djm228's maintenance thread

1998 SR5 V6 4x4 Xtra cab w/ 5 speed manual
This truck is my daily driver and I plan to keep it till at least the end of college (2023) forever. I'm emotionally attached to this truck now. I'm just looking up stuff on Youtube and Tacomaworld to do repairs. I am by no means a professional, I just have decent problem solving skills (and luck).

QUESTIONS ARE MORE THAN WELCOME. I'm always happy to help someone with a similar problem if I'm able to.

Done

• $47 Nilight - ZH002 20" 126W Spot Flood Combo Off Road Led Light Bar 2PCS 18w 4" LED Pods With 16AWG Wiring Harness Kit-3 Lead For Tractor, 2 Years Warranty
  [Amazon] Nilight 20 Inch Light Bar & 4 Inch Spot LED Pods with Wiring Harness Kit
• $10 Nilight - NI -WA 06 LED Light Bar Wiring Harness Kit - 2 Leads 12V On Off Switch Power Relay Blade Fuse for Off Road Lights Work Light, 2 Years Warranty,Black
  [Amazon] Nilight wiring harness
• Led Light Bar Mounting Bracket Driverwish Front License Plate Frame Bracket License Plate Mounting Bracket Holder for Off-Road Lights LED Work Lamps Lighting Bars
  [Amazon] License plate mounting bracket for light bar
• [eBay] Light pod hood brackets
• $8 MicTuning LS081502JL Backlit Bumper Lights, Rocker Switch Kit, On/Off LED Light, 20A, 12V, Toggle, Blue
  [Amazon] "Bumper Light Bar" switch
• $8 MicTuning MIC-LSS1 5Pin Spot Rocker Switch On-Off LED Light 20A 12V, Blue
  [Amazon] "Spot Lights" switch
• [family member] Tonneau cover
• [Advance Auto Parts] Dorman rear leaf springs
• $34 KYB KG5462 Gas-a-Just Gas Shock
  [Amazon] KYB KG5462 Gas-a-Just Gas Shock (rear)
• [Advance Auto Parts] Denso upstream O2 sensor
• [Advance Auto Parts] Denso downstream O2 sensor
• [Advance Auto Parts] Carquest fuel injectors
• [Advance Auto Parts] Rust reformer on frame
• [Advance Auto Parts] Undercoating on frame
• [Advance Auto Parts] Black Plasti-dip on wheels
• [Advance Auto Parts] Carquest Fuel filter
• [Purchased in person] 5/16" brake line (used as fuel line)
• [inlinetube.com] Nut for fuel filter ($9 and a huge PITA to find)
• Fixed airbag light (disconnected battery for 15 mins)
• $13 iBrightstar Newest 9-30V Super Bright Low Power 1157 2357 2057 7528 BAY15D LED Bulbs with Projector Replacement for Stop Tail Brake Lights, Brilliant Red
  [Amazon] LED brake lights
• $10 AUXITO Brilliant Red LED Light 168 175 194 2825 W5W T10 24-SMD 3014 Chipsets for Car Powersport Accessory Dome Map Door Courtesy License Plate Lights (Pack of 2)
  [Amazon] LED bulbs for third brake light
• $16 OXILAM 2023 Upgraded 1156 LED Bulbs Reverse Light, 6000K White 400% Brightness 3000 Lumens, BA15S 7506 1003 1141 P21W LED Bulb Used for Backup Tail Brake Turn Signal Blinker Lights, 2PCS
  [Amazon] LED reverse lights
• $13 iBrightstar Newest 9-30V Super Bright Low Power 1156 1141 1003 BA15S LED Bulbs with Projector Replacement for Turn Signal Lights, Amber Yellow
  [Amazon] LED turn signal bulbs (front and rear)
• [eBay] Depo clear front turn signals & corner lights
• [eBay] Depo tail lights w/ clear turn signal section
• [toyotapartsdeal.com] Front passenger side mudflap
• [parts.baierltoyota.com] 60/40 bench seat driver seat belt buckle (oak)
• [parts.baierltoyota.com] Driver seat belt (oak)
• [paranoidfabrications.com] Clock switch panel
• $10 WEIMELTOY 194 Led Car Bulb 3030 Chipset 2SMD T10 194 168 W5W Led Wedge Light Bulb 1.5W 12V License Plate Courtesy Step Map Lights Trunk Lamp Clearance Lights (12pcs)
  [Amazon] Instrument cluster white LEDs

To do

• fix low washer fluid light

All my pics will be in spoilers so people don't have to scroll so much

Spoiler: Current condition

Spoiler: Pics from when I first bought the truck (June 2019)

 

The very first thing I did with this truck was remove the cracked bug shield and the camper shell which had some holes in it. I unfortunately don't have any pics of the front end without the bug shield, but I do have some pics of the bed from when I had a cargo net and tarp in place of a cover (feat. "little" brother).

