High?? Mileage Tacomas

[gabepari]

So, in my never ending fit of AAAADD (Advanced Adult Automotive Attention Deficit Disorder), I have settled (I think) on an '01-'04 double cab Taco. It will eventually be fitted with an AT Flippac and, sooner than that, sporting a snazzy Overland Teardrop in tow to accommodate the whole family on our little outings. I was almost set on an 80 with a RTT pulling the Teardrop, but the appeal of the Flippac is too much for the wife to pass up. Apparently being able to stand up, out of the dirt, and get dressed is sort of important to her :snorkel:

So, I've been looking around the net for the killer deals and most of them seem to be in the 100-130K miles range. Other than the timing belt, is there anything else I should be looking at? Trucks with less than 100K seem to be quite a bit higher in price.

I've found that an auto tranny is the only option for 1st gen dbl cabs (kind of a bummer, but ok I guess). Do all TRD trucks have the rear diff lock? Do non-TRD models have the rear diff lock? I've seen some trucks without the TRD stickers but sporting the little diff lock button to the left of the column.

I'm not a stickler on color, but white or silver if I had my drothers. Oh, and NO, I can't afford the kitted out white one in Prescott (sorry James).

Off to do some more research. And try to sell off 2 or 3 vehicles to keep the wife from killing me for buying another rig :coffeedrink:

Thanks for any info,

Gabe Pari
www.socalteardrops.com

[SAR_Squid79]

For a Tacoma over 100K miles, you should look at timing belt, water pump, gaskets (head, valve cover, transmission), axle/differential seals, driveshaft u-joints, and CV axles. Fortunately - all of those items are a pretty easy fix if they need replacing. But those are the most common components that wear out.

Every Tacoma that is "TRD" should have the rear e-locker. When I bought my truck and ran the VIN, it came back as having the 'TRD Off-Road' package, but it did not have the TRD decals. (I added them later) You should also be aware that lots of people that DO NOT have a TRD Off-Road package have added the decals for looks, and increased resale value. Watch out for that.

[CA-RJ]

130k shouldn't be a problem on a well maintained Tacoma. At that mileage, the timing belt should be done. If it hasn't been done, change it, the drive belts, water pump, idler pulleys and the camshaft and crankshaft seals. I would flush the radiator and drain and fill the diffs, t-case and transmission. I would also check the spark plug wires as well as the plugs.

[Rexsname]

I've got 211,000 on my '01 Tacoma. I recently bought lower control arms and lower ball joints. In this area, it was cheaper to buy new parts than it was to pay to have the bushings pressed out and new ones back in. If the one you find has been treated gently,the front end work may not need to be done yet.

Catalytic converters are not cheap and will need to be replaced at some point with a vehicle with this many miles. My fuel mileage went up conciderably after having the converters replaced.

I've had mine since new, and despite some expensive maintainence lately, I still love my truck:smiley_drive:

REX

[xcmountain80]

I think there is a rule somewhere than states if High Mileage and Toyota are in the same sentence the odometer must read 300,000+.

Aaron

[gabepari]

I think there is a rule somewhere than states if High Mileage and Toyota are in the same sentence the odometer must read 300,000+.

Aaron

That's why I included the "???'s" after "High" :ylsmoke: As not to offend :)

Does a rear diff lock indicate that the truck has the TRD package?

Gabe

[SAR_Squid79]

Tacoma TRD Off-Road Package:


Only available on 1998 - 2004 Tacomas
Only ExtraCab and DoubleCab models
TRD Package was available on both PreRunner & 4WD models.
TRD Package WAS available with either the 2.7L or 3.4L engines
Electronic RR Diff Lock (w/ push button activation to the left side of the steering wheel)
TRD Progressive rate front coil springs (the coils get closer together at the top of the coil)
'TRD' Bilstein shocks all around
TRD decals on the rear quarters
Wider fender flares
Larger tires from the factory.

[Martinjmpr]

Also every TRD I've seen has bucket seats (vs the silly "split bench" of the SR5), power windows and power locks and power mirrors. My SR5 has manual locks and windows and manual remote mirrors.

[ChuckB]

Also every TRD I've seen has bucket seats (vs the silly "split bench" of the SR5), power windows and power locks and power mirrors. My SR5 has manual locks and windows and manual remote mirrors.

I'm Taco-sitting my buddies '02 ( I believe) and it is an SR5 DC Pre-Runner with manual everything. I kinda like it, but haven't seen another one.

I'm thinking along the similar lines as Gabe, although minus the trailer initially. I also wish the DC was available with the manual tranny.

[Cackalak Han]

One amendment to SAR Squid's list is that the DC Tacoma TRD's came with Tokico's all around. At least my 01 did.

As far as the manual transmission, I wouldn't worry about that too much. I've always had manual cars since I was 17 (starting with the 86 Mazda 626. Loved that car). I swore I'd never get a slushbox, but honestly, the auto in my Tacoma does not bother me much at all. Sometimes, it's actually nice to be able to eat and drive easily, or just sit back and relax after a long day of skiing, biking, etc.

IF the manual would've been available, I might have gotten that instead, but I do not regret getting an auto. IMO, it shouldn't be a deal-breaker. Truck bed, seats four--couldn't ask for more.

[TheRedDawn]

I have a 2003 DC with 125,000 miles. Did the timing belt + the other stuff that goes along with it right around 112,000. (Bought it from the dealer with 20k)

I occassionally pull a loaded trailer and will have the bed loaded with 2,000+ pounds of gear 10x a year, (I added airbag suspension as the max carrying capacity is around 1,500lbs). Sometimes I add an oversized cab over camper too. Basically, I push the scale when it comes to pay load.

