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Toyota Tacoma: Problems & Solutions
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I drive a DC and have noticed that the console box at your right elbow, is a little on the low side (for me at least) I found that I tended to lean to the right, and lean on the box, causing back pain. If I set upright, and forget the box, all is fine. I had this same problem on a car a few years back. Since I figured out that my back pain was actually a posture problem, I have not had any trouble.
Good luck
Another thing you can do is start carrying your wallet in your front pocket. The wallet can cause an assymetric pelvic tilt that can exacerbate chronic back pain.
Toyota does not recommend modifying its vehicles from their original factory specifications. Modifications could affect the vehicle's performance, safety or durability, and may violate government regulations. In addition, damage or performance problems resulting from the modification may not be covered under warranty. Because of this, we do not provide information on how to modify your vehicle." Not a lot of help are they?
Thanks for your response,
Ron
I do notice my truck doesn't go into second as smooth as other gear transitions. It's almost as if second is below first, but a little to the right and it doesn't just drop into place super-smooth. When I go into second, I pull the shift lever down and just a little to the right, and it seems to help. Everybody other Tacoma I've driven does this as well. I've never found it to be a problem, in fact, I think the Tacoma's 5 speed tranny is one of the notchiest and smoothest out there. Try VW's 5 speed - total slop by comparison. Don't know what to say about the cluth. Mine starts to engage about 1/3 to 1/2 way up from being fully depressed.
ahardcastle:
Is your truck new? With some miles, the suspension will loosen up a little bit. Might want to wait it out before you start messing with your shock absorbers. Also, not keeping your tires inflated to the max pressure will make quite a difference. In addition, when you buy tires, avoid the triple ply off-roading tires, as they are very tough and offer no give. Of course, of you plan on any towing, I wouldn't change anything - the TRD's stiff suspension is ideal for towing.
The only thing I hate about my clutch is it squeaks often. Does yours do the same?
The clutch [non-permissible content removed] is not about the pedal distance off the floor or how far down, it is about the pedal movement being so small between disengaged and hookup, as 759387 refers to as "rough launches". There is also a sharp deceleration, as in carburetted vehicles with bad accelerator pumps, or cold with no choke, unless I get the revs off idle just right, or work that hair trigger clutch real slow, which in the LA area traffic means everybody and his brother jumps in front of you. I used to think the injection circuit needed fixing, but I think all that is due now to that clutch hooking up too quick for the fuel system to compensate. IF I had another 1/16" of travel between disengaged and hookup, I think I'd be as happy as a pig in ..... I'll have to wait until the pressure plate and disk get changed to find out, I guess.
Yeah, I can't make a left or a right in traffic without that right rear tire lighting off. I still have the stock tires on, sure hope going to p225-70/14s when these wear out will help. I have yet to get good and stuck in the snow, but I don't expect it to have the traction of that old Ford Courier I used to drive without a limited slip diff. Does anybody know of any of those aftermarket LS diffs that work worth the time and money?
Thanks for the replies, it's good to know I'm not alone.
I checked last night on the ride home and our shifter was smooth from 1-2 and 2-4 if you do that crossover. My father used to do that when I was a kid, used to bother the hell out of me. It was fine if he revved in 1st and 2nd but most of the time he just putted along in 1 and 2 and then flipped it into 4th and bogged....I used to fear for his exhuast system from the shaking. He still does it in his Maxima but I haven't had to drive with him for years. Thanks God.
Our clutch isn't bad now that I used it and thought about it. Our VW catches a little smoother and I wouldn't compare it to our BMW linkage because it is totally different.
Happy driving.
I have the same issue, Toyota people said it's driving style, and tells you to pound sand. I have gotten my EFI computer to reset, and it gone up to 20 MPG, but after that tank of gas it jumped back to 14 MPG. I am trying to find a different way to have my components replaced on my truck. calling Toyota Corporate does not work. and frustrating.
The Service manager said the "16-bit computer" will adjust to your driving habits, i gunned the engine every now and then to get away from Cell Phone drivers and Asian Women. The truck will not start if the computer has not gone thru all sensors. I think the computer was programed by Microsoft.
The truck is popular here in northern vermont...but I can't get a good opinion.
thanks..
You'll get a lot of opinions about the 4-banger, pretty much all of them favorable. I can't say anything, I have a real engine
As for fourwheeling: I think this is one area a 4 cylinder would be every bit as good as a six. When you're fourwheeling, the speeds are pretty low, and the 4 cylinder is pretty torquey. Besides, if you're doing nothing but spinning your tires 4-wheeling, you're doing something wrong! I had a Suzuki Samurai with one of the weakest 4 cylinders ever made, and that thing would go ANYWHERE!!!
BUT, I chose the 6 cylinder in my Taco because I do a lot of highway and city driving, and the six is smoother and much more capable on the highway, plus its power lets you "squirt" through congested, slower traffic more easily.
Just my $.02.
