2002 Tacoma Has Been Sitting For A Year

Hi guys glad I found this forum and I apologize up front if my first question's been asked before.

Three weeks ago I got back from deployment in the Middle East and this time hopefully I will be home to stay, I've been gone for 14 months and my Tacoma's been sitting the whole time.

What do's and don'ts do you guys recommend to getting my Taco back on the road safely?

Here are the facts:
Toyota Tacoma
Double Cab Pre-Runner SR5 Limited
V6


1.Battery was old and has been replaced.
2.Oil was changed 3 months before I left as was the coolant and brake fluid and rear axle fluid.
3.I purposely left less than a quarter tank of gas so most of that's turned to varnish or evaporated by now I would imagine.
4.It's been garaged in a warm environment with no moisture so I'm not anticipating any rust issues etc.

I've heard conflicting opinions on whether I should add oil to the cylinders before cranking or to somehow crank the engine without letting it start.

Thanks for any advice I'm looking forward to a few good years with this truck it only has 60,000 miles on it now and I just had the timing belt and radiator and all belts and brakes replaced/serviced before I left and perhaps I'm being a bit too cautious here.

 

My biggest concern would be the fuel. Maybe put some high octane in to start. 93 if you can find. There are a few different products that you could spray into each cyl. to help lube instantly upon starting. You are probably ok not doing this but,better safe than sorry. I think lucas makes this. I am not an expert,but have been in similar situation. After you run for a while you might consider a can of sea foam in gas tank. Talk to a mechanic at toyota if you can. Get his advice. You should have that truck for many years.

 

1st off thanks for your service.
All of the above is good advice. Take it easy on it for a little while. Ease it back into service. Seals gaskets and belts will be hit the hardest from sitting.

Change the oil and filter
Change the fuel filter
Check belts for cracking
Drain fuel tank and fill with fresh fuel
Start it up and Che k for leaks.

 

Mine will be sitting for about 15 months. I plan on doing my 80K service when I return but still going to drive it to the dealer for that. I will worry about it everyday.

 

Change oil, add gas, go.

 

Thanks for all the advice folks!

 

Might want to fog that before you go. And add gas stabilizer.

 

Well it's up and running, now I have to see if I can pass a Smog test, some people say it takes 50 miles others a 100+ over various days to get the OBD II codes to reset.

The DMV here in California will only issue One Day Passes for smog checks back before 2009 you could get a 90 day Temporary Operators Permit.

 

Glad to hear your rolling. Did it start right up? Idling good? Let it run. I don't think it has to be mileage as much as actually run time does it?

 

Yes it started right up with no problems as to what I need to do get the OBD II codes to all reset, depends on what I read.

Some folks say that driving it 50-100 miles in varying situations i.e. Freeway mixed with city driving will do the trick others have a different approach.

My only concern is I had to relinquish my plates so my truck has no plates and my temp driving permit is for one day only and your supposed to write the date on it when you start the vehicle.

I may just leave it blank and if I do get pulled over just write the date as he/she is walking up to my truck.

 

I had the same thing. Kept the temp day permit in my cup holder a long with a pen. Got jammed up by a county mounty and wrote the date in as he was running my plate. Would have worked perfect if the GEL INK pen had dried before I handed it to him.

My advice: Use a bic ballpoint so the evidence isn't on yours and the cops thumb.

 

Funny story. Keep 2 pens handy! What cel's are showing(codes)?

 

Jasmine let me try to explain.

The battery had been out of the truck for over a year so all the codes have to be reset via real world driving.

The plates I gave up to save a little cash Ca Coastal Plates are an extra $40.00 a year.

I paid all of my registration fees but because the vehicle was not running they couldn't give me the new tags and plates and they will only give drivers a one day moving permit to smog your vehicle. DMV used to prior to 2009 allow people 60 days to take care of your smog etc with a Temporary Operating Permit, now if you ask for that it's a $50.00 fee.

 

Here is the drive cycle requirements. The evap was a little tricky for me last time I got inspected because I would drop my kid off at day care in the morning and kill the truck. For that to check the truck had to have a certain fuel level and crank from cold and some driving cycles. The cat check took a little longer but finally passed.

http://www.watrd.com/work/TSB_EG003-02_(revised).pdf

 

Thanks for the info Mustangstephen!!

Quite informative.

 

Cali regs are horrible. What a headbanger,,I feel for you folks. It really is a different country inside the US.

 

Glad its running, but if it sits longer than a month I add Stabil in the gas and run it for a few miles so it wont turn to varnish. Its good stuff.

 

If you have not already do so, you might replace your air filter to improve the air fuel mixture during the smog test.

 

Air filter is new as well as the oil but I'm still having problems getting the OBDII sensors to clear so that I can actually run the test.

The good thing is I know the Smog mechanic and I just pop in to see him and he hooks up his cable to see if all sensors are cleared before starting the test.

I will do some more driving tomorrow and see if I can get to the "next level".

 

Youre welcome. Follow those and you should have everything cleated up in a few days.