Don't you have to drop the whole fuel tank to do the fuel pump? Or have you cut a bigger access port? I'm still on the original at 250k also. Kind of wish I had replaced it when I did the sending unit TSB a few years ago.

Yeah, you have to drop the tank. Not really too bad unless you have a full tank.

Have you been in those homeless camps? They might be homeless but lots of them have smart phones. I bet they watch my videos because I'm a great entertainer.

I forgot about the traffic. Yeah, that's another huge bonus. Stop and go gridlock and rude aggressive drivers. Yeah, you can get use to anything. How about painful hemorrhoids? You live with it, but is it enjoyable? Not really. Another treat for the Rural Coloradoan.

But yeah, the dude is in for rude awakening. He's going to see and experience things that he didn't in rural Colorado and it's not good things. Like Dorothy said when she landed in Oz, "Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore."

fuel pump kill switch, a "club" ( steering wheel lock). anything to slowsthem down. But if they want a car bad enough, they can get it.

Where do I install a fuel pump Kill Switch?

I installed a kill switch on my first 2000 when I llived in Oregon.. Havent yet on the current one....dont think I need to worry about posting that for my location.
but I do use the club when I leave it for a few days at airport or the likes and on one occasion pulled the fuel pump relay when I had to park it for 2 weeks

I never did figure out or try how long the car will run with the kill switch installed. I just remember installing , dont remember testing....stange, but did use it when I parked in strange places or trailheads.

anyone know how long they run with the pump off ?

I don’t think they even start without the fuel pump operating. I don’t think the fuel system keeps enough pressure in the lines for the engine to start. I haven’t confirmed that though.

I hope you've changed to TB/WP at some point, as you're way past the maintenance cycle... Even though I don't live in LA, I have driven in and around LA many times. Summers can be very hot... sitting in traffic with the AC on, this is hard on the cooling system! If I was in your position, I'd do the TB/WP if you havent, and replace the rad. If that rad is original, the top is probably turning yellow/brown, a sign the plastic is degrading. As these rads do fail from time to time--- luckily its not an auto, as you dont have to worry about the "pink milkshake" ... Of all the generations, I think its generally accepted the 3rd gens are the most reliable! You do not have alot of mileage on yours, I've seen 3rd gens going strong at 300-400K. I myself have 335k, and I do all the maintanance--- I wouldn't hesitate to go on a 500mile road trip tomorrow. Maybe the std shift may get a little tiresome after a while. All the later gens get much worse gas mileage...

Good luck!

He has a 4 cyl so timing chains. I’m not sure about the water pump if it’s chain driven or not. Im not very familiar with the 3rz.

When changing my fuel filter, I unplugged power for the fuel pump and then cranked the car to depressurize the lines. With the pump power disconnected I couldn't even get the engine to fire on the initial crank, so a fuel pump kill switch is very effective at keeping the car from starting.

Where is the best place to intercept the fuel pump power for a kill switch?

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The full tank scenario is mostly what I'm wondering about. Do you carry one of those offroad floorjacks and a piece of 2x12 or what's the plan? I suppose ratchet straps, a board and the bottle jack might work?

If you just want to shut off power to the fuel pump, you will need to do so in the driver's side section between the kick panel and the rear seat. This is accessible under the rocker trim and the carpet under the back seat. Otherwise the Fuel Pump shares the power source(EFI Fuse) with ECM, CO relay, MAF, 02 sensors blah blah blah.

I have lived almost 60 years here in the LA area, although the last 35 in a suburb. I work in LA, grew up in LA and I am among it's harshest critics. That said I have been to the bay area and it has horrible traffic, rude drivers and homeless people. AND everything costs way more than it does here. LA proper is over 500 square miles, it can give you any experience possible, pretty much impossible to describe accurately in any brief dialogue. The same could be said about the Bay Area. I know the NorCal/SoCal rivalry is alive and well, not necessarily a bad thing, but we all have to be honest in our criticisms.
There are good things here, awesome cultures everywhere, food, cars, people, music etc. I bet some might say the same about the city by the bay. Personally it is way too cold there for me, but I loved(Past Tense) riding my Ducati through Marin county, over to Sonoma, Napa, up to Mendocino. I also love that I can be in the desert in 2 hours from here, in the San Bernardino Mountains in 2 and 1/2, just not on Friday afternoon LOL.
Welcome to LA, hope you find a good life here!

I agree, the Bay Area has turned into a shithole as well. It's the reason why my wife and I are getting out soon. My comment wasn't based on a NorCal / SoCal rivalry. It's more of a comment about certain areas of the state and what their policies have done to screw things up for those that live there.

Yeah, it's not all bad but I've lived in California my whole life and the recent changes with how bad the homeless problems have gotten and the increase in crime with nothing being done by the cities and counties governing those areas really sucks. I love the California weather and topography and that's where my love ends. The politics sucks. The cost of living sucks. The emissions laws suck. There's too much suck and not enough good anymore.

Santa Clara County where I live just lifted mask mandates for Covid. I thought we were in the Covid Nazi stronghold but I've heard from friends the Los Angeles area is even worse. You couldn't enter a restaurant without showing a freaking vaccination card. What a joke, because vaccination doesn't stop virus transmission.

I thought I'd never leave California but it's time. It's not the state it use to be. More people and businesses are leaving than coming. That says something. It will always be a nice state to visit to do outdoor activities in, but it's not a great state to live in anymore.

wow Tim, that sounds bad. Dont know what state your gonna head to...but hope its one full of fun back roads and adventures.
Oregon is still beautiful....but getting crazy....spent most of my life there....but as my kids grew older and they saw the changes....they and thier families ended up in Alaska....when I retired as a park ranger in central Oregon ( hoodoo, sisters, mckenzie bridge, and lastly head ranger of clear lake) ..i moved up to be near family. Even those remote Oregon places were getting nuts....with lots of cali transplants and prices going nuts. Seems like drugs, crime and homeless followed them.
choose wisely

Where in LA are you moving? Is it for work? Will have to drive to and from? I lived there for almost 20 years and really loved it. It just depends how much you have to drive? I didn't drive that far so it was fine. I'd avoid the freeways if you can and take surface as it's quicker for the most part. A stick shift will get annoying after a while, especially if your clutch is heavy or you're enjoying a delicious Burrito, A drink, and taking a selfie.