2005 Tacoma V6 SR5 Access Cab Worth it?

Good to know. At the least it sounds like it might be something I could have a chance of diagnosing before it actually goes if I look for it hard enough.

Another question. Since it sounds like these leaks tend to be Combustion chamber into coolant system rather then Coolant system into oil passages, do you think a chemical test where you check for combustion gases in in the coolant system would be a good idea to try? Or even have a chance of showing anything at all?

 

I think that would be a good idea.

 

This. Everything he says.

 

Also, if you have the oil changed. Keep the oil and filter. Put a few ounces of oil in a CLEAN STERAL glass jar. Seal it. Call or email Blackstone Labs. They will send you a free sample kit. Mail in the sample, for $35 they will to a Lab test on the oil. Abnormal amount of Sodium, then min amount of undetectable coolant is in the oil.

Run a magnet through the rest of the oil, check for iron in the oil. Then pour rest of the oil out slowly into a pan, see if any aluminum flakes are at the bottom.

Use metal cutting shears, cut open the filter, check out the filter for metal.

I over do everything! But $35 and about an hour of your time to find out what's going on in your engine... Priceless!

 

I have a whole shelf in my shop of past oil, another for filters. Just took these pics

 

Haha, Awesome. You definitely have a different drive when it comes to this stuff then me. I don't mind turning a wrench, especially when it saves me a few bucks and I know the job was done right but its not normally something I look for. I also don't have a shop though so I end up wrenching out in the weather and dirt which isn't nearly as fun.

 

Yes sir, when you turned the wrenches, you absolutely know it was done right! I like your style!

 

Take a look at this one. About a grand more then the one you are looking at but a lot newer and out of that head gasket danger zone. Might be able to get the price down. It is a long bed Double Cab though...

https://modesto.craigslist.org/cto/d/holt-tacoma-4x4/6778249821.html

 

That is a very clean looking truck, Love that grey too, probably my favorite Tacoma color. Besides the fact that I'm not really looking for a double cab, (I do like the long bed though) I just don't have the cash to drop on a private purchase. Anything in that range I'd need to get financing for and that's far easier for me through a dealership right now. This is however encouraging. If something doesn't work out with this truck its good to know that trucks like this are out there. I may just have to search a bit harder and save up a bit more cash before I can get one.

 

Welp I ending up bringing it home today. Worked as much as I could with the dealer to bring the price down, got a buyers inspection done by a trusted local shop, drove it around and tried everything, as well as putting into practice as many of your suggestions as I could and in the end I ending up bringing this truck home and am feeling pretty good.

Its late, its dark, and I'm tired and excited but heres a little bit about the truck and a few of the problems it has right now.

I'll start off with the price as I'm sure everyone is interested in what I ended up paying. Asking price on the lot was $13,876 after some negotiating and leveraging some of the problems it has I ended up getting it down to right about $12,700. Definitely better then what they were asking but still not amazing. However, considering what I have seen in this area with how hard it is to find one of these trucks in the first place and how expensive they usually go for around here I'm pretty happy with what I got it for. And seeing as I was planning on spending a little more money on this truck or one like it to begin with I now have a little bit of extra money that I can set aside for my just in case fund for if anything ever happens or goes bad like the head gasket giving up the ghost.

Another part of me being willing to pay this price is because of how clean and well maintained this truck has proven especially as I have compared it to others I have seen in this price range. No accidents, seemingly good maintenance, new tires and spare, new front brakes, fairly new back brakes, fresh oil change, fresh coolant, tranny, diff, and transfer case fluid change under a year ago. Basically all the basics that I would have ended up doing to any other truck within the first few months has already been done for me so that's really nice.

I took it in for an inspection and the only semi major problem that was found is a bad steering Carrier bearing. Not to shabby for a 13 year old truck with 141K miles on it. The dealership I got it from didn't want to have anything to do with fixing this but it did allow me to negotiate the price down several hundred dollars more. I've never replaced a Carrier bearing myself before so if anyone has any tips or advice on whether its something I should be able to do myself or if I should have a shop do let me know. Also if you know of a good how to thread for this problem link it. Thanks.

