To Keep or Sell...too keep right?!?!? right??!?

[jscott2135]

We have a 2008 Toyota Tundra. 150k miles on it, been paid off for 6 yrs+.  It has been an amazing truck and we use it A LOT as a truck (Hauling for landscaping and home projects, trailers, FIL's boat (our passion is salmon fishing), helping clear family farm property...normally I wouldn't feel the need to justify this truck but...I know where I am at.  Anywhooo

Truck has been a beast, no issues until we had to replace the radiator last year for $900, and now we have a $2400 repair facing us for a cam shaft replace and a few other things. Money was in savings ear marked for vehicle maintenance, I plan on owning this truck until is begs for the sweet release of the junk yard...but was telling this story to a friend and they were like WTF time to trade that truck in.  I just need a sanity check here that while the future isn't guaranteed that to trade in a truck that would cost 30k+ to replace when at 150k miles it had a few maintenance issues seems illogical to me. I want to make sure I'm making a smart decision here.

[paddedhat]

There is no decision here. Get it fixed and keep it until it  simply can't go another mile.  I recall an article, in the last year or so, of an oil field worker who just hit the million mile mark on the same Tundra, so it might be a while. I just bought a fifteen year old truck that some elderly gentleman drove very gingerly, apparently only hauled air in the bed, and spent a mind blowing amount on dealer only service to keep it lovingly maintained. It was  about 20% of the sticker price of a matching new one. So that brings us to the second point. There is no reason to ever buy a new pickup. There is no way to rationalize dropping nearly $40k for a rapidly depreciating asset. There are hundreds to thousands of used ones for sale in any market area, and buying new just means that you weren't willing to do the hard work of finding the diamond in the manure pile. Good luck.

[jscott2135]

My grandfather was a mechanic and I spent most of my pre SAHM career working in maintenance shops, so preventative maintenance is in my blood.  For a truck to go as long as this one has with no issues with regular PMs being done, I don't begrudge it some issues at 150k. Thank you I normally don't question myself on thriftiness but for some reason the blow back was so intense I had a moment of WHOA wait am I making a bad financial decision here?!? I couldn't be happier if mine got to the million mile mark!!

[BTDretire]

My 1997 T-100 is still running strong, I hope to get another 20 years :-)
We paid $11,000 for it 17 years ago, it's getting to be a better deal every year.

[Optimiser]

Keep

[jscott2135]

Only question is what exactly happened with/to the camshaft? 

Asking because it could had been caused by deeper issues within the engine.  Camshafts don't usually go bad unless there is a lack of lubrication.

Can you provide more details regarding the recommended repair?

That's a good question, they said the seals were leaking, (I guess I misspoke, they don't need to replace the cam shaft, they need to replace the seals and do some repair to it,if that makes any sense?  They also mentioned the transmission fluid and power steering fluid was dirty...this is all second hand, my dh was the one that spoke with them. The truck prob had 20-30 k miles put on it in the last year alone, lots of trips from OR to WA for farm work and a move.

[Xlar]

I second the decision to keep. $3300 in maintenance isn't a lot when you're talking about a brand new vehicle!

I also echo the comment that $2400 sounds like a lot for seals. Are you getting it looked at at the dealer or an independent mechanic? Are the seals just leaking a little oil? If they're just leaking a little and the reason it's so expensive is because you have to remove a lot of other stuff to get at them, I would leave it until there is another reason to dig into that area. (Like if you have to remove the timing belt to get to the seal, I would wait to replace the seal when you need a new timing belt anyway.)

[paddedhat]

I second the decision to keep. $3300 in maintenance isn't a lot when you're talking about a brand new vehicle!

I also echo the comment that $2400 sounds like a lot for seals. Are you getting it looked at at the dealer or an independent mechanic? Are the seals just leaking a little oil? If they're just leaking a little and the reason it's so expensive is because you have to remove a lot of other stuff to get at them, I would leave it until there is another reason to dig into that area. (Like if you have to remove the timing belt to get to the seal, I would wait to replace the seal when you need a new timing belt anyway.)

