Newbie with 4x4 questions

I'm almost about to buy a 2002 Tacoma V6 TRD 4WD w/168,000 miles on it for $7,000 but it has a few issues I need help with.

1. When accelerating there is a vibration at lower rpms but eventually stops when getting up to speed. What could this be and is it a concern? The driver's side front half shaft has a tear in the boot and I wonder if this has anything to do with it.

2. It looks like the exhaust has been modified and there is no cat.
converter after the "Y", just a straight pipe to the muffler. Is this right or should there be a cat. there? I've heard the cat. after the O2 sensors is not needed, it this correct? I live in CA.

3. The driver's side rear window sounds like it's going bad when you power the window down. Is that costly to fix?

I would appreciate all your help.

 

Oh, and is the price right for the truck?

Thanks.

 

there are better deals out there ....

 

How mechanically inclined are you? If you have to ask I'd say move along to somthing with less issues.

 

I'm not too sure if you should complain too much. They say that you get what you pay for. So you had to know the truck had SOME issues.

Most everything seems as if it would be a process of elimination to figure out.

 

No cat = no pass emissions in ca or pretty much anywhere I have ever lived. New cat will not be a cheep fix. I say keep looking.

 

for those miles and those problems (unless you can fix them yourself) i'd say it a tough call


but if you have to do cali emissions your definetly won't pass without a cat....is it currently registered and "passed"

 

I'm very mechanically inclined but I know nothing about Toyota's. I had a Ford F150 that had 4 cats and my Chevy Silverado had 2, but I have no clue how many the Tacoma's are supposed to have. Can you guys tell me?

 

Where I live in So. Cal. there aren't many 2001-2004 Tacoma TRD's, especially 4WD's, that are cheaper than $10k. People here aren't letting go of these things without getting top dollar so this one is a good price and I don't think this guy has priced his against other Tacoma's. 2WD Prerunner's and TRD's are going for an average of $10-$11K. Bluebook means nothing out here on these trucks.

 

How many cats are there on these trucks? Are there one per each side? One after the "Y"? I'm trying to find out.

 

He speaks the truth! I'm currently in a similar position (SoCal,looking for a Tacoma 4x4) and most people here have prerunners, I'm guessing because we usually don't need it. Because of the lack, the dudes that do have 4x4's are asking a shit load for them.

 

The v6 has two cats after the y-pipe.

 

Odd my 99 3.4L only had one... Ofcourse mine was not a Ca truck...

 

Hmmm.... I thought they were all the same. Obviously not! Thanks for the correction.

Well, mine has two and its not a cali truck.

 

2 AFTER the Y pipe? I can guess where the first one would be but what about the second?

 

Same here in Nor Cal. Prerunners are priced same as 4x4's! I just happened to get lucky and got my taco from a family friend. Damn, Cali is going crazy...er...

 

Why is it that Prerunner's are going for the same price as 4x4's? I've seen it but don't understand.

 

Where Whitfield's has one large cat, mine has two medium sized ones. They are right in line, one after the other separated by about 18".

 

What are your 4X4 questions?

 

Other than taking it off-road, how can I test the 4WD components and know that they are good?