04 V8 almost to 60k miles

[stfu]

$tealer wants me to do the following:

$188 Front/Rear diff fluid change
$94 4wd transfer case fluid change
$98 power steering fluid change
$94 brake fluid change
$128 drive belt change

I just bought this rig so I wanted to purge the sludge out of it, the brakes squeal but nothing else seems bad, what is the most crucial? what about tranny/coolant flush?

 

[kn38ms]

If it was my newly purchased used vehicle I would have that done including cooling flush.
Do it yourself! EZ and fun too.
You want fresh brake fluid. (no moisture/ condensation)
Have Toyota do the brakes and cooling flush. Too messy.
Should be under $200 for both.

Power steering flush can be done as follows:
Get a quart of new ATF III and a turkey baster from Wallyworld.
Siphon out as much fluid as possible from the reservoir.
Replenish with new ATF.
Repeat this step everyday until the fluid you siphon out is new and bright pink.
Works like a charm and I have done it on all my Yota's.
Usually takes 7 days to to fully perform the transfusion.
Steering feel is much improved with smooth, quiet EZ steering.
Cost is $3.00 for the ATF and $1.00 for the baster.
Total cost is under $5.00.
Dealer will charge I'm guessing $100.00

 

[stfu]

thanks for the info on the steering fluid flush, I'm going to do that and the drive belt change myself.

I had Toyota flush the coolant, brakes, diff and transfer case fluids, total was $500, hopefully it will be another 60k miles before I need to do that again.

 

[nc211]

Very interesting on the power steering fluid stuff, I hadn't thought of that before! Anyone know if there is a power steering solenoid on the rack that has a tiny screen in it? I ask because I've seen other toyota products that have one, and if you clean that solenoid screen, it really makes a nice difference in steering ease. The solenoid opens and closes with speed, to adjust the steering force required.

stfu: are you familiar with seafoam? do you do your own oil changes? If so, then I recommend pouring in about a cup of seafoam into your old oil, let the engine idle for about 20 minutes, shut it off, let it sit for about an hour, then drain the oil. Sacrafice an extra quart of oil, pour it in with the plug still out to flush out the corners of the pan. Then refill, new filter, and good to go. Do that a couple of times, and you're internals should be pretty clean! I've done this numerous times on my cars, and it really smoothes out the idle. But more importantly, it cleans off the old tarnish of 60k miles. It's sort of like the old days of karosean in the engine trick.

 

[Techsan]

Great tip on the power steering fluid change. I just came back from the dealer, and they reccommended that it be changed. I have about 57K on my '03. I really didn't want to shell out a c note for something so simple.

 

[96dcmss]

IIRC, the 03 and up T4Rs have Toyota super long life coolant in them. (pink in color)....should also be a label on the hood, or core support explaining service not needed until 100k.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Even though Toyota alleges super long-life coolant and trans fluid, I would change the trans now and the coolant next year.

The coolant is usually considered calendar or miles, 5yrs or 100k, whichever occurs first.

The transmission: If the vehicle has, towed or off-roaded at all it's a good idea and for towing vehicles Toyota recommends it. The transmission is not "magic". Somebody will claim it's sealed, never needs service or it's very hard to service, all overstatements. Service it just as you would a manual transmission. You have a fill port and a 'full' port. The big difference is you do it at idle rather than off.

And I love the clean, simple power steering flush tip! :cheers: