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Toyota Tacoma: Problems & Solutions
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Comments
So far I've been having good luck with my current vehicles. I have over 111,000 miles on both of them, (the Taco and a '98 Wrangler which has very comfortable seats). I figure I'll start having more things with them now that they are broken in. As you pointed out, since I haven't had any major problems yet, I probably won't, as long as I keep up with the maintenance.
I do have to put quite a load on the engine getting up some of the hills. In fact, one section is steep enough that the Taco can't maintain 70 mph in 5th gear (does OK in 4th). Is that as hard on an engine as stop and go traffic?
We're leaning more and more toward replacing the seats and keeping the Taco for a couple of more years. It does get excellent gas mileage, and it has (more or less) adequate power for our rather extreme commute. Yes, I would like more power, but then I'd have to pay for it in gas. And my biggest complaint is the seats - otherwise it isn't such a bad vehicle.
The truck will be used for freeway commuting about 12,000 miles a year, and maybe another 4,000 or so towing a small cargo trailer with dirt bikes & gear (maybe 2,000 lbs total).
Are the 'yota's still living up to their reputation for long life? Also, is the 2.4L engine proving to be as good as the 2.2L?
Other than that, I own one of those (2000, MT, 2WD, 4 banger). Other than a weird radiator problem (replaced on extended warranty which is unusual for a wear part) and some tranny problems that have appeared and disappeared mysteriously it has been maintenance free for 113,000 miles.
I am currently debating spending something like $1000 to replace the HORRIBLE seats or just trade it in as soon as I get on the right side of my loan.
The clutch pedal has had an annoying squeak since around the 40,000 km mark, after numerous complaints and hours on the phone, all I have is frustration and a sore head (from hitting it on the wall) any suggestions? Thanks Cranat....
Great truck in great shape. Only 30K miles. 2nd day driving the truck I am at a stop light and I put it into 4WD and see how she does. I push the "4WD" button, hear the hubs lock (click click) and make a left hand turn. Go straight for 2 blocks and begin to make a right hand turn into a parking lot. I am coasting at 5-10 MPH, Clutch depressed and out of gear when too my surprise I feel resistance in my turn and I come to a stop as if I had the brake on. The more I turned the more resistance. SO I proceed to pull in to the parking lot. Stop. Press the "4WD" button to dissingatge and move forward. I feel a bit of resistance and "Pop Pop" the hubs unlock.
So...My question to the forum is how ignorant am I? Are all of these noises normal and what about the resistance when coasting on a right hand turn?
Please tell me my Taco isn't a dud!
Signed,
First Time Truckin...
As was said by goltgo, you can't use part-time 4WD on paved roads. The transfer case locks the front wheels and back wheels together so that they will travel at the same speed. No problem if you are going in a straight line on a smooth surface. When you go around a corner your front and back wheels travel different paths - look sometime at your treads created in fresh snow - you can see different paths for all 4 tires. Since the tires are traveling different paths, they would be traveling at different speeds. They can't do this if they are locked together in 4WD, which is why you get tire churping and resistence.
I have to drive the Wrangler in winter occasionally because we often get good sized dumps of snow (I live in the mountains) and the roads aren't particularly plowed at 4am. I've occasionally had the wheels churp and get resistence when I try to turn on the road just outside the driveway. That means I have good traction and its time to disengage 4WD. It also means that I am very careful on cleared roads when it is freezing. If I can't see patches of ice, I won't have time to put it in 4WD, because I'm traveling in 2WD. This is the main disadvantage to having a part time 4WD system.
If you want to test out your 4WD, then find a really soft dirt or steepish rocky road somewhere, drive to where you feel the wheels start to slip a bit, then engage 4WD. It can be amazing how much difference it makes in handling under those conditions.
Let us know all about them!
I would say if you have the metric allen wrench, a 1/2 inch box-end wrench and a 9/16 (or their metric equivalents) and you are reasonably handy with small tools you would have no problem installing these seats. I did the assembly and install in a fuzz over one hour (my lunch hour), but then I had to remove the seat belt latches from the original seats to install on the new ones and that took maybe another 30 minutes after work. Add another 15 minutes to scotchgard the things and you got it. Driving to the store or to work just one time will relieve the pain of spending all that money.
You will want to throw garbage and knives at your old seats after you sit in these Recaros, but don't do it. Save them for the poor ba---rd who buys your truck, because there is no way you will give up the Recaros.
mtngal - I know that you drive a 2wd Tacoma. Does it have the split-bench (with fold-down armrest) or individual buckets and center console?
My '96 LX V6 has the split bench, which I find tolerable, but not wonderful. It's better than the bench seat in my former pickup (a Nissan std cab), but on long drives, it can be painful. I don't know if it's all the seats fault though, as I have some minor back problems.
So I have been seat shopping for a couple months now. The delux Tacoma seats with adjustable lumbar support, as found in the S-runner, look pretty good, but I have only seen those once on Ebay and they went for a premium price.
-james
My Tacoma had spit bench seats with a fold down arm rest/console, so I no longer have a console. You can get after market consoles, but I never used it anyway, and I kind of like the "open" feel that I'm getting without that thing.
I think the Recaro sliders and Wedge brackets are a matched set, so I don't think the brackets would work for another brand of slider, but you can double check that with Mark Wilson at On Track. However, I know that Wedge makes the brackets for many brands of seats.
This is NOT and AD for On Track. I named them because that is the company I dealt with. You can find a list of all American dealers at www.recaro-nao.com
The only problem them would be that it doesn't match my interior. The new seat is black and charcoal and my interior is grey. But hey, comfort is more important than style, right?
mtngal - if you like the split bench seats, you should be able to locate a used one at a reasonable price since they are fairly common.
