What Have You Done To Your 2nd Gen Tacoma Today?

Your welcome. After unhooking the battery yesterday I had to go back and turn off the lock/unlock chirp and turn off the seatbelt chime today.

 

if you saw how i had to get the bushing out - you'd laugh for asking that! lol!!
easy job after getting that pesky thing out.

 

Hey guys, long time lurker. I used to use my Tacoma as a DD. Things happened now it’s not my DD. Where do I begin? I think it started where one day my DD(2012 Corolla ), got a faulty ignition coil. So I opted to drive my truck to work until I could diagnose my car on my days off. How ever , I went to start it up one day, I released the parking brake, it wouldn’t roll forward. I tried breaking it free with no success. So that meant 2 un drive able vehicles for the week. I was desperate so I took a deeper look into why my truck wouldn’t move. Turns out the parking break on the driver rear wouldn’t dis engage? I loosened up the bleeder valve for the brake and I did engaged the brake. That was a relief. So over the span of 4 months I opted to do some, some what major maintenance. Transmission, differential, brake fluid, coolant, power steering. Didn’t touch the transfer case, front differential and AC components. Changed out all the idler pulleys and tensioner with the belt. This past week end I changed out the 2 out of the 3 u joint. I was on the last one and the drive shaft flange broke. I have another one in the way. Finally I changed out one ball joint for my JBA control arms. That was easier then I thought. My truck sits at 102k miles. Anyway sorry for the long read. But I feel this is easily the best truck you could own for the money. Now I can see why these trucks are so popular. I love my Tacoma!

 

Installed six new Denso ignition coils and completed the last three plug swaps…

The truck seems to like moving on from the ACDelco plugs (installed by previous owner) and the update to what were likely the original ngk coils.

The idle is noticeably smoother and the truck accelerates much better.

Last item on the list is to drop the transmission pan, inspect for sludge and clean magnets/pan, install new filter and fluid.

All my other fluids/gear oil have been changed.

 

They're amazing trucks to own if you like pulling your own wrenches.

 

Busy week for Lucille

Last Friday she knocked out 1000 miles in 18 hours with a single pilot (me!) to get me to be present for the birthday of my first Grandbaby, then today she served as dogsitter and then removed the tonneau to play furniture getter. I do love this truck. It simply gets it done.

 

In the event I do need to turn a wrench, I will not shy away from it. As much as I like turning a wrench on, I’d like to be able to enjoy it as. But I think catching up on maintenance comes before play. I’m almost on my 6th year of owner ship and put almost 40k miles on it. I look forward to more years of use on it

 

2 cool stickers on your back window. How close to the AT are you and what Guzzi do you Ride?

 

grew up in NH scrambling around the White Mountains. Have never been a through hiker but have hiked much of it in 9 states, and it remains just an ideal to which I aspire.

I’ve had several Guzzi’s.

Currently in the garage:

79 G5
93 1000S
00 Jackal
09 GRiSO.

You ride?

 

Nice I'm in WNC and currently have a 84 BMW r65ls
Had a 85 Cagiva Alzzurra 650 which was wrecked by a taxi cab. Love the Guzzi's have ridden many friends.
Have been out of riding job related and a back injury. Hopefully will be able to get back to it soon.

 

nice. Looks like I’ll get to do the dragon this summer on my way to a work event in Asheville, so I can can get paid mileage on the trip. Planning to take the GRiSO. Couple of firsts. Never rode the dragon and never spent any real time in Asheville. Excited for both.

 

Its nice to stop again...

 

Well…showed my old 06 some love. I added some Raptor Lights to my grill, LED fog lights (Dual color) and moved my Light bar up front on my bull bar.

 

Lots of good rides in the area, I live on one of the more visited routes NW of Asheville. Many bikes go by my place daily in good weather. It goes up and over through the Pisgah National forest to a town on the AT. And high speed back to Asheville. The dragon is cool lots of traffic on the weekends.

 

I'm a firm believer that there are at least dozens of roads as good, but ya know, if I'm gonna be there I outta knock it off the list.

 

I like that grille, I pass by my neighbour who has it and I’m very jealous.

where did you get yours?

 

I ride. Started in 2005 with a 1990 Suzuki GS500. Now have the 2015 Yamaha FZ-07. Heading to Arizona first week of April to attend Arizona Bike week. A good time! GodSmack will be playing. The Cave Creek parties and bar hopping is fun.

 

What's the general consensus on ignition coils...specifically NGK vs Denso?

I've found both online, here:

$307 6 pc DENSO Direct Ignition Coils compatible with Toyota Tacoma 4.0L V6 2005-2015

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B7KV6GZL?smid=A3MIJ050V6KVBD

and here:

$234 NGK Set of 6 COP Pencil Type Ignition Coils For Toyota 4Runner Tacoma Tundra V6

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09JZGVM5X?smid=A2GAWQYL93SJSD


I've heard about getting other parts off Amazon and they being "copycats" and not true OEM parts, so that's one worry.

I haven't checked yet, but I can only assume that true dealer parts from a dealership would cost....2x? If that's not true, then I would just go there and get them...and I can do that anyway if there's worry of copycats, like I said, regardless of price...buy once-cry once, ya know. But at the same time, I don't want to pay more (if it even is more) for the exact same legit parts.



At any rate, IF these are legit OEM parts, any thoughts on NGK vs Denso? Is one as good as the other?

Did the factory use them similar to how they did the spark plugs themselves (3 of each)?



Thanks for any insight and opinions.

 

@jproffer

I just picked up six new ignition coils off of Amazon. Denso, shipped direct from the ‘Denso Online Store’. They are absolutely true Denso parts.
Amazon - $41.95 per coil
Local Dealer - $67.75 per coil

i also grabbed some copper Denso plugs while I was in there.

Truck has 132k on what I believe the were the original NGK coils.

Quick start, smooth idle and definitely more power when accelerating. No complaints here.

 

Both brands are equally good quality. Toyota uses both brands of ignition parts but I see more DENSO tags on oem parts than NGK. I have been servicing and repairing my entire families vehicles for 50 years. I have used off-brand coils, usually $70 for 6, in some cars and got nearly 100k trouble free miles out of them. I had 1 of those cheapo coils fail after 5 years of use. I may possibly risk those again when the time comes to replace mine. I am one that prefers to use Toyota parts for most mechanical items. I have always had good luck with off brand window motors, ignition coils, wheel speed sensors, and other motors and switches. I am not recommended these just stating how my experiences have been.