Toyota Tacoma 2005+

imin2mx

I have all of that putty/caulk stuff, but it leaks anyway.

roc1

Hey guys,

Anybody have the 4 cyl 2005 Taco 4x4 in the regular or Access cab?

I'd like to hear some thoughts on the power of the engine. I don't tow so really don't need V6.

Any info is greatly appreciated.

chilehead

4 cylinder: It is a torquey engine that still feels fun. I (like others) am still surprised to look down at the speedo and find myself going 10-15 mph more than I think I am! If there are lots of hills in your area, don't expect to go up them without downshifting (if you get a manual). Freeway on-ramps are no problem though--plenty quick. Mileage has been somewhat disappointing--best is just over 24 mpg. This is a 4x4, though. MPG kind of stinks when you hear some v6 owners saying they get 22 mpg!

Silver color: I hope your experience will be different, volley, but every silver or grey car I ever owned was like driving a car with a bullseye on it. It seems like that color just blends into the road and other drivers don't see it as well. (By the way, thanks for the info on the locking bed boxes!)

chilehead

Hey geogecko (and others). Are you still stepping over your running boards to get in the truck, or have you figured out how to use them as a step without banging your head?

I am still thinking of installing them to prevent chipping.

iwanna05taco

i actually have not installed the tube steps yet, but when i do i will post pictures asap...the main reason i wanted them was to prevent dings to my doors when careless people fling their doors open while talking on cell phones...

r979

What kind of truck do you have?

r979

I think I am going to order my truck dc 4x4 auto trd sport #4 LB in silver mica.

The problem is the dealers do not want to budge on the prices.

volley

blackmamba - Will finish up the how to tonight hopefully (if I can get all the pics...it's cold here!) I'll shoot it over to you as well when I'm done.

As for the 6 1/2s in the front door. You would need to make some type of adapter to do it. The opening is large to accommodate the factory 6x9s! Installing any speaker you definitely need some type of "spacer" either the factory one or a made one because the front doors are in fact pretty shallow and mounting a speaker directly to the door will more than likely create clearance issues with the window. Even with spacers if the speakers have a very deep mounting depth it MIGHT create problems. I'll look on my box when I get home to let you know what the depth is on the ones I used.

larry10

Now I am starting to worry!

geogecko

I am still usually stepping over it when I get out, but when I'm getting in, I've found that stepping on them with my left foot (when getting in on the driver's side), helps a little with the awkwardness.

One thing that I've noticed, is that all of the support in the running boards comes from the two small rails that run the length of the boards. The plastic part you are stepping on is pretty thin, and provides almost no support. I haven't noticed any paint chips in mine yet, so I guess they are working, or my paint is not subject to the kind of problem others are having.

I'd put them on again, because I think they look cool. I'll admit, that I don't like most SUV's with running boards, nor most trucks, but they look nice on the Taco.

vmiman

gr8blue1:

thanks for the number on the cap. i'll check pep boys today.

vmiman

vmiman

My 4wd Access Cab TRD Sport is Indigo Blue. Great color. Looks great with the upgraded alloy (4-runner) wheels. Everyone has a silver truck!!! The interior looks better with the blue also (IMO). I think the blue is also a little faster!!!!

vmiman

blackmamba

Thanks again for the tips....I purchased a pair of Boston Acoustic 6x9's for the front and 6 1/2 for the rear today off of ebay. I have not even attempted to take off the door panels, so I am unsure of the clearance issues or the spacer you mentioned. You mentioned a factory spacer? Do you think that will be adequate? If I space it out too far will it cause the door panel to not fit during re-assembly? Where would you recommend buying spacers??
I cannot tell you how much your posts help...the speakers/stereo the tacoma comes with sound horrible! Everyone should get a copy of your tips...thanks again.
John

bjw1

hi, to all, i just put in kenwood speakers and the amp for them, tons better than stock, i paid a total of $6.00 for install and radio store thats $1 for every item, and the radio store said the stock speaker where molded to the door, and so it took them almost 8 hrs to finish my truck due to had to fabricate mounting device, but they did a really nice job, its going to be work if you do it your self, but with patience you can get it done, well post your results so we will know how it goes.

vmiman

Has anyone put on the vinyl covers over their headlights? They are around $75-$80 on the anything auto website. Since the TACO headlights are so huge, and I see so many headlight lenses on cars become clouded and pitted over time, would the covers be worthwhile to put on? I think they just stick on. I bet it would cost a fortune to buy new headlights if one of the lenses gets cracked.

vmiman

vmiman

Has anyone checked to see if the fuel door can be modified or replaced to include a key lock? Seems like maybe a Sienna or 4 Runner door might fit. I may go to the dealer to measure and investigate. Will let you know.

