Maintenance Question?

I have a 2009 Access cab 4x4, I purchased the truck new & it now has 90k, I am not much of a mechanic, Oh i do my oil changes & grease, plugs, the smaller things, but anything beyond that I am lost plus the fact I am well into my 70's I don't want to do anything beyond that. My truck has been in SoCal for the last 5 or 6 years and I would like to do some preventive maintenance, Belt, Hoses, brakes, My question? could any of you guys guide me as to what I should have done? A big part of me says if its not broke don't fix it, well, we have had temps here in SoCal the triple digits for a couple of months & I know what the heat can do to rubber parts, & I would hate to break down when I could have done something to prevent it. Thanks!!!

 

What I do is regularly take a look around the truck, inside the engine bay, under the truck, etc. and if something needs addressing, I take care of it. Or if I hear anything, I address it. If you're not wanting to do much beyond the smaller things, then I would recommend taking it in to your trusted mechanic every now and again for a look over. Honestly, I do a lot of stuff myself and I still like to take it into my mechanic to have him look it over. I don't catch everything. I also don't like fixing everything. If it's not worth my time, I'll just pay someone to do it. I know it may not have been what you're asking, but thought I'd chime in.

This would be beyond the normal scheduled or recommended periodic maintenance

 

Here’s a very well put together guideline:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2nd-gen-diy-maintenance-quick-reference-guide.438945/

 

You just need a good mechanic that can check or replace what is needed. Where you find one of them is the challenge.

 

At 90k I'll bet you're close to needing front brakes. The rears can probably get away with being adjusted. Shocks and struts are probably close to there end of life as well.

In your 70s and still turning a wrench.. that's awesome! mid 50s here and this getting old is pissing me off. thankfully I'm still a kid at heart and, "everything," still works!

 

Could be a new 'club' opportunity. I can join later this fall.

Sorry to tell you, it will get worse. If you are in decent physical / mental shape today, always remember the phrase 'this is as good as it gets', and don't put off the next adventure.

If you have health issues that are addressable by exercise, diet or other changes of lifestyle, certainly improvements can be made. I will say it's harder to make those as we age, so do them now. But even when you hit that 'great for my age' condition, you still come back to the phrase 'this is as good as it gets'.

 

Trans fluid, Diff Fluids, Transfer case, Grease the driveline and call it good.

What engine do you have?

 

Thanks, I have met a very good Mechanic, he is a few miles away. I will take your advise, Thanks for taking the time!!!

 

WoW. That is Great info!! I will read it all over tonight and make my list. I know of a mechanic that I have been told is quite knowable, & has "scruples" I will go over everything with him. this is a big help Thanks, (I did do a search but probly didn't type in the right question)

 

My 07 has 207,000 miles. I'm averaging about 60,000 miles on front brake pads, they've been done 3 times with the next ones due around 240,000. I drove it from GA to the Grand Canyon and back at 170,000 miles. Before that trip I had new brake pads front and rear as well as new fluids in both diff's and the transfer case Since it was close I put in new plugs and serpentine belt at the same time. Still have factory drums and rotors, will put new rotors on with the next set of pads. Plugs and serpentine belt were replaced at 90,000 and 170,000. The alternator went bad at about 190,000 as well. One new U-Joint at 175,000. It went bad on the Grand Canyon trip. That's it.

I'm 62 and used to do a lot of my own work, but I've found a younger guy who is sort of a local Toyota guru who works at reasonable prices so I've pretty much trusted him with my truck for the last 7 years. I asked about hoses and coolant and he tells me that as long as the hoses are pliable don't change them. That took a little time to convince me, but he is still driving a 2004 with factory hoses and coolant. Hard to argue with success.

I'm not touching the transmission fluid until I have the transmission rebuilt in 10 years or so. The factory fluid is good for at least 400,000 miles and they don't seem to last any longer if you change the fluid. You're not saving any money even if it does last a little longer. The money spent on ATF changes every 50,000 miles will almost pay to have the transmission rebuilt.

 

Some people do sh!t just to do sh!t. IMO