McFly’s Build: Budget is a funny word

Swapped out the drivers front door yesterday and did the upper control arms since they were under a recall. Wasn’t too bad. Took me 2 hours to do the door and the UCAs.





still searching for a rear door.

 

The TPMS light has started to flash and stay solid when I start the truck. I'm guessing that means a sensor battery is dead since all tires are showing the same pressure after a week of checking daily, spare also checked but I do not believe it has a sensor.

Ill wait until I need tires to replace the sensors I guess. I dont have the money to have all 4 done right now and honestly when I do get new tires I will be converting to 17" steel wheels or 16" depending on what I go with for tires and ill probably delete the TPMS sensors.

 

Still looking for a rear door to replace the damaged door. I'm also considering selling the truck and getting a 4Runner, just need to save up some more cash so I can sell the tacoma and have cash roll into a used T4R TRD Offroad. Because if I am getting a T4R I am getting the options I want.

 

WOW thats freaking awesome! Good work! seeing your post makes me want to get on it yesterday!!!

 

Missed an opportunity for a rear door but took that money and had to get a new car seat for the now 1 year old. I think they are called toddlers now? But went with a Dino 3RXT after searching here. My wife is short so there shouldn’t be an issue with her in the front seat should she choose to ride up front.


Still have the 4Runner bug but honestly I like having the bed. I need to get an actual fiberglass shell. My modified ripcord shell isn’t water tight due to the hinges for the sides and it’s like $300 for the waterproof hinges. I’d rather sell it and roll into an actual shell.

 

The camper is all gone now. Swapped the oem rear view mirror back in and put a regular dash cam in. I have a bakflip mx4 bed cover on order. I kind of like the pickup truck without the bed cover.

 

I’ve got a noise I can’t pinpoint going on sometimes. Kind of sounds like a squeaky belt but only above 45 mph. I’ve got a new belt so I’ll swap it out this weekend. But while tracking it down I pulled the front wheels off and three lug nuts were trashed from someone not fully seating an impact socket on them.

That would have sucked if I had a flat. Got the 3 lug nuts off and tossed a cheap replacement in their place. Didn’t realize the lug nuts were the pressed in steel cap. I eventually want to go to steel wheels so when I do I’ll get the macguard solid steel lugs at that point.

 

Pulled the serpentine belt off and found one of the idler pulleys spins, but doesnt spin freely. I'll procure the two upper and one lower this week from Rock Auto. I could get them on Amazon but then I dont get a new magnet for my tool box. Tensioner is fine, not going to dig into that

 

Yet another oil change today and greased the driveshaft. Also ran by the dealership for spark plugs which I plan on doing next weekend or one evening after the kid goes to bed this week.
Vehicle maintenance is my only hobby now.

 

Spark plugs replaced today at 145k. Thankfully what I removed were not original, all 6 were NGK and looked fine. Installed 6 new sensors plugs. The plug wells had just the tiniest amount of oil in them. A rag shoved down in and pulled out cleared it.

probably will be due for gaskets at 200k.

 

I finally scored a left rear door. $300 and only an hour away too. I almost bought one last month off eBay for $900 shipped but I’m glad I waited. I was chrome king marketplace pretty much daily for two years. Tons of sellers were flakey or I missed the door.

I’ll get it swapped this weekend, the yard didn’t cut the door wires so all I need to do is swap handles and interior panels I think. The glass has a vin etched in it but oh well that’s fine. My glass has tint peeling off so I’ll keep mine and the window regulator as a spare.

 

Fixed the door and sold the truck.

now driving a 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite. Already successfully hauled a sheet of plywood compared to the Tacoma. I’ll miss it and it’s go anywhere abilities, that I never really utilized.