new to me 05 DCLB TRD Sport

hey guys, new to the forum. i just picked up a 05 TRD SPORT DCLB for $7100 with 155k miles. Good deal? I've been on this forum the past few weeks looking around so forgive me and any dumb questions I may ask, so here goes:

1. I know this Gen Tacoma had the frame recall. Does anybody know when this ended. If it didn't anyway for me to have the dealer check it out or at least pull up a record that it has been inspected based on the VIN

2. I have one generic unbranded key. Do these have immobilizer keys? Also is there a factory plug and play solution for keyless entry?

3. My driver window stops going down about half way. Any thoughts?

Thanks very much and I will post pics soon as I have her cleaned up.

 

Welcome to TW.

$7100 is a good deal and fits ur name ‘mrcheap’.
Welcome to the forum ..
When I got my frame recall letter I think it said the frame replacement ends 12 yrs after it’s manufactured.

 

OP, your frame is well out of warranty unfortunately. This brings up an interesting point. What does the frame look like? (Check the box sections near the cats.) If it's rusted through, you paid too much. If it's not, you did pretty good.

 

Welcome to TW. The frame recall for a 2005 expired. The thing is if the frame is rusted and there is the possibility it will have to be replaced you should not have bought the truck. Your $7100 truck can end up being a very very expensive truck. Post some pics of rusted frame and let us take a look. I hope it’s not bad and the truck works out for you.

 

gotcha thats what i fear - ill get under the truck and snap some pics later - trying to be a responsible adult and work from home unfortunately

 

see attached - sorry for the poor light (in garage)

 

Frame looks good. That looks more like surface rust, which should come off with some wire brush scrubbing.
- If yours is a V6, it likely has an immobilizer key which has a small dot stamped on the neck below the plastic.
- Adding an alarm with keyless entry would be the best route to go for keyless entry.
- As for the window issue, is it just the driver's window that won't roll down completely but still rolls up? Pull the door panel to observe the operation of the window regulator motor(likely failing).

Welcome to TW.

 

Doesn't look too bad. Any idea whether the heads gasket issue has been addressed?

 

thanks all - my friend said the same thing about the frame so thats a big relief to me

- If yours is a V6, it likely has an immobilizer key which has a small dot stamped on the neck below the plastic.
not home right now, but its not a toyota key, i will check it later. i assume most locksmiths by now are savvy enough to make emobilizer keys....would like a spare just in case
- Adding an alarm with key less entry would be the best route to go for key less entry.
i agree i will prob go that route - looks like it did have an aftermarket alarm previously as evidenced by a light on the dash and switch on the lower foot well panel.
- As for the window issue, is it just the driver's window that won't roll down completely but still rolls up? Pull the door panel to observe the operation of the window regulator motor(likely failing).
yea i'll take it apart

gasket issue not sure - i am told there were service records, the seller will mail to me

not new to cars or toyota/lexus world. i used to have 97 4runner with the 3.4. the 4.0 is new to me i do most minor work myself - oil changes, brakes, tune ups, belts, fluids etc

 

Here’s a pic of the key. Looks generic and no dot. Not sure if it is immobilizer or not??

 

When I got my 05 the drivers window wouldn't go all the way down either.
Turned out the door check (keeps the door from opening too far) was bent, and that bent the window track.

 

Thanks for the tip. I will look into it. I think it needs replacing as the door swings right back closing and will not stay open.

 

No bueno.... even at that price I sure hope this isn’t your daily driver

you don’t have an immobilizer because you wouldn’t have been able to start the truck with a generic key if you had one.

It seems like the truck may have been in an accident on the driver side, just guess though. (Generic key, door issues, window issues all on the same side)

 

I don’t think anything major as all body parts have their vin stickers

it does have bumps and bruises

it’s a 15 yr old truck so I didn’t expect it to be flawless

 

OP...I only brought up the head gasket issue because it effected many '05's. Seems like around the 150k mark is where it often times crops up.

Welcome to TW

 

The door check strap is definitely broke. A strong wind gust can easily blow the door open and break it. When you close the door, it bends the front window channel. So, you need a new check strap and a front window channel. Some people have been able to straighten the channel, but it’s best to just buy a new one. Here’s a video that shows how to remove the door panel. You might need to watch it a few times.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yjhYKzE_yBg

If yours is a real sport, it should already have keyless entry. Do the Mexican hat dance to get into fob programming mode. If the locks cycle confirmation that you’re in programming mode, you have factory keyless entry.

For the immobilizer thing, see if there’s a red blinking light in the middle of the dash with the key removed. Blinking light means immobilizer.

 

Welcome to TW!

 

When it comes to keys and key fobs it is best to avoid the chinese knock-offs . The knock-off fobs when compared to OEM are flimsy and the stencil on front for lock,unlock wears off quickly. But the good news is just over @ eBay you’ll find OEM keys and fobs for very reasonable prices, way less than stealership. Find a local independent locksmith to cut and program the keys and fobs. You can program the fobs yourself if you can do the chicken dance.

I just looked OEM key was 12 bucks and key fob about 20 these are NOS, used fobs which can be reprogrammed appear for less. One guy sells in groups of 5. I used him once, well pleased. Good luck

 

"Many" 05-06 Tacomas do not have head gasket issues. The vast majority have no engine problems, a small percentage have poorly designed head gaskets have a higher probability of failure.
Owners whose head gaskets have failed post here then many more people repeat it and before you know it, every 05-06 Tacoma has head gasket failure. The 05-06 Tacoma posts of 200k+ trouble free miles are rarely repeated.

 

Yea def issue with the door check, see attached. Looks like the mounting points on the door is broken. All wobbly in there. Guess I got some parts ordering to do this weekend.

also yes it does have the immobilized light. Does it flash all the time when the key is not in?