new to me 97 tacoma 3.4L maintenance suggestions

Just bought a 1997 4x4 tacoma 3.4L V6 with a manual transmission with only one owner! and 132,000 miles.

Now to the work.

The front and rear diffs have the original fluid in them what should i use in them? manual transmission fluid has been changed with red line MT-90 he gave me the bottle.

The engine coolant is low in the radiator and is green in color, it has been changed once he gave me the receipt from the dealer ship. What coolant should i use? I have toyota coolant for my other car and it is red.

The brake fluid, power steering fluid are the original fluids should they be changed? I noticed that the brakes will lock up the rear wheels the first time that you use them after that they seem to work fine is that from the old brake fluid?

Spark plugs, timing belt and the clutch have been changed by a toyota dealer ship at 110,000 miles.

The headlights are not very bright is there a led direct replacement without moding anything.

BTW the truck does not leak anything not a drop on my floor.

Thanks for the input and help!

 

My 2000 4runner needed leaky valve cover gaskets replaced. Make sure you us the correct dextron 3 for the power steering fluid.

 

I've been told to use ATF for the power steering system.

 

My right rear brake was locking up on me. I changed them (both sides, drums shoes hardware wheel cylinder) now it doesn't do it.

 

sounds like a great truck, i have nothing to add except lets see it man...love 1st GENs wish i could afford one just to have..gonna build? or just DD?

 

Sounds like it's ready to drive! Maybe check those cam covers and make sure the 10mm bolts are tight. Sweet pickup that will last a long time. Sounds like the PO took care of it

 

to clarify i can use the red line MT-90

$30 75W-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

75W-90 GL in the front and rear diffs? How hard is it to change? the rear looks easy.

For coolant something like Prestone Toyota 50/50?

Should i worry about the brake/power steering fluid?

Will post pics soon just need a few weekends to catch up on things.

Thanks again for the info

 

I’m almost in the same predicament as you, but 4runner auto.

I’m changing oil, radiator, coolant, trans fluid, and diffs/Tcase.

I currently have green coolant, but swapping back to Toyota red.

Diffs are easy to change, front is tight you either need to pump it in or use a tube and squeeze it in.

Mt-90 can be used in the diffs, trans and tcase.

 

The dealership told me not to use the red coolant in the old tacoma. I recently bought some for a newer toyota car and they gave me the red stuff.

Not sure what coolant to use really it's green and was done by the toyota dearship but it's pretty low in the raditor.

Does anyone have some good guides that show where the front/rear diff and t-case plugs are to change the fliud and what is needed to do so? amounts?

Doing a search says to use red line mt-90 GL5 in the front/rear diffs is the t-case the same? nothing on amounts.

I did not get the manuel for the truck.

Trying to do my own maintenance and i'm not familiar with this stuff the dealer gave me a quote of $480!

Thanks again.

 

I found the user manuel online for my truck

For the transfer case it says to use GL-4 or GL-5

$30 75W 90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

75W 90 and it holds 1qt

for the diff it says GL-5.

Since red line GL-4 was used in the trans can i just use it for all?

 

Phillips X Treme Vision H4 for the headlight bulbs. Direct replacement, like $25 on Amazon.

 

Thanks for that blue.

 

The stealership is correct you should not mix Toyota red coolant with Prestone green. You can add distilled water to top off the overflow tank or green coolant. Nothing wrong with staying with the green, just don't mix them.

 

For OP, peep like these as well as the Osram Night Breakers.

 

I would change all fluids, I was using green coolant for long time but have heard to use red coolant instead so I have been using red dor some time now. Also look into the water pump and timing belt . If original I would look into changin that now. Use oem or Japan parts, you can get a kit on ebay. Timing belt, waterpump, idler pulley tensioner pulley, cam crank seal. I just did all this work on my truck roughly $300 in parts.

 

actually the coolant is from the dealership so i don't think it is prestone.

Can i use redline GL-4? The book says gl4 or gl5

 

I used Castrol Transmax Import Multi-Vehicle Automatic Transmission Fluid

 

The Redline MT-90(GL-4) is perfect/preferred for the the transmission. It can be used in the transfer case, but so can regular gear oil(GL-5). The Redline or any GL-4 should NOT be used in either the front or rear diff. The front and rear diff require GL-5, and GL-4 should not be used.

Hope this helps

 

Thanks it does help!