What goes here?

Hi all,
Hopefully I'm a future member of this community. I'm looking at a 2012 2WD 2.7 Taco, which is going in for a mechanic inspection tomorrow, but in the meantime, while "kicking the tires" I think I spotted something missing from the engine bay.

What goes here, next to the washer fluid tank? There are some bolt holes, and it looks like *something* used to be bolted there.


Thanks!

 

On my 2015 V6 my power steering and a support for the intake are bolted there.

 

You're missing your smog pump.

 

This.

 

^^ what the heck is that? Now I need to look to c if I have it and get rid of it.

Just checked I don’t have it. Good. Just notice this is for 4 cycle not 6

 

I think those smog pumps are about $1500 if it matters to you.

 

Start scoping out them junkyards. Lol

 

I'm in CA, so this car will very likely have to go through a smog check. I assume that this pump not being present would probably cause the test to fail.

I did test drive the car, and it felt pretty smooth. There was a "maintenance required" light on, which the seller claims was just an Oil Change, but now I'm guessing might be related to this?

Car is going to a mechanic tomorrow anyways to see if anything else comes up.


Thanks! Any other advice for a 2012?

 

The 2TR-FE is solid....

Maybe see if you could get some maintenance history.

 

If the smog pump is rigged up what else might be rigged up on the truck? Unless the seller already disclosed this to you I'd pass and try to find a different truck. Sounds like they didn't want to spend money to properly repair it when it did break so who knows what kind of care they did on other maintenance like oil changes and fluids.

 

Maint Reqd is in fact just an oil change reminder. Easy to reset yourself.

If there were a code for the emissions system or anything else you'd see a Check Engine light instead.

 

Is it safe to assume that if the pump is missing and the car appears to be running well, the whole thing is jury rigged?

 

The Smog pump only runs for the first 20 seconds at start-up.
I hear mine kick-off every morning....
You might be able to pass CEI without it?

 

There is something there.... like a Sock Filter...

 

Does your mechanic have the ability to smog test. If it passes then your good to go.

 

Well... yes, but I imagine Toyota engineers put that part there for a reason. Are there any detrimental effects to running the truck without one?

(Sorry, I'm just trying to gauge if I'm buying a good deal, or a future headache)

 

A lot of smog stuff put on cars/trucks/motorcycles is for the EPA and have very little to do with how the engine really runs.

 

Looks like the smog pump is there it just looks different like it’s flipped upside down on your model year or something.

I mean you can see the air hose running from it to the engine.



Maybe it was replaced after it crapped out? Or maybe it just comes like that on certain 4cyls?

I have a 2013 V6 so I wouldn’t know. Mines essentially where your air box is lol and those holes you are looking at are probably just universal for that sheet of metal for all models.

Edit: if you pump was gone, without some sort of electronic bypass hack, your truck would be running in limp mode maxing out at like 45mph. And throwing codes.

 

your smog pump is there but its just hanging off its bracket cus the bolts fell off. Fix before you do any more driving.

 

Also wtf is up with the random green wire just sitting there with exposed copper? Is that going to the pump?