First Forum Post Ever! Attempt to Rescue an Abused/Neglected Tacoma

Hello TacomaWorld! I’m probably too old to have spent half my life online; I’d have to do some research and math to determine it. In those years, I do know that I’ve had a good amount of success in using the interwebs and forums when I attempt or even manage to repair something, to the point I just realized I’ve never actually posted on a forum. That will change this week as I get to post on 2 auto forums, this obviously being one courtesy of a 2014 Tacoma 4WD collecting dust in the driveway. It isn’t a new Tacoma or a Tacoma with fancy mods unfortunately. It’s more like an abused and neglected (not by me) Tacoma that has sat in my driveway for months. It’s difficult to look at and makes me sad; I can almost hear Sarah McLachlan music playing. In all fairness, it serves as a work truck for spouse, and that is reflected when you open the door. What lies beneath (from previous owner I presume) has been a lot of hair and soil and things I don't want to the composition of. Work trucks deserve TLC, and that is part of what I’ve set out to do. It’s the more complicated of the 2 non-running vehicles I see when looking out my window, so I’m starting with it.

Maybe with any luck, this can be a feel-good/turnaround story…

In a world where a Systems Data Analyst - who knows zilch about auto repair - sits a Tacoma yearning to run again. Using Internet research, help from forum geniuses, RTFM methodologies, and common sense, she attempts to bring life back into the mechanical beast. Will she succeed or will this be failure of epic proportion?

Either way, I’ll be updating accordingly. Please bear with me. Most everything related to this is new to me. By posting here, I’m hoping to - at minimum - keep track of what has/hasn’t been tried and get advice on what/what not to do, posting progress (or lack of) for others to learn from or laugh at in the future.

That all being said…Here we go! (In that Shelby Stanga swamp character voice of course).

For my next post, appearing in the topic-appropriate thread, we have....a mess.

 

Welcome aboard! Keep posting here if you need help. It’ll be a good way for you to keep track of your project as well.
You sound like you have some experience with the internet so it should be easy to navigate the BS and see this site for what it is: a place for likeminded people to come together to share ideas and help one another. I’ve had luck solving issues with some help from fellow members so ask away, post pictures and of course do your due diligence and get a second and third opinion.

Lots of helpful people here so you’re in good company.

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Welcome aboard! You can always post questions or ask for advice. I do suggest that you try out the search tool, a lot of questions and answers are already posted on any given subject. For a 2014 the second gen forum should be the place to query. Good luck!

 

Welcome to TW

 

Very cool project! Too many vehicles thrown away in this world

 

Can’t toss these yet…still have a year to pay on them…both

thanks for the awesome welcome yay!!!!

 

thank you thank you for the warm welcome!!!

 

Thank you for the guidance! That is exactly where I wound up posting . When it is all said and done I think I will have read almost every thread on here lol

 

I finally dug out an actually camera so I could take better pics of this. I want to be sure and document the whole thing for other folks with a similar issue. Thank you for the warm welcome

 

This is great…so many nice and helpful people here, and I’m learning so much! Thank you for the kind welcome

 

You will find good and solid advice here. Just stay away from 4th gen forum, they are seeking a very different buzz.

 

This is my fourth 'Yoda...Had an '89 and '91 in Colorado. Gave the '91 to my son in Cali and he still gets notes on his windshield asking to sell it!. Currently working on my "new" 2001. It is a New England truck so lots of surface rust underneath. The frame was replaced and it seems solid. Looking to clean it up but working in an apartment parking lot! Using wire brushes and Rustoleum, though I read that just locks in the rust! Runs great and the five speed manual is a real pleasure after a 2 foot snowstorm!