Did I make a huge mistake?

I guess I may have read the wrong info with regard to the CVT, but there's no turning back now lol. I had read some reports of 4th gen cvt's failing at around 100,000, but came to realize maybe they were the ones that weren't maintained? And/or maybe used to tow or something? This wasn't the case with all of the reports I read, but with some for sure. Like some issues with manufacturing, it looks like it was hit or miss. Some cvt's going out at 100k and some lasting past 200k This was/is (haven't sold it yet) my 3rd subie and I have absolutely loved it so far.
I was freaking about about the taco for sure (was frustrated about a few relatively little things, but for me it felt kinda big) and still wonder if I'm making the right decision, but it was time for a truck lol...perhaps I should've waited until I could buy something a little newer, but I'm happy with it. Just road-tripped to Flagstaff from southwest CO, then up to Silverthorne and back home and everything went nice and smooth Plus, I added a topper (needs a little love...I guess I now apparently love projects) as it's basically going to be my home for the next few months

 

It's lookin real good

Like I said before your getting more knowledge as you complete repairs.

And yes it a labor of love

 

What I've read about the CVTs is thst they have improved over the years. You just have to be OCD about their maintenance, and it being done by someone who actually knows them, ie trained on them.

Which applies to all vehicles really.

But, me personally. I wouldn't buy one. But if you have one already, be very maintenance conscious.

 

In 2015 I wanted a 3rd gen 4Runner and paid waaaaaaay too much for a clean 98' that had a supercharger and only like 70xxx something miles on it. I'll tell you, I paid 12k for it (not proud of that, but such is life and you can only learn from your mistakes). I kid you not, the drive home it broke down on me and I found out that 2 cylinders had cracks in them and the head gasket was blown. I was deploying shortly after and needed it fixed, so I paid Toyota somewhere to the tune of $4k to fix the issues. I kept the truck for about a year and change and ended up selling it because I was too impatient to try and fix minor issues that seemed more annoying to me because I had a bad taste in my mouth from the initial disappointment. I say all this at risk of being poked fun at because you aren't the first and surely not the last to make a purchase you were less than thrilled about in the end, and I often wonder if I sold the truck way too soon because I had buyers remorse. But from what it sounds like, the things that need fixing aren't too egregious and once done, the truck should live a long life. My 2cents would be to keep the truck and sort of the issues as they come. I think you will enjoy it in the long run.

 

It was actually a torque converter issue that affected some cars. Unfortunately,it's hard to track down the exact vehicles affected.

 

Don’t feel bad. Just bought a 13 Taco, my first truck ever, last Thursday and had to replace front left wheel bearing today. But I’m looking ahead now, not backwards.

 

part of owning something fun is fixing it, like how my SAIS just shit out for no fucking reason other than toyota trying to have better emissions

 

Just so you know... Just because someone tells you your LBJs are worn out doesn't mean they are.

Are you having problems with wobble or tracking or shimmy or creaking and groaning... or just some mechanic that makes money selling you something and telling you that you need something desperately?

I put some LBJs in a truck and about six months later went in for tires and they tried to tell me that the truck had the original ball joints in it and they needed to be replaced.

140K? You might need ball joints... or you might not.

 

$1800 to put axle seals in and probably new shoes? Maybe change the diff oil? Woof!

 

Yea they needed a big press too they said for the seal (maybe a bearing or the seal is on the bearing ?) Lol I was pretty pissed at the time and I had no access to a big long press . It was in for annual inspection and I had literally just got the truck . When I bought it the frame was just done with new leaf springs and the underside of the truck was immaculate (and spotless clean and shiny , hence why I missed the axle seal because there wasn’t no visible oil splattered on anything) . I took it to the shop to have it inspected and they spotted it right away (I had drove it 70miles home and oil was splattered all over the drum and stuck out like a sore thumb) ..... I did bitch at the place that sold me the truck and I got $400 back (I got the truck “cheap” at 13,400-400 from a 16000 price tag at the time )

 

My mistake , I went back and looked at the receipt and it was 1443.07 not 1800 that I said

 

Trying to figure out how to say this without sounding like an a$$hat...

If it was nothing but seals and shoes... I did mine in less than an hour and the parts were less than fifty bucks.

If it was bearings too... it could be a lot more and does need a press. But if you didn't hear bad bearings...

 

This is what parts it took

 

100% what he said! Fix what you can afford when you can afford it, and enjoy the truck! I would start with some of the helpful tips on here for small things like changing your own oil, changing your air filters, etc. for the bigger stuff I would find a trusty shade tree mechanic or local shop near you and budget out the labor as you go through everything. 140K miles is not a lot of miles on a 2007 Tacoma. Things I would definitely have serviced if nothing else, is transmission drain and re-fill, rear end differential drain and re-fill, rotors, shocks, serpentine belt replacement, and a new battery of the current one is at least 3yrs old. Just my two cents. Good luck and enjoy the ride, you’ll get more out of it than you realize right now!

 

Actually, that sketchy mechanic never even called me back with a quote. Got a second opinion from my local mechanic and he said he didn’t see any issue. There are no audible signs at this point of an issue, and hopefully we were correct in visually inspecting the LBJ’s. Just took it on a 1200 mile road trip, no issues

 

When you find a mechanic who talks themselves out of work I believe you found someone you can trust.

 

I thought driving around in circles listening for clicks was a quick way to diagnose CV joint issues ( which you said you fixed )

My last original LBJ just went at Christmas. 422,000 KM's (260,000 miles) RIP OEM BJ. Helllooooo Cheap Moog!
I wouldn't worry about it too much, especially since Mechanic #2 had no concerns.

 

How do you have a Tacoma with that many kms in Nova Scotia? You must park it in an oil bath at night...

 

You’ll be looking at more suspension part replacements in the near future.

 

close!

I'm the 2nd owner, but I know the 1st ( my cousin ) and this truck has had Krown undercoating every year of its life. I try to do it *just* before the snow hits the ground.
the only negative side affect of this is I had to replace all my door seals in 2019. But that's a small price to pay for keeping my truck minty.