Toyota Tacoma 2005+

wilcox

Got my Tacoma back yesterday. Boy, it's good to have it back. During the repair process, I was provided a rental F150 extended cab with 4.6 V8. They're big!

  Unfortunately is was typical smelly rental unit and it was very thursty for fuel compared to the Tacoma V6. It quietly knocked on regular 87 octane. When briskly accellerating, it felt like it was already carrying a good 1,000 pounds of payload. But it cruised down the road @70mph with low RPM's and nice ride...and had a good stereo also.

 

The more that I drive the Tacoma, the better I like it.

 

The leak was quick and simple to fix according to dealer (once they got to it). Said it was located near glove box area...

 

It was raining yesterday when I picked it up and could detect no leaks...

geogecko

When you apply your Zaino, do you normally just do one coat? I don't know that I can devote the time necessary to put 2-3 coats of that stuff on. Also, I read somewhere that a guy also uses it on his wheels, which makes the brake dust really easy to clean off.

 

As far as the leak goes, is that as detailed as the dealership was in telling you where it was? Was it a problem with a door seal, a firewall seal or what? The more information we have, the better off the next person is, when they take their truck in for the same problem...

ecotrklvr

I test drove an '05 Access Cab Tacoma the other day. I was very surprised to hear how loud the heater blower was, in the "Floor Only" mode. And to top it off, the noise was coming from the Defroster vents, along the bottom of the windshield - with very little air actually coming from the defroster vents. When the control was switched to the "Defroster Only" mode, it was MUCH quieter. In " Dash Vent Only" mode - again, no problem. The poor sales guy had me drive it to the Service Department - where it was concluded that something was wrong - damper door stuck, or vacuum hose off. But, another new Tacoma, same model, sounded exactly the same. Anyone else hearing this? Any solutions?

abvelv

I typically put one coat on at a time. However, I end up with 3-4 coats over 6-8 weeks. I put it on everything, car, wheels and windows. It works almost like a RainX product on the windshield. Be sure and order their tire product. It works great on tires and any black trim.

 

I haven't experienced the leak problem yet. Keeping my fingers crossed!

abvelv

Unfortunately, I am hearing the defroster noise. I also thought their was a door problem, but the air comes out where it's supposed to, so must be a design flaw.

xsacta

I have the same situation. Service will check it out next visit.

westeem

Finally got the water leak traced after 2 days at the dealer. Windshield is leaking. My symptom was wet carpet under the rubber mat on the driver side only. Dealer did not explain the repair procedure but will ask when I pick up my x-runner next week.

carglow

Anyone see a 05 Reg Cab yet?

papasmurf

Many, since November in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The plant in Mexico dedicated to non-Pre Runner and 4x4 production is scheduled to open this month.

drbill1

I'm looking for V6 manual access cab with the OC offroad package (without tow). Does anyone have that available, and if so, where. I can only get the OG with tow. I was jazzed to buy a Taco, but the limitation on choices is driving me to the Fronty.

coinneach

You don't have to use the towing functions, although, you get heavy-duty components with your truck when you have that option. That's why the dealerships order it that way:

 

Transmission oil cooler (automatic transmission models), supplemental engine oil cooler, heavy-duty battery, 130-amp alternator.

seminole_kev

Didn't really plan on buying a truck yet, but stopped in and like it enough to buy one.

 

Picked up a 2005 4cyl 5spd manual RWD Access cab. It's Desert Sand Mica with the SR5 package. Didn't want too much for options and this truck fit what I needed nicely.

 

4cyl has pretty good power (good torque across a wide range for its size). Rides nicely. Pretty nice interior for a truck.

dadoftay

Don't know where you are but Atlanta Toyota in Duluth, Georgia(20miles north Atl) has several regular cabs in stock. Some with nothing and some with pwr window/locks wheel pkgs.

 

Whoops that was for carglow.....

jbone

Recently read in TWO offroad mags that during their testing of the 05 Taco the transfer case would remain in 4Lo after turning the switch out of 4Lo. Has anyone experienced this with their trucks as I am a Taco fan, would love to get one someday for a daily driver and weekend player, but am skeptical about the 4wd switch.

 

Also, how are peoples' impressions of the 4cyl/5spd?

 

How about the room in the back seats of the A-cab?