Other than the carrier bearing its got some cosmetic stuff, small scratches, a couple chips, peeling paint and clear coat on the top of the cab, a missing latch for the leer shell, missing window for the leer shell that goes next to the cab and a missing knob for the tie down rails. Minor cosmetic things don't bother me and the only things I'll put any time or effort into fixing will probably be the paint and clear coat on the top of the cab, the latch and maybe the window for the shell and the knob for the tiedown rails. I figure a can of color matched black spray paint, some sand paper, and some kind of spray on clear coat will do it for the top of the cab just to keep it from getting worse.

I'm looking around for a matching latch for the leer camper shell and am curious if you can get replacement windows for it as well. I believe its this shell http://www.leer.com/122 or something very similar I suppose. Not sure where to look for replacement parts for a truck shell like this one. Any ideas or recommendations would be appreciated. Heres some kind of Vin number I found on a metal tag on the shell if that helps. (Leer #01310976) the specific piece of the "Latch" That is missing is just the little bracket thing that the T handle rests behind while in the locked position. And potentially a replacement window for the shell that goes next to the rear sliding window of the cab.

I also need to find a new knob for the tiedown rail. 3 of the tiedowns have the knob that tightens down on the bolt to keep it from moving but the fourth one is missing the knob piece

Heres a picture (This also shows the Leer tag as well) https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2ADSrYcYtKlUDFYYWJqWDJlSGg3d01xemtGNXdjX29PRzZ3/view?usp=sharing

If anyone could point me in the right direction for finding parts to fix that I would appreciate it greatly.

Needless to say I appreciate all the advice given and the help you guys supplied made a huge difference in how smoothly this process went. I'm excited to start using this truck for work and for play and I'll do my best to get some pictures up as soon as I can. In the mean time I've definitely got some learning to do about this truck, and a few problems to figure out how to fix. I'll definitely be lurking around here soaking up info best I can and I'm sure I'll be starting up a few more threads to ask for advice about other things with this truck as well.

 

Congrats!

Are you a writer by profession? That was a long post. Ha.

 

Steering carrier bearing? I am trying to wrap my head around what part of a Tacoma that they are calling a steering carrier bearing and I come up with nada.

 

I'm not really sure either honestly. My first guess is they mean the drive shaft carrier bearing but idk why the word steering would be there in that case.. I'll take a closer look at the estimate paper I got and see if there is a part number I can look up.

 

Congrats on the new truck!

 

Ok yeah i ran the part number (

$199 372300K030 Genuine Toyota 37230-0K030 Center Support Bearing Assembly

372300K030) Center support Bearing. For some reason he either said the word steering or I made it up out of thin air. Either way, this makes more sense. Time to start digging around for threads where people have fixed this then.

 

I’d either get a 4cyl version or if you need the V6 go for a later model year. I’ve heard 2010 was very good for reliability

 

Congrats on your new to you truck!

 

Thanks everyone!

Snapped a couple quick pictures with the phones this morning before heading off to work.

Heres a little look at the truck

 

Congratulations man! You put in way more time in picking your truck and doing research and checking it out thoroughly than most people I know. People buying a used truck can learn alot from your story about how to buy a good used truck! The reward for all your time and effort is that you found your perfect truck!

For the carrier bearing... I know most people will say... Do it yourself. Being on there that long, it ain't gonna come off easy! Even with the right tools it's PITA in my opinion. In your case, I recommend, buying an OEM are similar carrier bearing onlone. MARK the driveshaft position. Pull the driveshaft, bring it to a driveshaft shop and have them install it. The bring it home, match up your marks and reinstall the driveshaft. Should be able to get it done for few hundred bux and about 30min to remove, 30min to install.

 

X2...Congratulations on joining the Tacoma family.