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My first Toyota Tacoma 2.4l 2wd with 338,000 miles

Discussion in 'New Members' started by jakec89, Sep 10, 2019.

  1. Sep 10, 2019 at 8:43 AM
    #1
    jakec89

    jakec89 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Gents, I am a NEW and proud owner of a 1997 Toyota Tacoma 2.4l 2wd and i'm happy to be here for advice and other questions I have regarding my TACO. This is my first Tacoma purchase I bought the truck it has 338,000 miles on it and has a few small issues I will be looking to fix myself. I basically stole the truck from the guy I purchased it from and he had no clue how to work on vehicles. I only paid $500 for it and it runs and drives great. The only issue is with the TSP sensor wiring harness. The wires connecting to the TSP sensor if you wiggle them it wants to cut out slightly. I have ordered a new harness for $15 that I will splice and solder in and heat shrink to make it like new. The other issue was there was oil all in the engine bay they guy said he bought like that all on the valve cover. I was going to just buy a $30 valve cover gasket and fix the problem. I have since sprayed down the engine with degreaser and there is no signs of an oil leak just curious to where it came from? The a/c and heat work great and brakes work fine maybe need pads sometime in future. The blower motor for the a/c in the cab makes noise I will replace it for $40 soon. I installed a tee on the heater core line going to the block and flushed it and it def. needed it. I put in 1 gallon of straight antifreeze and has been great since. The truck also has new tires and a nice tool box. The radio is a replacement and works as it should. The body is in good condition also with minor clear coat peel on the hood. All in all I think I have a great deal and think I really lucked up. I have been looking for 1 year for one in this price range so I jumped on it as soon as I could! I plan on changing all the fluids out with royal purple including the oil,filter and rear end gear oil. I look forward to being a member of Tacoma world and everyone have a blessed day.
     
  2. Sep 10, 2019 at 8:44 AM
    #2
    Bigdaddy4760

    Bigdaddy4760 Well traveled Older Than Dirt

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  3. Sep 10, 2019 at 8:47 AM
    #3
    Tacospike

    Tacospike Semi-Unknown Custodial Member

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  4. Sep 10, 2019 at 8:48 AM
    #4
    jakec89

    jakec89 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I appreciate it. I think I really lucked up only paying $500 for the truck. I am getting 24mpg so it's doing great on fuel so far.
     
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  5. Sep 10, 2019 at 9:36 AM
    #5
    MagtechPA

    MagtechPA Thor

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    Sounds like a great little rig, somebody else would have snatched it up fast, so it's good that you were watching the market. Any pictures? Manual or auto?

    Welcome to TW!
     
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  6. Sep 10, 2019 at 9:46 AM
    #6
    buckhuntin-tacoma

    buckhuntin-tacoma Shed hunter

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  7. Sep 10, 2019 at 9:59 AM
    #7
    jakec89

    jakec89 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I have pictures on my phone but I'm at work and work for the government and we can't plug anything into our computers. The truck is a Automatic. I just don't think anyone has ever bought one for $500 cash with it running yea it has small issues but the guy selling it didn't realize it's less than $100 to fix it myself. He wanted $1,200 I talked him down to $500. Has anybody else had problems with the TPS sensor harness where it plugs in the wiring shorting out?
     
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  8. Sep 10, 2019 at 12:36 PM
    #8
    Clearwater Bill

    Clearwater Bill Never answer an anonymous letter

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    $500 is a great price for a running unit.

    Unless............

    Where has it lived it's life? If in salt country, have you examined the frame, inside and out, for rust?

    Hopefully it's not on the verge of collapse.
     
  9. Sep 10, 2019 at 12:56 PM
    #9
    jakec89

    jakec89 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I live in Mississippi there isn't the first sign of rust under it inside or out. The only problems we're a valve cover gasket leak that's very minor will only cost me $30 to fix. The TPS sensor wiring harness is shorting out and I'm going to replace it with a $15 harness off Ebay and splice and solder it in and heat shrink it. This is causing it to die sometimes only at idle and driving it's fine. The a/c and heat work no cracks in windshield new tires and a tool box and bed liner. The lights all work inside and out along with the radio and speakers. I also drive it 84 miles a day. The steering is good and shocks are decent for what I use it for. The battery is only a year old also and has a new TPS sensor. The transmission doesn't slip and drives as it should. I think I probably will never find another deal like this again. Yes it has 338k miles but I will be truck note free for 3 years or more just driving to work and back nothing else. I assume at this time I will have close to 400k miles and 12k saved up it's a win win in my book.
     
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  10. Sep 10, 2019 at 1:19 PM
    #10
    jakec89

    jakec89 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    73A90269-EDCE-4EB2-9878-3E2D888A32A0.jpg
     
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  11. Sep 11, 2019 at 4:37 AM
    #11
    MagtechPA

    MagtechPA Thor

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    Great truck! You should be able to wet-sand and clearcoat those faded headlights to restore some clarity. Some window tint would look good on it, too. :thumbsup:
     
  12. Sep 11, 2019 at 5:05 AM
    #12
    jakec89

    jakec89 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Yea it’s a great truck. I put it to the test when I bought it. The guy I bought it from was 2 1/2 hrs away and it did great. The truck thanked me for cleaning the throttle body this weekend. Yea I plan on tinting the windows 20% all the way around.
     
  13. Sep 11, 2019 at 5:55 AM
    #13
    jakec89

    jakec89 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    (MAGTECH) How many miles do you have on your YOTA?
     
  14. Sep 11, 2019 at 6:38 AM
    #14
    jakec89

    jakec89 [OP] Well-Known Member

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  15. Sep 11, 2019 at 6:47 AM
    #15
    BuddyS

    BuddyS Well-Known Member

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    Not bad for $500! Enjoy that thing!
     
  16. Sep 11, 2019 at 6:58 AM
    #16
    jakec89

    jakec89 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I am enjoying it so far and everything is good. I hope to get 500k miles out of it easily. I drive the truck back and fourth to work 84 miles round trip everyday. I put about 20k miles a year but I use it strictly to drive back and fourth to work. This will take me 8 years to reach 500k miles and is great with me with no truck note. I would save $28,000 thru that time span so I think my investment in this truck will be the best besides my house!
     
  17. Sep 11, 2019 at 7:04 AM
    #17
    onakat

    onakat Well-Known Member

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  18. Sep 11, 2019 at 7:10 AM
    #18
    jakec89

    jakec89 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Wow that is some crazy mileage for original motor and transmission. I plan on changing all the fluids and filters out in next month or so. I will be replacing the Throttle position sensor wiring harness today. I'll just cut bad harness off splice it and solder and heat shrink it and will be a $15 fix. No way would I buy a whole new harness unless I didn't know what I was doing. The tires are new and tool box is nice so that alone is worth the $500 I spent not to mention the truck runs and drives. Idk what the guy selling it was thinking he just told me he wanted it out of his driveway so I gave him his wish. The seller was asking $1,200 I talked him down to $500 cash and title in hand.
     
  19. Sep 12, 2019 at 9:45 AM
    #19
    boogie3478

    boogie3478 Well-Known Member

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