I vaguely remembered discussions of expensive cam seal oil leaks with the Tundras, and gave it a search. It's called a "cam tower leak" and resolving the issue involves an enormous amount of labor to do some pretty extensive disassembly of the top of the motor. It seems that dealers are getting about a grand more than this quote to address the problem. As for specifics, I would recommend that the OP spend some time on the enthusiast's sites and determine more, specifically how to identify IF it is the  specific cam tower leak, and if it needs to be addressed immediately.

[inline five]

Regarding the transmission flush. Check your owner's manual and see what the intervals are. You may or may not need it. Some vehicles, ones I work on for a living, are lifetime trans fluid.

IMO this is not good advice. I would recommend doing at least a drain/refill after your first 30k and then once every 60k afterward. If used to tow or in harsher environments a flush every 30k isn't unreasonable.

"Lifetime" transmission fluid really means lifetime of the warranty period. The kiss of death for a transmission are two things:

- Coolant mixing into the transmission by way of a radiator leak and
- Overheated transmission fluid (burnt) that loses it's lubrication properties

[steviesterno]

i think that about my truck, too. I bought pre-MMM and owe $3k on it. Granted it's run like a tank for the last 5 years, and I keep thinking I should replace. But then I ask myself if someone offered me this bad-ass truck with 67k miles on it for only $3k, I would buy the shit out of it.

So that's what I'm doing, learning to do more work myself. I'm driving it until I replace it with a Tesla (years away) or have another baby (at least 9 months away no matter what).

[jscott2135]

Skip the Power Steering fluid flush and just grab a bottle of the fluid from their parts department and use a turkey baster to suck out the old fluid and top it off with new fluid. No need to spend anymore than  $15 on this.

Regarding the transmission flush. Check your owner's manual and see what the intervals are. You may or may not need it. Some vehicles, ones I work on for a living, are lifetime trans fluid.

A $2400 estimate seems like a lot for "some seals". I would speak with DH and look over the estimate before approving anything. You can PM also if you want to go into details and have any questions.

Was the engine leaking oil?  Check engine light? Towed into the shop? Or did they just happen to find a $2400 issue while you were there for maintenance?

Also, you can absolutely ask for some type for deal when it comes to auto repairs. We give out discounts left and right if people are smart enough to ask about them.

Just want to thank you!  You have been a veritable wealth of knowledge, I am so glad I posted this. This thread confirmed what I thought about keeping the truck and not selling in a panic for some repairs.  The work has already begun unfortunatley but I will be earmarking this thread and come back to it for all future repairs!!!

Talked to the hubby last night and the cam shaft and seals will be completely replaced ( I had to really pull that info out through interrogation, he was more, mehhh they said it needed work, you said we had the money so I told them to do it all).  The check engine light did come on my last trip, but I though it was due to the last shop not resetting it after a normal oil change (went back, they did reset it) and all seemed fine until the ride home when I noticed at high speeds the truck seemed to lurch a bit when it was shifting gears...whole reason I took it into the service center in the first place.  The cam shaft issue alone was $1700. The other $700 was all the other stuff they said needed done (brake work on the front two brakes, power steering and transmission flush because both were "dirty, fuel system clean out...now that I'm typing it I think the cam shaft issue could have been all we really needed right away) I did search and find a 15% off coupon and will still ask for a discount.  I keep all our maintenance paperwork and went back and saw we did a Transmission flush at 130k miles...so will be asking about this as well...something is off about it being dirty again only 25k miles later.

[MightyAl]

Which engine is in this truck?  V6 or V8?  There are several variations with this generation tundra and several things to look for when doing a top end service.  I am assuming the bulk of the cost is because much of the top of the engine has to come off to gain access to the cam covers.  I have some knowledge of the issues with the V8 engines but not so much the V6s.  If it is a V8 (2UZ) the starter is nestled in the V of the engine and if the intake is off you might as well spring for a new starter if you so desire or it will be another $1500 if the starter does go.  I am not so sure about the 3UR V8s.

If it is cam seals then there are several other seals and gaskets that need to be changed at the same time.

Cam seals will not cause engine run issues.  It will only cause oil to run out the front of the cam cover on the engine.  If it actually is a cam issue the cost would be far more than $1700 to remedy.

A little more information would go a long way to helping you save some cash.

[bernieb]

Man - people have strong opinions about new vehicles.  I have a 10 year old Tacoma, and it freaks all the people out at my work who buy new F150s very 2 or 3 years.  I'm very happy with my truck but the chatter about how I need a new one is intense.  Its funny, but I seem to have an anti-jealous gene.  As soon as someone parks a new shiny truck next to my Taco, I seem to enjoy my Taco even more.

