NEW OWNER OF 2004 TACOMA 4x4

I'm new here and I just bought my 1st Tacoma 4x4, it's a 2004 Double cab with 260,000 miles on it. Now that's a lot of miles to me but these trucks have a good reputation for going the distance but I'm a CHEVROLET man so we'll see how this goes. I've always liked these little trucks and finally got the chance to buy one. My dash lights are out and the fuse is good so that's the 1st little problem the 2nd is when you driving down the road and let off of accelerator there is a roaring or rubbing sound it makes until you accelerate again, mine son has the very same truck and his makes the same noise so is this just one of the characteristics of this truck as I can't find anything loose as of yet. Thanks for any help and it's good to be on here.

 

Welcome to Tacoma World! Sounds like you got a good truck with minimal issues. As for the roaring/rubbing on deceleration, my truck doesn't do that, but there can be so many different causes it will be hard to pin point. I'm sure your son is aware since he has a 1st gen but definitely check those lower ball joints, as they are a well known weak spot on these truck. Other than that check up on the normal maintenance, and enjoy your truck!!

 

Welcome friend, slide under it sometime and check your ujoints and driveshaft carrier bearing for looseness. for the dash lights, check all ground wires with a bolt on them and remove, sand, and retighten. Even if these don't fix all your problems they need to be done. Good Luck!

 

Welcome! Sounds like you got a nice Tacoma! This place is great with a ton of info. Best of luck with the new truck!

 

Welcome to TW!

 

You don't list a location. But if the truck has lived anywhere around salt I hope you gave the frame a proper pre purchase inspection. As in a ball peen, a probe, and a scope to look inside the boxed areas.

I once bought a vehicle that the dash lights were out. Turned out that every bulb was bad.

 

The add for a 1st gen I looked at years ago said “no check engine light”. And I guess it was literally true since the rat bastard seller had removed the bulb.

 

Welcome to TW…congrats on the new wheels!

 

I hope you noticed when you turned the key while kickin the tires.

 

I live in Northeast Arkansas, before I bought it I rolled all around under the truck and it's clean as a pin, no paint covering up anything and it hasn't been in the mud, all highway miles. It's a clean original truck that runs like a sewing machine.

 

I did. One of the things I checked was that all of the dash lights worked when the key was on. When I asked the seller if he knew the CEL didn’t work he said yes, there was a code for o2 sensor that he hadn’t fixed and we could go to the local parts store to have codes read. I just got a bad vibe and passed on the truck. Seems like a lot more work to disable the CEL than to replace the sensor.

 

Welcome to TW! Tons of useful information here. When I bought my ‘03 in 2016, it also had no CEL, until the ride home. I’m pretty convinced the seller just reset the light. Turned out to be an O2 sensor, so not that big of a deal, but I still think the seller was a bit shady.

best of luck with your new truck!

 

update on instrument lights, all the bulbs were burnt out, imagine that??? how many of you guys are running 265/75R16 4 ply tires on the Tacomas, I think the 10 ply tires are too heavy for my needs as I'm on the highway all the time.

 

So much this!!

Welcome to TW!! You won't regret jumping ship to Tacoma's !

 

Welcome to TW and welcome to Tacoma ownership! They are great trucks and I really like the size of these! To me - they are the perfect size without being massive. I have hauled more mulch and other chores than I can remember - and enjoyed doing it.
I have a dash light out that I haven’t replaced yet - but when I do - I am going to replace all of them just in case! Glad it was something simple for you.