1st Gen Tacoma Buyers Guide

Not there....would this be it

 

No look under the dash near the ebrake the plug looks like this

 

My trucks a 95. Maybe that's why?

 

If its not there look in the engine compartment it will be labeled obdII

 

Also check out.
www.toyota.com Go to "Owners" drop down. Sign up. This will allow you to enter a VIN and see all maintenance records from any Toyota dealer the vehicle has been to. You can also set up your own records for your vehicle. (No one else can see these)

 

Great thread, BUT you might add Toyota offered the TRD supercharger in late 1997, 1998 that added 75 more hp from 190 to 265 hp that were compatible with 1997 ECU forward for the 3.4 v6. Maybe add some info on that side and if you added the 2.1 pulley the engine its self would be in the 300hp range, I bought my charger from Toyota
and they installed it back in 1997 or 1998, now have 515,000 on my truck and supercharger

 

To all first generation Tacoma buyers,

This thread contains some very valuable information for potential first generation owners. Many of you have already found this out. First generation Tacomas are great, and they are a lot of fun. I have one, and I have had it for years.

Here are the problems with them. Some of this information I am going to discuss will be redundant for many of you. First generation Tacomas suffer from frame rust. The ones that do not reside on the west coast and the southwest of the United States with the exception of Florida and Texas most likely have frame rust if they are still running at this point in their life. As a result of this dilemma, there are not a hell of a lot of them left. Please note many of these frame rust ridden first generation Tacomas were purchased back by Toyota when frame rust was first detected during the initial Toyota buy back program. Some of them received frame replacements, but that was not very many of them.

Even the newest first generations, which are a 2004 model year are now 13 years old so finding one with relatively low mileage, and that does not have frame rust is going to be quite a chore.
First generation Tacomas have an almost cult like following behind them, which is part of the reason why sites like this exist. To clarify this point, this is the same kind of attention and admiration first generation Toyota FJ 40 and first generation Camaros receive. Followers and admirers seem to be very emotionally attached to the body style of first generation Tacomas especially the 4x4 extra-cabs with the 5-speed and the 3.4 liter V6 engine, which is why the prices of these old Tacomas are so expensive.

Many of you looking for a long term useful pick-up truck for yourself or your family will have to put in an incredible amount of time and energy in locating a first generation that fits the bill. Unless you are completely emotionally attached to the body style of first generations, your effort will be much better spent seeking out a second generation. You will have many more to choose from, and they are built just as well as the first generations. They have a ton of more options. Their stock seats are also quite a bit more comfortable, and they are a much better balanced truck. First generations are just small trucks that have a relatively big engine for their size when equipped with the 3.4, and they ride hard.

Good Luck
Paul

 

1997 Tacoma Colorado truck, ORIGINAL owner with ZERO rust on my frame,
2nd generation Tacomas HAVE plenty of rust issues also and imbolizer issues.
My brother has a 2008 Tacoma with 77,000 with major imbolizer problems, spent 2500 trying to fix it, replaced every imbolizer part and computer and still won't start consistently so truck sits at the Toyota dealer and they don't know what to do, sitting at dealership for 3 months.
So he has to trade it in as Toyota can't find or fix the problem after two different dealers spent hours going through the truck.
Each generation has pros and cons and their own problems.

 

I'm tempted by the second gen, but I've noticed the values are dropping pretty bad. The second gens also suffer from frame rust

 

No kidding. I couldn't find a Tacoma on craigslist that was under 200k or not beat to hell and still available by the time I got off work. I settled for a 5-lug with 108k that I've now modded/lifted to suit my driving. Would have been nicer to get a truck I wanted from the get-go, but every time I called they had already sold. If an ad was up for more than a day for a <120k-mile Tacoma, regardless of price, it was a mistake that the owner hadn't taken it down because they had already sold it. I made an offer on my 5-lug Tacoma (about 1.5k over blue book) within 45 minutes of the ad going up. The owner was getting constant phone calls while I was looking at the truck.

