How did you guys learn how to work on a Tacoma?

I am still learning and have really tried to stop buying tools I have done really good.

The tach and dwell meter and timing light got upgraded to a scanner and code reader not all the much has changed you still have spark fuel and timing

 

It also helps that it's been relatively unchanged both interior and exterior to the original pickup. At least until the 2nd gen. So you tack on those years of working on the 80's Toy pickup and it's pretty much the same.

 

Same here, pretty much repair-free.

 

I was too broke to pay a mechanic to fix my vehicles so I just bought some tools and started guessing a lot. Eventually the internet and YouTube came along to help out the process but it was slow going in the beginning for me back in the 90's.

 

Research, Research, Research. Take action upon that Research, and then revert back to Research when things didn't go as planned haha.

It can be scary, daunting, but at some point you just gotta get out in the shop and start wrenching and trust in yourself and your ability to figure shit out.

 

Yeah those Haynes and Chiltons were good but not always helpful.

 

You learn the hard way.
My first vehicle was a 1970 BMW 2002 when I was in high school. I did the front brakes and decided "why not do the front wheel bearings".
Turns out the conicle bearing orientation on the spindle is very important... Put the wheels back on, drove off to a squeal. Figure ehhh its the new pads.
Few blocks down, smoke coming off the wheels, I get out and look, see the crushed bearing parts coming out of the wheel center haha. Resulted in two bent spindles. Was very stressful at the time with little money. Had to have a friend tow me home for free. Learned real quick how to replace the front end after that.

Adding on:
I've always had a passion for automobiles. Although I had to do the work myself because of money (had very little cash at 16) the reason I really got into working on vehicles was just the passion. I really enjoyed how things worked. I went on to own over 5 BMW 2002's at that point, one TII, one with a 6 cylinder turbo swap. Then as I got tired of DDing an old car I got an e30 S50 swap then as I got more money and got more tired of the wreckless life, paid cash for a 330i imola red ZHP. All the work had to be done by me so I could afford it.
Then I got the truck and everything is easy. It's a lot less stressful because honestly, the parts are cheap as hell and the problems are cheap as well on these trucks. Great vehicle to work on.
You will also find that the best quality automotive repair work is your own, believe it or not.

 

They were definitely helpful for very beginning stages, but eventually common sense surpassed them.

 

Everyone's entitled to my opinion.

I fix everything except things that I don't have the tools, the cost of me messing up is astronomical, or I don't have the desire or time. I feel half the skill to fix anything is to having confidence in yourself. If you read, study, and apply sensible principles to something, you just need the courage to jump in and do it. This is the case with plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and technology. Failure is the best teacher. I have no problem with someone needing help changing oil. I've been doing it for 45 years and can do it in my sleep but I remember being nervous the first time doing it on my Tacoma. I really made sure that I pulled the oil pan plug instead of the AT. You have to start sometime. Go slow and when in doubt use your Google/YouTube degree to be sure. (Just use a little common sense and don't take advice from someone that did something once. Watch 3-4 DIY projects and if they all are doing it a particular way then it's probably fine to take their advice).

 

A cars a car. Nothing special about working on a Tacoma.

 

Now that we have the interwebs, there are SOOOOOO many better options than Haynes manuals.

 

Except that it's a Tacoma, and Tacomas are special (not the short bus kind, unless you're talking 3rd gens)

 

Timmy the Toolman on YouTube. He mainly does how to videos on 3rd gen 4Runners but a lot can be applied to the 1st gen Tacoma.

 

Go slow, be patient, and have the right tools. Pawn shops are a great way to build a tool collection and save money.

 

It’s fun it everything goes smoothly

 

I broke it first

 

this

 

my first two used Toyota's were both rear wheel drive 4cyl late '70s models, i totally skipped over the 80s!, were they much different then
i think i prematurely changed the rear diff and MT fluid on those as often as i felt like when I had access to the pit at the quick lube i was working at in the late teens
changing the rear brakes though threw me for a real bad loop iirc

 

dealership Ferrari, Porsche, Audi, Ranger Rover tech, 30 years ago... and I don't miss it one bit. A $200k Ferrari runs on the same principals as $10k Tacoma only the Tacoma is easier to drive, doesn't break as much and is much cheaper to repair.

 

Learned to work on other cars (BMW, Honda, Jeep, Ford, Dodge) and Toyotas just seem more straight forward. Only problem I've faced is the rust (making parts difficult to replace).