Just got my new Tacoma...

Hello!

Long time lurker, first time poster. I just picked up the truck I ordered in October. I've had a handful of Toyota's before, including a few 4Runners, but this is my first Tacoma (also first brand new truck.)



I got a blue Access Cab 4x4 TRD Off Road V6 with a 6-speed manual and the Premium Etune. I had a few questions I figured some of you would be able to answer.

First, the front doors seem hard to close. They only want to latch half way, or however you say it. I feel like I almost have to slam it to get it shut. I'm thinking two things are possible. 1. They are new and just need to get broken in, or, 2. they are very tightly sealed to reduce noise since there is no frame for them to mesh up to (i.e. they are butting up against another door since it's an Access Cab.) Anybody else noticed this?

I got the manual transmission, and I have a switch for something called a Clutch Start Cancel. The owner's manual states "The switch allows the vehicle to be driven out of difficult situations by cranking the engine with the clutch engaged." I've had some 4Runners in some pretty hairy situations off road, but I can't imagine any where cranking the engine with the clutch engaged and the transmission in neutral would have helped. Surely they're not suggesting cranking the engine with it in gear and the clutch engaged?!?! Very confused why I would ever use this...

I'd eventually like to pull a boat with it. I got the V6 towing package. What are some suggestions for a brake controller? Any other must haves before I tow that aren't stock?

Thanks in advance!

EvilMonkey

 

P.S. Sorry the picture sucks. It's 2 degrees here with 30 mph winds. I really didn't feel like going outside for anything...

 

Me likes it.

 

From my understanding, the button is for if you were in a bad spot and the engine died but could crank, you could put the truck in 1st gear, push the button, and "hop" the truck out of the way with the starter.

 

This. I had it on my 4runner.

 

Congrats on the purchase! Enjoy!

 

I use mine to start my truck to warm it up in the winter, that way i don't need to hop in and press the clutch in.

Not sure if it might also make wiring in a remote start easier...

 

I use it mostly to start the truck quickly in the winter to warm it up. Push the button (make sure you are in neutral) and turn the key. You do not have to get in and press the clutch.

 

Beat me by a minute!

 

yes, its an old jeeper trick to use the starter to move the vehicle forward slowly..in gear, clutch out and turn the key

for the doors, have you tried it with the windows open? Maybe its a tight air seal thing

 

Congrats on a beautiful truck. FYI, the doors on my 15 require an extra bit of force to close as well.

 

Clutch Start Cancel is a life saver in certain off road situations.

With an automatic the torque converter allows you to start off a tricky situation as slowly as you want. You can even combine with brakes in certain cases.

With a manual if you stall on rough terrain it can be difficult to get going again smoothly without severely burning up your clutch. You are likely to lunge badly or break traction if starting normally and then popping the clutch - potentially making things worse.

Using Clutch Start Cancel you can put the truck in first gear in 4W Lo and just start the truck up in idle. The starter motor will creep you right along and then the very low geared idle will let you smoothly continue.

In more extreme cases (never done this myself) you can even crawl only with the starter motor for very short distances. Disconnect fuel or spark from the engine so it can't turn over and then just crank the starter with clutch out and clutch start cancel pressed. This would only be appropriate for a very small distance, like getting over a particularly nasty obstacle slowly.

 

They aren't hard to close it's just that they require a little more force than other vehicles I have owned. I say this assuming the OP's doors act like mine.

 

My 2015 access cab drivers door is also hard to shut. My other door shuts fine. Although my truck is only 2 weeks old I'm going to wait a bit before I have the door adjusted. I think it's a minor adjustment with the striker plate anyway.

I'm waiting to see if there's anymore adjustments before I take it to the dealer or do it myself. The striker has 2 T40 torx screws. I think moving the striker out about 1/16" will fix it. 17 lbs of torque to retighten them.

 

Another Evil Monkey?!! Yikes!!

 

my 09 with the windows closed, I have to slam the door to shut it. Not with the windows open though.

 

I tried that also thinking the presure had something to do with it, but I think mine needs a small adjustment on the striker.

 

Congrats and Welcome to TW!!

 

David K, the link to your tutorial on the drive modes is excellent! I've been reading the owner's manual all morning, this is by far the most complex 4 wheel drive system I've ever owned!

 

My father used this method once to crawl his vehicle out of a lake when it got too deep and started to float. Pull the plugs so you don't potentially blow something up and then just limp it out of deep water with the starter. Obviously he had to flush the entire thing afterward, but it got him out without a winch and without any other vehicle around to help.