What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

I usually take a good size piece of 80grit sandpaper wrapped around the filter and use my strong hand from the bottom

 

Let's break down the stealership quote: $2,100

Shop rags: $50
Hand soap: $50
Disposal of shop rags and hand soap: $75
Labor we charge you: 8 hours @ $100.hour = $800
Parts we marked up: $1,000
Fuck you charge: $125

And then we look at the actuals:

Shop rags: $1.25
Hand soap: $0.35
Disposal of shop rags and hand soap: $0.25
Actual labor hours: 4
Actual parts cost to normal human beings: $450
Thank you charge: $0.00


When my daughter's propeller shaft on her CR-V went "F U all!", the stealer wanted $2,000 for the parts and labor. $313, one socket, and less than 1 hour later and I had a brand new one in. Uhhh, yeah, money clowns fer sure.

 

Replaced the driver side door handle(broke in the sub zero temps last week), installed weather tech window deflectors, and took off the Softtopper.

 

When my dad taught me to change oil way back when, he said if you need a filter wrench to get it off then it's on too tight.

Lube the gasket with a little oil, tighten the filter until snug, then go another 1/4-1/2 turn by hand.

I've never had a leak or a problem.

 

Put in an 01-04 center console in today. Had to give it some TLC, but love it.

 

Can't wait for the install...

 

While were on the topic of bad luck. Here's my rant. I finally got my LBJ replaced and wheel spacers installed to stop the frame rub. I asked for the an ABS light diagnosis (to see if i really need a new ABS actuator, or if its a ground wire) and an exhaust rattle diagnosis. I had it done by a shop because I don't have the time to do it myself. Before hand, I asked for a quote. I was told $150 for labor, but I couldn't get an answer for the diagnosing because that varies. I think, 'okay, its prob $75 an hour, two hours.... makes sense'. I went through the trouble of printing out multiple factory service manuals, highlighting whats important and telling the owner that I want him to call me so I know whats going on/if anything goes wrong. I also add that the ABS light is code 51 for an actuator/motor lock, but want to make sure its really faulty before I buy a new one. Everythings on the passenger seat ready to go. I even throw in a pretty hefty tip out of courtesy.

I get a call hours later with

"Everything's done. The tie rods broke so we had to replace those, and your wheel spacers are in."

me "Wait so... did you see the tie rods I had in the back seat?"

him "No, you told me everything was on the passenger seat"

me "why didn't you call?"

him "I had to get it done to get it out by today. I got you ones with zerks. they cost 80 ea but I'm only charging you 60 to give you a break. So your total is $368"

me "okay... (frustrated) so what about the ABS light and the exhaust rattle?"

him "We couldn't hear a rattle and I didn't check the ABS light. I'll do it now"

45 minutes later I show up

me "What'd you find out with the ABS?"

him "Oh my scan tool couldn't find out what the code was. Turns out it wont work with your car, and the only way to find out is to jump some wires so the light blinks a code to look up"

me "I already did all that and told you it was a 51 code. All the information was in the packet i printed out and left for you"

bla bla bla

me: "Also, can I get a price break down because you told me 150 a couple days ago (pulling out his note)"

him "I charge 150 per side, and since we only did the lowers I only charged you 100 per side"

reciept says 120 for parts, 240 for labor. 240 labor (not 200 he said he chraged me)

total with tax 368.00



I leave pretty frustrated. All because of miscommunication. If he called, I could have told him that I had tie rods in the back seat. If he read my note about the ABS he would have already known what to diagnose. If he wrote 150 per side on the estimate, I wouldn't have been misinformed. Now I have to get the tie rods replaced when I get an alignment because I only want OEM parts. You'd think a $50 tip would help get people to listen to you, but now I just feel like a idiot...

Side note: wheel spacers got rid of frame rub, but I had to do the pinch weld mod to get a new source of rubbing to stop. Still isn't enough clearance.


/end rant

Looks good.

Are those gears for the diffs? What ratio?

 

Exactly.
I change a ton of filters every year on my customers diesel engines. The biggest problem is when some turd puts them on with no oil on the seal and then uses a filter wrench to tighten them on. Its not rocket science to change oil and filter on a Tacoma. Try doing it on a pair of Cat 3412's in a 70+ foot yacht. Oil filters that hold almost two gallons of oil and two per engine. With about 20 gallons of oil per engine. When I see people crying about a Tacoma oil change it makes me laugh...

 

Just got her back from the stealership. Sounds back to normal now
After juicing out $250. Apparently need a new ac compressor they want to charge $1200 for that. Thought my ac worked fine so screw them.

 

I want one! Those cup holders are fare better than my stupid square ones....

 

I was just driving along today, and my wipers decided to just start going randomly. It was like the switch was on the first speed, but it was in the off position. I couldn't get em to click off so i just pulled the fuse. Anybody have this happen? Any suggestions on where to look when I get home?

 

My 96 did that intermittently when I would drive in wet conditions. Was odd... Haha

 

I would say the switch could be shorted.

 

Hell ya! One of the best things I ever did to my truck!

 

has anyone past I dipped or bed lined the bottom 6 inches of the side of a first gen? only up to the first body line im looking into....

 

one of Lauren's friends from CSU... silver 03 I think... Lucas I think his name is... his screen name is like Rucas I think..

yeah... here's his build thread it's in the 2nd gen builds for some reason...

 

yeah i know lucas, totally forgot he had that done. seems most people go above that first body line though.....hmmmmmmmmm

 

Hey Jace I think old Brett done his to the first line.

 

link me

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-builds/305098-bretts-average-build-thread-12.html
Here ya go Jace