Is my Tacoma rare/strange?

Hey everyone, it's been a while since I've been on and my successful timing belt change! I've had some issues/questions about my Tacoma since day one and was wondering if anyone could help clear some of them up.

My Tacoma is a 00' 2x4 with the 3.4 V6 Prerunner w/ auto transmission. My issues/questions include . . .

1. I ride around Raleigh a lot, a lot. I've seen 3 other trucks like mine in the past year at most. There just doesn't appear to be many other 3.4 trucks that are 2x4. Is this a dealer option or something else? It seems strange to me. I don't even know why Toyota would make a truck like this that was not 4x4.

2. The truck has 4.10 gears, why? Why would this kind of truck ever need gearing like this? It has a 16-17 sec 0-60 acceleration rate. I thought the 3.4's had 190 hp? If so, I'm not convinced.

3. Why would I get a consistent 13-14 mpg highway with this truck? Everyone else seems to get 18-21, or better even with the 4x4's. I do have 265/75 tires on the truck and it calls for 225/75 but would that make that big of a difference?

4. Does my truck have a locker because it's supposed to I think? I've never been able to get anymore than a "one wheel peel" on rock, dirt or pavement. As such, during our recent snow and ice storm my truck was about as useful as a car.

5. Is this truck worth keeping? I like my truck and the way it looks but it lacks most of anything else that someone, including myself, is looking for out a truck. I feel like my truck has to be some factory reject or special order because I don't think Toyota would have sold many of these trucks if my Tacoma was an indicator of other similar models performance.

Any and all suggestions, tips, tricks, knowledge or advise would be much appreciated. I like Toyota's but this one is making it difficult for me.

 

Pre-2005 PreRunners are 2WD automatic trucks based on the same 6-lug suspension setup as the 4X4's. Everything you mention is factory spec for a 2000 V6 XtraCab PreRunner.

If you don't have a switch for the differential lock, you don't have the factory e-locker. This was available with the TRD Off Road Package or as a separate factory option.

The V6 was also available in 5-lug (2WD) Tacoma XtraCabs of that period with either a manual or an automatic. The following year the 5-lug V6 auto would be discontinued, and the manual version would become the S-Runner. So your PreRunner is one of three possible 2000 V6 2WD models.

If I understand you correctly, you've replaced your 225/75/15's with 265/75/15's. This would have increased your tire diameter by around 2.3" and thrown your speedometer and odometer off by around 8.3% (slow / low). This means that you're driving faster and farther than the speedometer / odometer indicate. This helps to explain why your mileage seems 'low'.

 

Ok, so I've got the worst truck Toyota made in 2000, that makes sense.

 

It could be worse- You could just have a 4 banger AND have to change gears yourself

 

Sorry to say, but it seems like you just got the "base model" with the V6. If you don't have the TRD package then you won't have the locker. (There will also be a button on your dash).
Not sure on the gearing. Are you sure it's 4:10s?
I have an '01 DoubleCab TRD 4x4 V6 that came with stock 265s. I have 285s w/ a lift, and about 18-20mpgs.

 

Yea, checked the inside of the door and the code. It does have 4.10 gears. The mpg issue is killing me the most. I can live with no power, torque etc. but the 13 mpg is taking a toll on me. I'm not throwing sensors on my display but the check engine light has come in in the past 3 times. Each time I just unhook the battery. I last done this about 6 months ago and it has yet to come back on.
Could the O2 sensor be bad and I just not be able to tell?

 

The resetting of the check engine light may be the cause of your misery here. You don't know whats wrong and refuse to fix it/do anything about it. An autoparts store will scan your car for free.

 

Also, can the O2 sensor be cleaned instead of being replaced? How many does my truck have and where would they be located, behind the exhaust manifold?

 

well your check engine light is coming on for a reason so you should probably get it checked out instead of doing a battery reset. . . and if im not having a vision problem, you said it takes 16-17 seconds 0-60 with a V6 and 4.10 gears???? there is no way thats true. you obviously have some type of problem going on, but resetting everything by unhooking the battery is definitely not helping you fix it. I know its not an extremely powerful truck but thats like geo metro slow.

 

Yea, I admit to not fixing it in the past. I was just trying to get it to pass inspection. The truck has got 13-15 mpg since I got it though. If getting this fixed would help the mileage any I'm ready to do whats needed.

 

Yea, I've timed myself on multiple occasions. From standstill to 60 mph is about 16 to 17 seconds. This improves slightly, to maybe 15 seconds after it has been running for a little while.

 

Would the problems still show up on a computer if the check engine light is not on? It's been six months or so since I last reset it and it's yet to come back on.

 

so you said you replaced the timing belt yourself right??? Was your truck this slow and did you get this crappy mpg's before you replaced your timing belt or did it start acting up after you replaced the timing belt??

 

Same before as after. I replaced the belt as a precaution because it was the original and the truck had 128000 miles on it at the time. It gets the same mileage and has the same lackluster performance as before. It had been suggested that changing the timing belt might remedy some of this but it didn't seem to help or hurt my situation.

 

What size tires are you running?

I got 33's, My mpg is 14 on a good week.

0-60 time, It's a truck...

 

wow... well there is obviously something very wrong because 0-60 in 16-17 seconds is super slow(no offense). years ago I used to own a small 4 cylinder single over head cam honda that would be considered a rocket compared to your truck... you should definately have it checked out.