Just Bought A 05' PreRunner SR5 - First Car - Tips ...

Hey TW!




Only photo I have right now.

Just got a 2005 PreRunner SR5 in the Bay Area, CA. Not sure on mods/details, but from what I see/know.

• 128k mileage
• 5 Speed Manual
• 2.7L 4 Banger
• Wild Peak A/T Off-Road Tires - 285/75R16 122Q [not sure how big they are?]
• Topdeck Deck Lid
• Lift? Not sure about the details on that

Also has Sirius wired in, but still have to figure that out.
Only mod I've done to it is the hose clamp mod, only useful when I take the lid off. Otherwise the lid stays locked.

Critics, suggestions, tips? This is also my first car/Toyota/Truck... everything. So looking for anything you guys have learned from your experiences!

This is mostly a commuter and so MPG/eco is something I'm looking for. Looks like simple ones would be AFE filter and removal of the charcoal filter? Not sure if that's necessary.

I've always been a sports car/coupe/sedan/smaller racing cars sort of guy. So getting a truck is something that I had not previously thought of. The difference in acceleration/weight is something I'll have to get used to, perhaps there are ways I could easily get some power into my truck. Hopefully I've made a good choice and will grow to also be a truck guy.

There is "grinding" when I put it into reverse and start to release the clutch. I read around and hear that it was pretty common. Should I be worried? Any fixes?

Thanks guys!

1. Tranny/Rear Differential Fluid Recommendations.
2. 265/75/16 Wheel Recommendations?
3. Can you check the spark plugs? Or should I replace them?

Up to date [6/6/13]:
Remove lift kit [as far as I see it, the lift kit is there for aesthetics. By removing it, I will get some cash to offset some new wheels, get more comfortable ride, and not have to jump into the driver seat everytime (I'm pretty small compared to my struck)].
Find a set of 265/75/16 wheels
Get a scangauge
Go through all this:

 

welcome to tw. best thing next to do I'd probably but a locker in the rear, mistake I should of done in the first place, a lift kit, just some other little things. oh and that noise, make sure it ain't a sort of pop when your truck changes gear, I'm not fond of the difference in manual to auto, but when I put it in drive Orr what not, I hear it, and lost my whole drive line. didn't notice my u joints were going bad, just thought I was hitting bumps lol. yeah I have only 111,000 on mine. other than that enjoy driving around see many other Tacomas around, I sure love it. lol

 

• 128k mileage
  Good miles. Expect MANY more.
  
• 5 Speed Manual
  Much better to have mated with the 2.7 than the power sucking auto
  
• 2.7L 4 Banger
  A great, long lasting engine. Not especially powerful. Count yourself out on extreme towing. There are no magic power boosters. Cold air intakes, chips, etc, all a waste of money. Stick to learning when to shift for maximum power.
  
• Wild Peak A/T Off-Road Tires - 285/75R16 122Q [not sure how big they are?]
  These are roughly 33" tires. They will kill your gas mileage. My previous tacoma had the same tire size, it was an 05 regular cab/2.7. Best MPG I acehived was 19.5 while cruising around 65mph on long highway trips.
  
• Topdeck Deck Lid
  Cant vouch for this one
  
• Lift? Not sure about the details on that
  Looks like a 3 to 3.5 inch lift.

 

Welcome to Tacoma World. And that is one sharp looking truck. Congrats on such a nice first set of wheels. Now take care of her!

 

i think youre going to hate yourself for not getting 4x4...

nice truck, and welcome!

 

It's a commuter truck in sunny Cali. As a first vehicle, 4WD is probably best left out. Less parts to break is always a plus on a first vehicle.

 

Thanks for the welcome guys.

Have anything to recommend? Keep in mind that I'm new to trucks/my car in general so I don't know too much.

Should I/how to check out the reverse grinding thing?
Should I downsize my tires for better MPG? Would it be worth it? Or are there other mods that could balance it out?

