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High-mileage 1st gen Tacomas

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by mooch91, Jul 10, 2008.

  1. Jul 10, 2008 at 5:37 AM
    #1
    mooch91

    mooch91 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    2012 Tacoma AC SR5 4x4
    Just recently purchased a high-mileage (197K) 1st gen Tacoma (98). The truck looks beautiful, rides beautiful, and runs beautiful. Maintenance on the truck appears to have been top notch--timing belt/water pump done, regular oil changes, frame is solid. Has Toyota red coolant in the truck and Toyota filters all-around. Truck has 5VZ-FE 3.4L engine.

    This will be my first really high-mileage vehicle. I'm moving away from a 1987 22RE with 142K that has been nothing short of amazing all the miles I've driven it (other than bed and frame rust). The engine has never skipped a beat and has only had head gasket/timing chain work which was really not a big deal.

    What can I expect with this "new" truck in terms of reliability? How long can I reasonably expect it to last? Other than the frame, any major issues to be aware of, especially in the motor and drivetrain?

    My searches have not turned up much on high-mileage 1st gen trucks.

    Only "issues" I've noted so far have been a slightly squirrely front end and I'm trying to determine if I saw a coolant drop in the overflow reservoir.

    Thanks.
     
    SecureIT2021 and rio966 like this.
  2. Jul 10, 2008 at 6:14 AM
    #2
    Janster

    Janster Old & Forgetful

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    Jandy
    Lancaster, PA
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    Do you know when the last time the water pump & timing belt were done?
    They both are recommended to get replaced at 60K miles. With 197K miles on the truck - I'd hope the water pump and/or timing belt was changed a couple times.

    I had a 96 and my water pump started leaking at 80K miles. It wasn't until 85K miles that it leaked enough that I could determine where the leak was coming from.

    How about all the other maintenance? Transmission oil, diff oil, transer case oil, fuel filter, radiator flush... and other things to think about.... Clutch fluid & steering fluid (in terms of maintenance), driveshaft lubrications, etc.

    Steering rack bushings tend to get play in them and can cause sloppy steering. Easy fix to do yourself....(I have a writeup)

    I've heard of balljoints getting sloppy also - I personally never had to change mine in the 96.

    Other than that - the truck has 197K miles on it. Stuff will go wrong. But in terms of engine, tranny, & driveline.....as long as they're maintained - I think they'll last a very very long time.
     
    Ngneer likes this.
  3. Jul 10, 2008 at 6:32 AM
    #3
    Ridgerunner

    Ridgerunner Well-Known Member

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    Frank
    Rocklin, Ca.
    Vehicle:
    2001 prerunner doublecab limited
    2001 with; cat-back side-swept twin exhaust, elbow mod, Westin bullbar with Hella 450 driving lights, Snugtop XTR camper shell, TRD off-road 2x4-black beauty.
    Actually I am hoping YOU will tell US here in the future just how many miles more you get out of that truck:) I think it's possible you have more miles than anyone here-so that great truck of yours can be the "official miles testimonial" to the Tacoma:D
     
  4. Jul 10, 2008 at 6:37 AM
    #4
    mooch91

    mooch91 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    That's what I was afraid of... hate to be the guinea pig! :)

    I thought it was interesting that there is so much aout there about 300K+ 22REs and very little about the Tacoma. I wasn't sure if this was a bad sign, or just a function of how long they've been produced.
     
  5. Jul 10, 2008 at 6:42 AM
    #5
    mooch91

    mooch91 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I believe they were done somewhere near 180K, per the previous owner. Found a sticker under the hood that seems to reflect 150-something as well. I know he did them because of a water pump leak.


    I plan to go through much of this myself over the next few weeks. This is cheap and easy insurance that I should be able to get through without too much trouble.

    I am planning to check the balljoints this weekend and will look in to steering rack and sway bar bushings, both of which I have read about. I think between these inspections and some new shocks, I should be able to restore much of the stability to the truck. Keeping my fingers crossed...

    Thanks for the thoughts.
     
    Ngneer likes this.
  6. Jul 10, 2008 at 7:26 AM
    #6
    Ridgerunner

    Ridgerunner Well-Known Member

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    Frank
    Rocklin, Ca.
    Vehicle:
    2001 prerunner doublecab limited
    2001 with; cat-back side-swept twin exhaust, elbow mod, Westin bullbar with Hella 450 driving lights, Snugtop XTR camper shell, TRD off-road 2x4-black beauty.
    Toyota put in the brochure I got when I bought my truck in '01, a story about a guy up in Washington who logged 292,000 miles on his '95 Tacoma hauling apples. That's really the only story of a high miles Tacoma I've seen so far which makes yours that much more cool:) Mine is 7 yrs old and Ive only logged 76,000 miles because I live 6 blocks from work:D I'll never see 200,000 on this truck.
     
  7. Jul 10, 2008 at 9:38 AM
    #7
    JimBeam

    JimBeam BECAUSE INTERNETS!! Moderator

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  8. Jul 10, 2008 at 10:12 AM
    #8
    tmantstud

    tmantstud High Mileage Work

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    Kansas City, Kansas
    Vehicle:
    98 Tacoma high mileage
    Bed liner, Polk db651s speakers, JVC head unit, Coverking custom saddle blanket seat cover
    My 98 tacoma 4cyl. 2.4L 5spd. currently is working on 240,000 miles and runs strong every day that I drive it. It is used weekly for heavy hauling of supplies and the only thing that has gone wrong is that A/C compressor seized up. Other than it starts up and goes every day. All that is required is routine maintenance and probably a new clutch at 250,000 miles :)
     
    StihlToyota and SecureIT2021 like this.
  9. Jul 10, 2008 at 11:12 AM
    #9
    wiscdave

    wiscdave Lets Do It!

