El Jason
Well-known member
I’d pull them off now. Otherwise, you’ll end up taking a Sawzall to them when they hit something and bend up into the cab.
Sorry to my Subaru brethren
- Thread starter np307
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Irrelevant
Well-known member
...and they look gay
millerkiller77
Well-known member
True, but its a convenient place for strawberry pickers to sit while you drive down the rows. And besides, pride month is right around the corner and nothing says " my other car is a Subaru " like running boards on a truck.
np307
Well-known member
I guess I'll keep updating the progress on this truck. It did take a while, but the evap code returned (and the monitor never set) with the new gas cap, so I turned my attention to the canister vent solenoid. It's really easy to pull off, so Sunday afternoon I took it off and tested it. My test revealed the solenoid wasn't actuating, or so I thought. In the back of my mind I knew I should have smoke tested the thing but nevertheless I went and bought a new vent solenoid (actually it's the whole leak detection pump unit, about $300). I put it on the truck and crossed my fingers.
This morning, the evap code returned. So when I got off work this evening I finally did what I should have done from the beginning and fired up the smoke machine. This is when stuff got stupid. The new vent pump/solenoid unit was pouring smoke out of the electrical connector. I took it off and put the oem one back on and I finally found the real leak coming from the fuel filler overflow line. Here's a link to someone with a whole thread on fixing this problem DIY, since toyota doesn't sell that line individually.
www.tundras.com
So now I know what needs to be fixed and I can get out of this for much less that the actuator would've cost. I don't know how many times I have to learn the lesson, always do proper diagnostics.
This morning, the evap code returned. So when I got off work this evening I finally did what I should have done from the beginning and fired up the smoke machine. This is when stuff got stupid. The new vent pump/solenoid unit was pouring smoke out of the electrical connector. I took it off and put the oem one back on and I finally found the real leak coming from the fuel filler overflow line. Here's a link to someone with a whole thread on fixing this problem DIY, since toyota doesn't sell that line individually.
Fuel Tank Over Flow Line Leak DIY
Had a couple of evap codes pop up suddenly. Truck runs fine and was going to get to them this weekend. Filled up my tank on Monday morning and fuel...
www.tundras.com
So now I know what needs to be fixed and I can get out of this for much less that the actuator would've cost. I don't know how many times I have to learn the lesson, always do proper diagnostics.
Greybeard
Well-known member
I have an 08 Tundra as well. One thing to do on these is to make sure the coolant has been replaced and done frequently. The 5.7 3UR-FE engines are starting to blow head gaskets on ones that didn't have the coolant frequently changed. The coolant turns acidic after time and eats away at a tiny spot on the head gasket so exhaust blows into the cooling system. Not fun.
Nice truck though, I love mine!
Nice truck though, I love mine!
That’s a good deal. I almost had one just like it, with a topper for $500 more. I was ready to give them cash and they strung me along for four days while some college kid scrounged together the cash funding. Good on them for working with him, but dang I wanted that truck.
np307
Well-known member
Finally another day to work on this thing. I ordered brakes all the way around for it so I got them installed today. Pedal feels a little better now after bleeding a fair bit of air off the right rear. Truck definitely stops better now. I also replaced the broken taillight housing. Then I turned my attention to the evap leak. The good news, the patch seems to be holding. The bad news, I fried the pressure sensor on the leak detection unit when I was testing it Sunday. So now it's not reading pressure and throwing a code for that. Decided to not gamble on an aftermarket one and ordered a new Toyota one. Fingers crossed, that'll be the last thing necessary to get this thing inspected. Only other thing I have on my immediate list after that is a coolant drain and fill. Also, here's a picture of what the brakes looked like for yall rust belt guys to salivate over. Pins slid out without even needing pliers or a hammer. 
np307
Well-known member
Hallelujah, evap monitor complete and no engine codes detected. I'll go get this thing inspected tomorrow morning and then fully registered after that. Kinda painful that my stupidity turned a $20 fix into a $350 fix, but such is life.
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np307
Well-known member
A couple months since I got this thing road legal and I just did my first oil change (since the one I did right when I bought it). This is, no joke, the first vehicle of mine since I started driving that doesn't either leak or burn oil. Kinda wild.
I also fixed the long crank issue on the truck. I was suspicious that the fuel pump was letting the rail pressure drop when the truck sat for a little while but after a little testing I discovered it was an opposite kind of problem. Injectors were leaking past when then truck was off, causing it to be very rich on startup after sitting for an hour or so. Injectors are really pricey for this thing so I took a chance on the Beck-Arnley branded ones on Rock Auto and when I opened the package I was pleasantly surprised to see that they're actually Denso (oem) Injectors. Same part number and everything for less than half the cost. Once I discovered that I decided to bite the bullet and replace all 8 Injectors. Starts up great now.
Turkey season allowed me to try this thing out in some mud and rougher terrain. Nothing too crazy, stuff I would've done in the Subaru for the most part. The extra ground clearance and the peace of mind of having 4lo is nice, but I can definitely tell how much bigger this thing is on some tight trails.
Next order of business is to build me a ladder/pipe rack. Then a new head unit with backup camera. Then I'll install fog lights and update my turn signal switch to be able to use factory fog light wiring and swap the wiper switch while I'm at it to get intermittent wipers. May also install a factory cruise switch while I'm messing with the wheel.
Very happy with the truck so far. Looking forward to many more miles in it.
I also fixed the long crank issue on the truck. I was suspicious that the fuel pump was letting the rail pressure drop when the truck sat for a little while but after a little testing I discovered it was an opposite kind of problem. Injectors were leaking past when then truck was off, causing it to be very rich on startup after sitting for an hour or so. Injectors are really pricey for this thing so I took a chance on the Beck-Arnley branded ones on Rock Auto and when I opened the package I was pleasantly surprised to see that they're actually Denso (oem) Injectors. Same part number and everything for less than half the cost. Once I discovered that I decided to bite the bullet and replace all 8 Injectors. Starts up great now.
Turkey season allowed me to try this thing out in some mud and rougher terrain. Nothing too crazy, stuff I would've done in the Subaru for the most part. The extra ground clearance and the peace of mind of having 4lo is nice, but I can definitely tell how much bigger this thing is on some tight trails.
Next order of business is to build me a ladder/pipe rack. Then a new head unit with backup camera. Then I'll install fog lights and update my turn signal switch to be able to use factory fog light wiring and swap the wiper switch while I'm at it to get intermittent wipers. May also install a factory cruise switch while I'm messing with the wheel.
Very happy with the truck so far. Looking forward to many more miles in it.
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