vmiman

razz1

Hey, have all of you with problems with your new vehicle been to the National highwat saftey web site and fill out a complaint form? This is the only way Toyota will be forced to address the issues on an emergent basis. They look at official complaints against them and will care to come up with solutions. For instance, the popping sound has been on vehicles from november and continues to be there. There are only 2 complaints on the web site officially. How about water leaks? Well get over there and speak your mind. Their list is anonymous and car companies or dealers cannot get the pesonalc info
go to:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/

jackhammer

For those of you out there with the TRD package, I need a favour. Can you measure the height and width of the TRD stickers on the rear fenders of your truck. Instead of paying around $80 for each sticker I plan on having them made for me. Thanks for your help

soundman34

Has anybody had a problem with an engine tapping noise while accelerating and going up hills. The manual says that this is normal. It sounds a little too loud to be normal.

soundman34

I just got the silver on the same truck that you are talking about and I have to say that it looks sharp. I get a lot of looks while I am driving and a lot of good comments from friends and family. Get the silver streak, you won't regret it. I almost got the blue too!

soundman34

I have the exact same truck as you. Same color and everything. I also have the ticking sound in the engine. The manual says that this is normal. Doesn't sound normal to me. Do you have any opinions on this problem? Other than that I love the truck.

blackmamba

I am a little confused about your last audio post. Am I right by saying you purchased speakers ands a amp and had them installed for $6.00. And on top of that the installation took 8 hours. So the people installing your speakers were getting paid less than $1.00/hr, not including the costs of the speakers and amp. Although I have not removed my door panels, I have never heard of speakers that are welded in. That makes no sense at all. I hope someone can make some sense of this. Thanks

bjw1

you heard it right they only charge 1 dollar per item to install, they slogan is "home of the $1 install", i dont know if they marked up the merchandise to compensate for that but my total bill for two 6x9 speakers and two 6.5 speakers viper alarm sys, and 350 watt amp and wiring was $780, as far as the stock speakers go, i never acutally seen them but the installer said they where molded to the door itself, as far as the install time, i dropped my truck off at 8am and did not drive out till 515pm, but they probably actually worked on my truck for about 4 hours, they work on afirst come first serve basis, so if 3 people are in front of you it might be awhile till the get to your, but it was worth the wait, it sound great!!

geogecko

I'd like to get a copy of that, if I could.

jason at thebentzhome dot com

(The words "at" and "dot" are the actual symbols with no spaces by the way...)

If the file isn't too large, I could post it on my web site for a while, that way, people could download it without having to put their e-mail address on here.

cmitchell

I just noticed my truck is making a weird sound what I first start it in the morning or in the afternoon after sitting at work. It sounds the same as if you put something against the blades of a fan or bike spokes. It only lasts for 30 sec. or so right after you start the engine.

I have a Pre-Runner/Access cab/Automatic/V6/TRD OC offroad package. No leaks so far! Build date is 12/04 in CA. No other problems...knock on wood!

I paid $21,320 which is $200 over invoice(FE, OC, DK). This includes $399 dealer holdback, $565 destination, $372 TDA, and $199 whsl. financial reserve.

Great Truck! Do you think the extended warranty is worth it or unnecessary?

volley

All,

Everyone that requested the audio how to will get a copy once I get back from bowling tonight. I will put it on my homepage for people to look at as well.

bjw1- Although that was not a terrible price (I'm assuming you bought the alarm from them as well), they fed you a line about the speakers being molded to the door. The speaker and spacer are all one piece but it is bolted to the door. Audiophiles everywhere will shudder at the size of the magnet on those thing (I swear they are like 1 inch!)

engineerboo

Someone wanted photos of the Dee Zee Tube Steps. I bought mine from the dealer and I'm pretty happy with them.

I also installed a bug guard but it's not a Toyota brand, it's by Focus Auto Design and is much more streamed-lined than the Toyota brand. They are at:

http://www.ppsonline.net/hoodprot.htm

My 05 Tacoma Access Cab Photos:

http://www.cardomain.com/id/engineerboo

Boo

jkjohn

I have that exact noise with my truck that i purchased last October. It starts about a block from home and lasts about 30 seconds and sounds like a card in bicycle spokes. I took it to the dealer for this in November and left it overnite. The service mgr said that they heard the noise and it was the ABS system. They said that this was identified previously in 4runners and was normal. I don't think what I am hearing is normal, but it has tapered off quite a bit.