I baby it in all other aspects of driving and the occassional off-road lake access camping trip.

Besides routine maintenance, (and an impossible to find/fix squeek in the dashboard), I haven't had to have any other work done to it besides a few headlights/driving lights. Clean bill of health at the 112,000 mark.

I wish you the best in finding a great Tacoma. I am beyond 100% satisfied with mine and can't imagine ever owning another truck. :victory:

[czenkov]

I have a NON-TRD and all manual everything. I DO NOT have the e-locker but do have an "ETC" button on the lower left corner of the dash. From what I understand it adjusts shift points - nothing more. Hope this helps in your search.

[Stealth 4x4]

Great choice for a platform to build on. That's the best, IMHO, which is why I bought one. Also a cheap, but great thing to do to one with that many miles is to get a set of steering rack bushings from Energy Suspension and install them. Like night and day before and after. Personally, if I bought a used one I'd swap out all of the fluids with synthetic, get new filters, clean the injectors and throttle body, re-torque critical components like the nuts on your U-bolts lower ball joints, etc., or at least make sure they are not loose, and get an alignment. Might be due for brakes... new shocks too, which would be a good time to get a lift. Also check your carrier bearing for the two piece rear driveshaft (if you get an extra or doublecab).

My 98 ex-cab taco has 235,000 miles, and my '03 D-cab is up to about 113,000 miles. The only major repair either has needed is a rear diff for the '98. Neither have needed a new steering rack, tranny, motor, or anything that cost more than about $400 to replace. At 235k. I finally replaced a u-joint in the '98 last week. All new belts and hoses as needed for my Tacos has usually meant about every 100-120k miles. And I do a new water pump and thermostat about every 125k, whether it needs it or not. A lot of stuff has already been covered. Yeah, go find a nice used one and get to work! It'll take good care of you if you take care of it.

[Purzell]

Hi,

I don't want to start a new thread before asking this here...does this apply to 3rd Gen 4runners as well? I've been checking those out too and see many with over 150K in my price range.

Thanks!

[robski]

I bought an 01 tacoma double cab non trd 4x4, with 189xxx miles way cheap.. I figure the money I save for getting this one, I'll use it for maintenance and some accesories. So far the only thing I replaced is spark plugs, air cleaner, fluids and a set of new tires and still runs great. I only wish that they offer a manual for double cab. Higher mileage is not bad as long as PO maintain it with oil change and timing belt service.

[mtnbike28]

The e-locker has a habit of "freezing" when not used. Many of these trucks never have it engaged and then it stops working. Mine stopped working and I used it at least every two months.... Just make sure during the test drive, you go in Lo 4wd and try it, the light should be solid when engaged, not blinking!

hth

[Martinjmpr]

Hi,

I don't want to start a new thread before asking this here...does this apply to 3rd Gen 4runners as well? I've been checking those out too and see many with over 150K in my price range.

Thanks!

Yes, they are basically the same platform, same engine and tranny, axles, etc. The 4runner has a more sophisticated rear suspension (4 link w/coils vs the Taco's leaf springs) but other than that they are very similar. FWIW the 4runners were built in Japan while all of the Tacos were built in the US.

Being a "car" as opposed to a "truck" the 4runners also seem to be a little more "plush." I don't think I've ever seen a 3rd gen 4runner with manual-crank windows, for example. Remote keyless entry was also standard at least after 1999 (there were big changes to the 4runner starting with the 99 model year.) I believe AC was also standard on 4runners (although to be fair I don't think I've ever seen a 1st gen Taco that didn't have AC.)

I think one other difference you might find is that AFAIK the locking rear diff only came on the Taco with the TRD package (I may be wrong but every factory e-locker Taco I've seen was a TRD.) OTOH, the locker was a fairly common option on even the SR5 (i.e. base model) 3rd gen 4runners up through 2000 (the e-locker was not available on the 2001-2002 4runner.)

The other chief difference between the 1st gen Taco and the 3rd gen 4runner is that the 4runner was available with a "multi-mode" Transfer case that permitted full time 4wd use on paved roads (basically like AWD.) On the 99 - 2000 models this T-case was only available with the "limited" package, but starting in 2001 it was standard on all 4wd 4runners.

In terms of reliability and longevity, though, they are very much comparable. There are lots of folks who have 200k+ on 3rd gen 4runners with all of the original running gear. My 3rd gen has 122k on it and is still running strong, and still feels "tight."

[Stealth 4x4]

We bought our D-cab new as a TRD Prerunner, and were initially bummed we could not get it in a 5-speed manual. But since then we have learned to love the auto trans as well. It does make some things easier, but more importantly it has held up to some hard trail abuse, and hard pulling duty hauling trailers full of firewood through the mountains. The auto has proven itself to me. I think a d-cab Taco is a great choice, because I own an '03 in silver (converted to 4wd, with a few other mods). Check out my build thread to see what mine looks like these days. http://www.ttora.com/forum/showthread.php?t=115481 Jump on in and join the '01-04 D-cab taco club!

And while you are taking care of the general maintenance, go ahead and clean up the throttle body and run your favorite fuel system cleaning to clear up the fuel injectors. Some Taco owners neglect to do that, and it does effect fuel economy.

Only other advice I can offer about owning/wheeling a D-cab is that they are heavy, so you might want to keep weight savings in mind as you build it up - so tube instead of plate bumpers, synth winch line instead of cable, stuff like that. I pulled out the back seat to gain cargo space and cut weight as well, but my family is just the wife and I, so 2 seats is plenty.