Getting fed up

OP, it took me a long time to realize this, but the cheapest truck is the one that's already paid for! Even if you have to repair it.

Hang in there, do a little at a time as funds allow you to do and it will get done.

By the way, it sounds as though your truck may be a flood victim of Hurricane Katrina with all the problems you're having with it. Do you know?

 

The truck will run with the bad sensor Brandon,,work on your brakes. That's your immediate as of now. Gotta get stopped safely and it sounds like the truck is staying in motion all the time. A simple pad replace will get you down the road a little further to a future full replace date. Not ideal, but it keeps you moving safely and the cost low hopefully.

Just getting the e-brake disconnected on each side might release the shoes enough to pull drums. Savvy?? Pull the cable ends off the levers on the backing plates,,tap on the lever if it hangs out after disconnect. Tap,,don't hammer hard. Work slowly, safely and methodically. Set aside some time and $$ ASAP to look at this. Do a bit of reading up on this, lots of info on this site.

Get 4 tires before next winter if they will go that far, Some nice winter treads then. Keep a eye on your maypops you have on now and watch the pressures and avoid the sharp rocks.

Keep those u joints lubed well until they are really talking, then fix. Hit them every 1500 miles with the grease tube. Be smart about this, don't wait until they are crazy vibrating and banging hard.

Do a simple add a leaf next winter or when you get ahead,,and you will get ahead. Maybe santa can set you up with a full kit next year.

We are all fighting for mileage per dollar, so your not alone there. Drive it like it's,,,gramps rig for now.

 

Hard to believe, but you could drive yourself insane trying to find a rock down there.

Also, there is no such thing as winter in NO. There are three seasons: summer, christmas, and carnival. So you can run the tires until the steel belt shows through as long as you slow down when it rains hard.

 

Dude,look at all the members that want to help. I agree with fixing brakes 1st. Around here we can get used tires for 45.00 balanced and installed.(each). Just go at this with a slow,affordable pace. Don't stress to much because it doesn't help. Like all the good advice on here, pick through it and make a plan. Maybe even make a list that you can cross off as you complete. Don't hesitate to ask a question here on tw. And also don't let your pride get in the way. Most of us have been right where you are at. It would have been great to have had these resources with my 95.5 taco. Had to figure most things out on my own.GL

 

Cmon man,, your killing me,,was trying to shoot some personal customization hope into the mix.

He's on the gulf coast,,and as of late, it seems no one is immune to shitty weather,,,rainy weather,,,whatever weather. I can bring my happy ass down there and drag some snow and crap with me. And it's a good reason to get some new treads of his choice and maybe take up the members offer on the previous page to truck the 600 miles to Tenn for a bit of advice and wrenching. That sounds like a awesome road trip for the future. If your treads are bad,,no go far from home and check your spare.


Andy posted to not let pride get in the way. If that happens,,just toss your man card away. Might as well. A good set of used skins is not off the table either and probably better on the budget.

 

Do you need 600$ tires right now? When I bought my truck it pretty much needed what you listed. I ran good used tires for a while. Found some shocks on Craigslist swapped then on till I had money. Good deals always come up on the 1st gen marketplace. My truck had bad gas mileage off the bat. Turns out the headers had cracks (really common pre 2001 or 2002), old sparkplugs, wires, distributer cap and rotor. Replaced all that plus cleaned maf and throttle body, along with changing air filter. Ran some Seafoam thru it and changed the fuel filter. Mpgs came back and truck runs great now. Once you fix up your truck I'm sure you will be happy and forget about all you had to spend.

 

I'm 18. Been trying to learn some of this stuff, just don't always have the means, time, or tools to do it.

 

That all sounds like normal stuff at 177K miles. If you wanted a new car you should have bought one. lol. Next you'll complain about having to put gas in it.

 

No clue if it was in Katrina. PO didn't live in New Orleans, some other city in LA. Don't think it got flooded, but I do know he didn't do maintenance.

 

Got it as a gift.

 

Well the tread pretty much is non existent on my rear tires and my fronts are pretty low as well and they're all dry rotted with very weak sidewalls.

 

Odd enough, I did drive it like that as a test. Got a GPS app on my phone that told me my distance I had gone, current speed, and average speed. Had 3 gallons in my tank not including reserve fuel. I went 19.8 miles on 3 gallons of gas and my average speed was 25. Took my time pulling off from lights, easy on the throttle, etc. But that was before I got my new air filter housing and new MAF sensor. I'll do another test soon when I'm not too busy with work

 

Sadly I wish I lived a little further up North and I would take you on your offer because I hate having to consistently ask people whats going on with this or that or how to fix something. I like to learn how to do stuff. But with me being 18, and on a VERY tight budget, I don't think I have the resources to go up there.

 

Just keep asking here. Many people like giving advise. A few may even give correct useful information. You will have everything worked out before you know it.

 

I bought my taco 1 yr before you were born. Replaced rotors twice, brakes 5 times,leaf springs twice, u-joints,exhaust manifold,shocks 3 times,o2 sensors 2 times, brake drums,calipers,5 tire changes,ball joints,tie rods,plus the normal stuff. It's just what you do when you can. Some of these repairs could have been avoided with money. Unfortunately I don't usually have it when I need it. My point is I am still driving original drivetrain in a 96. Lost 95.5 to rust. Like someone else said these trucks still keep going even when not perfect. Oh yeah didn't mention hauling ladders,table saw, saw horses, and so on for 17 yrs.

 

UPDATE: Weather finally cleared up today and I was able to get the drum off and adjust the shoes on the passenger side wheel. I used the bolts as suggested and they worked just fine until I had to take them out. One got stuck and had to cut it out. Despite that, everything went fine and it no longer is sticking. The driver's side will try to be done during the week if I'm not worn out from work. Also, I had an issue where the brake lights would only light up at the end of the travel on my brake pedal. Since adjusting the shoes, they come on halfway in the travel. So I'm much happier lol. The brakes are soft now I guess because of the adjustment. I was told backing up and braking should allow it to self adjust back to normal. Is this true? Btw, thanks for all the help and support guys. Nice to know there are people that are willing to help!

 

Check the fluid level in the brake reservoir. Sometimes a soft pedal and the brake lights coming on at the end of brake travel will be due to low brake fluid.

 

Well they've been like that since I got the truck and I just did a complete brake job in October. I was told about an adjustment underneath the brake pedal but I couldn't figure out for the life of me how to adjust it. I only could find one nut that would move and when I twisted it either direction, it didn't change when the brake lights would come on. Or maybe I just did it wrong. Idk. But I will do that tomorrow morning before work.

 

You could youtube most of the work you need to do along with basic stuff and watch how it is done. If not find a crew of Taco owners in your area they may be willing to teach you how to do things you supply the parts and labor they supply the knowledge. No one here was born with the mechanical skills / knowledge they have now.

Cypher

 

Sadly, most of the Taco owners that actually take care of their truck don't live in New Orleans. They live too far away for me. Its very hard to find people like that. Most Tacoma owners here will not take care of them at all. Well, maybe just the ones I see. I do Youtube how to do most stuff, but sometimes there just aren't any videos that really help. I'm subscribed to Scotty Kilmer on Youtube. Great guy and he puts out videos on DIY things for your car. He's been a good help but its always good to have different opinions on ways to do things