2008 Purchase-Need Help

Howdy guys, I'm buying a used regular cab 2008 Toyota Tacoma 2.7 with about 134K miles. It looks Ok for its age, not beat up and its gonna meet my needs.

I need your help here please.
I know its got the timing chain, so I'm good there.
What time of issues may arise or what type of services I should do?
Good vehicle at $6K? No accidents and clean title.

I'm not a truck guy and I'm gonna need the truck to drive around, Home Depot and to use a small utility trailer to haul a riding mower once in a while.

Thanks in advance,

 

The only issue are frame rust, everything else can be replaced. Timing chains arent a huge issue and not wildly expensive.

Having a quick inspection would go a long way, but it sounds like the right truck for you.

 

The age, mileage, and price all look good. If you’re not very familiar with Tacomas or trucks in general, I recommend getting a pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you trust. This shouldn’t be an issue, and if the private seller or dealer has a problem with it, that’s a red flag.

Other than that, it’s pretty standard: check for leaks in and around the engine bay and underneath the vehicle, listen for any unusual noises during your test drive, and look for any parts that appear new. Then ask when and why they were replaced. Check the condition and levels of all fluids as well.

I’ve always bought used cars and trucks, and there’s always a bit of a gamble involved, but honestly, these days buying new can be just as much of a gamble.

 

Has it lived in salt country? Inspect the frame. Closely. And properly.

Does everything work?

All safety items ok? Tires, brakes, lights, horn, wipers?

Those things are not truck specific, just like you'd check any used vehicle.

 

Unfortunately I live about three hours away and I'll be checking the Taco tomorrow. I'm kind of handy so I appreciate your guidance very much. The owner claims some dry rot and with the VIN I tracked the vehicle being purchased and used in NJ till about 6 years ago.

I think I'll need to inspect the body frame, and look for rust. I can see some rust in the rear bumper so that might be a sign of what's underneath.

Please feel free to advise.

Thanks in advance.

 

That's not a red flag on a cheap car. What if someone doesn't want to waste their time and work around their busy schedule or take days off from work to deliver a vehicle to a mechanic.

If someone asked me that on my 2005 I sold a few months ago I would have told them sorry I just don't have the time and can't waste days off from work.

Looking at the pics of this truck it shows that on the bumper already .. .the frame is probably crap like another member said.

Wait til you find a local one. . .2005-2009 Reg cab 2 WDs are pretty popular and reasonably priced with a smaller market (which is good for you!)

 

im betting that frame is rusted out if it’s already showing on the bumper

make sure the AC works.. I just bought one and the ac was broke. 2k later it works again ☠️

 

I wouldnt do the drive without pics of the frame.

 

Bishop84 "I wouldnt do the drive without pics of the frame." That's a great idea. Thanks

 

Being a 5 lug helps the price be low.

You need a bright light, a ball peen, a probe. If you have or can borrow a camera on a wand that attaches to your phone, use it to look in the boxed areas up front.

Lots of threads here re the how to inspect, also lots of tales of woe from folks who did not inspect and found out they'd bought a rolling scrap pile

Best wishes!

 

Thanks for the heads up.

 

I’ll agree with some here and say judging by the bumper the frame is probably toast. Search on this site for rusty Tacoma frames so you get an idea of what to look for and the bad areas to look at. If it looks like it’s been doctored up(painted) walk away.

 

To each their own, but the last vehicle I purchased only took an hour at my local mechanic because I planned ahead. When I sold my last vehicle, I even set up the inspection appointment for the buyer. It’s cheap peace of mind for everyone involved.

 

Got some pictures, I think it looks good. What do you think?

Thanks in advance

 

I'll definitely get new tires. Brakes were done last year I was told. Maybe a nice tune up.
Rear diff service?

What do you guys think?

Thanks

 

^The frame appears to have been replaced before - it's cleaner than the parts bolted to the frame. If I remember correctly, before 2011, the factory spare tire hoist used a steel cable instead of a chain. Presence of a chain suggests newer frame.

It has a leaking steering rack, common with 2nd gens and 3rd gens. However, the rack in the 2WD 5-lugger doesn't look too labor-intensive to replace.

 

Just did a Carfax.
Accident in 2016, passenger front side.
He owns the Taco since 2018 and Carfax doesn't have a single report on maintenance. He said he did all the brakes about a year ago.
He put about 22K miles since 2019.
5 owners

134K miles now. $6K price.
What do you think?

Thanks in advance

 

It's great for the age, if the frame was replaced, the diff would be rusty as well, I rarely see diffs with stickers still on them, they always fall off due to rust.

It's good to go, just tires, and eventually shocks/rack and pinion one day.

I'd snag that up!

 

The frame was replaced, like a recall and done by Toyota?
Steering rack replacement, is an expensive part? I'm pretty handy and I'm sure I can do it after watching a Youtube video.

 

You should inspect the engine oil for sludging, since there are no maintenance records and there were previous owner(s). Two recent threads on 2.7L rod knock or lifter knock:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/bad-timing-chain-sound.863938/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/new-around-here-what-the-hell-is-this-sound.862632/

No a recall; Toyota had a "customer satisfaction campaign" to replace the frame - the truck was basically disassembled and put together again by the dealer technician with a new frame.

Only reliable steering rack on this platform is OEM, ~$640 before shipping purchased online. Close to $1k at the dealer parts counter: https://www.toyotapartsdeal.com/oem/toyota~gear~assy~power~steering~for~rack~pinion~44250-04020.html