I also took my truck in last week for a supposed fix on the popping noise. They did some work on the cab bolt mounts. This morning I heard the noise again! It is a cold weather occurance, only popping when going over bumps when the temp is below 20 degrees.

maxvenum

Have any of you taken your 2005 Tacoma off road? How well does it perform off-road? Thanks!

djwtarheel

I narrowed my choices down to exactly what you are looking at and ended up with the Silver...mostly because of the dirt hiding factor (I came out of a black Audi and it was obviously a pain to keep clean so I wanted a truck that required less washing). I really do like the indigo blue though as well. Not sure if you were looking at the sport or off-road packages...but one point of note is that with the hood scoop (I have the TRD sport package #2) and the silver color, I have noticed that if the sun hits the scoop at just the right angle, it shines in my eyes...perhaps the blue would not be as reflective? Just something I've noticed...still love the silver though despite this.

gymbo

larry10:I do have the putty underneath,but as imin2mx states he has the putty also!Thanks for the encouragement though.I believe the build date was 11/10/04 per sticker on the front brakes(someone posted earlier that you could tell that way).
I have washed several times and also driven in rain a few times, but not a heavy rain.Hopefully I'm worrying for nothing.We get plenty of rain in Florida, so time will tell.

pegleri

Has anyone out there taken posession of a 2005 Tacoma w/VSC? Two dealers in the NE have looked in the NE and can't find one. I've done some poking around on local Toyota dealer sites around the country and none of the Tacomas have VSC on it. I'm holding off on buying the truck until I can get VSC, but I don't think it's even available. I also think that if the NE can't get VSC then who will get it as we have weather that could really use VSC functionality. I even wrote Ask Toyota and they just deflect the question to dealers. I read some of the posts about VSC on this forums and I'm not convinced that anyone got it, but a lot of people want to get it.

manaraki

Thanks everyone and DJW, now I am just as undecided as before

I thought the Sport package was the only one that had the hood scoop, not the TRD #2.

chiefman1

pegleri-I have a 2005 DC,4x4,TRD OffRoad Pkg #2 with VSC and side curtain airbags, ordered on 12-18-04, it was built on 01-11-05 and delivered to dealer on 01-28-05.

gymbo

engineerboo:Did you have any trouble with the installation of the driver's side(as some have posted)Also, whats a good price.I would prefer to buy from a local dealer, especially since some have had problems with installation,but the prices I've been getting(over $400) seem higher than what some have posted.
Btw,that is a sharp looking hood protector!

mrvair

Jackhammer,
The measurements for the TRD sticker are 15 1/2" wide by 4 1/2" high. Hope that helps...

leob1

Just curious, to get to the leak at the floorboard seam, what does the dealer have to remove?

I cannot understand why mine did not leak while spraying directly on the engine side firewall and windshield seams at the carwash. The leak must be somewhere at the bottom. Maybe I need to spray from the bottom to soak the carpet and get the dealer to fix it.

blackmamba

Does anyone know of a good fitting subwoofer for a quad cab?

coldfoot

Has anyone received a survey from Toyota HQ through e-mail regarding your 05 Tacoma ? I received one tonight. Just curious.

arcpass

When I checked on Edmunds.com, it said that the invoice on your truck was $22,031. How could you have bought it for $21,320? That's not $200 over invoice, but $700 under invoice. The figures don't add up.

hammaa

"engineerboo": I really like your bug guard. Do you actually notice any difference in regards to bug splat count, or is it pretty much a cosmetic thing?

pegleri

That's good to hear. Can I ask what part of the country you live in and how did your dealer hanndle the transaction? Did they have to "scour the country" or did they just order it from the factory? Toyota claims they don't accept individual orders. How do you like the truck?

88toylc

I can't measure mine because I just removed them a couple of days ago. My truck looks much better now.

88toylc

I've received 3 different surveys but none from Toyota. I bought my truck in October 2004.

cmitchell

I'll look at the paper again and see if I read it wrong. I also have the true invoice for the SN package...made I got them mixed up.

Has anyone else had the noise like cards in bike spokes when they start up the first thing in the morning? If its only the two of us, something is not normal!

jackhammer

Thanks for your help mrvair !

treyh1

How much difference is there? I wanted the sports seats, but apparently they only come with the TRD packages & I dislike a couple of things about the sport and off-road. Are the regular seats fine?

chilehead

As many of you have mentioned, it's time to start hauling stuff with these trucks! Sometimes I want to haul something like a plant or small tree, but want to stick it in the back of the access cab. We don't want DIRT in there of course, so I went down to Wally World and bought a roll of Ozite (auto department) for about 8 bucks. It was easy to cut it to fit (though I could do a more "custom" job if I worked at it) and the color is a good match. I thought it might slide around but it stays put pretty well.

geogecko

He's talking about the TRD Sport #2. This has the hood scoop.

The DeeZee steps look really nice on that silver truck. Also like the bug guard. Not too sure how I'd like the silver tube steps on any other color than silver though...maybe black would be okay.

chilehead

If you go with an SR5 package (which you can get without TRD and sport packages), the seats are very comfortable and you get adjustable lumbar support on the driver's seat.