Taco noob and an idiot to boot

Congrats on the Tacoma! Looks like your question got answered, so post up some pics of the ride!

I have an 03 PreRunner at home that I'd love to convert to 4x4 one day.

 

Here’s a photo of her when I bought it. Yes, it’s 4x4 and unless the dealership I got it from has the info wrong on my contract, it is a 4.0 v6 4x4 pre runner( according to paperwork)

As I said before, I was just as surprised as everyone after reading a little about them. I’m sure my google search about 4x4 prerunners can be done by any one of you to find the same answer I did.

 

Pretty sure this one hasn’t been modded. It was a corporate fleet vehicle off some sort, I’m guessing road crew because aside from utility lights, there’s dried cement on the top of the cab.

 

Definitely 4x4, as I’ve taken her on multiple off road BFE camping trips that are 4x4 access only. Says it’sa prerunner on my dealership contract, and a google search will show that they do exist…

 

Congrats on the truck. While I get what the paperwork says any prerunner made by Toyota was 2WD.

 

This is going off track but my curiosity is going crazy.

Can you take a pic of the underside of the truck.

Yes, 4x4 prerunners exist for other trucks as a prerunner is just a truck built to pre-run the race course, but ive never seen that option combo for a toyota truck on any dealer order form. I did a search and the first 5 pages showed nothing for tacomas from the factory like that.

Im sure it does say that on the dealer sheet but dealers are known to make mistakes. Example, couple years ago my friends son bought a used 4x4 tacoma from a dealer. First gas station they stopped at and looked under the truck to check it out. Guess what, no front differential.

Also did you turn the knob for it to go into 4x4 when going off road? Because no tacoma has full time 4wd, I only use my 4wd maybe half the time on 4x4 access trails.

And just to stay on track, youre fine with new fluid as everyone else said. I wouldnt do full flush where they hook it up to a machine though.

 

No pre-runner Toyota made was a 4wd.

https://www.drivingline.com/article...-two-wheel-drive-off-road-tacoma-tough-truck/

 

Yea, and every dealer in the world advertised used early Miatas with tilt steering columns which didn't exist either.

You'll have a miserable time if you tell a parts jockey you want certain 4x4 parts for your prerunner.

BTW, not everything the Google finds is right either, so always proceed with a grain of doubt.

 

I’ll snap more photos when I can- I’m curious too.
Yeah, turn knob 4L and go

 

We aren't doubting you have 4wd, we are just telling you that it's not a Pre-runner as manufactured by Toyota. Someone could have added 4wd (common, plenty of threads about it), or someone simply put a Pre-runner badge on it. I've seen trucks with 4wd, Sport, TRD Offroad, and TRD Pro and SR5 all on THE SAME TRUCK, lol. Some people just like adding badges. Someone on here also got a truck where it said Sport on one side and TRD Offroad on the other I believe it was (think it was a factory f-up).

 

go to Toyota.com create and account put your VIN in and get what the original spec was

 

That’Sa damn good idea! Thanks. Will report back lol

 

That's not a PreRunner. It's a TRD Sport - which is only available as a 4x4.

 

You sure about that? You could get a TRD Offroad Pre-Runner in 2WD.

 

Happy early Friday ?

 

Yeah, i just googled and found a few TRD Sport 2wd (PreRunners). Including a couple on TW.

 

No point in trying to put toothpaste, or AT Fluid, back in the tube. What's done is done. Put new fluid in it. Most likely you be fine, just wasted money.

I don't change ATF ever. Not once in 50 years of driving. That's several million trouble free miles with over 600,000 combined miles sitting in the driveway. All with the factory fluid in them.

If you let a transmission overheat, which is caused by abuse or trying to pull too much weight on grades and at altitude, that is what kills transmissions. Treat them right and they never need the fluid replaced. If you do let it overheat the damage is already done and changing fluid at that point isn't going to save it.

This is why no reputable shop will touch a high mileage transmission to change the fluid. As long as the fluid is still good changing it won't hurt a thing. Hopefully this is your truck. If it's still good, it won't help anything either since it's still good. You're just wasting your money.

BUT... if the fluid is bad, so is the transmission. Keeping the old fluid in there will buy you a little time. A few months, maybe a couple of years on the old fluid. Once again, you're throwing good money after bad and new fluid in a bad transmission usually results in failure within a few hundred miles. No shop wants to have customers coming back complaining that they ruined their transmission. That's why they just pass.

I've never, ever, seen any evidence that changing the fluid prolongs transmission life. Neither has our local independent transmission shop. The guys who bring them in every 30,000 miles for a fluid change end up needing it replaced or rebuilt at about the same mileage as the guys who just drive them.

I'll replace the fluid when IF I ever need a new transmission. If one of them dies today I'm way ahead financially with the money I've saved by not replacing fluid for the last 50 years.

 

You learn something new every day!

 

When I was buying my 2011 (new) I was looking at a 2012 Green TRD OR and a 2011 Silver TRD OR. Walking back and forth comparing the window stickers. I couldn't figure out why the NEW ONE was cheaper. I didn't like the green, but it was a grand or more less for a year newer truck. Sales guy walks back and forth a couple times trying to figure it out himself, when he finally realized it was a 2wd offroad. He didn't know that was a thing either! But yeah, the 2wd OR gets the rear locker, just no transfer case with 4wd/hi/lo.

 

Great.

i tried to get some good photos, but I don’t have a vehicle lift or anything fancy and the photos weren’t comprendable.

I can’t even find the thread where I found the info I was referring to before, and I know there’s people in here who know their stuff. Thanks for all the input and advice.

I completed the refill, but I didn’t get a trickle from my overflow so I guess I’ll let her cool down and add a little more fluid after I eat dinner.

thanks again everyone