Advice

Hey everyone,

My name is Josh and I need some advice. I currently own a 2000 Tacoma 4 cylinder. I bought this truck when I turned 16 and it was my first vehicle. It had 114xxx miles on it when I bought it and currently has around 175xxx miles on it. I graduated college last May and got my first adult job in April. I currently drive approximately 60 miles to work one way. The other day, on my way home from work, I noticed that my check engine light was on. My dad and I checked it out and it threw a code, 420 I believe, for the EGR valve. In the process of checking that, we noticed that the truck had major rust issues on the frame (go figure). I have had rust problems before that failed inspection, and was a quick relatively inexpensive fix, but this seems much worse. The whole crossmember in the rear is rusted severely and is one bad bump away from falling apart on the passenger side, which creates its own set of problems. Not only that but the bottom of the engine/transmission was also wet with transmission fluid. It wasn't dripping but it was slightly wet. We found an aftermarket crossmember that costs about $300. There is also some other rust spots that need touched up, which is gonna cost around another $300. That just will be a stop gap until next May, when I'm sure after another PA winter (the state uses salt) there will be more rust damage that will need to be addressed to pass inspection. But we still don't know how much it will cost to fix the truck for the EGR valve (?) or the transmission leak. Yesterday, the check engine light came back on after we cleared it and it threw the original codes as well as another one relating to the cadillac converter. Also it's worth noting that the truck has a slight knock when you start it cold in the winter that dissipates when the truck is warmed up. Taking all of that into consideration, I'm just not sure it's worth spending more money trying to fix it or just cut my losses. I love this truck and really would like to keep it, at the same time I realize that continuing to throw money at it is a losing battle. I am looking at the new 2019 Tacoma TRD sport and like that but I have also heard that the new generation is having problems with the transmission. I am trying to decide if I should fix my truck or move on. Does anyone have the new generation or 2019 and have problems with the transmission? Has toyota fixed this problem? Also, has toyota done anything to fix their frames so they don't rust as much? Should I fix my first gen or should I cut my losses? Any guidance, advice, or recommendations would be much appreciated. Thank you.

 

First, that is a nice 1st gen.

If you live in a area were rust is an issue you should be actively fighting decay with Fluid Film or something similar, otherwise yes it is a loosing battle and you should probably cut your losses. The 3rd gens have started getting letters to have frames checked, though I haven't heard of any failures. I also FF the new truck to help fight corrosion.

As for the transmission issues on 3rd gens, I have a manual transmission so I dodged most of the crazy shifting issues that some complain about. You need to test-drive one as obviously everyone has a different take on the shifting situation and it may or may not bother you. It seems to be mostly software related so there can and will be updates that mitigate the perceived faults. Plus many go with OV-tune and have great results.

 

Welcome aboard what he said^^^^^^

 

The first time the engine threw code PO0402 and my son and I cleared the code. A few days later, the engine threw PO0420 and code PO0402 again.
code 420 says the Catalyst system efficiency below threshold, and 402 Exhaust gas Recirculation flow excessive detected.
I understand the code 420 is a logic state but what should I be looking at for the 402 code to help my son fix his silver 2000 taco above?

 

Welcome !!

Here is the thing if your able to do the majority of the work on the truck between the two of you keeping this one is not that bad if your paying for labor it gets expensive real fast.

Payments are a pain as well

Your PO402 code short EGR gas temp circuit // EGR temp sensor /// open circuit EGR VSV /// VSV failure

EGR valve stuck open The ECM and any of the harness to the ECM

If your new to this VSV is a vacuum switching valve

If I was making a guess the valve stuck open.

Where in Pa ??

we have a great bunch in the Pa forum

 

I have a 19 dcsb sr5 4wd and love it! I don't consider the shift points to be that big of a deal. The sales numbers are all telling people continue to love the truck. Go test drive one, perfect time to get one with the 20s coming out

 

Thanks for the advice. Hanover, PA (near Gettysburg)

 

take your 19... and stay in the 3rd gen forum. We appreciate the classics around these parts haha

 

I get to Hanover Now and then for work