Code P2445 any advice? '07, 2.7, stick shift base model

Hello Everyone, I recently inherited a 2007 very base model Tacoma. It's a 5 speed stick, 2.7 engine, 5 lug, 2 wheel drive. I have a lot of questions about my new to me truck, and my first ever Toyota.

First Question: When I first got the truck started, (It had been sitting for about 6 months and the battery was completely dead), everything seemed to work fine. The red BRAKE indicator on the dashboard was on, but the brakes sure do work well. I had one day to get the truck home, so I took off, hoping all would be well. I made it home after a 6 hour drive with no problems. So what could the brake indicator mean? The emergency brake works completely fine.

Second Question: Just after I arrived home, I took the truck to show a friend. Suddenly the check engine light came on. I had it scanned at O'Reilly and it came back P2445: Air System Pump Stuck Off Bank 1.

I asked a local mechanic and she told me it was a common problem and would cost about $1k, mostly for labor to fix it. I haven't worked on vehicles much since I sold my '54 Bel Air several years ago. I don't understand new stuff. So any advice would be welcome.

My Third Question: Apparently before my aunt passed away, she had a flat tire and the spare tire carrier had to be cut. So the spare is living in the bed, waiting to be stolen. I've looked high and low for a new bolt on spare tire carrier and can't find anything for my model. Again, any advice would be wonderful.

I really like this little truck. It's fun to row through the gears. I've wanted a Toyota truck since I was a teenager(Thanks to Marty McFly), but we were a Chevy family. I daily my '04 Silverado, but I'd like the Tacoma to take over that role and have my Chevy for pulling my boat on the weekends.

So far I've done a lot of cleaning, replaced the windshield, replaced all the filters, got 4 keys made, and done an oil change. Not bad for my first week of ownership. I can't register the truck without clearing up the first 2 issues above. I'm on a teacher's salary, so looking to save money any way I can while still doing things right. Glad to be a part of the Tacoma family. Thanks Everyone!

 

Hi, Sandy. Welcome to TW.

Regarding the brake light, check the brake fluid level in the master cylinder reservoir. If that is full, it could be the switch on the emergency brake that detects that you have disengaged it. That will be in or around the emergency brake mechanism in the cab.

The P2445 is covered a lot here on TW and elsewhere. The easiest problem to fix is caused by a pinched/disconnected, vacuum line, so that’s the first thing to check for. See this thread for more information.

Good luck!

 

Thanks, I will check the brake fluid as soon as I can get home from school while the sun is still shining. I did a search for P2445, but didn't find anything that made sense. I read all this too, and the answers on CustomTaco. Why do these things have to be so complicated. The government MUST be involved. None of this stuff makes any sense to have on a vehicle. The thing is running perfectly. If I just lived in a county that didn't do emissions inspections . . . . .

I appreciate the advice!

 

We are all the beneficiaries of many decades of work to improve air quality. Check out these pictures of Los Angeles in the 1940s when pollution was particularly bad.

I think we can all point to some examples of pollution control equipment that is overly complex, prone to failure, and not worth the trade-off based on how much it improves emissions. Most would vote to get rid of that kind of stuff (the SAIC definitely is a candidate for that) but having none of it would be bad juju.

Let us know what you find after you’ve checked the brake fluid level.

 

Finally got a chance to do some things for her this afternoon. You were exactly correct about the brake fluid level. It was right at the minimum level. I removed all the dirt dobber nests from under the hood, dusted everything off with a brush and blew everything out with a blower and really cleaned the cap like it says to do. I topped it off with new fluid and the light went off.

Also attached a new trailer hitch ball and ordered a new plug and play trailer light set from etrailers.com. I plan to use her to pull my little aluminum flat boat. I replaced the sagging sun visors. It's strange to me that both Honda and Toyota make such good vehicles, yet they can't engineer sun visors. Never had to replace one on a Chevy before. But they make terrible vehicles now.

Next I got down beneath to inspect the frame, which is surprisingly rust free. She lived her whole young life on the Mississippi Coast, right at the beach, so I reckon the frame must have been replaced at some point given all the stories of rusted frames. I cleaned out the glove compartment and found a bunch of stuff, but only a record of the last oil change, which was a little over a year ago. Put in some new floor mats, which look great.

So I still have the code to deal with, which despite all my research seems as clear as mud to me.

What I know I can fix if I can find a part is the spare tire carrier. I did spray it with some liquid wrench. I'll see if I can free it up in the morning. Even if I can, the metal retainer had been cut off to get to the spare, so I'll need that part anyway, which I can't find. Anyone have any idea where I can find a new assembly? If I drive this thing into Houston, that spare in the bed will be stolen. Man, I hate big cities with their crime.

 

Check the hose going from the Air Switching Valve to the Pressure Sensor, if that's good pop the cover off the Air Pump and see if your dirt dobbers built up in it.

 

Thank you for that schematic. I had checked one end of that already. When it stops being FREEZING outside, I'll check the other. It's going to be 20 degrees here tonight. Schools are closed tomorrow. I know, the Yankees will laugh at us. My citrus trees are probably toast.

On a positive note, I went to replace the dome light bulb only to find that the switch just needed some jiggling to get it to work.

Doing more research on the spare tire carrier/winch. Can't find much out there about it. I see stories about them freezing up, but nothing about replacements.

 

I hear you, our high was 27 today. We aren't equipped for that kinda cold here, the drive to work was kinda sketchy this morning too with it icing. Reminds me of 2021 but without the snow.

I'm not sure about the spare winch, I've only had mine down once.

 

WELL! That was a pain in the butt, literally. I sat on a sharp rock when I went to get under the truck. Ok, thanks to Liquid Wrench, PB Blaster, and some redneck engineering, my spare tire is stowed nicely. I got it broken loose with a cheater bar after soaking it with both liquids for a while. I really didn't want to resort to heat. I took a piece of thick aluminum plate I didn't use for patching my boat, drilled a hole in it and passed the cable through, made some knots and crimped it. Passed that through the center of the rim and made sure it was long enough not to come out, cranked her up and she's just fine. Wish I had the factory piece, but they don't seem to sell that. I cranked it up and down a few times to make sure it was all good.

So the only thing I still have to deal with is the code issue. I did check the other end of the diagram and all looks correct under the hood. So I guess there really is a problem there. I can't get her registered until I get the title, which could take a while anyway. She's really looking good. Thank y'all so much for the help and advice.