2015 Tacoma -what to look for

Hey guys,
I'm looking at purchasing a 2015 Tacoma. I'm going to a dealer later today to check one out. It's a 2015 DCSB O/R with 88k miles. I was wondering what key areas I should look out for? I'm located in New England so I'm of course going to check for rust. Is there anything else I should focus on? I will take pictures when I go and probably post them when I get back.

thanks

 

Aside from rust the most important things to check for are odd sounds and shakes when driving it. Driving a Tacoma should sound and feel alot like driving a cloud, if a cloud were a truck, if that makes sense.

 

You pretty much got it. Check the fluid levels/ color/ smells. Odd noises. Engage 4x4 if it has it and the locker. If you could start it cold before they start it and warm it up that could tell you a few more things.

 

I see a lot of guys replacing wheel bearings close to the 100k mileage. (Myself included)
Might listen for a noisy bearing.

Other than that, all the other advice is spot on.
Good luck with the deal

 

Hey guys so I just went to check it out, things seemed all ok, I did notice a couple things though:

1. When I turned the engine off it seemed like a squealing noise came from the AC unit. Almost like the fan or something made a loud noise.

2. the oil cap had some darker browner looking oil on it and that kinda scared me of a head gasket leak but I'm not sure. It had a bit of very faint white streaks in it but I wasn't sure. After I test drove it also and opened the oil cap some faint white smoke was coming out of the fill hole. Not sure if that's normal

everything else like the paint, frame (for New England), engine, trans, and interior seemed to all be in actual good shape. I've attached some images of the frame and the oil cap.

he is asking 25k for it and my only real concern I'm seeing is that brown fluid on the back of the oil cap. Idk of that's normal or not on Tacoma's.

 

How long do you plan on keeping it, I’d definitely be under with wire brushes and por15

 

Squeal on shutoff is normal. Something something evap smog pump something something.

 

Absolutely wire brushing, sealing and fluid filming the crap out of it if I get it. Nothing looked to be more than just surface rust tbh. I was pleasantly surprised.

 

The little bit of brown on the oil cap is normal.
So is “steam” if you just went for a short drive on a cold/cool engine.

Someone got carried away with the CRC application.
They did a sloppy job, but it looks like they did in fact fill the frame full.

I think the truck seems fine for a North Eastern truck.

 

Ya I read up that it was steam, we did drive it on a cold start. Also ya it was very well filled (the frame) I rather have it over filled than under filled though

 

Hey Guys, took a look at another truck, 2015 59,xxx miles. asking $25k. DCSB O/R. This one is a private seller which makes me feel I can get the price down a bit. Frame looked good for new england and the only big rust issue I was seeing was on the front shocks... Also the tires look worn so that as well. It was a company vehicle and from a good part of town so I'm pretty confident that it was well cared for and maintained. the interior looked brand new. Didn't get to test drive it because the owner was out of town but when I go back I'll make sure that checks out. It also doesn't seem to have been sealed with the CRC stuff Toyota uses. Would a dealer do that for me if I just walk in or would the truck have to be "approved" for that. What do you guys think?

 

What kind of company
Some fleer cars get beat

 

It was a fire sprinkler company. Looks like a small one. I assume nothing too heavy

 

Looks fairly decent to me. Just wire brush, ospho and POR the front frame welds and I’d say you should swap out those shocks.

 

I was thinking that. Definitely going to wire brush, paint it, and seal it before winter. I've looked at several trucks here in New England and they all carry those weld rust spots

 

I would run a CarFax to see if the truck has been in any accidents or floods, how many owners, and hopefully maintenance records.
You will need to purchase/install new tires and shocks, which should be part of the negotiating.

 

Gonna run the carfax tomorrow, I believe it was 1 owner and had 22 service records and yeah I was thinking around 22k would be sweet. Those shocks are done for