 

Why on earth would you jump to recommending a locker to someone who did not mention anything about trail driving?? Great advice, dump $1k into a set of gears you have no plans to use

If you're concerned with MPG or lack of power, you could always go back to a stock sized tire. Stock size is 265/70R16 or 245/75R16 (check your door jamb). 265/75R16 is also a popular tire size to upgrade to. Since you have a lift, this size might look more at home and better fill your wheel wells while still giving you some of your MPG and power back.

As far as the lift, take a picture of the suspension if you want us to identify what kind of lift you have.

 

i like it.

i am also bay area folk. i'd consider getting smaller tires to help with mpg. but that lift looks pretty tall. better than 3" if i had to guess from the photo. smaller tires would look goofy.

take pics of the rear lifts, and pics of the front springs and these tacoma freaks on this forum will tell you exactly what you have.

 

Thanks for the replies

Wheels are: Wild Peak A/T Off-Road Tires - 285/75R16 122Q

Would you guys recommend me to downsize to 265/75R16 wheels then? Would I be able to make some money from that [selling/trading old ones]? Don't want to have to spend a lot of money right now.

I think it'd just look too silly if I went to stock wheels.

Here are pics that I got:

 

Ride is pretty decent, not bad. Haven't noticed it.

Actually, I drove 100 miles back home after purchasing the car. Used 1/4 of the tank, road included 2-3miles of steep uphill where I was stuck on 55-60 most of the time [hence the wanting power at times]. Though situations like that are hard to come by.

Maybe, once I need a new set of tires move to 265/75R16 tires?

Haven't filled up yet, so haven't checked MPG. According to my ~105miles trip with ~1/4 of the tank, I got a bit less than 20MPG?

 

x2 to both. And he's right, that frame looks nice and clean! You should see the underside of my 2007. It's got 88k miles on it and looks 20x worse because of the lovely New England winters

 

Nice! My tip is to stop calling your truck a car...
I also agree to get rid of the spacers and blocks and put on some 265/76/16 tires.

 

Nice truck

 

So for my truck I will get 265/75 tires after these current tires need replacements.

Could you explain the spacers/blocks? Is that just basically the Revtek lift kit?

 

Your Revtek kit is a spacer/block kit. The rear is lifted by using a block between the leaf spring and the axle and can promote axle wrap. The front is lifted by stuffing a spacer on top of the coil. It preloads the coil and gives you lift but can also stiffen the ride.

 

So after these tires wear down, I'll move to 265/75/16 or 245/75/16 stock.

Don't have the tools to remove the Revtek kit, maybe my neighbor does. Is it hard to remove? Will it require a shop lift?

I'll try my best to stay away from the forums after I gain enough knowledge [not more parts]

 

Getting that lift off will be relatively easy. We will need a spring compressor. Where do you live in Bay Area?

 

Is that grinding when you are backing up or just putting it into reverse.
If it's just putting it in gear push the clutch pedal all the way in before shifting it into reverse, if it still does it you may need to have the clutch adjusted a little. Sounds like your clutch isn't fully disengaging.

If it's when backing up and clutch is fully engaged you could have a chip in the reverse gear. Not good.

Also not knowing your service history I would start with changing out all gear oil, transmission and rear differential. I use Royal Purple in my 6 speed (nice and quiet shifts) Valvoline Durablend in my rear diff with LSD additive since I have the mechanical one, from your photo you don't have it (no sticker on Rear Diff). So pick whatever brand you like dino/synthetic to use but I would at least start there. Couldn't hurt with the miles you have. Should be changed every 30K.
Tranny

$30 75W-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

75W-90
Rear 80W-90

Good looking Taco!

 

In Santa Clara County.

Grinding is when I'm actually starting to move. Will a video recording or something of that sort help w. identifying the problem?

Will probably need tutorials for those. Just so I have it right...
Rear Differential Tutorial
Front Differential/Gear Oil
Transmission oil

Will have to check the engine oil tomorrow as well.
Engine Oil [if needed]