Scotty, I am interested in a 2005 tundra, but the owner said that it had a weird low pitch humming sound when accelerating and that the cause is unknown. Would that be a deal breaker? Do you know what the sound could indicate because I know you have many customers with this same truck?
I wouldn't buy a vehicle with known issues period. If it's not worth fixing for the current owner, then I sure as heck want nothing to do with it.
its damn sold already i'm mad as hell.
I wouldn't be
It could be many things. Start simple: Is the air filter very dirty? Perhaps the MAF and the throttle body might need cleaning. (These are all air intake issues. They can be quickly and cheaply addressed).
Then again, it could be other things: For example, a wheel bearing. Or, more ominously, an issue with the transmission or differential.
What you should do is get a thorough pre-purchase inspection by a competent diagnostic mechanic. They will scan for codes, run live and mode 6 data, as well as visually inspect the car, top-side and below, as well as test drive the vehicle.
If you don't do this, you don't have an accurate risk/benefit assessment. For example, what if the transmission is bad?
Get more information from a reputable diagnostician before you make a decision.
the car is really far from my house so i'm going to use 'yourmechanic' to get it inspected probably.
the car ad said that the transmission shifted smooth so I don't think it was the transmission because it was just a humming sound.
Check Yelp or even Google reviews, as a counterpoint to whoever yourmechanic recommends. It never hurts to triangulate information.
I will do that and thank you for a detailed, well put together response!
I'm more skeptical than you. (Scotty's pretty skeptical about these types of things, as well). People will say anything and everything in an ad.
Short form: There's a difference between a claim ("shifts smooth") and a fact. Verify the claims. Otherwise, the result could well be financially and emotionally painful.
it said on the tundra forum that a humming sound usually has to do with differentials or wheel bearings. I've never heard of these tundra's having bad transmissions ever.
Those are very plausible causes, to be sure. But any transmission, if it's neglected or improperly serviced, is going to have premature problems. If you know the service history, in terms of risk, you can assess whether the tranny has been properly serviced.
In the end, you're going to get what you want to have. I'm just doing a bit of rational risk/reward assessment, from the standpoint of a third party.
I'm going to get it sight unseen so I trust the mechanic app to do a good pre purchase inspection and then I plan to have the truck shipped to my house. This is my first Toyota if everything checks.
Congratulations and Good Luck. A decently taken care of Tundra of that vintage can be good for another decade (or more), IMHO.
truck just damn sold im sad
There's more fish in the sea, to be sure.