ITWrencher
New member
I just picked up a 2002 SR5 with 215k on it. I had to drive 2.5 hrs. to look at it in the NY/NJ area from CT. Doing that drive with a trailer across the GWB was no picnic and then coming home on I-95 through Fairfield county was like having toothpicks shoved under your fingernails. But I digress.
So I just started really looking this thing over because when your 2.5 hrs. from home you just don’t seem to be able to go through it really thoroughly sitting on a side street in the bitter cold. So what looked like a super clean body turns out to be not so much. It isn’t horrible but not what I saw when initially inspecting it.
There is chrome bubbling on the front bumper, paint bubbling on the hood leading edge and paint bubbling along the windshield roofline. And how about that windshield. I noticed yesterday that it is loaded with some kind of RTV or similar sealer all along the top edge and the trim that goes around the outer perimeter of the windshield is MIA? So I lowered the spare tire after that and the thing looks like it will shatter into a million pieces if you hit it with a hammer, completely unusable (rust).
I have another set of OEM wheels and tires so not a huge deal. The next thing I notice is that the "boom boom" stereo that is installed has an external amplifier that is lying on the floor in the rear hatch area covered by the rear luggage rug. This I saw when I looked at it. It also has a subwoofer mounted in the rear passenger side storage compartment so there is no place to store any emergency equipment?
Moving on to the front passenger area I find that the clock isn’t working (not uncommon) and that when the radio turns on the antenna does raise up. So I took that part of the dash apart to remove the clock and fix it as well as check to see if the antenna is connected. Why do people cut the factory harnesses………? I haven’t installed a stereo in quite a few years but I believe there are aftermarket interface harnesses you can buy that make this a plug and play deal correct me if I am wrong?
So I also found phantom wires from a previously installed accessory? Not sure what it was but seems like it might have been some type of communications device? And I found some cut wires that were wrapped half assed with electrical tape? No clue what they are for but I suppose I will figure it out sooner or later. Worst case scenario I can pull apart my other 2002 Sport SR5 and see where those couple wires go.
Yesterday I pulled the dash panel out to get better access to everything. It was one of the easiest dash panels I have ever removed! I found the antenna power wires from the auto antenna relay inside the harness but have not found where they were cut? Today I am going to pull the blower motor out and see if I find anything behind there. If not I will just splice into the harness the new wires I connected to the power antenna.
OK end of my rant. All of this is my own damn fault for not taking more time to inspect this vehicle before pulling the trigger. But when you are 2.5 hrs. from home the prospect of driving home empty handed weighs on you a lot. Lesson learned next time take more time looking over the vehicle and be ready to say thanks no thanks and leave.
So I just started really looking this thing over because when your 2.5 hrs. from home you just don’t seem to be able to go through it really thoroughly sitting on a side street in the bitter cold. So what looked like a super clean body turns out to be not so much. It isn’t horrible but not what I saw when initially inspecting it.
There is chrome bubbling on the front bumper, paint bubbling on the hood leading edge and paint bubbling along the windshield roofline. And how about that windshield. I noticed yesterday that it is loaded with some kind of RTV or similar sealer all along the top edge and the trim that goes around the outer perimeter of the windshield is MIA? So I lowered the spare tire after that and the thing looks like it will shatter into a million pieces if you hit it with a hammer, completely unusable (rust).
I have another set of OEM wheels and tires so not a huge deal. The next thing I notice is that the "boom boom" stereo that is installed has an external amplifier that is lying on the floor in the rear hatch area covered by the rear luggage rug. This I saw when I looked at it. It also has a subwoofer mounted in the rear passenger side storage compartment so there is no place to store any emergency equipment?
Moving on to the front passenger area I find that the clock isn’t working (not uncommon) and that when the radio turns on the antenna does raise up. So I took that part of the dash apart to remove the clock and fix it as well as check to see if the antenna is connected. Why do people cut the factory harnesses………? I haven’t installed a stereo in quite a few years but I believe there are aftermarket interface harnesses you can buy that make this a plug and play deal correct me if I am wrong?
So I also found phantom wires from a previously installed accessory? Not sure what it was but seems like it might have been some type of communications device? And I found some cut wires that were wrapped half assed with electrical tape? No clue what they are for but I suppose I will figure it out sooner or later. Worst case scenario I can pull apart my other 2002 Sport SR5 and see where those couple wires go.
Yesterday I pulled the dash panel out to get better access to everything. It was one of the easiest dash panels I have ever removed! I found the antenna power wires from the auto antenna relay inside the harness but have not found where they were cut? Today I am going to pull the blower motor out and see if I find anything behind there. If not I will just splice into the harness the new wires I connected to the power antenna.
OK end of my rant. All of this is my own damn fault for not taking more time to inspect this vehicle before pulling the trigger. But when you are 2.5 hrs. from home the prospect of driving home empty handed weighs on you a lot. Lesson learned next time take more time looking over the vehicle and be ready to say thanks no thanks and leave.
I am sure you can fix most of those issues. The chrome bumpers are all junk by this time. As long as the major parts are good. You be able to fix it up.. 
