Looking at my first tacoma help me out

Hi new to the forum and tacomas but far from new to yotas. I'v owned a rav, 3 supras (still have one) and an alltrac. Im looking at a 98 xtra cab 4x4 and wanted some input. Truck show no rust underneath and sounds like it has mostly been garaged. What questions should I specifally ask about and what should I look at. It has 140k on it, what maintinence should it have had by now? and what can I expect to need to do? Also the truck has no trd decalls but has a button to the left of the steering wheel on the dash. I think I read it will say rr lock or something if it has the e-locker but if I remember right it said something like clutch lock or something with a little light. Is this the locker? Has the original clutch but wasnt soft and felt great as did the tranny which shifted super smooth. I appreciate the help and hi everyone.

 

Welcome to TW! I'm sure someone here can help ya out. Sounds like a decent taco though.

 

Thanks, so I read up a little further and sounds like it is intact not the trd and the button I saw what the clutch disengage for starting. So what kind of rear end do the regular 4x4s have is it an open diff or just a regular limited slip without the electronic stuff. If its open can it be changed? The sup is my summer car so I mostly need the taco for hauling and snow, which we get a fair bit of here.

 

It seems to be an open diff. You can add a locker in the rear if you wish!

 

Do those sandals come factory as well?

 

look like reefs lol, think I have the same ones.

So no go on a locker, I dont plan on off roading the truck really but It will see its share of rough dirt roads and trails and definably tough snow. Looks like its quite a bit of work to change over to the e-locker what options are there for limited slip, I want something street friendly because this it where the truck will spend a lot of time. To me 4wd without at leas lsd is well not real 4wd I guess or am I placing too much importance on this for what I plan to do with the truck

 

I say leave it and get some better tires. Then if its still not capable and has problems, you can add a locker or lsd

 

any other maintenance that should have been done other than timing belt and fluids? Valve shims ect?

 

I have the same Reef sandals as well.

 

if it has a 4cyl engine, then the engine has a timing chain and not a belt. the 3.4 V6 engine though has a belt. I would change all of the fluids as soon as you buy the truck unless the previous owner has proof of when he or she changed them last. thats what i did.
other than that, go for it! Itll be a great truck.

 

you may also check to see if the fuel filter has been changed. i changed mine for the first time at 130K and the trash that came out of the orginal was real dirty, once it was replaced i could tell a differnce in my mpgs. also you will want to check the leaf springs, 1st gens. are notorious for weak leafs which could cause the truck to have axle warp. not a major problem, but very annoying.

 

Stopped and looked at a 91 today just for the heck of it. Clean but with 220k 4 banger 4x4 5spd few dents in the bed and no canopy and it was over 1K more than the one Im picking up tomorrow made me feel good.

Its the 5vz, I am planning on changing the fuel filter and all the fluids right away. Helps that i have a lift at my house Any recommendations on fluids? I havent been able to find much on what tranny is in these, W series from what I can tell. I have alot of experience with the R & W series from the supras and have rebuilt several but what do you guys recomend. I usually run Redline MT90 and know the R series love it. I also usually run 75W90 (NS in this case) for the diff and Penzoil platinum 5w30 or Castrol Euro formula 0W30 for motor oil. Good choices? Also timing belt, planning on doing it but how much urgency do I need to place on it?

 

Pics of the new toy

 

Congrats on the new (old) truck! I just bought a 97!

I replaced diff and tranny fluids with Amsoil 75w90, since I could pick it up locally, but any good synthetic will work great in the diffs. Be careful on the front diff, the plugs on that one are different than the plugs everywhere else, and they are very easy to strip (they may be stripped already, like mine were). They use a large allen head, but everything else uses a good old 24mm socket. You sound experienced, but I'll say it anyway - get a fluid transfer pump for filling the diffs and tranny - even the squirt-type gear oil bottles aren't small enough to fit into some of the fill hole locations.

Any good 5w30 is good for motor oil.

If it has not had the belt changed, you should do it very soon. If it has been done already, you may be good for a while. Toyota says 60k miles, most people go over 90k without trouble. The 3.4L engine is non-interference, so if you break the belt, you'll just get stranded, you won't damage the engine. However, getting stranded still sucks.

Check the coolant and flush with Toyota red stuff if its some random green stuff. Clean your MAF sensor (with CRC MAF cleaner), put in a new air filter, and don't bother with a K&N filter. If you change plugs, use the stock recommended NGK or Denso plugs, they must be dual electrode, and don't listen to the parts guy at the parts-mart, no fancy plugs will perform better (most will perform quite a bit worse).

Enjoy!

-Sam