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    Past ride - 3" OME 885s&Shocks/ TSB 1.5AAL/ AX184 Rims 285 Firestone destination ATs/ 2 Shallow mount P310s in Supercrew Box - Punch 601s, Beefed up Hunter Brush guard, Tint, Fog light mod, AFE Drop in, AC and Fog light mods, scangauge
  10. Jul 10, 2008 at 5:56 PM
    #10
    Ridgerunner

    Ridgerunner Well-Known Member

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    Frank
    Rocklin, Ca.
    Vehicle:
    2001 prerunner doublecab limited
    2001 with; cat-back side-swept twin exhaust, elbow mod, Westin bullbar with Hella 450 driving lights, Snugtop XTR camper shell, TRD off-road 2x4-black beauty.
    "bout time we heard about your truck's accomplishment too:) Seems like the more you make it work the more work it wants!
     
  11. Jul 10, 2008 at 7:28 PM
    #11
    hicksy712

    hicksy712 Member

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    Aaron
    TN
    98+ frontend swap with clear headlights, tint, 6" fabtech, 15x12 powdercoated alloys, 35x15.50 SX's, 5.29 yukon gears, 1.5" wheel spacers, k&n filter. paint and line-x to come.
    I have a 2.7l so I'm not too familiar with the 3.4. Some of my buddies with the V6 have had to replace the clucth master cylinder.
     
  12. Jul 11, 2008 at 12:04 PM
    #12
    tmantstud

    tmantstud High Mileage Work

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    Kansas City, Kansas
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    98 Tacoma high mileage
    Bed liner, Polk db651s speakers, JVC head unit, Coverking custom saddle blanket seat cover
    Tacomas are very tough little trucks. I've been told I can expect mine to run another 100,000 miles easily.

    IMG_1013.jpg
     
  13. Jul 11, 2008 at 4:28 PM
    #13
    concrete jedi

    concrete jedi Well-Known Member

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    Rochester N.Y
    Vehicle:
    06 Tacoma 4 door indigo blue
    Broken and scratched tailgate, cracked rear tail light lens, coffee stain in driver seat.
    I ran into a guy on a job site that was closing in on 350,000 miles on a I-4 4x4. The bed and body was shot, but the engine purred. He said when it wouldn't pass inspection, he was going to strip it down to the engine and trans. and use them to power a small farm type lumber mill.
     
  14. Oct 16, 2008 at 5:09 PM
    #14
    BAT24

    BAT24 Well-Known Member

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    TRD - CAI Sport Hood Sport Grille Sport Headlights OEM LED Tails Factory Roof Rack
    I just recently got rid of my 1996 Tacoma Regular Cab 2.7 5 speed I bought new at the end of 96. The truck had 327,889 miles on it when Toyota purchased it back due to frame rust. I put one starter and one clutch in the truck in the whole time I owned it. I drove it daily for my job as a auto adjuster for a major insurance company. My replacement truck is an 08 Double Cab Rugged Trail and I love it, although I have to say I miss the little 96 it was bullet proof and the first new vehicle I ever purchased.
     
    StihlToyota likes this.
  15. Oct 18, 2008 at 7:43 PM
    #15
    350TacoZilla

    350TacoZilla Well-Known Member

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    2.7L 3RZ,K&N filter, 4" deck plate mod,flowmaster 40 series,3" suspension lift, hybrid 52"chevy/toyota rear springs.
    I havent talked to the guy in awhile but when i sold my 95.5 tacoma with the 3.4 supercharged it had I think 196,000 on it and the guy still has it (i pass it every other month or so) last time I talked with him it had over 300K on it and was still going great but he is going through a clutch a year
     
  16. Jul 28, 2009 at 12:50 AM
    #16
    Wreckless_71

    Wreckless_71 WRECKLESS for Life...

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    Pullman, WA.
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    3" Lift via OME 881's, Bilstein 5100's, Dakar OME 3" leaf packs, MBRP custom exhaust, HID headlights, CB, Canopy, aluminum wheels, upgraded sound system, full set of studded snow tires and wheels, auxilary lighting, more to come.
    197,780 today... i bought it with 193,xxx in the last week of June :) I love her. She's a 1998 4x4 Ext. Cab with a 2.7L 3RZ-FE, 5-speed tranny. I'm gonna run her till the wheels fall off...
     
  17. Jul 28, 2009 at 1:28 AM
    #17
    Nate794

    Nate794 Well-Known Member

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    NONE.

    not true my truck has 235k miles!!:cool:
     
  18. Jul 28, 2009 at 7:08 AM
    #18
    JATaco

    JATaco Well-Known Member

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    My friend has a 1994 taco 2.7 w/ 224,000 & still runs strong.:D
     
  19. Jul 28, 2009 at 3:51 PM
    #19
    mooch91

    mooch91 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    As the guy who started the thread, I'm proud to say I'm up to 204K! Not much from the 197K I had a year ago, but still running strong, no issues!
     
  20. Jul 28, 2009 at 4:51 PM
    #20
    ARB1977

    ARB1977 It’s a beaut Clark

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    15 DCSB Prerunner 4.0L Blue Ribbon Metallic
    Black TRD Fj Cruiser wheels, TRD catback exhaust.
    My truck is still young...only 100K.
     

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