PennSilverTaco's "Perfect 5-Lug Regular Cab" Build, Aspergers, and General BS MegaThread!

Ahhh yes, a little night music

 

It's removable, but I don't know to get it out...

 

I think you just turn it 1/4 turn and pull it out. I forget exactly, I know it wasn’t hard to do when I did mine.

I had the whole head light assembly out when I did mine. The Battery might be in the way in the driver side?
I really forget. But it’s definitely doable and fairly easy.

 

If same as OEM it has a metal clip (somewhat like a paper clip) and then it comes straight out, I think

 

I think that is for the headlight.
I don’t recall the marker light having a metal clip.

I think once the socket is out. You simply pull the bulb out and press the new one in?

 

Anyways, don’t worry too much about it Charlie. It’s not a big deal at all. Run it by your local mechanic/shop. I bet they help you.

Or the neighbor that did the alternator, this should be a breeze for him. Lol

 

OOPS, good catch. Yup marker light just twists out..remove and press in the bulb, that's correct.

 

Why are they useless? Or better yet, what difference do they make on any truck? I'm curious now!

 

That was one of my best friends who did the alternator, but not a neighbor; It was my friend who also happens to be my neighbor who did the stereo and backup camera.

 

Pete (my mechanic who undercuts the dealer for those who don't know) is going to remove the lightbulb and see what kind it is on Thursday morning. I actually replaced the original headlights with aftermarket ones and did the swap myself; It was easy. However, that was before Pete wired the Raptor-style LED lights into the parking lights, and I'm not entirely sure how to disconnect that.

I'm not willing to pay my mechanic to do the job right the first time, rather than winging it and risking breaking something, this creating an even higher repair bill for myself with Pete.

 

Actually, those don't have to work in order to pass inspection, at least not a on a non-commercial light truck. If the LEDs ever cease to function, they can simply be removed. Also, my mechanic only fails vehicles that pose a legit safety risk, not ones that have aftermarket accessory lights that won't work!

Is it seriously an automatic fail if aftermarket marker lights don't work?!?! If so, then that's news to me!

 

When it is really cold out, my truck makes this "metal on metal" sound after sitting overnight. It does not sound like an internal mechanical issue with my engine, but rather something metal that's loose and vibrating against something else metal. The best way to describe it in terms of sound is similar to the noise my dad's 1996 Nissan Pathfinder made when the exhaust resonator (I think that's what it was called) wore out and had to be replaced. The key differences here are that...

1. The noise my Tacoma makes comes from the engine or the chassis area underneath the engine (it is not particularly noticeable with the hood open), whereas the Pathy's noise obviously came from the muffler's location.
2. The noise the Pathy made was constant, more at idle than when under acceleration, where as the Tacoma's noise is extremely intermittent; It only manifests itself when the truck is started up for the first time on a really cold morning after sitting overnight, quickly goes away once the engine warms up, and doesn't show up when it's not ridiculously cold.

There is no CEL and no warning lights, no signs of an oil leak or any other fluid leaks, and the truck runs and drives just fine. For those of you don't know, Toyota replaced my frame under the recall the week before Thanksgiving in 2021; It had to go back to the dealership twice because the transmission shift linkage was not properly connected, and the rear brakes were not adjusted properly (I forget exactly what was wrong with the brakes, but the dealer addressed it free of charge). I have put over 3,000 miles on my truck since the final post-frame replacement adjustment with no issues, and I am HOPING that this just another one of those geriatric noises that comes with daily driving a 12-year old vehicle that is quickly closing the gap on 145K miles.

I made a video of the noise the other, but it seems to be louder on some days than on other days, and it was barely audible over the normal engine noises.

 

Maybe exhaust related?
Sometimes exhaust components will be loose when cold, and then “tighten up” once warm?

Anyone with a newer 5.7 Hemi will probably know what I’m talking here. Lol
Those things like to break the manifold bolts clean off. When you first start the truck cold, it ticks LOUD. Then slowly gets quieter as the truck warms up.

 

Easy fix? Will it cause me to fail emissions testing if not addressed?

 

I doubt that is your problem. Never heard of it happening on the Tacoma.

As for emissions, we don’t have them. I wouldn’t think you’d fail emissions with no check engine light on? The way you describe it, the noise shouldn’t be there by the time you get the truck there. It will warm by then

 

@shakerhood
@Taco critter

Here is everything wrong with my truck as of January 19th, 2022 (Not including dents, dings and scratches):

• Aftermarket Bluetooth handsfree system that rarely works properly, and that I have pretty much given up on trying to fix.
• Radio and iPod do not properly sync up sometimes, requiring me to shut off and restart the truck.
• Burned out driver's side headlight bulb (getting fixed in the next few days).
• Crack in right rear taillight cover (Don't know how happened).
• Burns a very miniscule amount of oil, though nowhere near the roughly 1 quart per 3,500 miles prior to the PCV valve replacement.
• Bed storage panel that has to be held in place with duct tape because the locking mechanisms won't stay in place.
• Aftermarket cruise control that is incredibly sensitive to RPM and cruising speed, and engages roughly 98% of the time.

Not bad for a 12-year old truck with this many miles!

 

I was talking more about a visual inspection; My mechanic says that among all of his customers (many of whom drive Audis, BMWs, and Volvos), my truck is one of the best maintained he's ever seen. He also says that as long (A) the check engine light isn't on like you said, and (B) the emissions system hasn't been tampered with, any vehicle will pass emissions. I heard that emissions is required in some of the more populated parts of Tennessee...?

 

Not bad at all as that's just small stuff, both my truck and car have a blown door speaker.