Spoiler: Pics

 

Since I attend college in a rural area, I often find myself driving on two-lane highways in the dark. My high beams just didn't cut it, so I decided to invest in a light bar (with spot lights). I also purchased a license plate mounting bracket as I didn't want to drill any holes or cut anything. To mount the spot lights I bought a custom bracket off of eBay.

I also purchased 2 light up switches and wired them so that the word illuminate with the parking lights, and the pictures illuminate when the switches are on.

The wiring harness that came with the light bar had connectors for all 3 lights and 1 switch to control them all. I wanted to be able to control the spot lights independently from the light bar, so I bought an additional wiring harness and just cut the extra connectors off of the first harness.

Spoiler: Pic

Since I don't have a diff locker, I moved the "clutch start cancel" button to where the diff locker button would be (closer to steering wheel). I made the original "clutch start cancel" hole bigger to accommodate my switches.

Spoiler: Pic

Front end after installing everything.

 

The next order of business was to put a proper cover on my bed. A family member just so happened to have a snap on tonneau cover from when they leased a '99 tacoma. It took a LOT of heat to get it to stretch at first, but now I can snap it back into place with no problems.

Spoiler: Pic

 

I added some plasti-dip to cover up my rough looking wheels

Spoiler: Pic

 

Ever since I bought the truck I've had a check engine light (P0172). I decided it's probably time to fix it properly so I don't need to worry about passing inspection every year. Apparently the engine was running rich for so long that it caused my O2 sensors to go bad after putting new ones in shortly after purchase.

I replaced the O2 sensors and I'm currently in the process of replacing the fuel injectors and fuel filter, as I believe those are likely culprits. Spark plugs, coils, and wires have already been changed by the previous owner shortly before I bought it (I checked for myself).

I'm now waiting for new fuel injectors and gaskets to be delivered. Everything should be here by June 10th.

Spoiler: Current state of my engine bay

 

I forgot to add that my school has an auto department which pays its students minimum wage to perform work on student/faculty cars. The best part is FREE LABOR. One of the leafs had somehow slid out on the passenger side, so I had them replace both leaf springs and shocks because why not? I don't have any pictures of this, unfortunately.

 

Today I covered up some rust spots (I didn't get before pics for anything other than the tailgate).

It's not the best job, but it's better than rust!

Spoiler: Pics

 

Spoiler: Pic

I did this last week, but here's a pic of my frame mid-undercoating

 

I ran into a problem with the fuel filter while attempting to change it after putting in the new injectors. My truck hasn't been started in about 2 weeks as of right now.

 

The nut I ordered ended up fitting. The compression fitting that I have doesn't fit over the stock fuel line. It does fit over the new fuel line though. I decided to just add a small section of nylon fuel line that I'll clamp onto the hardline. The fuel line and clamps should be here within a few days.

 

I went to advance auto and got some fuel injector line. I cut it and slid it over the new fuel line section and the old fuel line and just used clamps to hold it on.

Spoiler: Pic

The only problem I ran into now is a small leak on the "in" side of my fuel filter. It has the original nut and fuel line. I'm gonna try to fix it tomorrow, but I ordered another flare nut just in case.

Spoiler: Pic

I'm honestly just happy that my truck is running again at this point. The fuel injectors and fuel line repair are the most involved/difficult jobs I've had to do on a car so far.

 

It’s alive! Good job

 

Thank you. The "easy" stuff seems to be the biggest pain in the ass on this because of rust

 

Now I have a vibration between 40-70mph. I made an appointment with AAA for a free 30 point inspection and alignment check. We'll see how it goes

 

question!?
has this truck been in NY all its days or where did you get it from?

i need to change the trucks fuel filter too, its been on there awhile

 

The truck is from Idaho, then the next owner had it in Colorado, then the owner before me had it in Wyoming and barely drove it in New York. He only had it here for a couple of months.

 

Whoops, forgot to post on here. Getting an alignment and tire balance did the trick for the vibration.

 

I installed a rear dash cam/backup camera recently. I need to wire the camera to the reverse light tomorrow, but everything else is done as of right now. The one pic is towards the beginning of the install. I'll also get an interior pic soon.

Spoiler: Pics

 

I upgraded the tail lights and turn signals to LEDs