Seeking advice: Buying a 1st Gen Taco

I'm looking at a used, high-mileage 2001 4x4 w/ e-locker tomorrow. This Taco has been in CA for its entirety. Has 275k miles on the ODO, clean title. Everything is completely stock, no mods whatsoever.

Are there any quirks, or any "gotchas" I should know about specific to the 1st Gen Taco I should look out for?

I'm a current 3rd gen owner.

Thanks!

 

V6?

 

The big one is frame. They rust and literally fall apart. Check for significant rust or if it appears the frame has a thick coating applied as a band-aid to rust.

 

Yes!

 

Definitely checking out the frame tomorrow.

 

Valve shims, carrier bearing, LBJs. If they haven’t been taken care of, they probably need it.

 

Thanks!

 

Rust and coolant leaks in bad places are the No 1 (major) problem with these.
Signs of either require further investigation.......

If they let the oil changes slide.......it will show in the compression...and burn oil....

 

Make sure the rear locker engages.
Rear axle seals can leak.
Valve covers can leak.
Lower ball joints like to fail randomly.
CV boots like to slip off the axle shaft.
I had the notorious firewall seam leak that let water onto the floor board.
My rear window leaked and let water inside.

 

I would suggest checking all wear and tear items, at that age and mileage. (Things like shocks, leaf springs, LCA bushings, UCA bushings, LBJs, UBJs, wheel bearings, power steering pump (for whining), brakes, steering rack bushings, tie rod ends (inner/outer), carrier bearing, coil packs, plug wires, spark plugs). You can drive these trucks for years with most of these things way past due [for replacement], and many do. When I bought mine with 270k, I had to catch up on a lot of these, and I would have lowered my offer a lot more (paid 9k), if I'd known how much I'd pay for OEM replacements for a lot of these. Even doing these all myself to avoid shop labor rates, I've dumped several thousand (probably closer to 10k more) into my truck to get everything up to snuff. Also keep in mind the timing belt interval is 90k, so at 275k, it should have just gotten one done. If not that'll run at least $400 in parts alone to do it right with OEM parts. All this stuff adds up real quick.

 

You know he's right.....it can add up the $1000's real quick......

we were eyeing a $200 knock sensor earlier this week.....

for some reason yesterday toyota owners werent that concerned about regular maint other than oil...big ass tires.... and blistine's......

 

If you’re buying the truck plan on a timing belt / water pump replacement. Don’t trust the service history.

 

Timing belt replacement is 60k, but as this motor being a non interference design, it won't destroy the motor if it goes on ya.

I've popped two on my 1997 in it's 275k life so far. Time consuming but easy enough for the home mechanic to replace.

 

If i had my time back, I would have looked under the front carpet by your feet. there’s an issue with water running into the cab from the front rain tray. My truck had been leaking in for a long time cause the carpet underlay was semi rotten, and the floorboard was rotten. I noticed this when i had gone to tub for 35’s. all fixed now with some sealant. The PO probably never ever looked as he was a pretty honest dude.

It’s pretty easy just to take that lower side kick panel off, and pull up the carpet. I guess you’re from Anaheim so the chances of continuous rain leaking in are slim. But still worth it. I’ve seen one here at the wreckers that crumbled when I leaned on the front floor looking for some stuff.

 

Yea - it's been raining so I haven't had a chance to really look yet, I'm trying to meet up with the current owner tomorrow instead when it pauses from the rain, but we'll get a good indication of leaking because it's been pouring down pretty hard for the last day or 2 in Southern California.

 

I had bought my truck repainted, they put the gaskets on upside down and i had a leak on three openings, corrected the gaskets and we just went through another batch of rain and all is dry

 

Yeah a lot of people put these up for sale when a lot of that stuff is due, or has been neglected for so long that the truck is now unpleasant or even dangerous to drive. And they still want to charge the Toyota tax on top of it all.

 

Psh, yeah, what’s up wid dat?