Keep the truck is my advice!  People just want to rationalize their own expenditure by having everyone else in the same boat.  If you go against the grain it irritates there decision making and choice.
 

[paddedhat]

You need a new shop, quickly. If you had your trans. serviced 25K miles ago, it is NOT dirty and needing service again. The other red flag is the fuel system cleaning. There may be legitimate times when it needs to be done, but it is a very common "upsell" by dealers and other high pressure, low ethics repair shops since it is highly profitable, and easy to convince customers that it's a good idea.  Sounds to me like your possibly getting screwed here.

[inline five]

You need a new shop, quickly. If you had your trans. serviced 25K miles ago, it is NOT dirty and needing service again. The other red flag is the fuel system cleaning. There may be legitimate times when it needs to be done, but it is a very common "upsell" by dealers and other high pressure, low ethics repair shops since it is highly profitable, and easy to convince customers that it's a good idea.  Sounds to me like your possibly getting screwed here.

Agree 100%

Just put Seamfoam in the tank before a fill up every year

I've put less money into my 22 year old car over 14 years of ownership...

[nouveauRiche]

Man - people have strong opinions about new vehicles. 

It's so true.  A friend of mine was appalled that I was driving a 15-year-old econo-wagon and threatened to buy me a new car. 

Friend has a high income so I didn't mind saying that I have enough money in my checking account for a new car (but we are choosing to invest the money instead).

You need a new shop, quickly. If you had your trans. serviced 25K miles ago, it is NOT dirty and needing service again. The other red flag is the fuel system cleaning. There may be legitimate times when it needs to be done, but it is a very common "upsell" by dealers and other high pressure, low ethics repair shops since it is highly profitable, and easy to convince customers that it's a good idea.  Sounds to me like your possibly getting screwed here.

I was scammed like this by Midas once.  I used to trust the shop but they got a new manager. 

They said I needed the power steering fluid & brake fluid changed in two consecutive visits, 7 months apart.  They didn't realize it was the same car because my name had changed & they had my plate wrong the first time.

I only realized the scam after it was too late.  I went back and got a refund, wrote a nasty letter to their corporate offices, and found a new mechanic whom we trust.  I suspect Midas gives that BS line about power steering fluid & brake fluid to every new customer (or every new female customer).

[paddedhat]

Midas is an amazing outfit. My neighbor told me he was heading there for new brakes, front and back, on an older Explorer. I told him that he could get good parts for half the cost, and we could do it in my garage together, saving at least half. He then tells me he will stick with Midas since it included a lifetime warranty. He comes back  from the place $4-500 lighter. Six months later he is having horrible vibration problems. They used rock hard (probably ceramic) pads, and soft Chinesium rotors. The rotors are now too warped to be usable. They then break the news that rotors are not covered for warpage, and they want $900 to replace them.

The good news is that this particular shop ran out of customers to screw and went out of business. Great location, high traffic count road in a town offering plenty of customers, but they just had to fuck their way out of a viable business.

[nouveauRiche]

The good news is that this particular shop ran out of customers to screw and went out of business. Great location, high traffic count road in a town offering plenty of customers, but they just had to fuck their way out of a viable business.

Good riddance!

[Just Joe]

Man - people have strong opinions about new vehicles.  I have a 10 year old Tacoma, and it freaks all the people out at my work who buy new F150s very 2 or 3 years.  I'm very happy with my truck but the chatter about how I need a new one is intense.  Its funny, but I seem to have an anti-jealous gene.  As soon as someone parks a new shiny truck next to my Taco, I seem to enjoy my Taco even more.

Keep the truck is my advice!  People just want to rationalize their own expenditure by having everyone else in the same boat.  If you go against the grain it irritates there decision making and choice.

Treated well a three year old vehicle is like NEW. Can't imagine selling a vehicle b/c it was getting "old" @ three years.

Keep the truck. All shops are suspect when they start talking about fuel system cleanings. I have two cars approaching 20 years old. The most either has ever gotten was a new fuel filter that I installed. One has a new fuel pump in the past 20K miles. The other has ~300K on the original pump. Buy decent gasoline.