Wisconsin Tacomas and bad financial advice

@sparkystaco
I’m over more by 67th st and Christmas Ln.

You’ll know if it’s me driving around town because I’m the asshole with the Amber DRLs

 

It was parked.

 

Spoiler: Don’t open if you’re easily offended

just kidding!!! I’m sure you’re her favorite!!

 

Glad you’re still alive

Since you won’t check in with your momma
I now feel an obligation to keep an eye on you

 

LOL,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,up until the day she past, she always introduced me as her baby. (I was last of 3)

 

There’s just something about the babies ❤️

Maxx was mine

 

For sure. I'd like to compare the rigidity and flex.

You can get a set with pink lettering for the Tacoma, but sadly pink isn't an option for the 4Runner... Orange would probably look pretty sweet.

 

When you getting one?

 

Probably as soon as he has some equity in that Tacoma.

 

Speaking of Tigerton damage….
My serpentine belt has been slipping a little on startup and heavy acceleration since I got the new alternator. I went to the mechanic and was told that replacing the tensioner is quite involved because you need to remove the A/C compressor and recharge it to get the the tensioner $800! I asked him to just replace the fucking motor since that would be cheaper.

 

Amber DRLs, you say? This is the way.

 

Yep that’s the plan! I’ll keep an eye open for those campsites, thanks for the tip! Not sure how far I will go, just letting the wind carry me along.

Appreciate the thought but really no need. Worry about Larry selling his Tacoma for a Vette, it’s a much more pressing concern.

Ninja edit: Camp still has functional hot showers and I have a touchy 1 and sometimes 2 bars of service. Clean laundry, clean armpits, and I cleaned up the truck a little for the 2nd leg. Glamping to the maxx.

 

That sounds like a shit design, or a load of BS. I'm sure someone around here has replaced their tensioner. I'd be curious if this is true.

 

It’s true, the A/C compressor mounts directly on top of the tensioner unit. It’s one of the things that is a PITA to fix on these trucks. Shop cost is of course quite high because of the labor, the Aisin tensioner (bought mine from EB Toyota Parts) was like $100.

 

You unbolt the a/c and there is room to move it enough to get the tensioner replaced, tensioner bolts to engine, a/c bolts to tensioner and alternator is right there.

My buddy did mine, replaced 3 pulleys, belt & tensioner in about two hours.


edit: I bought the Gates kit from RA, 3 pulleys, tensioner & belt, think it was about 125.00

 

Well, that's lame. I've always thought Toyota did a decent job of making things easy to service. I assume it's the same bullshit on the 4Runner, then.

I wonder if one could just leave the lines attached and sneak the tensioner out.

 

Yeah, I might try just replacing the belt (myself) first to see if that helps. If that doesn’t work, then diy it

 

Belt needs to be replaced from the bottom.

 

Yep it’s not that bad, just one of those jobs that is a PITA because of the tight space. Have to contort your hands & fingers up in there. All my parts are sitting on my workbench at home because I just don’t wanna do it.

I’d imagine it’s the same on all 4.0L engines. It’s really not bad engineering, just one of the wonky parts. Compared to other makes/models I’ll take working on the Taco all day every day. It’s still not bad. Go work on a Chrysler for a few minutes and you’ll be hugging Toyota engineers.

If you have the skills & time to DIY that’s definitely the most cost-effective route. OE parts online for the job aren’t bad, or like sparky said get the Gates kit which has a good track record from what I’ve read.