 

Thanks!

seminole_kev

4 cyl/5 speed 2WD Access cab has plenty of power for regular driving. Broad torque range for what it has. No idea about towing or hauling stuff yet though.

 

Back seats of the Access cab.........well you won't want to take any road trips back there, that's for sure. Good for storing stuff that you don't want wet or sliding around and would be useful in a pinch to get a couple of people around as they'll fit. Also nice just to have the room to recline the seats. I'd think that if you are regularly going to be hauling people around in the back seats for a decent amount of time, you might want to look at the crew cab or something else. Kids would probably be fine though and think it's cool. Access with the rear doors is very good.

seminole_kev

how much does the spare tire lock cost from Toyota, and also, does an aftermarket company make one? I honestly have no idea.

stnick

I have only put my 05 into 4LO a couple of times so far. The procedure in the owners manual says to stop, Auto trans in neutral, and put into or out of 4LO to H4. It has worked ok so far, but can hang up a little. If it does, put into drive and crawl 2mph or less and it should disengage. I know that very cold weather can effect most electronic transfer cases and make them slow to react as did a Ranger and a couple Dakotas that I had in the past.

coinneach

(WI) Spare tire lock

MSRP $64 / INVOICE $42

segunderson

I bought a 05 Tacoma crew cab with the TRD and towing packages 7 weeks ago. I love the truck, but have been a little disappointed with the milage. I recently took a trip from ohio to minnesota driving 71-72 mph and the best I ever got was 18 mpg not the 21 or 22 on the sticker. In town which for me is about 50% interstate I am getting 16.5 mpg. Other than the milage I love the truck. If you get one and get better milage please let me know.

ecotrklvr

Hey SeminoleKev - Really like your choice. I think of the Access Cab as a car with a very large trunk and a really small back seat. I'm still considering the purchase, but still waiting for a new model hard tonneau to be designed by www.undercoverinfo.com/ - they say another 4-6 weeks. I need that to finish the "trunk".

 

Glad you like your truck. Say, what kind of mileage you getting? My last test drive of this one showed me in 5th at 2000rpm at 60mph - that'd be 2667 at 80 - pretty good cruising gear. At that speed, all I heard was a faint whine from the rear tires, and wind noise - from what, the mirrors? Does the heater sound (and feel) up to snuff? Anything surprise you - stuff you wouldn't notice in a 5 mile test drive?

bearcrkrd

December 18 in Everett, WA. Rodland Toyota. Made a U=turn when I saw it! Reg Cab, 2.7L, manual tranny with the Enhancement Package. It was black, which made the black grille surround, rear view mirrors, and painted bumpers look 'body colored'. I wasn't going to buy, so didn't sit in it. Walked around it a few times, opened the tailgate and looked at the bed. Looks like all issues with the pre-'05 have been resolved. The only thing I didn't like, and not that bad really, was the 15" tires and wheels look too small. Maybe the base tire/wheel from the Tundra would fit?? I've had the truck in the back of my mind ever since!! I am not crazy about the base model supposed to be built in Mexico?? but will let it go, don't want to spoil the party!!

seminole_kev

coineach - thanks for the pricing info!

 

ecotrk - too early to tell about MPG, but I'll let you know. I think 70-75 MPH is around 2100-2200 RPM. Good highway gear. Truck is pretty quiet. Heater works great. Didn't notice any noise, but I probably haven't used all the features/settings yet.

88toylc

Segunderson,

 

Please don't take offense, but are you sure you are driving with your truck in "Drive" rather than 4th gear? They are easy to confuse. I can't believe you got 16.5 mpg driving between Ohio and Minnesota. I lived in the Midwest and am familiar with the flat terrain. The worst mileage I have gotten in town driving up and down significant hills on my 4x4 double cab TRD (with short bed) is better than that. On a 200+ mile trip driving 75 to 80 with significant changes in elevation, I got close to 21 mpg.

 

If you are driving in "Drive", I definitely would have the truck checked out, because something is wrong with it.

wilcox

Discovered water under front passenger floormat. Let it dry out...and observed. After washing discovered same situation.

 

Took truck to dealer shop. They had truck for 7 days (including weekend) and called and said they fixed. I ask where leak was and they say "just above glove box".

