Calling all Tacoma gurus - What are some major issues with Tacomas after 2006?

If you can afford the down time, and assuming a modest budget; send the heads off to a local machine shop that you trust, and have them cleaned and checked, repaired as necessary.

I wouldn't go into the bottom end (rods, pistons, etc) unless inspection deemed it necessary.

I would highly recommend reviewing the Toyota service manual procedure for engine repair on the 1GR. Weigh your abilities against the how-to, see if it's within your skill set. Proceed accordingly!

 

Very true. My wife's 4runner had a floppy sun visor, so I made it a point to be careful with mine. But it just recently started to show some floppiness. 5 years old

 

Head bolts are a one time use. Toyota's like the super fine mating surface for their gaskets so I'd get the heads inspected. Get a timing kit and replace all freeze plugs while your at it.

 

How about that cost divided by a new truck payment + the insurance increase + depreciation (use IRS method)?

How many months till break even occurs?

Every month after that is a free ride.

 

Gas mileage

 

Simple to pull the foam filter out of the pump and put

$21 Uni Filter UP-107 1" Clamp-On Breather

one of these on the inlet for $13.

 

Sun visor here as well - $90 to replace - really need them here in Phx. On my '08 Off-Road, it developed a rack and pinion leak that got so bad I had to replace. I have a buddy that is a Parts Mgr at a Toyota stealership, so that only cost me $900. I haven't heard of anyone else having a rack and pinion problem with these trucks, so I guess I just got lucky. Also my mud flaps tend to break/crack, probably from being brittle from the heat and vibration.

 

Man you really got me thinking here. Haynes manual makes it seem like a roaring PITA to get to the head gasket but i haven't read anything i cant do yet. My buddy told me i should be concerned with damaging rods if i have the heads machined. Does that make any kind of sense?

 

Now i have the green light from THE WIFE to go ahead with the 07 dcsb because there is more room for our 2 kids. I know I shouldnt be arguing against a 2007 dcsb 4wd with 38000mi, but I asked her if it didnt mean anything to her that this truck brought both our kids home from the hospital when they were born. She said that it means way more to me than it does to her. This really sounds like a hell of a project and I know it will be fun for a guy like me, but its going to hard to turn down a WIFE approved 2007 dcsb 4wd 6spd. I sure appreciate all of y'alls feedback. Keep it coming!

 

I agree! Fix the clutch, replace headgaskets. These are not throw-away trucks!

Be very careful re-surfacing the heads. Too much and the camshaft timing will never be correct, endless CEL codes..

 

Damn it, you and blu99 are right! My Dad gave me a 52 Ford pickup that he had before he had me 40 years ago. He rebuilt the damn thing before i was born so he could give it to me years later. By God, Im going to give my oldest my 05 Access cab! You talked me into it!

 

On the subject of resurfacing I almost feel like you shouldn't touch the heads at all. take them to a machinist for a good cleaning. If the resurfacing is because of concerns about warpage I wouldn't worry both the block and heads are made of the same material so if anything is warping it's doing it together and in the same direction. I don't think they are using the old Teflon gaskets where the crap used to bake onto the surface. A lot of these new head gaskets are all metal and they come off cleanly and don't leave much behind

 

Now that makes sense. That should reduce the risk of damaging other parts, according to my friends theory?

 

Do the chains and guides, get a good head set from the dealer, take your time and use a good quality silicone where instructed. I would focus on minimal intrusion as far as headwork. Surfaces need to be completely dry and clean for silicone to work it's magic! But you probably already knew that!

 

Thank you brother!

 

I'm assuming the 05 is paid off? Why not get the 07 and keep the 05 to work on?

 

Moving from a 13 year old truck too a 11 year old truck really doesnt make sense,you really should try getting in a 2013 or newer if you are going through all the trouble of buying another truck.

 

A $15 fix with a uni filter and 5 minutes worth of work.

 

Again a $15 fix

 

Right, if you catch it before the filter craters the pump. Otherwise, see this thread:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...you-own-a-tacoma-you-should-read-this.449563/