3RD GEN TACOMA OVERHEATING

I’ve had the same overheating issues with my third gen. It started down on 395, it was like maybe 110 degrees out. We were around the mono lake area going uphill when I noticed the gauge going up to 3/4 so we pulled over, let it cool down and checked fluids. We noticed a lot of pressure on the hoses as well. Once it cooled we decided to keep moving hit up an Oreillys for a new radiator cap, swapped that out. It seemed fine until we hit dirt and it began to overheat again. When I came back from the trip I ordered a new thermostat and replaced it. Had not noticed it again until it got hot where I live and was in a drive thru with the ac on about 100+ degrees out and it began to overheat again. Thought about maybe fan clutch but fan engages fine. I’m more than sure now that is the radiator. I will be one of the first 3rd gens to receive the CSF radiator and I’m beyond excited to install it and get the truck back out again.

 

@el_taco_inferno sounds just like my concern. I took my truck to san diego with ac on blast on a 100 degree day after taking it in for service and havent seen it duplicate. That san diego trip for me has a lot of hills and is about 240 mile round trip but didnt get hot. Weird how it only happened on the trail.

 

It is very odd, I’ve cleaned the radiator, swap thermostat, flush the cooling fluid and still happened. Hopefully the new radiator fixes the issue.

 

Im still on hold with corporate on why the TFS denied my truck for repair only because its a 4cylinder they were gonna close my case since tuesday but when i spoke to another case manager regarding the TSB (This helps in the sense they need to investigate further) she read it and was like this doesn't say they cant and im lile thats what i have been trying to say lol

 

!! Added to my mod list, would be awesome to have this !! on your temp gauge !! ill give you credit and trade rights .

 

I’m on it, will post my prototype soon (for reals!!)

 

would it be more like ?

 

Exactly like it using one of these fun little guys, can even add sound effects!
https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-tft-gizmo

 

I think I would go with a larger radiator, but that’s me. I did the electric fan once to an 87 xtra-cab and forgot to switch it off going across a river, lost the fan and the radiator when the fan exploded.

It did make a difference in cooling the truck, so it can very much be worth it, just dont do what I did.

 

that would so good ! lol.

 

Well my radiator got here today I’ll be installing it this weekend and keep you guys posted!

 

I wanna jump and say yeah it shouldn't overheat because its a new truck but at the same time being over 100 degrees with the AC on full blast on an offroad trail moving very slowly sometimes making frequent stops and climbing steep hills isn't a good idea. All the heat that gets trapped under that hood. This is the reason I don't go offroading in 100 degree heat for the fear of this exact scenario lol

 

They don’t normally overheat when off-roading in 100°+ weather! People do, but these trucks don’t. Something else is wrong with them if they do.

 

Last update on my Tacoma overheating in idle corporate told me the literature doesn't matter on the TSB (doesnt exclude 4cylinders) that my truck does not fall under that because its a 4cylinder therefore, they are saying its a NORMAL function for it to overheat in idle al because the Field Technician says so. Im so done with toyota

 

I disagree. As I would if you told me you just let the truck idle for hours on a hot day in Phoenix.

It ran hot....it is supposed to. It ran too hot, well not quite. Strictly speaking this truck did not overheat.

I would say it ran exactly like I would expect to happen given the circumstances.

 

sorry. That has happened to you

 

Thank you all I can do now is deal with the problem and hope it doesn't cause major problems in the future.