How can I make my new (to me) truck last forever?

Just picked up a 1999 Toyota Xtracab SR5 V6 with a manual transmission! It’s my second car, and I want to keep it running for as long as possible.

It’s got 215k miles, and I’m taking it in for some repairs next week. What maintenance should I be doing, what common problems should I look out for, and is there anything I should have checked while it’s in the shop?

Thanks in advance!

First thing I’d do is a full tune-up: change or flush ALL fluids, replace spark plugs and wires, and swap out the air filter. That way, you’ve got a fresh start and a solid baseline for future maintenance.

These trucks can run forever with regular maintenance!

Congrats on the new truck!

@Nye
Awesome, thanks! Since it’s going into the shop next week, I’ll have them flush the fluids. As I start doing more maintenance myself, is there anything I should avoid trying to DIY? Fluids and belts seem pretty straightforward, right?

@Stewart
For the most part, yeah. Coolant can be tricky to flush if you don’t have the right pan or know how to ‘burp’ the system. Brake fluid and transmission fluid can also be tough to change if you’ve never done it before.

That said, everything can be learned—YouTube is your best friend.

@Nye
One thing you might not want to DIY is valve clearances. Toyota says to check them every 100k on 1st gens.

@Nye
Make sure you’re using the right coolant. I’ve had great luck with Pentosin A1 in my ‘97, but terrible experiences with the generic green stuff.

Make sure they check the frame for rust, especially if the truck spent time in a state that uses road salt.

jordansmith said:
Make sure they check the frame for rust, especially if the truck spent time in a state that uses road salt.

What should I do if they find rust?

Stewart said:

jordansmith said:
Make sure they check the frame for rust, especially if the truck spent time in a state that uses road salt.

What should I do if they find rust?

Where are you located? Do you know where the truck came from?

Stewart said:

jordansmith said:
Make sure they check the frame for rust, especially if the truck spent time in a state that uses road salt.

What should I do if they find rust?

Depends on how bad it is. At the very least, you’ll want to stop it from spreading.

@Marsden
Best way to deal with rust:

  • Needle scaler or wire wheel to remove loose rust
  • Thorough inspection for weak spots
  • Rust-proof with POR-15 or Fluid Film

I bought this truck thinking I’d eventually replace and rebuild everything, making it like new. At what point should I drop that mindset? Are there any problems that just aren’t worth fixing?

Stewart said:
I bought this truck thinking I’d eventually replace and rebuild everything, making it like new. At what point should I drop that mindset? Are there any problems that just aren’t worth fixing?

Man, we all do that at first. But if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. You might end up selling it in a year anyway.

Stewart said:
I bought this truck thinking I’d eventually replace and rebuild everything, making it like new. At what point should I drop that mindset? Are there any problems that just aren’t worth fixing?

Here’s the thing: every time you replace something, it starts aging, and a lot of new parts don’t last as long as the originals.

Owning a 25-year-old truck is a constant cycle of repairs. If you enjoy working on it, that’s great. But if you have to pay someone to fix everything, you might be better off with a newer truck.

My ‘99 is still reliable, but I’m always fixing something.

@Ripley
I get that. I don’t have much mechanical experience—how hard has it been for you to fix things yourself?

Stewart said:
@Ripley
I get that. I don’t have much mechanical experience—how hard has it been for you to fix things yourself?

I grew up working on cars, so it’s second nature to me. For you, things will take longer and seem intimidating at first, but nothing is too complex. Everything is on YouTube.

Just make sure you don’t rely on this truck as your only way to get to work until you’re confident in fixing it yourself.

@Ripley
If you’re replacing big parts, stick with OEM whenever possible. Even if that means getting used parts from a junkyard.

I replaced my alternator at 385k miles with a remanufactured Denso one. Denso made a lot of Toyota’s original parts, so they’re a safe bet.

@Amari
Pick-n-pull is great, but just remember you’re replacing 25-year-old worn-out parts with other 25-year-old parts. It’s a short-term fix.

At some point, you have to accept that daily driving an old truck is a constant maintenance game. That’s why my 1st gen is now my second truck and not my daily driver anymore.

Keep up with oil changes.

Kirby said:
Keep up with oil changes.

Will do!