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Comments
So now the question becomes do I just live with the problem or bother and get it fixed?
Artwis
The 02 Tacoma 2.4L has a timing chain...not a belt. I don't know about the roadside assistance.
Rod
My biggest complaint with it is the VERY uncomfortable seats, especially if you have to be in them for more than an hour. I understand they improved them for 2002, but I don't think they are all that much better. Make sure that you sit in them for a long enough time to judge before you buy. They only really started to bother me (and my husband) after about a month or so. It is so bad that we happily paid the extra in gas and drove a Wrangler on a 3,000 mile trip last year, rather than put up with those seats for several days of straight driving.
The only maintenance problem I've had either disappeared (a wierd tranny problem which only lasted a few days) or got fixed (the radiator problem I'm having now). Otherwise it goes up and down the road very well.
When I bought my Tacoma last October I initially wanted to make a special order with only the options that I particularly wanted. I found out right away that such an approach was not going anywhere. The dealer told me that I couldn't "special order" anything. I would have to purchase from among several available packages of options that Toyota had decided was most "popular" for various regions of the country.
I had originally decided that I would install an aftermarket tow hitch myself since, at $359, I felt the Toyota towing receiver hitch "accessory" was significantly overpriced. Anyway, after three weeks of searching, the dealer found the closest match to what I really wanted. It had a lot more options that I didn't particularly want but to get the core things that were important to me, I had to take the "package"...or wait an unknown period of time, possibly months. That package included a FACTORY INSTALLED class III, 5000# towing receiver hitch. It is a genuine Toyota hitch, was not installed at any dealer's facility and is listed under "optional equipment" on the factory sticker. The hitch itself has an out-of-the-way sticker on it that indicates a tow hitch capacity of 5000#. Also on that same hitch sticker it says to check the owners manual for the towing capacity of the VEHICLE. Only after doing that and then having to check the color of the paint on my fan drive did I find out that the vehicle towing capacity (at 3500#) was LESS THAN the hitch capacity. Sneaky, eh?
I guess my particular peeve with Toyota here is that I don't think any owner should have to follow the trail I did in order to find out that he really shouldn't use a factory tow hitch to it's full capacity with out spending still more money on more "accessories", especially engine accessories that Toyota has full responsibility for and control over. If Toyota puts on a 5000# hitch at the factory (on their own mind you - presumably as a popular option), I think they ought to put on the required engine accessory to go with it. Lacking that, they should have installed a 3500# class II hitch only. But what do I know?
In any event, I am very pleased with my truck. It is a relatively minor matter but one I thought I would post about to let others know of my experience.
Rod
the towing hitch was easy to install from ORW, it is a draw-tite, http://www.draw-tite.com/, takes 2 guys to bolt on the existing patterns, no cutting at all. and it's 5k load. i had my buddy do the electrical, just piggy back to the brake lights. draw-tite also has charts.
when i spec the frontier and the taco, they said stick transmission towing was at 3500lbs and auto was 5000lbs, have no idea why, but this was the specs.
"required engine accessory " what is this, salesman talk, for a hitch? tranmission cooler?
i would not buy the factory hitch, just mark up for them.
happy hunting.
Mine does the same thing although it is a 1998. If it's like mine, then center vents don't blow when you select "feet" or "defrost", but the two near the doors do. The outer vents have an "X" marked on the plastic at the bottom of the vent next to a slider. If you slide the slider to the "X", the vents will cease to blow. Hope this helps.
Toyota has a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) that addresses the problem with tow rating. See my first post on this matter for the number and details:
rodnh Apr 23, 2002 8:44am
The dealer simply did not want to let me see it or bother to assist me in the matter, at first. The service manager...I think that was who it was I first talked with...did not specifically state that it was not intended for public viewing but he might as well have. I was told that the TSB was something between Toyota and the dealership, period.
I learned about the TSB from the ALL DATA site on-line. They have a listing of such things with the tiltles, but not the actual bulletins themselves.
I have ordered the special "high speed" engine cooling fan drive coupling that is required to increase my vehicle towing capacity from 3.5K to 5K lbs. from Toyota. The part number is listed on the TSB and in my first post on it above. Toyota seems to be having a problem filling my order though, since it is now in a "back order" status.
The TSB itself consists of 5 pages, with the first half page describing the problem and the required "fix". The other four and one half pages consist of detailed instructions to the Toyota mechanic on how to physically replace the existing coupling with the new "high speed" one. Replacing such a coupling is a very simple matter for anyone reasonably mechanically inclined and certainly is a snap for anyone used to working on automobiles. I had quite a laugh over it. IMO, If the typical Toyota mechanic needs such detailed instructions for such a simple task, he is in over his head and should find a job more suited to his qualifications
I'm new & this is my question:
I’m leasing a 1999 Tacoma Prerunner with 36815 miles on it. I having problems with trying to accelerate, I have no power. I have taken it to the dealership 3 times & they can’t find anything wrong (go figure). When I 1st start my truck & I start to drive, I’ll come to a stoplight or traffic light & stop. When I give it gas to accelerate it bogs down like it’s going to die on me, which has almost cause me to get hit by another vehicle. On occasion I smell exhaust too. Now, my truck is really running like [non-permissible content removed] & I was wondering if it could be cat converter?
