How to spot rust on 2000 Tacoma (California truck)

Hi everyone -

I'm sure this post has been done before but I am having trouble finding an answer and wanted to be a specific as possible to my situation. I am looking at purchasing a 2000 Tacoma Prerunner. It is the exact truck I've been looking for and a fair price. The guy I'd be purchasing it from is the second owner and has had it since 2002. It has 150k on it. It is very clean and is a southern California vehicle.

My only issue with the truck is that I spotted some rust underneath. I don't know if it is an issue or completely normal for a truck of its age. Any advice? I don't see any rust on the actual body/exterior of the truck, just the underneath and mostly what is in the attached photos.

I am assuming rust like this is fairly normal since it is a CA truck but I could be totally wrong and do not want to drop money into something that will be a headache for me. Also, there is a tad bit of something (oil?) pooling around the 3rd photo. Any thoughts what that is?

Thanks!

 

I wouldn't worry about the exhaust...I don't even know if that's rust really or just some caked on dirt that got baked onto the metal from the heat of the exhaust. Anyway, exhausts are easy/cheap to fix. Frames are not....that's where you really want to be looking. That frame looks fine to me.

Surface rust in some areas like the leaf springs is perfectly normal, I have a SoCal truck too and the leaf springs get surface rust on them...just something that happens to metal that isn't completely treated or sees a lot of offroad use. The frame is what you want to make sure isn't rusty and that one looks good to me from what I can see. The side step bars have some surface rust on the part that attaches to the frame...but I would throw those in the trash anyway if you get the truck (or sell them)

 

Beautiful frame

 

That's one of the cleanest frames I've seen posted here. The frame is perfectly fine. The exhaust is a bit rusty, sure, so's mine, lol. $100 at a muffler shop will likely get you a whole new one if you want.

That oil leak is what I've be WAY more concerned about. Is that coming from the trans oil pan?

 

I was wondering too if that was an oil seal leak or just wet grease buildup somewhere (like when the excess grease from the u-joints or slip yoke gets flung about). Pic is too close up for me to tell where it's at...almost looks like the gas tank maybe? If so I was thinking it's just grease from the driveshaft. I've overgreased mine before and it makes a medieval mess underneath lol

 

Frame looks good

 

is there any way to tell on these very good frames that have somewhat significant mileage, if there are tons of little pitted marks from sand, gravel, etc.
i am curious about that to add to my knowledge database.
... was trying to determine the whole seepage conundrum and my locale has not much as far as good samples to study ... unless someone is privy to the secret coating formula used at time of production, is that possible?

 

Thanks so much for all the info everyone! Stoked to hear theres no rust issues.

I do not know where the leak/grease is coming from. I believe it was the transmission oil pan, yes... but I'm not a mechanic by any means.

 

that's why I didn't recognize it...I don't have an auto lol. Probably trans fluid then is the safe bet, make sure to check the dipstick (pretty sure the autos have one?) to make sure it's not crazy low

 

From the picture, it looks like the worst of it is accumulating at the lowest point of the bellhousing. I would imagine the rear main seal is leaking, if that's the case.

Great looking truck otherwise!

 

Check the pic with the oil/grease on the bell housing. 3rd pic. There's more goop up by the gasket for the oil pan. and those bolts look all wet.

Either way, the frame is fine, and even if it's a bad gasket that's causing the oil spatter everywhere, those are relatively easy to replace.

@scantino definitely check the trans and engine oils. With potential oil leaks like that you run the risk of running low on oil which is bad. Definitely something to discuss with the seller. If they play dumb, might consider walking, even if the frame is that good. Or consider what would be necessary to correct what can happen when you run on low oil/trans fluid and if that's something you're willing to deal with. This should at least be a point to negotiate price on.

 

Yeah, that's a little more involved than if the pan gasket is bad, but not that bad.

 

Exhausts aren’t usually finished or treated with anything because they get hot obviously. Even if you have a pristine car from California, chances are the exhaust will have surface rust.

 

Rust What Rust ??

You are all just spoiled !!

I have Brand New Steel Inside that rusts just from the damp climate .

 

Awesome, thanks for the info! That totally makes sense.

 

I definitely checked the engine oil and radiator coolant prior to starting the truck. Both were full and clean. Truck started right up and it hadn't been warmed up or anything. I neglected to check the trans fluid though. I will make sure to do that when I go back. Totally spaced on that one!

 

Will do! Thanks!

 

The grease buildup didn't look like it was actively dripping when I was taking the photos of the undercarriage. Hard to tell... but it seemed just like some buildup or possibly a slow leak that has dried up a bit.

 

Looks like grease being slung around by a u joint to me. Totally normal.

 

I don’t think toyota engineers intend for their u joints to fling grease everywhere.

That’s not normal, lol.