 

That day I pickup truck from service it was raining and truck was parked on downhill slope. I check under mat...no water...smile. I tell service mgr. that I normally park truck in a "uphill" situation...and thank him and take truck home.

 

This weekend it rain and guess what? Water under floor mat in same place. I found where they had smeared some black roofing repair under plastic near windshield...this no work!

 

  @#$%^&&*(*&*& the dealership is 50 miles away.

seminole_kev

strike that about the RPMs. Payed attentention this morning on the way to work. 75-80MPH is about 2400-2500 RPM in 5th with the 4cyl. Tach isn't really detailed enough to absolutely tell.

vmiman

I have a access cab v6 with manual tranny. I live in Colo Spgs and normally put in 87 octaine which is our regular. Occassionally I hear rattling when I accelerate, but not much. Sometimes I fill it with 1/2 tank premium to mix the grades. Seems to work well, especiall with the 10 or 20c per gallon difference. I've been getting 18 - 20 mpg and have about 3500 miles on the engine.

larry10

I am thinking about buying a travel trailer;However, I do not have the towing package on my truck. Now I know i can set up the hitch and electrical hook-up (i hope) but that still leaves me without transmission fluid cooler(I guess that's what it is called)like the trucks ordered with the towing package have.How important is that? I know it depends on a few variables such as weight,Temperature, hills etc.
Any thoughts?

PF_Flyer

We've started a new series of topics to discuss real-world pickup mileage numbers. You might want to report your mileage here:

 

MPG: Toyota Tacoma Real World Numbers

 

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jdvailco

Hey all

 

I am in Boston trying to buy a Taco Access Cab 4x2 Manual Prerunner (model 7161).

 

Apparently they are not shipping any of these to New England until some undetermined point in the future. Has anyone seen this configuration at a dealership? If yes, what part of the country? I may be willing to buy in another city and drive home to New England.

 

Thanks

 

JDVAILCO

mudrunner

vmiman

 

 i was wondering how you liked the power of the v6? i test drove a 4 cyl and was dissapointed, havent found a v6 to test drive yet. was JW if it feels solid or not.

papasmurf

jdvailco, There are at least 6 in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Surf to http://www.toyota.com to find a dealer and type in a city (dallas) then surf to a local dealers site and then check new inventory. That should give you some ideas. Good luck!

seminole_kev

I've got that same glovebox blemish as the others have discussed. Looks just like the one at this link http://www.geocities.com/toytruck86/Glovebox.html

 

Doesn't really bother me, but if you guys found out anything in particular, let us know.

 

Kev

coinneach

A coworker of mine received his Tacoma a few weeks ago. I told him about the discoloration concerns. We had to look very hard to see it. Come on guys. This is a non-issue.

seminole_kev

I'm not exactly losing sleep over it, that's for sure. Just that it seems to be a common defect. If it is something where I could have the dealer replace it no problem/no fuss (while not getting a different shade replacement part!) then I'd probably do it.

bigandy

Though I would agree that it's certainly not a major problem, it might seem a little more of an issue if you were the one who had just written a $28k check for the truck. There is clearly a problem they need to fix wherever it is that these glove box doors come from. I believe quality control is the business of the manufacturer, not something that should be done by the customer, in the car business or any other.

coinneach

Next week I am writing a $30K check for my truck. So I have a stake in the matter. I probably would not have noticed the faint shadow of a streak if I didn't read about it here, or had taken a magnifying glass along the dashboard. A lot of plastics have these impressions from the manufacturing process.

segunderson

88toylc,

 

I'm not offended, but yes I'm always driving in Drive not forth and am still getting bad milage. I may be going out of town again this weekend and if it doesn't improve I will probably take it in. Thanks for your input.

johnny_sarcasm

just wondering if anyone knows the causes of the passenger side leak, exhaust manifold leak and the suspension noise (or cabin mounts)? i get my taco delivered in a couple of weeks and would like to now what to tell the dealer if they need to fix it. thanks!

toytruck

Quality is not a "non-issue". The discoloration is so obvious from the drivers seat that Ray Charles could see it. It makes it look like the glove box has been used for 10 years.

