New Owner of Very Old Truck

My father recently passed, and I inherited his 1999 Tacoma 2WD with 2.4L, automatic, and extended cab. It had 330,000 miles on the clock. Dad had been unable to drive since 2016, and the truck sat under an open awning for six years. He was once a member of this forum, and I'm posting with his account.

Three months ago I drove from Dallas to Mississippi in my 2014 Ram with a tow dolly, but I decided to see if I could start the Toyota up first. I had a difficult time getting the key to work in the door lock because it had not been opened in six years. The windows were covered in dirt and moss, as was much of the exterior, and I removed about six or seven dirt-dauber nests from the body and engine compartment. The tires were not yet completely flat, but nearly so. The battery would not take a charge.

I visited the local Walmart and purchased a new battery and a can of starting fluid. With the new battery installed, the engine started immediately but died after a few seconds (starting fluid consumed). On about the third try I was able to keep the engine running. I added about two gallons of fresh gasoline to the six-year-old stuff in the tank, aired up the tires, washed the windows, and took it for a spin around the block.

It was bouncing like a pogo stick because of the flat spots on the tires, so I increased the pressure to 40 psi in an attempt to round them out. This helped. I noticed the brakes also grabbed hard every revolution of the wheels, presumably due to rust spots on the rotors and drums. The idle speed seemed to be about 1500 to 2000 RPM after warmup, and the temperature gauge sometimes refused to budge off the lower stop (other times it worked normally). The cruise control didn't work either, but I have no idea whether this was due to storage duration and conditions. It might have been broken for some time, as Dad seldom used it anyway. There is also something wrong with the turn signals - right front does not work, and I remember Dad having an ongoing problem with this after getting the fender repaired from a deer strike.

Local authorities made me pay all the back-registration fees accumulated since 2016, even though the truck was inoperable and off the road. This cost me about $300. My alternative was Texas registration for about $75, but then it would need to pass inspection and I wasn't sure how long it would take me to get it capable.

I spent the next four or five days running a tank of gas and a bottle of injector cleaner through the truck and getting a feel for the general condition. The tires smoothed out considerably (but the brakes still grabbed badly), the idle remained very fast, the temp gauge was still intermittent, and the "check engine" light came on. The code said something like "EGR flow too high". I reset it and it has never come back.

Next I disconnected the rear driveshaft half at the differential and towed it back to Dallas.

Three months later, I've put on 11,000 more miles and changed oil three times. I've checked fuel economy at every fill-up, the results ranging from a low of 24 MPG to a high of 31 MPG. The temperature gauge still sticks sometimes. The brake grabbing has smoothed to the point that it doesn't bother me. The engine runs smooth as silk and uses no oil that I can detect. No funny noises.

About two months ago, the right front tire exploded and I overpaid for a new set in Malvern, Arkansas.

Here's what still needs work:
1. Right front turn signal is still out.
2. Cruise control doesn't engage. I'd like to use it.
3. Idle speed has gradually become normal, but it still kicks up too much when the A/C compressor turns on. Looks like there is an adjustment on the end of the solenoid for that.
4. I have the service records since new, and it looks like the AT fluid and filter are probably original. I'm looking for the filter and gasket on Rockauto.com, but they don't list any AT parts for a 1999 with 2.4L engine. They show AT parts for the 2.7L engine - would this be the same transmission?

This has become my daily driver since my Ram recently broke a lifter (and maybe ruined the cam), as the Hemi engine is prone to doing.

 

Sorry about your father, I hope you spent well more than enough time with him. You got a good truck, don't worry.

1 - The transmission probably doesn't have a filter and gasket. Some transmissions generally don't need to. Just a simple drain and fill will suffice. Take it to your local dealer if you want a full service done on it.

2 - The turn signal is a simple fix. If there was an accident then worst case scenario there is a break in the wiring or pigtail. Just gonna take time to locate it is all.

3 - You'll need to look at several things for the cruise control. Does the CC light turn on when you hit the button? Is it even connected? Is the brake light switch damaged? That's going to take a bit of investigating.

4 - Get a scanner and look at your fuel trims and report back. Also, make sure there aren't any dead bats or rodents keeping your throttle body from closing all the way. This isn't a joke. Most likely you just need to replace vacuum hoses and change the EGR valve.

Congratulations on your truck, your father left you a great vehicle. Treat it well and it might outlast you.

Make sure the brakes are what's causing the "catch" every revolution. It could also be a wheel bearing that just needs to be greased or replaced. Then when you're ready to tackle the issues, share them with us 1 thing at a time. We'll help you get through it.

 

Hi Serge,

I'm curious about your statement that many transmissions have no filter and no pan gasket, as I've never encountered this on any of my cars or trucks. Is this a "Toyota thing"?

As far as I can tell, the throttle valve is closing all the way because it comes to rest on the adjustment bolt. But, as I mentioned, the fast-idle issue has already cleared itself over time. The only remaining quirk is that it "speeds up" more than necessary when the AC compressor is enabled. I think I'll be able to easily fix that by adjusting the bolt on the end of the solenoid.

best regards,

Marty

 

I'm surprised that a 2.4L 5-lug truck would have factory cruise control. I've had dozens of these trucks and looked at hundreds over the years, and I don't think I've ever seen one of those with factory cruise. Though I have seen several fitted with aftermarket cruise control setups. Can you post a pic? Welcome to the world of Tacomas and good luck with your new truck!

 

RIP Dad and welcome to TW, Martin

 

2Rz-fe w/ factory cruise....

 

As far as changing tranny filter, your wasting your time, its just a very coarse screen that only catches the big chunks in its end days.....
Instead I cut in the tranny cooler return hose and stuck in a Raybestos magnetic one.....

https://www.amazon.com/Raybestos-515554-Magnetic-Inline-Filter/dp/B072PQ2XKD

 

Most everything that fits 2.7 (3rz) will also fit 2.4 (2rz)....even the timing cover is the same.....
the biggest exception is all 5 lug wheel/suspension parts will only work with 5 lug....
And 6 lug wheel/steer/suspension only work with 6 lug......ie 4X4's and the prerunners......

Oil pan/pickup tube is more pointed and deeper on 3rz to get around front drive stuff.....

Only time I've been given wrong parts, auto zone and napa sold me parts for 6 lug that there computer was wrong......no fit 5 lug.


Safest way to order parts is thru mcgeorge toyota, give em your vin and they'll never give u the wrong parts, and they can even tell you what other parts are critical to that operation, held my order up until they notified me I'd order wrong part according to vin.......

Have to be careful when ordering brake stuff, abs and non abs brake parts are not interchangeable, even for same year....
I would assume your 99 2rz is mostly like mine...98 dlx....non abs

 

Sorry to hear about your dad. What a nice way to keep him with you by driving his old Toyota. May you get another 300k miles out of it

 

Perfecto! Don't trust the stock plastic radiator.

 

Yeah I went champion....but there is no perfect world......
gotta to know the rules.......you ought to see my latest vid post on what the asian stuff looks like after 9mos....






https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fa5CYRtga9Y

 

But yeah he's right, watch your coolant, these radiatiors(oem) seem to last only 7 or 8 years...
WOrst thing you can do to these old taco engines is run them hot....
that's a ticket to a head gasket job.


And leave the set screw on the throttle body solenoid alone.....
the only thing that would alter is if something is impeding/stopping the butterfly in the TB from closing all the way.....

I would watch videos on how to clean throttle body and mass air flow sensor, these and the O'2 sensors run the whole show......

 

2RZ the same as 22RE?