05 Tacoma sometimes won’t start.

I’m going to look at this truck to possibly buy, wanted to get your input on it. Here’s what the seller says about the issue.

“
2005 toyota tacoma 4x4 4 door 4.0 automatic , daily drive it 120 miles per day, it also needs a wire on the OBD2 port reconnected, it will cause it not to start in 25 degree or lower weather sometimes, all you have to do is wiggle the OBD port and it starts right up.”

PRICE IS FIRM, I DO STILL OWE ON THIS VEHICLE SO YOU WILL HAVE TO MEET ME AT THE BANK.

*Fresh Alignment, oil change, new fuel pump, new ball joints and tie rod ends. NO I WILL NOT TAKE 6K!!!!

What do you think might cause the issue he’s describing with the OBD2 port?

Thanks everybody!!

 

The seller sounds like a flake. I wouldn’t trust him. Since for some reason the problem doesn’t happen above 25 degrees you therefore can’t duplicate it. Wouldn’t buy a vehicle with a problem that you don’t know what it is and you can’t duplicate. Look for another truck. If he doesn’t want to fix it, walk away. Does he have a couple years of maintenance records? I doubt he does. Walk away .
Out of curiosity how many miles on this 20 year old truck?

 

So, is it an 05 or an 06?
Thread title says 06'
Then you say it's an 05'

2005 models had head gasket issues. (I'd pass on for this reason)

If the seller knows it's a wire issue, why doesn't he fix the wire issue?

How could the Data Link (OBD) connector cause the issue?
Well, it could have a short to the ECM as the ECM is tied to the connector (and CAN Lines)
But who knows. You'll have to do some testing.

 

I would pass on that. If it was a simple issue it would have been taken care of. Don't buy someone else's project or junk.

 

It’s an 05- I’ve looked at so many I put the wrong year.

 

It’s got pretty high mileage, at 280k.
I was looking to buy this for my Son’s first truck. From the guys profile picture, he looks like he may be 20 years old, probably doesn’t have much in the way of vehicle repair knowledge.

 

Owing money on a 20 year old truck is sketchy without all the other red flags.

If he knows what’s wrong with it and won’t fix it to make it sellable, what else has he let go?

With the wire out can you even scan it for permanent codes and to see how long it’s been since it was cleared?

Id pass.

 

Nope

 

Yeah.
I'd pass on it because I'm an ass.

I can't stand for some one to try and sell something, but put forth NO EFFORT to even attempt to clean the vehicle up.
It kind of tells me, they are lazy, just look at all the dirt in the floor boards. Trash in the seats.
If they treat the inside like shit, they probably treat the engine like shit too.

If they can't bother to clean out the trash, why bother to do maintenance......

But hey, That's just me.
For all I know the junk yard engine might be great.

But there again. Poor sales effort for sure.
Can't even get the mileage right. Listed at 281K....then says 277k.
I wasted too much time on people like that in the past. Not any more.

 

This^^^^^. The seller and the truck are a pos.

 

The resistance in a wire increases as temperature decreases. That being said, had pass for me. A wire that "just needs to be reconnected" wouldn't be causing such a problem unless it's shorting on something. It can't be shorting IN the port assembly because the terminals are separated into sub-ports. If a wire is exposed because it's partially pulled out, unless another wire is partially exposed, there shouldn't be anything to short to. I would THINK, if it's an exposed wire that was shorting to something, it would be pretty obvious and an easy fix.

Ergo, whatever the problem is, is not so easy.

 

280,000 miles so the head gasket will probably blow tomorrow because it's an 05.
Still paying off a 20 year old truck and the jiggling wire deal say "forget it".