2021 Taco OR in shop. Any mods I should have them do while in there?

Have a transmission leak so put the Taco in the shop. Anything I should have them do while in there other then the AC line rerout/fix? Appreciate any insight! My health is not the best so anything they can do helps me.

 

Btw just picked up this Taco about a week ago. So have not done anything to it. Just want to get the must do mods out of the way if I could while in the shop.

 

Raptor lights….

 

Anything wrong with it?

what year is the truck? Is it new? Used? Milage? Condition?

 

Assuming this would be at the dealer if it's brand new with a trans leak?

Nothing. You'll always be better off finding a good local off road shop to install mods. Dealers always overcharge and usually underdeliver when it comes to mods, sometimes even disgustingly so honestly. The only reasons to ever get mods installed at a dealer is if you're doing factory performance parts like the OEM lift(which honestly I wouldn't. I mean it doesn't look like a bad option but there's better for the money, though I get why people would want the OEM one) or there isn't a single reputable off road shop near you and you're unable to or unconfident in your own ability to install a mod.

 

You should probably get to know your Taco and what you want to use it for better before making mods that require a shop's expertise. If you don't understand your needs, you definitely shouldn't trust the gabagools in here to recommend anything to you.

That said, center console organizer, glove box organizer, and the oem bed mat are pretty universal mods you can add yourself. For the trickier stuff, check out the stickies:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tips-and-tricks-on-the-3rd-gen-tacoma.411911/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-diy-maintenance-quick-reference.406712/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-mods-tips.428840/

 

Dang those are sweet! I think I can pull that off myself, gonna order them up.

2021, bought it on Tuesday with 10k miles from dealer. Immaculate condition, certified pre-owned and all. On the drive home, noticed rear end whine. Did not notice it on the test drive. Also have the front passenger seat rattling, did not notice that because someone was sitting in the seat on test drive. Couple days ago front end passenger side clunk or something in the suspension when going over bumps. Have no clue what that is. Then, yesterday my wifey comes in and says hey do you know your Taco is leaking? Transmission fluid on the garage floor. So yeh, not off to a great start but hoping for the best.

See above answer. Thanks for the advice, I saw a 4x4 place in town will look into them. I dont want anything big, just maybe upgraded lights as i like those kewl LED lights like a lot of the upgraded Taco's have, maybe some better protection underneath, I dont plan to offroad it hard at all.

That is great advice, thank you. I had the center console on the list already, will add the glove box. Gonna check out those stickies, thanks again!

 

First if you mean LED headlights I wouldn't bother. They look brighter because of the color temperature but they don't actually throw more usable light and actually make things worse in rain, fog, snow etc. If you mean like off road lights any auto accessory shop could do that, it's not a complicated install.

On the skids, again I'd pick a set you like and they're the most straightforward thing to install ever, besides being a bit heavy. If you just physically can't from the health issues you mentioned any auto shop at all can put them on or like any able bodied friend with a socket set. It's just a matter of bolting them up.

Most dealers only install parts they sell you themselves, so they probably wouldn't even install the aftermarket lights and would probably only install the TRD Pro skid which is a bit better than the ones the other models come with but not worth upgrading to IMO.

 

So you’re not bringing it into a dealer ? Even though you’re under warranty

 

Have them pull your LCA cam bolts and slather them with anti seize, just cut mine out of my drivers side kinda sucked.

 

Which lights do you suggest? I definitely want to upgrade them. I also want to get some kind of LED bar, always wanted one of them.

Yeh dealer picked it up on the flatbed today and definitely under warranty. Sorry, shop should have read dealer. Its been a long week already. lol

Why have them do that?

 

It's very common for Toyota to conveniently forget too add grease or anti seize at the factory, the bolts then seize in the sleeves and bushings after afew years making it nearly impossible too align your truck.

 

Well if it’s going to the dealer they are unlikely to do the aftermarket updates you asked about. Keep us posted on why the trans is leaking that’s a rare issue

 

Dealer repair shops don’t Work that way …you would need to make another appointment to do any modifications to the truck .

 

Hmmm, I will run it by them and see what they say.

 

Will definitely update this thread once they update about the transmission.

Aaah ok. Good to know.

 

I just did the H9 mod(which is like literally cutting a plastic tab out of the bulb with a utility knife). It’s just a 10w higher output halogen, it’s noticeable though not a night-and-day difference(pun intended). I’ve had friends use aftermarket LEDs that look brighter in everyone’s rear view but do a worse job of actually illuminating the road in a manner that makes it easy to see. They are also terrible if any moisture is in the air to reflect off of. I’m a skier who lives in the PNW so bright white lights sound nightmarish.

I don’t have any aftermarket lights at all, despite winding up on forest roads in the dark often. That’s next on the list, I’d been holding up while saving up and then waiting for my arb bumper, I knew I wanted big round lights once I had the bumper and didn’t want to burn money on a light bar I wouldn’t have a spot for in a year.

 

Honestly, a good 1.5” lift did more to protect the underside of my truck than the new skid plate did. Having both is nice, though.

As mentioned, a bed mat and console organizer are inexpensive must haves.

 

I will check into the H9 mod, thank you. I think with a bit better light, and then being able to fire up a light bar when needed would be enough for me.

Well I dont want to get much taller because it is about perfect for us to get in and out of right now.

Where is the best place to purchase the bed mat, console organizer and glove box organizer?

 

I did the HID upgrade from Xenon Depot for my headlights a few years ago.
Massive improvement over stock as far as output and driving at night and much nicer looking white color.
Works perfectly with our stock projector housing and gets hot enough to melt ice on housing while driving (unlike LEDs).
Of course everyone has there own opinion but this was one of my most useful mods (and I've done a ton, lol).