I'm keeping my Tacoma

I put a refundable deposit on a 2024 Ford Maverick with a hybrid engine to replace my Tacoma. Ford won't actually sell the Maverick until they fix some recall issue with the backup camera.

While I've been waiting for the fix, I've had a change of heart, and I've decided to NOT buy the Maverick, and instead use the money to fix up my Tacoma.

It's a 2000 2WD extracab SRL, 5 speed manual, electric windows, AC, with 137,000 miles on it. I bought it on 9/11/200, and I'm the second owner.

Everything seems to be working well. I did the brakes about 5 years ago, and a new clutch in 2024.

I mostly use this car in town, but I might want to take it on some 400 mile one way trips to the beach. I'm not going off-road in this vehicle.

What preventative maintenance repairs should I consider to make sure this 25 year old vehicle doesn't leave me stranded? Belts, hoses, & fluid changes seem like a no brainer, but are their other items like ball joints or whatever that are likely to fail after 1/4 of a century?

Thank you in advance for any constructive advice.

 

What a beautiful truck. Keep it, for sure.

 

I'm also wondering if I should remove the bed liner and get the bed coated. Although there snow in the picture, I'm in the southern US, and the roads around here aren't salted, but I am wondering if anything is going on under that liner.

 

Can’t hurt to look.

 

I took out my drop in bed liner and found all sorts of goodies under there, including rust holes I had to pay to get fixed. I'd do it sooner rather than later.

What size are your tires, they look smaller than stock? Some bigger tires would make the truck look even better imo

 

Not bad to check but mine has one for about 20 years and the bed underneath was mint.

 

Super nice truck! Start with cleaning up the engine compartment. Watch the Chemical Guys video on YT.
It’ll be a joy to work on when it’s clean. Best of luck!

 

My wife says it needs bigger tires, too. Those were the size tires on it when I bought it.

 

Thanks, I'll check it out. I like Chemical Guys butter wax.

 

You are the best decision maker because you drive it everyday. Break it down into 3 categories Must have, really need or life would be better and damn I'd like to have that if I had the cash.

 

I'm also looking for advice on what's most likely to fail now that a lot of the parts are 25 years old. Ball joints are a worry, but other items like the mass air flow sensor, the starter motor, etc. might be good to replace. I'm not a mechanic, but I've successfully replaced a timing belt on my '84 Accord, I've done a brake job on the Tacoma, and worked on other cars so I can do some of this myself to keep costs down, plus I'm saving a boatload of money by not buying the Maverick.

 

Ok let's start with what's not working properly as of this moment are your tires worn, do you have a rear axle seal leak, have your front and rear brakes been serviced lately, what about the condition of your shocks and front end suspension parts, do the windows go up and down properly, how old is your battery, any broken door handles, does your drive shaft clunk when you start from stop? Do you hear a grinding noise like a bad bearing from one of the wheels? Does your key/ignition give you problems when you try to turn it? Those were just some of the things I was concerned with while making my truck on the way to bullet proof.

 

Definitely a good idea to pull the bed liner …I’m currently doing a solid amount of work on mine, and found passenger side front corner of my bed is rusted thru. Luckily there’s plenty of good metal around it to do a patch but the more I dig the more I find. I spotted it while under the rear doing brake line work. You may be able to tell from underneath if you can get under it. I think you chose wisely to keep it, but to each their own wants and needs! Cheers!

 

There is a reason people love and keep these trucks. You can always buy a new truck, but it will be hard to get another like this one once it is gone.

 

Thanks for your response. Your suggestions are great things to check. Everything seems to be working well. This is all great for now, but I don't want to assume that everything IS well just because it's all working now. I did the brakes about 5 years ago, and had a new clutch installed in 2024. I'm really most concerned with learning which "non-consumable" parts are more likely to go after 25 years and 137,000 miles with an emphasis on what might strand me out on the road. Some sensor in my wife's 15 year old car failed in the middle of Alabama, we had to get a motel room, took a few days, cost a lot of money, wasn't any fun, and I don't want to do that again. I also realize what I'm asking is impossible to answer, but I'm hoping people might be able to provide some insight into their experiences with these trucks as they age.

 

On a 2wd that isn't getting offroaded and dealing with large tires, maintenance is going to be a lot less.
Things to check:

• Play in all suspension components. Bearings, ball joints, bushings, tie rods etc. Watch Youtube to see how to measure and what to look for.
• Brakes
• Oil leaks from engine, trans, rear axle
• Play in U-joints

Things to change:

• All fluids. Brake, coolant, transmission, rear axle, etc.
• Spark plugs and wires
• Shocks, front and rear
• Clean MAF and throttle body

Toyota starters generally go over 200k without issues, and can be very easily rebuilt (contacts and plunger) for $20 or so.
You made the right choice. None of the new vehicles are being made nearly as well as the truck you already have.

 

Thanks for the response. I'll check that stuff out.

A few things bothered me about the Maverick, the recall, the very small bed, and the interior of mid-priced model I put the deposit on has a lot of cheap looking hard plastic.

 

Well it's almost kinda like aquire a photo of all the sensors put them on the wall blindfold yourself spin around then throw a dart. That could be the one.

 

Curious if you remember how much you paid when you had your clutch replaced…or did you tackle that work yourself ? Asking because I’m needing clutch work done myself , and I know it isn’t going to be cheap.

 

If it has never been done it is time to have a valve adjustment done, the 2/3RZ engines are known for their exhaust valve clearance tightening up and cracking the cylinder head.