Best 2nd Gen Year for Automatic Transmission

Hey yall!

First I am brand new and pumped to be on here ! - I can't say enough of how much I have learned from this forum. Reading-searching-researching-repeat.

I do not have my truck yet. Shopping around and trying to decide. I am a Subaru guy, still am, but Im a toyota guy as-well, and this will be my first truck that I have been patiently waiting to get for a long time!

Anyway - To keep it simple. I am trying to find out your experience with what year of truck with an automatic transmission (love manuals, but this time I am looking for an auto)

* Problematic years
* Known things to look for while looking for used
* Which year or years is the best for auto transmissions (including 2014)
* Maybe some pointers to look and listen for on my test drives of used trucks

I might buy new, but to save some dough, I will most likely buy used. It will be most likely close to 100k miles - could be 75k ish too. It will certainly be a TRD OR with the rear locker. To briefly explain why I'm specifically looking auto... I broke my back long time ago, no biggie, but stick shifts bother the crap out of it. But bouncing around off road in an auto is Doctors orders : )

 

Never had 1 issue with my 2005 V6...the truck has 155,xxx miles

 

The answer to your question is "all of them". There's the odd case now and then of a bad one from the factory but honestly it's going to come down to how much abuse the previous owner put it through. Even then, they do really well - the A750F transmission was designed for the V8 4Runner so it's a little overbuilt for a V6 Tacoma.

As for the stick shift, there's really no reason to choose one over the other aside from the fact that stick is more fun to drive. Early on (2005ish) there were some issues with the 6 speed manuals but that's been resolved for some time. Performance/mileage/maintenance/cost-wise, there's not really any appreciable difference between manual and auto. You can't get a dual cab long bed with a stick (or TRD offroad package) so I didn't have to agonize over that decision very much.

 

Hey thanks! .. and yea, it is all about how much the previous owner used/abused ... : /

Have you heard of the auto transmissions getting updated at some point and what year by chance ? Possibly 09+ ?

 

Nope, that's a big reason why I zeroed in on a Tacoma and never looked back. From everything I've ready there's been only very minor revisions since 2005, the transmission hasn't been changed at all. I like cutting edge tech, but not in my truck. Going a decade without any major overhauls makes me feel pretty confident that it's been tried and tested and I'll be able to keep this thing running for the next 20-30 years. There's a thread on here somewhere where a member has put over 350k miles on his with no failures or breakdowns, just a little time here and there for keeping on top of preventative maintenance.

My main recommendation is to make sure you look for one with a factory tow package, even if you don't tow. That's an option that adds a fair bit to the purchase price when new but it more than doubles the towing capacity, mostly due to the addition of a transmission cooler. Without it, there's nothing to prevent the previous owner from hooking up a 5000lb trailer, driving it up a mountain, and cooking the transmission fluid. Over 100 or 200k miles that can shorten a transmission's lifespan. If it has a tow package you get a little extra peace of mind knowing that it was that much more difficult to f$%^* something up due to carelessness.

Also, check out the frame for rust. I love Toyota but they can't rustproof these things to save their lives.

 

there are no problematic years but if you get anything near 10 years old go ahead
now and replace the radiator. when auto tranny cooler is inside radiator, and the thing ages, the risk of getting coolant in the auto tranny increases. 3rd gen 4runners had definite problems, tacomas not so much. but that is about all you need to worry about...if the radiator is 10 years old get a new one no matter how good it looks.

 

There is some discussion on the newer auto tacomas being low on trans fluid from the factory. I plan to ask my dealer about it when I go in for the next free service.

 

Agree with the above statement .
The A750 series overall is a good solid performing transmission .
The only thing that comes to mind is preventative maintenance .
Better to be proactive rather than reactive .
For the few members who do have questions or issues , they can read up about how to fix or prevent some of the known problems here
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/te...hift-kit-shift-recalibration-kit-2nd-gen.html

 

Oh ok nice ! - Good point about the tow!

 

Ha yuuup ! - That thing was so killer taking it up to the slopes, and easy on the wallet too...

But this is going to be way better! - Can't wait

 

According to toyota parts inventory, some truck until 2007/dec came with land cruiser engine, transmission combo off the shelf from HINO factory.

 

Yeah I did this on mine at 4000 miles and I think that it might shift a little bit smoother under some circumstances, but it might just all be in my head. It was only 2/3 - 3/4 quart low, which is probably close enough.

 

I love my tacoma, moved from a 2005 FXT manual. But will purchase a Sti in the soon future.

 

UPDATE:

Found an amazing 2002 Tacoma, all records from Toyota ! 210,000K miles

Pretty much fresh off the lot if you ask me!

I'm stoked and thanks for the replies !
Just hooked him up with some freshie oil,recent belt change prior and i'm good to go !

PS. this was originally a post for 2nd gen. I thought that was what I was going to get. But super glad I got this guy ! - I'll be back on the 2nd G threads some day ! Probably the 4th Gen by that time

 

Nice, that thing will run forever as long as you don't let your frame rust out. My '99 made it to 240k before that happened but aside from the frame it was still running great. Here's a quick list of work I had to do on it after 200k in case it helps any:
- front passenger ujoint broke and wheel fell off due to excessive frame rust and improper maintenance

- starter solenoid got stuck in the on position and kept cranking even after the engine was running. My starter got cooked because it took several minutes to get the battery pulled. No other damage though.

- O2 sensors went out and it started running rough and getting bad MPG. I changed out the front one with a Denso OEM sensor and it ran like new again.

- catalytic converter - mine was pulled before I got the vehicle but I hear 200k is when you want to look at replacing them

 

I had a 2013 V6 auto when mine was in the body shop. The up shifts were slow and mushy. And the down shifts were harsh and jerky. It kind the opposite of what you want.

My 2006 the up shifts are quick and firm (sometimes harsh on 1-2 and 3-4). And the down shifts were smooth.