Newbie with 4x4 questions

OK, that helps out a lot. Not know anything about Toyota's or what their cats look like, I sent this picture from the seller. I don't think these are cats. He's from Oregon and apparently doesn't know much about smog equipment either.

 

Also, I think the price is pretty much on point for CA/SoCA Tacomas. I recently sold my 02 TRD SR5 4x4 Xtracab with 182k on it for $8,000. It was mechanically sound with fresh maintenance done (timing belt, water pump, plugs, wires, fluids, etc.)

 

If there is no dirt road or dirt field anywhere near you, then just be driving straight (no 90º turns) and engage the transfer case into H4.

It may be instant or just a couple second delay, and you will hear a clunk or thud as the front drive engages... Then go back to H2, again the thunk noise/ feeling as you return to rear wheel drive only... all normal. Indicator light for 4WD come on when engaged.

Now, test the 4 Low (L4). Come to a stop, go into H4 then L4... it may take a short amount of rolling for it to engage... If it doesn't, there will be a buzzer and the light blinks. When in, the light is solid. Drive a short distance, feel the power of Low Range!

Is it an Off Road? If so, test the rear locker... Only works in L4... Push the button while stopped, then begin to roll... usually pops in shortly. Light goes from blinking to solid when the rear is locked. It is usually more difficult to get into than L4, and may take a few repeats of the steps!

Here is the 4WD instruction card from the sun visor (yes, it is for a 2010, but to give you some idea of what is needed to do)...

 

OK guys....I just passed on buying the Tacoma in question. I looked into the cost of CA legal cats and 02 sensors and the parts alone were well over $1000, not including installation. And I still would have had to spend $500-1000 more to fix various things.

So with that said, I need a Tacoma Double Cab V6, preferably a TRD, so if you guys in So Cal know of a good truck for sale at a decent price then let me know.

Thanks for all your feedback.

 

Good call on the Double Cab. I had my Xtracab for 1 month before I decided to sell it for a DC. I think theres one listed on the Ventura Craigslist for 13k. Might be one that was discussed on the forum here about having a bunch of previous owners, but its a white DC 4x4 (no TRD) with a camper shell.

 

Found the link about the truck I mentioned...

http://ventura.craigslist.org/ctd/2167736916.html

 

I think thats a good price.

 

Me too. I cant remember why the other guy balked at it. I remember him saying it had like 6 owners or something. Not sure, but from the pics, it looks decent. Hard to find a white dc 4x4.

 

That's not a bad deal. I don't really need a 4WD but it would be nice to have. What I would like is a white DC TRD or Prerunner with the locking diff. I just thought I'd consider the 4WD I was referring to before because it was inexpensive. I have $8k cash and I'm seeing if I can find anything close to that.

 

I feel ya on the not needing 4wd. I bought my xtracab 4x4 because it was local. I had to drive almost 4 hours to get my DC TRD prerunner. I havent needed 4wd in all the years I've been driving, so I figured I would survive if I didnt have it now. Good luck with your search though. Like you said, people like to hold onto the nice Tacomas.

 

4 hours? Wow!! You were serious about getting that particular one, weren't you. I thought driving 2 hours was far.

 

I live right in the middle of LA and SF. The market here is small so I've had to travel to get pretty much every car I've bought. This one seemed worth the drive since it was a 1 owner car and every service was done at the Toyota dealership (carfax showed a trip to the dealer every 3 months). Of course there were some minor things that werent mentioned when we talked over the phone, but it all worked out in the end.

Use the site searchtempest.com to search multiple CL cities. Its helped me find stuff without having to click every CL site. Theres a super low mile 03 DC 4x4 in Santa Barbara right now, but theyre asking $14k. Its right at private party blue book though and the low mileage trucks are SUPER hard to find.