Also, try www.tacomaterritory.com forums. Lots of experts there.
This is the URL of the ALLDATA site where I got my reference to the TSB that covered the tow rating matter. Just close the advertising popup that appears and you will see the several TSBs for this vehicle posted so far. ALLDATA has a for-pay service where you can get copies of the actual TSBs (except for Honda & a couple of others) but I don't know how much of a time lag is involved between issuance and availability.
http://www.alldata.com/TSB/60/026049AC.html
Rod
By the way, the new radiator fixed my overheating problem. So I'm back to having a functional vehicle that is very uncomfortable. Since the truck is mechanically sound, I'm still torn between dumping it and just doing something about the seats.
I have read last year of someone replacing the seat in their new Tacoma with an after market one.
Is there an after market catalog for Tacomas out there somewhere?
Other from the seat issue I love the truck "eagle63"
...Eli
What kind of tune-up are the possible going to do on a truck w/15,000 miles??? I doubt much of anything.
Glenn if you have any mechanical ability, then I'd say rotate the tires if you wish, and as Sm said above, you can check the brakes then. Any owner who's serious about getting to know their truck, would benefit from doing a full vehicle inspection themselves. I personally don't like to take the word of others when I don't have to. Sounds like the dealer is being quite proactive in this 15K service, but I'm sure you could save the money and do it yourself.
While my other half was picking up the Taco, I was getting the oil changed and tires rotated on the Wrangler, with a brake inspection at someplace other than a dealership. They put down how much wear was left on the pads (not much) and what kind of condition the rotors were in (one slightly warped, one just at tolerance), so at least now I can plan for a brake job at the end of this month (at 101,000 miles without a brake job, not a surprise).
So if you do get the servicing done by a dealer, make sure they put down what kind of condition your brakes are in!
Thanks.
I have a 2002 DC 4x4 and the rear seat room is more than adequate for fitting adults back there. My kids are past the car seat stage so I can't comment on that.
I would suggest that you go to the local dealer, pull the car seat out of your current vehicle and strap it in the DC. You're the consumer and have the right to do this to make sure it will fit. If the dealer gives you crap over it then they don't deserve your business.
I've had my DC for 5 months and just love the vehicle. I use it mostly for commuting with a little bit of offroading when I'm cutting firewood. I only have two small annoying problems (dash rattle on occasion - a known problem on tacomas) and my driver seat belt connector clicks when the belt is engaged. I am taking it in to get the connector fixed. As far as the rattle, I will take care of it myself with a little bit of well placed foam.
To get the best deal when you buy, make sure you have gotten pricing figures off of the Internet. The local dealer tried to play games with me until they realized that I knew what I was talking about and then we got down to business. Ended up getting my vehicle for $48.00 over invoice.
best of luck with your purchase.
Dan
Your story about the dealer playing games with you doesn't surprise me at all. My big problem with Toyota in general, is the cockiness of all the dealers. They love to tout the fact that these trucks have great ratings and expect you to pay through the nose for it, when in reality their arrogance just costs them my business. Although, it sounds like you got an excellent deal, which gives me hope. Thanks again.
These bucket seats have a built in very stiff lumbar support and my best result from all my messing around was to unhook the seatback (no tools required) and roll it up halfway. Inside from the back side of the seat you will see two support springs running across the seatback. I stretched them out a bit, especially the lower one. After putting the seat back together(takes two minutes or less) its appearance looks as it did before but, when you push against it, it's noticeable softer, and much more comfortable to ride in.
I'm not 100% satisfied yet but, this seat mod brought me from 25% to 75%.
I'm thinking something along the line of a gel pad or something similar about an inch thick inserted under the fabric of the seat might do it.
kip
kip
As far as a Toy pulling 5000#, well, please consider more than the rating of the hitch or maximum towing capability of your tow vehicle as indicated in the "tow rating guide".
Factors such Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW),Gross Vehicle Combined Weight (GVCW), and Gross Vehicle Combined Rating (GVCR) all play into the picture as well as wheelbase length, manual vs. standard transmission, axle ratio, and aux. cooling systems. Sounds like alot to consider? Yeah, but it will pay big dividends in avoiding costly repairs, premature wear, and/or unsafe towing practices.
Not many dealers are going to tell you this stuff, geeze, one of my friends who had a 4 cyl. 4Runner was told by a RV dealer his rig could pull 21 ft camper. well, yeah it can, but not very well and not for very long.
I'll get off my soapbox now, enjoy the summer, & happy towing....jay
Would like to install a Toyota #00213-00141 (believe that is correct #) in new vehicle. Am told elec. unit fits into Front, LHS freeze plug hole, with heating element at 2 o'clock position etc.
Some time ago, we spend over $200 (Toyota Dealer) for labor and exhaust manifold gasket etc. to install a Toyota block heater #00213-00644. in our 2002 Sienna, V-6 cyl. engine.
Am hopeful that installing a block heater in our 2002 Tacoma, described above....will not involve such extensive disassembly/reassembly of units just to gain access to freeze plug hole on the Tacoma. Can anyone advise me rel. this subject. Thank You!
Is it safe to tow a trailer of this size with my truck? And if so,
Being that my truck has a tow rating of 3500 lbs., and that the tow rating of a Class II hitch is also 3500 lbs., what need is there for a Class III hitch on my truck?
Thank you