-james
After 336K miles omn my `86 Toy pickup it was time to step up.I bought a Tacoma V6 automatic Xtra cab TRD.I never thought I`d get an automatic but there were practical reasons so I did.I took a quick test drive.Less than a mile.It was great so I bought it right then and there.I wrapped up with the dealer around 9:00 pm and was on my way.Driving home,with the truck fully warmed up,I noticed that the tranny shifted rather hard into second gear,less hard into third,and normally smooth into overdrive.It would also drop down quite hard into first.It`s not metal to metal hard,but more of a dull thump.The next morning I told the dealer and they promised to resolve it.In the morning when I first drove the truck,it shifted fine for the fisrt few cycles of stop and go.As soon as it warmed up the thumping hard shifting was back.The dealer attempted to download a new program into the transmissions *learning* computer.Unfortunately Toyota website would not allow access so they couldn`t do it.The mechanic claimed that while the truck shifted kinda *firm* that it might learn my particular driving habits and adjust.So I left.I was committed to breaking the truck in easy and drove it like a granfather.Nothing changed.I brought it back for the 1000 mile oil change and cried the blues.This time they reset the computer by disconneting the battery cable and here we go again.At 1800 miles nothing has changed.I filed a claim at Toyota corporate in hopes of getting a field technician to make an assessment.I was promised a call in 3 business days.When I called 4 days later and asked why I wasn`t called I was told that the dealer said the truck was *normal*.I made a stink and was given a new case number and still no call.Now I`m on my third case number and still no call.I`m irritated.I can`t stand stepping on the gas pedal.The motivation I had for buying a new truck was that the rear had gone on my `86 and I just didn`t feel like changiing it out.I go from a clunking rear to a thumping transmission.I`ve worked on and rebuilt my vehicles for years.This problem will cause premature war and damage.What`s as irksome as the actual problem is that the dealer would treat me like an idiot by telling me this is normal.I know that this isn`t normal.AAmoco says that it isn`t normal.All in all I`m disgusted.Has anyone had a similar issue with their automatic Tacoma?
Regards,
Rich
I have a 2000 TRD V6 4x4 Auto. It has 47'000 miles on it. It's been a hard shifting tranny since it was new and hasn't changed. It is normal for the Toyota Automatics. You will most likely experence axle wrap with it also.If you panic stop and suddenly release the brake you'll fill a thud like you were bumped from behind!. the response from the Toyota dealer and Toyota Corp. doesn't suprise me. Toyota service bites the biggie!
Total issues to date:
1. Over fender weather stripping just about all but peeled off after 1 year of ownership. 3 trips to the dealer before the factory finally sent out "repair kits". Fixed in 2002, haven't had a problem since.
2. Dash board rattle. This manifested about 6 months after driving. I've been to the dealer 4 times for this issue. The 3rd time, the rattle dissapated for a year but came back. Ressolved in a TSB in the 4th trip to the dealer last month.
3. Driver side rear Xtd Cab quarter window hinge broke off in my hand closing the window. Dealer replaced.
In the last 3 years, that's it other than the normals.
jp
Honda does make transmission problems. Both Accord and Odyssey have had tranny problems. Also Honda is going to sell a crossover type truck based on the Pilot. It is very ugly.
Remember, the service departments are independent and not owned by Toyota, try a different dealership if you are having a problem with your current one. There are no alternative compact trucks that have better reliablility than Tacoma.
During the shift (engine is running, truck is not moving) there is a slight pause, then I hear a clunk (pretty loud actually) and feel a slight jolt (it actually swings the truck a little bit)...
I brought the car to Toyota's dealership today and they told me that this is NORMAL (!!) FOR PRE-RUNNERs. I cant beleive it...
Does anyone here has similar problem?
Thanks
Dennis
I'm going to wait and see if it comes back on again. Is it possible that the electrical connector to this front oxygen sensor could be dirty or oxidized? Does this sort of thing ever happen? The mechanic also said to run a couple of tanks of premium through the system and it may go away. The problem with that is I run premium on a regular basis (93 octane) anyway. Interested in opinions please.
Oxygen sensor (O2) devices are known as galvanic batteries. The theory of operation is fairly simple. They produce a small inverse signal voltage (usually one volt DC or less) as a response to the amount of oxygen in the exhaust gas of the exhaust stream. As the amount of oxygen decreases the O2 sensor voltage increases. This signal is used in various ways by different engine control designers, but universally it's primary role is to vary the pulse width of the fuel injector to adjust the air-fuel ratio across the engine's rpm range.
Some O2 sensors contain a heater which helps raise the temperature of the O2 probe to between 900 and 1300 degress F. This is to make the sensor perform correctly during cold operation.
Most O2 sensors contain a small orvice that allows ambient air into the sensor element via the body or sensor housing for sampling. This provides a method of establishing a known good oxygen signal for comparative purposes.
Your cleaning operation may have dislodged carbon residue from around the sensor tip, or cleaned out the orvice permiting ambient air into the sensor. O2 sensors rarely fail completely or "burn out." The most common problem with O2 sensors is their inherent inability to maintain a stable linear voltage over time. Auto technicians refer to this as the "lazy sensor" symptom.
Regards,
Dusty
The help that comes from this bbs is very impressive!
I'm also wondering about the gas pedal. it seems a little soft ( pressure to depress it is not to great). I noticed the difference right off the bat since prior, i had test driven another exact truck.
i'm thinking of taking it into the shop and am wondering exactly what i should tell the attendant.
Enquiring minds want to know!
The drain tube (which I believe is what normally causes the puddle under everyone's car after A/C use) was not aligned properly and was draining into my passenger side carpet instead of under the truck.
They realingned it and the inside no longer got wet.
Troy