What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

Damn that’s nice I’m not rich enough to buy kings.

 

Find em used.... that what I did...

 

Some things done today...

 

Thanks Brother. Yeah, it was a mint condition Pre Runner out of Arizona and checked all the boxes, except 4x4 but was too good a deal to pass up. I was looking for a 2004, TRD, black, low miles, paint is flawless save for a couple spots, interior is perfect, etc.. Couldn't pass it up and glad I bought it and had it transported to Texas and began modifying slowly. I was tailgating at the Texans game and had a bunch of fans come up and ask me about the truck. they couldn't believe the shape it was in (course they were drunk, we won lol).

Thanks for the compliment.

 

I had a 2001 silver 4 door taco. Your pictures make me miss mine. Traded it in at the time for a Tundra, I need more room in the back for the kids. Now the kids are grown and driving their own taco's I wished I had it back lol.

 

I bought mine new but they pop up here used quite often. Just gotta be quick on the trigger.

 

Spent some time on mine looking for faulty wiring just to make sure I wasn't barking up the wrong tree with the alternator. But it seems as if I have a field winding that's acting funky and reducing voltage output, or maybe a voltage regulator issue. Truck will start cold and produce pretty good power (not as good as regular but still acceptable 14.3-14.5) and then as it gets hot under the hood it produces less voltage but strangely seems to keep up with load. It got down to 13.8-13.9 but even with every accessory on (brights, turn sigs, stereo blasting, HVAC fan on full, brake lights) couldn't get it to go lower. I might throw in my good stock one tomorrow to confirm this ones dying but it seems like it is just a plain old failing alt.

 

I did not use but bits and pieces of the tacoma wires. I had to study both electrical wiring diagram manuals. to give you an example, the tundra heating system was manual cable and the tacoma had servo motors that worked the heating doors. I had to dissect the plug from the integration control panal in the tundra to power up the tacoma heating servo motors. I really had no idea if it would work.

 

That's what my alt did, after it warmed up the voltage would start dipping. It got down in the 12's and I took it to Graves auto electric and rebuilt it for $80 . He told me the contacts were worn out and windings were corroded. It's been running like a champ , Exide plant got in a shipment of 2nd's and I put a new battery in.

 

I wish I knew someone local that still rebuilt these things, I know someone where I used to live but that would be a hassle. I'm running a larger alt from a 90s Jaguar XJ6 (they used 120amp Denso alternators) so I was going to buy another genuine one from eBay and have this one rebuilt as a spare so I have a spare oversize alt haha.

 

I guess that's part of the learning curve when moving, I bet someone around there rebuilds alts, starters and such . I wonder what shipping to & from would cost you. I think the new toyota alt was 400+, I said .

If you have the time, you can rebuild it. There's some good youtube how-to's on it.

 

Installed this bad boy from @BartMaster1234

 

The oreilly's rental ball joint press #67045 in conjunction with the 4WD adapter kit #67048 fit perfectly then just throw a 1/2 inch impact on there, piece of cake.

 

@Bulldogs129 Found a local dude that's been rebuilding alts and starters for 40 years. Gonna drop it off with him tomorrow haha. His turn around is less than six hours for anything he doesn't have to order a special part for and every review is glowing. Sounds promising

 

There's a couple places in town. My dad uses one to rebuild his semi truck fleet alternators. I'll get the info for you.
They're pretty easy to rebuild if the windings are okay.

 

Whats the name of the place?

 

http://chandleraltstarter.com

Love his website too

 

Took a sweet cool photo last week with the help of @Squeaky Penguin

IMG_0137 by Michael Halat, on Flickr

 

Ahh Spokane

 

Good morning...That’s great news! You just wrote yourself a check!

Let us know if this fixes the problem.