My only complaint with the 2K Taco is the uncomfortable seats. My commute is too long for them to be comfortable - the seats in the Wrangler are much better!
Thanks for your help.
Ron
Thanks a lot to Cobb County Toyota in Kennesaw, GA for their courteous service and running a service department that stays open late and Saturdays so that people with normal 8 to 5 jobs can utilize their services without taking off from work.
It worked once i got like 20MPG, and I am testing it to make sure it works, will let you guys know next week.
Last weekend, I did all freeway driving and it was 15 MPG. I normally drive around town during the week and not use the freeway, this got me the 14MPG.
I am going to keep the truck a little longer, because this in the only truck out there that I like and within my parameters, hoping things will work out, it is still back of my mind to return the truck.
PS. don't sue me if it does not work for you and/or you break your truck in the process. (legal disclaimer)
This is recommended every time you do something that will affect the way engine works:
whether you are doing a deckplate mod, or putting a Flowmaster muffler on the truck, pull the fuse, let the computer reset, and make it relearn the new air flow pattern, so it can adjust properly.
It takes 100-200 miles for the computer to do so.
As far as gas milage: I'm seeing 16mpg in the city, thats on a truck thats not broken in yet, 1200 miles. Highway is a little better, but I havent done any real highway driving lately. I'm waiting for gas milage to go up, should be around 2K miles.
Are there any other mods out there that someone can report positive results on with respect to gas mileage?
but overall:
1. Amsoil or K&N airfilter (don't ask the ttora guys, there's been too many arguements about them. I prefer Amsoil myself)
2. deckplate mod.
A non-restricting muffler could give you better gas, maybe by a little....it's better used for extra hp. Considering that you can get a flowmaster or magnaflow for $70 plus installation, thats a good deal.
I have a dynomax muffler on the wife's Pathfinder and she says no way am I putting a louder muffler on my new truck so that mod is killed in in the interest of domestic tranquility.
What is the deckplate mod? Is it like the "power tower" or something similar that I have seen in the Performance Products catalog? Seems like the gadget I saw was an aluminum spacer with a swirled center that sold for like a $100.
It works on carburated engines, but there is no way in hell it'll work on EFI.
Deckplate mod is this: you take the airbox out, go to a boat store and buy a deckplate from them (4 inch one is enough). Take a saw and cut a hole in the airbox front the size of the deckplate. Put the deckplate in, secure it, put the airbox back in, hook it up, open the deckplate, and what you have is a big hole in the airbox before the airfilter, that will induce more airflow to your system. I did this the first week I had the truck, so I can't tell whether it worked or not for better gas milage and hp (but I'll know later after the breakin, we know what the average stock Taco does).
Too bad about the muffler.....thats my next step. Deckplate doesnt make your truck any louder, it gives a little deeper sound from more air moving through, and around 3K rpms you can hear engine whistling a little as it takes air in.
It's reasonably hard for water and dirt to get to the deckplate, I went wheeling with it open, and didnt get anything in. Same with rain, the only time you actually have to close it is when you go mudding.
Looks Like fun, i saw this a while ago, did not know what it was. after sc0rpi0 described it....
Anyway found it on http://mntoyx4.com/toyonly_links.html under Engine Related, there are a lot of pointers on snorkels and deep water crossing.
5spd 4x4 V6s run 3.91 gears, and 4x4 V6 auto run 4.10 gears. It's very likely that your truck had different gear ratio because of smaller tires.
Typically, when people put bigger tires on the truck, they need to regear.
well this was my finding last week when i made a 650 mile round road trip with a large full size sofa. i took the sofa to my brother in-law, on the way over the truck felt awsome with the weight of the sofa, on the turns i felt i had good traction of the road, my other finding was on the way up with the sofa the truck gave me about 22 mpg and on the way back witout the sofa the truck gave me about 18mpg. what the heck was that, i just might start driving around with a large sofa one the back of my truck from now on. it makes no sense the sofa creates extra draft while driving.
what are your thoughts on this.
But you can just try and buy a 1-2 50lbs of sand at Home Depot, they are like $2 a piece and strap them in the bed.
I have a 4x4 V6 5spd, and while I do like to rev the engine up, by gas milage is not that bad. On the freeway my gas milage depends largely on the speed I drive: 80-85mph I get about 18.5-19mpg, 90 I get 16.5mpg, while in the city I usually get 230 miles for 12 gallons.
kip
Chris
if the wear is even, your tire pressure is ok.
if the wear is more in the middle, reduce tire pressure.
if the wear is on the rims, pump up the pressure. I run my 265 BFG ATs at 30psi front and back, and get good wear on all 4 tires.
This would help to reduce some noise.
As far as balancing tires goes, there is a trick to it...and I don't remember what it is. You need a special machine to balance tires, ordinary WalMart equipment wont do because of the lug pattern, I think.
Chris
Chris
I got them on my Xtracab '02.
The Tohikos are on '02 DCs
Good luck.