2001 Tacoma Prerunner 4 CYL, $500 ?

Afternoon,

Friend of mine is the original owner of a 2001 Tacoma, standard cab. Prerunner, 4 Cyl, Auto Trans. It has 440K miles. Los Angeles truck, no rust. 2WD

Recently check engine light came on (I don't have the code). He took it to fix, and mechanic said it needs:

-New water Pump
-New Trans

Mechanic is asking $500 for used trans and $650 to install. Total $1250

We have a farm as a side business and I could use a rough truck like this (barebones), to haul Dates.

1) Friend offered truck to me for $500, as he doesn't want to fix it. AS IS

2) Anyone know a good shop in Los Angeles for this?

3) Worth the gamble?

THank you

 

the truck definitely sounds like a great deal to me (as long as the interior isn't trashed) but make sure that used tranny has no more then 150k miles or go find another one. the one down side is the engine with that many miles is on its last legs too so keep that in mind.

$650 just for labor is kinda high for swapping a tranny out but not insanely high, I think you could find someone to swap it out for around $300-$400

now if that $650 also includes getting and replacing the water pump as well at the same time, then that's a fair price.

that said, if I were you, I would rather look for someone selling and engine and tranny combo with under 150k miles on it and drop that in as-is and I bet you could pick that up for around $1,000

 

Karl

Thank you for the info. The interior is clean. I have been inside the truck last year. Bed is used, its been used as a truck.

Is it common for the trans on these to die eventually?

I wish I had the code so that I could post it here. Didn't think the motor is on its last leg.

In that case, not sure how big of a project this might end up becoming

 

well I say that because these engines usually go about 500k miles before failing and since yours is at 440 and you need a tranny for it, im thinking you are much better off replacing both rather then have engine issues next year or the year after with it. replacing the engine and tranny for ones with 150k miles or less will ensure this truck lasts you another 10-15 years and it saves you from the need of replacing the water pump unless you just want to do that anyway

fix it once and be done with it, that's my thinking on why

 

agree with your thinking 100%

Any sources where you think I can get an engine/trans combo? Hard to make sure it has a certain mileage , when purchasing used, no?

Apprecaite your help

 

get it from a wrecked truck. the reason is you know it was running and was taken off the road for damage and not engine of tranny issues.

if there are not any local salvage yards or craigs list ads selling parts trucks, then look here http://www.car-part.com/index.htm

plus, the labor cost to replace engine and tranny together is likely not much more then cost to swap just the tranny

 

Thank you

There are some pick junkyards here in Los Angeles

I will call some tomorrow to get idea of cost

 

Its a Socal truck, so no rust? Shit take it. If not, message me and ill buy it cash from him tomorrow.

Seeing stuff like this makes we wish i still had my shop. $1200 is not unusual for a tranny + R&R, i would charge more. They probably charge $80-100 and hour for labor. If anything i would charge more for the tranny. I would at least want them to warranty it for a year at the minimum, but i also would not be surprised if they refused. Its the transmission off a part car, who knows whats wrong with it.

I dont have a full shop anymore, but theres a guy in Canoga Park i sometimes refer people to if interested. Dont bother with pick-a-parts in LA, they are all low end. Contact @calminitruck , he works for a junkyard in Pomona that is all pickups, lots of Tacomas.

 

Buy it, thats a great deal especially for what you want out of it, if not I would love to buy that thing also, let me and caligula know if you end up not buying it, caligula having first dibs after you of course

 

Pics

 

You rock
Yeah trucked lived all its life in Simi Valley

I will buy it
And then post info here

 

I don't have pics of it
It's at a mechanics

It's the silver color
Pre runner version
Roll up windows
Roll up door locks

Only thing "wrong" is its not 4wd or stick shift

 

It's a "family deal"

I will post the code once I get the truck in my possession

Then you guys can make a suggestion

If I can fix and use great

If not you two get dibs

This board has helped me many (I am 10+ year member) on ih8mud and club Lexus

Just paying it forward

Stay tuned

 

Is canoga park guy Leo at 101?

 

Ahh, I grew up in Thousand Oaks. Used to have a shop on 1st and LA Ave.

 

Small world

My dad owns the commercial shopping center Yosemite/LA

My sister went to Simi high

I moved out before my parents moved to Simi in 1994

 

No, he's a private mechanic, has a shop out of his home. If you read my posts you will see i refuse to let anyone touch my cars but me, but him i would absolutely recommend.

Actually i dont know if he is still in business, but there is a shop on Royal Ave. at the Arco station. Big Argentinian guy, Marcello. I knew him from when i was growing up at German Tech in Thousand Oaks. He had a shop there last i talked to him but that was like 4 years ago. I can say hes honest and well trained.

 

Very cool, i know it well. In fact John Mason, one of the greatest fabricators i ever met has a ranch and workshop way down Keuner. He used to build Formula and Lemans frames. He does a lot of race prep for BMW and Audi/VW cars on the side now.

http://www.masonengineering.net/

 

Most engines have an average lifespan of 175k miles, so 440k is considered extremely high mileage. I'd definitely start looking for an engine just in case, at least have one on the side ready to go in when the time comes. It's always a gamble buying something with that many miles, you just never know what's going to go next, for all you know the rear diff may be on it's way out too. The front end and steering probably need work by now, and definitely have the ball joints checked as those a big weak link in these trucks.

 

Appreciate the info !

Will keep you guys posted here