That being said, I love my Tacoma. I've had it for about 7 months and it is awesome. I put on a 3.5" spindle lift in front and it already had an AAL from the previous owner. with the lift and 30x9.5x15 tires, it's got a nice ride height but I'm still getting 21-22mpg in my daily commute, while hauling all kinds of heavy things on the weekend (once got a whole living room set stacking in the bed)

 

Pics of your lifted 5 lug?

 

So i did some looking on this thread, someone quote me so I get the notification.

If I have a 1996-2004 5VZ Automatic Prerunner
and buy a 1996-2004 3RZ Automatic 4x4

Can I use the 4x4 parts for my conversion?

 

If this thread is still alive I have all the parts for sell to do a prerunner to 4x4 conversion on a V6 Tacoma 95.5-04

 

Honestly, thank you so much! That must have taken a lot of time. I hate the idea of starting a new thread that basically asks all these questions, so I'm glad I found this first! Can't wait to get into my first truck

 

I just 'noticed this thread--and thought I'd add my views--even though it's an on-running thread..
I have an '02 Taco X-tend cab with the V6/Auto-4WD. K/N filter upgrade/Cat-back exhaust/computer chip for little better mileage--
Bought it used in late 2003 from a disgruntles former owner. Older lady had it--thought her son would drive it, but he didn't--so basically she hauled some flower pots and bags of top soil from Lowe's-about 22,000 when I got it. She traded up to a new Seaquoia, and the dealer had been using it as an 'errand truck' around their various lots. I almost missed the deal, because I couldn't make up my mind between this one and another on other side of town. Someone put a down deposit on it while we were gone, but that check didn't clear the bank--so the salesman called my wife--she bought it over the phone, with a C/C.
BTW--I love that gal!....
...Anyway-I have 200,000 on her-90% highway miles driving back/fourth to work. Here lately-it's needed some TLC--one thing after another, but since I'm semi-retired now--miles aren't piling up. Most of the work, I can do myself-

On the frame rust issues--Toyota took my truck back to the major dealer in this area for a recall about 10 years back--I went up there and actually inspected the underside--along w/ two tech's. They then power washed underneath-let it sit inside over night to dry and under-coated it w/ some special stuff that Toyota supplied. Had to let it sit another day/two inside to dry--I've never seen any rust when I service it. Use all Amsoil oil/fluids and NAPA Gold filter...
Rock on--I'm happy!

glenn

 

Here's a couple pic's of mine--from last summer--

 

Dear Everybody,

A lot of people ask me the differences between the 2.7 I4, and the 3.4 V6. Well, here is my analysis of the two engines. They are both great engines by the way. To all the serious mechanically talented members, I know there are a lot more differences than what I am going to talk about in this post. In this post, I am just trying to give members who are curious a general idea of the differences between these two motors.

The Toyota 2.7 inline 4 cylinder is a much simpler motor than its 3.4 V6 sibling. It is a single head, which makes everything inside the engine compartment extremely accessible with the exception of the fuel filter. These Toyota four bangers use a timing chain rather than a timing belt. Timing chains are replaced much less frequently than timing belts. As a result of their simplicity, size and configuration, this motor is both easier and cheaper to maintain and repair than its larger Toyota 3.4 V6 sibling. They will get also get better gas mileage. Although, I am told this is not a significant difference.

The Toyota 5VZ-FE 3.4 liter V6 engine is a very sophisticated motor with two heads and double overhead cams per head. It uses a timing belt instead of a chain, which has to be replaced every 90,000 miles. As a result of its size and configuration, it occupies a lot of space in the engine compartment, which makes getting at things much less accessible. It is going to be both the more expensive and complicated motor to both maintain and repair, but it is going to have significantly more horsepower and torque than its smaller sibling.

Take it easy,
Paul

 

Recently I was super lucky to find an 02 Tacoma Double Cab 4x4 with the off road package with 110k miles, super well taken care of and clean as a Tacoma of that age can be (actually cleaner than that). The guy let it go to me for 9500 which i thought was a steal.