Would a 1st Gen Tacoma survive this climate change?

I've got a 1996 Tacoma, 4-cyl, 2.4L regular cab, basic everything. 98,000 miles. No, that's not a typo. This truck has spent it's entire life in sunny, warm California. It has some problems, but for the most part, the engine and transmission seem to run great. Would it survive in harsh, subzero, winter weather without a lot of work? I ask because I might be moving to the midwest. I'm wondering about anything that is rubber...hoses, gaskets, seals - would this stuff crack or rupture rather quickly?

Lately I've seen pieces of gray foam coming through the A/C vents. For years I've found the cab to be unusually cold or damp (after a cold, damp night), suggesting the weathersealing is shot. It's also developing a hot weather + hot engine syndrome. When outside temps exceed 90° F and the engine is hot, it's getting harder to start. I've seen this problem mentioned in the past, but I've never seen a cause (or a repair).

What do you think?

 

When's the last time you had a full tune up on the thing?

And where in the Midwest? If you're up in Wisconsin or Minnesota or the Upper Penninsula of Michigan, yeah that's some hardcore weather. But otherwise the Midwest isn't that bad on too many days. As for gaskets and hoses and stuff, I'd replace my belts and radiator hoses. Probably flush the fluids. Don't see what else you'd have to do. If you are in the deep freeze states, install an engine block heater - they're around $50 or so. Otherwise you probably just gotta get her out there and see how she adjusts. For what it's worth, there are a ton of old Toyota Pickups, Tacos and 4Runners out here in Colorado and they go forever. I had an 86 until last year, and she loved the cold. Did very well .. and I'm presuming still is as I sold her to a 16 year old kid. His first Toyota!

 

Iowa.

I forgot one other problem. Mainly just an annoyance, but it could be more serious in colder weather I suppose. Sometimes when the engine is cold, and you take her onto the main drag, the truck bogs down and won't accelerate well for about twenty seconds, then boom, once I reach 30-35 MPH, it's like a rocket taking off. I asked about this before and as I remember, fuel injection trouble was suggested as a possibility. Last year I replaced the MAF sensor (it was dead) and afterwards the bogging down has been more profound, but no more often. It always disappears about 20 seconds later.

 

^Might be clogged injectors or the air/fuel sensor. Are you getting any CELs?

 

"Always disappears 20 seconds later" as in it happens once, and then not again once the engine has warmed up? Is this a manual or an auto?

 

No CEL's.

 

Correct.

Only when the engine is cold and warming up does it bog down. Happens once, then never again for the rest of the day.

5-speed.

 

Sounds like typical old age - a lot of miles - syndrome to me.

How's your maintenance history?

These trucks shouldn't be affected by cold weather. The only thing I can think of that might cause some issues is the type of oils you have in the transmission & differentials. When was the last time you changed the fluids in the diffs, transmission, transfer case? Battery might not like the cold weather....but that's typical of all vehicles. Spark plugs? Radiator flush? Fuel filter? Air filter? fuel injectors? Fuel pump?

As for the dampness in the cab....do you have the climate controls on 'recirculate' by any chance?

 

Well, it's only got 98,000 miles. Maintenance history is good. The bogging down at startup has been happening for 10 years. Since then I've been through tune-ups and fluid changeouts of every type and nothing makes a difference. I'm fairly sure it's fuel-related though. For awhile I used to add Acetone to my gas and the bogging down became less severe. Same with some Fuel Injector cleaner and Seafoam.

I don't recall how the climate controls have been set. But I'll give you an example and see if anybody thinks this is "normal". I've gone places on a seemingly dry, sunny, winter afternoon, ~60 degrees out. I go back to my truck at 10:00pm that night and the INSIDE windows aren't just fogged up, they need to wiped down with a towel, there's that much moisture in the cab. Say I leave some paperwork on the seat, it will appear to be wet - not soaking wet - but wrinkled from the moisture. By that hour it's really humid outside...but my doors and windows are always closed tight. Maybe this is from those chunks of gray foam exiting through the A/C vents?

 

Watch out for your frame. If you havent done so yet, get your frame coated.

 

yeah, I'm getting those gray foam pieces in my air conditioning vents too, I just haven't gone to the trouble to investigate them. Any ideas?

Sorry to you

 

Those foam chuncks are used to seal the different pipes that are used to vent cold and hot air through the AC and HEATING system. Once it goes , well it's done for. Kind of like the foam that was used on the underside of the HEADLINERS on American Cars. After 6,8 or 10 years that foam just lets go. And it's sticky! ( I did upholstery work for many years) Only solution is to take out dash....major pain in the ass and replace the gaskets between the fittings in the AC and HEAT ducts. Mine has done it(1999) but I dont really notice a big difference...cold air when I want it as well as hot

 

It will do a lot better than you. LOL It will be fine

 

Another consideration here is the cost of moving it across country. I figure it's worth $2400 per KBB. In order to tow it on a trailer, I would need a 16-ft (Penske) truck. The cost of the bigger truck, trailer, and gas at $4/gallon would run an additional $700, plus 3 days of my time. If I don't bring the truck, I'm going to use those ABF ReloCube containers and fly back instead. Keep in mind here, I might have to move on 3 weeks notice. Those extra 3 days would come in handy.

I'd be spending $700 to move a vehicle worth $2400. That decreases its net value to $1700 not including any repairs I would need to make.

I'm really torn what to do. I don't want to spend the extra $700 to move it. On the other hand, I'd like to see what the 2012 Tacomas look like before deciding to buy a new one.

 

8 yr old thread revival only topic in a search to have relevance ... wonder if I should start a new

I just started noticing this stuff popping out on dash and passenger floor over the past month and one in my lap today when I turned on the AC

 

grrrrrr ... anybody have some good input on this, has it happened to you?
I had a windshield replaced recently, but does not appear to be the reason for this happening all of a sudden

where can I find a picture of what is happening and needs to be done to fix this

 

anybody know where there are pics of a dash removed to see what is going on back in there, what am I up against
i recall seeing a dash removed on a squeaky fan noise but cannot locate thread (lots of 2nd and 3rd gen topics pop up with simple search)