Hello everyone......new member here. I have a 2000 with just over 62,000 miles. I drive it really easy. The little off-roading was just dirt roads not creek bottom or bolder climbing. On the road I have been asked if I'm waiting for the wind to come up to push me....so you get the pic. I was on the freeway the other day going about 70. Turned on A/C and felt a little extra of what you feel when the compressor clutch engages. Then some more bumps, then the steering got a little hard. The battery light came on. When I stopped it immediately overheated. Both rad hoses were sucked in. I thought stuck thermostat. I got towed off the freeway and scavenged some tools in Mcfarland, CA on Sunday July 4th......if you can picture the dilema. Removed thermostat and started it. Nothing was turning!!!!!!!!!! The crank pulley had come loose {I hope} and walked off the keyed portion of the crank shaft {I hope}. The engine ran great but what the?????? I called the dealer and didn't like the tone. They told me 5 years 60,000 miles based on their diagnosis. So I'm diving in on it tonight hoping I find a missing retaining bolt and maybe a damaged harmonic balancer. Anybody experience this? The worse part is I am an ass towards my co-workers about their Fords and Chevy's with low-milleage 'cause they don't run long enough without some kind of problem to get any milleage. Bummed and with egg on face Mike

Just came from looking at my problem. The bolt retaining the crank pulley broke off in the crankshaft. The bore of the pulley is pretty wallered out but I can see whats left of the keyway. The crankshaft has some galding on it and I'm not sure if it had an integrated key or if the pulley was just a press fit. I think it should have had a key which means I'm F'ed. The first response upon contacting my dealer in Ventura, CA doesn't sound to helpful as I have 62,900 miles and the powertrain warranty is 5 years 60,000. So right now I am hating Toyotas.

Done hating Toyotas.....but that was sure unexpected and should not have happened to any vehicle. I took it to Ven Toyota and they declared the crankshaft was ruined because of damage to the pulley key. The job was going to cost $3100.00, but, I had extended warranty that I forgot about. Even covers towing and a loaner vehicle if on a trip. So it only cost me the $50.00 deductable. New crankshaft and new rod and main bearings. I had the truck back in 5 working days. So I am very fortunate how it turned out. I still wonder though if they Toyota would have cut me some slack if I hadn't had the extended package since I was only 2,900 miles past and again this should have never happened. By the way the bolt was snapped and the wear on the flanged head it looks like it was never seated properly in the first place. Maybe some bad threads somewhere, and then the pulley finally started moving enough to snap the bolt.

Done hating Toyotas.....but that was sure unexpected and should not have happened to any vehicle. I took it to Ven Toyota and they declared the crankshaft was ruined because of damage to the pulley key. The job was going to cost $3100.00, but, I had extended warranty that I forgot about. Even covers towing and a loaner vehicle if on a trip. So it only cost me the $50.00 deductable. New crankshaft and new rod and main bearings. I had the truck back in 5 working days. So I am very fortunate how it turned out. I still wonder though if they Toyota would have cut me some slack if I hadn't had the extended package since I was only 2,900 miles past and again this should have never happened. By the way the bolt was snapped and the wear on the flanged head it looks like it was never seated properly in the first place. Maybe some bad threads somewhere, and then the pulley finally started moving enough to snap the bolt.

Hi, Just found this board. I sure have much to learn. Not sure how many active watchers there are. Glad you got through your problem, I will knock on wood that it doesn't happen to me. I bought a 1998 Tacoma Ext Cab 4x4 on Monday. I like it a lot! It really is loaded, it has the TRD package which I am just learning about. My question is this: Does it take a special key to take the wheel off? One of the lugs looks like it has a lock on it requiring a special tool/key. I didn't ask the dealer I bought it from, not sure if he would know. It was a used lot, not a Toyota dealer. It has spare located behind the receiver hitch. Which is good, but I am not even sure if I can get the rim off if I had to do so. Thank you so much for your help. I am not very car savvy, so sorry if I ask stupid questions..... Scott