas (he paid me 50 bucks to fill my truck up) along with another 2-3 hours of moving furniture from apt. to the u-haul trailer up/down old metal grated 3 flights of steps about 12 times.  I was pooped. I got out of it free lunch though at Arbys?   

I do not mind letting borrow common tools and such as long as returned say 1 week later or so, but to come up to a stanger, even a neighbor, asking to borrow a brand new 7K enclosed trailer that I myself have only used a handful of times is not right in my opinion.  Now, if it was all beat up and 15 years old,  I might be more reluctant to let him borrow it.   I think helping him move his items since he is 73 years old (wife 75) is plenty good enough without borrowing my new trailer, even though I know he knows his 1st cousin builder (owns construction company actually building his house also my neighbor up the street) who am sure has it all right there for him to use along with plenty of hired hands younger than me to help him out on the move. 

I remember growing up letting my friends borrow my toys and 9 times out of 10 they came back broke or otherwise not in ideal condition. 

Same as my neighbor trying to sell his HD ultra classic.  He let an older lady test ride it a few months ago interested in it.  It came back broke over 4K in tipover damages and she never bothered telling him she tipped it over, but she did confess later on AFTER he got it fixed thru his insurance and paid his 500 deductible at least.   However,  he wanted 9.5K and now even though new paint and parts,  since it has been in a tipover accident,  he said he will be lucky to get 9K for it now, if that. 

[BonS]

Gryphon Rider, you might appreciate what I went through last week. I had a bad starter and found it underneath the intake manifold. On Toyota V8 engines it's still a two bolt replacement part but you have to remove 35 bolts, connectors and a 50# intake manifold to get to them.

[Beardo]

Wow. Unbelievable.

My brother is an engineer, I'm a technician, I'm always giving him the gears about how stupid some engineers are. That right there is proof.

And you scared me for a second, had to go see where the starter was on my Tacoma. 

[Patrick]

Toyota isn't the only one to stick a starter in the valley. Its one of the same reasons I'm not a fan of some GM products among other reasons. I still think thats a stupid idea.

Toyotas are not made to work on. The worst vehicle I've ever owned was a Tundra. Just one of the problems with these pieces of crap was exhaust manifolds/gaskets/flanges. It takes 8 hrs to change each manifold. These were a terrible design. And this is really the least of the issues.

[Gryphon Rider]

Gryphon Rider, you might appreciate what I went through last week. I had a bad starter and found it underneath the intake manifold. On Toyota V8 engines it's still a two bolt replacement part but you have to remove 35 bolts, connectors and a 50# intake manifold to get to them.

I'm not sure if that's more or less convenient than the starter on my Saturn, behind the engine and above the right drive axle. I almost had to dislocate my wrists to get at the fasteners and connections for that, on my back and almost completely by feel.

[TallRider]

Starter under intake manifold. I thought I seen it all but that takes the cake. 04 Silverado with 160,000. Wondering when I will need to do something to the engine myself. Suspect I will need plugs before 200,000. Had to put a fan belt on it at about 100,000. Idler bearing went out and fried the belt. Recently replaced power steering cooling coil. Wasps built nest on tube which rusted through. Friend pulled right door handle off last week. Fasteners rusted and swelled in the plastic and came loose.  New handle from rock auto coming this week. I always say if it ain't broke don't mess with it.  Engine idles so smooth can't feel it at a light and trans. shifts as smooth also. Sometimes you just get the right one

[Robert]

I was a bit worried also when you posted this. Glad its only the alternator and surprised its already that cold.

Yup, that cold.

  thats just a bit to cold to early for me.

Some Cadillac's, Lexus, Toyota also have them under the manifold.

 Well while your complaining about this just think the starter on the Bentley Continental costs 12k to change since you have to pull the engine out to get to it. That could put a dent in the old pocket book.

[Gryphon Rider]

Well while your complaining about this just think the starter on the Bentley Continental costs 12k to change since you have to pull the engine out to get to it. That could put a dent in the old pocket book.

I'm not worried. I'm planning on trading in the Bentley before the warranty expires. 

[Robert]

Well while your complaining about this just think the starter on the Bentley Continental costs 12k to change since you have to pull the engine out to get to it. That could put a dent in the old pocket book.

I'm not worried. I'm planning on trading in the Bentley before the warranty expires. 

 

[art]

I was a bit worried also when you posted this. Glad its only the alternator and surprised its already that cold.

Yup, that cold.

  thats just a bit to cold to early for me.

Some Cadillac's, Lexus, Toyota also have them under the manifold.

 Well while your complaining about this just think the starter on the Bentley Continental costs 12k to change since you have to pull the engine out to get to it. That could put a dent in the old pocket book.

Darn and I was just thinking of getting two Bentleys. I guess I'll settle for something else. I recently bought a 77 Dodge class B motorhome for $3000. and am re doing the inside. Almost finished for a total of around $300. Today I removed the hump in the cab to look at the engine and was shocked to actually find an engine with no junk on it. It even has a two barrel carburetor,imagine that.

[Patrick]

Just in case,,,, the area under the intake manifold on a V engine is called the valley.  The pic of the Toyota shows the starter in the back of the valley. And its still a stupid place to hang a starter, the designer that had this brilliant friggin idea should be forced to change at least one.

[Stitch_in_La]

Our Lincoln Navigator spark plugs and coils under cover in valve cover, coils over spark plugs.  Ford stealer wanted to charge full price to change spark plugs then full price to change 3 coils,  couldn't get them to agree that since they had to remove the coils to change the spark plugs there shouldn't be a labor charge to change the coils.

Stitch

[Gryphon Rider]

Our Lincoln Navigator spark plugs and coils under cover in valve cover, coils over spark plugs.  Ford stealer wanted to charge full price to change spark plugs then full price to change 3 coils,  couldn't get them to agree that since they had to remove the coils to change the spark plugs there shouldn't be a labor charge to change the coils.

Stitch

Despite my fib about owing a Bentley, this illustrates why I prefer older vehicles I can work on myself.  I can't afford to buy a new vehicle whenever the previous one comes off warranty, and I certainly don't want to pay a dealer who is creative in coming up with unreasonable charges.

A motorcycle is a psychological need.  All other vehicles are tools to conveniently get my family, me, and our stuff from point A to point B with as little expense and discomfort as possible.