 

http://www.geocities.com/toytruck86/Glovebox.html

88toylc

I have to agree that the discoloration is obvious, although it is less pronounced when the sun is coming in certain ways. The service manager at my dealer unintentionally proved that it was a problem when he said "It looks like you've spilled something on it." I'm sure he was trying to avoid having to do anything, but I don't see why I should accept a glovebox cover that "looks like I've spilled something on it."

vmiman

I have an indigo blue access cab with the trd sport package. The white skidplate sure looked ugly. I took it off yesterday and underneath is another black metal cover. I may have the skidplate painted black, or I may not put it back on. May get better mileage without it and it really serves me no function as I don't intend to go off-roading. What a ripoff that toyota charges $199 for it -- it's part of the sport package (option so).

Tom Clark

(vmiman)

geogecko

Could be me, but here is my reasoning behind why Toyota didn't paint the skid plate.

 

If you go off-roading, the first time it actually touches a rock or something, it's going to get a scratch. If it was painted black, you'd see silver scratches up and down it after a while.

 

Leaving it the normal color of the aluminum (or whatever it's made out of), makes it less noticeable when it gets scratched.

 

If you don't want it, I would imagine you could get at least $100, if not $150 for it on e-bay, for those people that didn't want to pay for the sport or off-roading packages, but wanted the skid plate.

nickt1

Is the glove box discoloration worse on some trucks? What I don't get is that if it's that noticable, then why didn't people notice it before they took delivery, and if they did, then why did they take delivery? I noticed a little discoloration on my glove box when I took the truck on a test drive, but it's not bad enough to bother me. And believe me, I'm a perfectionist when it comes to my vehicles. There are also two marks on both of the rear access cab doors, but again, they're just not bad enough to bother me. I have the cab mount bolt problem, which means that when it's below freezing outside, my truck sounds like there's a popcorn machine in the back seat. Now THAT bothers me, and the dealer still doesn't have a clue about how to fix it, which bothers me even more.

88toylc

I have both problems (glovebox discoloration and popcorn machine in the back seat) as well. If I had gotten a great deal on the truck, I suppose I would be less demanding. But if I pay top dollar, I expect an absence of defects.

 

I agree that the popcorn machine is a bigger issue and I too am distressed that Toyota appears to have no clue how to fix it. I can't even find out if it is on the radar screen of anyone with any swat at Toyota. There is complete radio silence from Toyota on this issue.

 

I also agree that I should have noticed the glovebox defect before I handed over my check, but I didn't. That is my bad, but I'm sure the dealer would have assured me that the problem would be fixed ASAP and I would have believed him.

 

My dealer did agree to order a new glovebox cover for my new Tacoma to replace one with the discoloration problem so many of you have had. I just got a call from the customer service rep saying that there were no glovebox covers available -- they are on back order. I was given no date for the availability of a new cover.

 

Since new Toyotas are getting glovebox covers, this sounds a bit odd, but I suppose Toyota sees its job as making and selling new vehicles. Once a vehicle is sold, fixing its problems is a lower priority issue. Too bad for me.

volley

I have seen 2 at two different dealerships near me. In fact I test drove one. I am in Maryland (Frederick and Washington county). I think you can search dealer inventories in Toyota. If so, look for zips 21740 and 21702.

volley

I have the same thing too and it doesn't bother me at all. In fact I rarely even look at the glovebox lol

juliagoolia

I am interested in purchasing the 4x4 double cab long bed SR5 pkg and I was wondering what type of price that I could get off the MFS price of $34, 780.00 CND. Could someone please tell what type of discount that they were able to get the dealer to give?

 

Thanks

larry10

I just put wheel locks on my 05 taco..I noticed they seem to weigh a bit more than the other lug bolts,will this cause any problems with wheel balance? Hope this doesn't sound like a stupid question.

toytruck

"My dealer did agree to order a new glovebox cover for my new Tacoma to replace one with the discoloration problem so many of you have had. I just got a call from the customer service rep saying that there were no glovebox covers available -- they are on back order. I was given no date for the availability of a new cover."

 

     When I first complained about it they had a new one within 3 days and then another in 3 more days. Maybe they're finally fixing the mold.

johnny_sarcasm

i was able to get my dealer down to %34,366 ($1704 off msrp) for a 05 dcab manual w/ sport pkg. comes out to 4% off msrp + $100. go for %4 off and be happy with it. if you do better, don't tell me, cuz it'll ruin my day. thanks.....oh yeah, windsor, ontario here.