what to ask when buying a taco

Saturday is long past. Are you rocking a Taco or not? We're waiting for pictures!

 

It's a long story but the uncle dropped the truck off at my house I travel for work so I'm gonna have to wait till this Friday to see he told my wife to give him 4 for it but I can't make an offer on something I haven't seen and I'm trying my wife to send me pictures and details so hopefully I'll get more info today

 

Honestly i dont feel good about it also if its a TRD shouldent it be 4x4.

 

Prerunners are 2wd and also came with the optional TRD package.

I had a '99 Prerunner years ago with a locker and I loved it. The locker compensates some for it not being a 4x4 But if you truly need 4wd then you should hold out for one.

 

Frame looks like a no no

 

If you don't feel good about it, there's nothing wrong with passing on it. Usually, you're gut is always right.

 

yea it looks like theres alot of surface rust on it and if its on the rims aswell that cant be good

 

I can't really tell if the rust is really an issue. Honestly from what I can see with the pics that might just be all surface, and my rims were jacked when I bought my truck which had little frame rust. Bottom line though if you want 4x4 than pass on it. The TRD does compensate like eon_blue said but not the same in the end. There will always be others.

 

You said nothing about needing 4x4. You stated you needed a 15 minute to work commuter, and something to use as a modest hauler of stuff on the weekend. This truck meets that criteria.

If the frame passes the crawl under the truck visual inspection and ball peen test I mentioned above, it's not an issue.

The inside of the bed is not an issue. It's an actual used truck. For how you want to use it, it's pre-aged for you.

I thought those wheels were alloy? If so, that's not wheel rust, but some other type of staining from something that has sat on them.

It has a dirty interior and faded paint. For how you'll use it, do you really care? If so, a couple of weekends of elbow grease will make it 10x better looking. I'm pretty sure there is no clear coat on that color in that year, meaning the paint can be brought back up to a nice shine. If you take a rag with some wax and rub a small faded spot, and the rag turns red, you'll know I'm correct.

It's in your hands. Easy to have someone perform that mechanical/frame inspection for you as I suggested earlier. A few bucks for self assurance well spent. Saying all that because you've already stated you're not a car guy...............

If it passes an inspection (or only has small things to be addressed) and you don't need 4wd, it's quite likely the best find you'll make for $4k.

 

Not to step on anyone's toes, or get in a pissing contest. For a 2x4, these things are a dime a dozen. Do not think you can't/wont find others out there for that price or less. If it were TRD 4x4 yea, that's a steal. Also don't buy a vehicle for what you need right now, but try to think about what you might need it for in the future too. Such as now living in the country and those roads will end up being the last that they plow...ask me how I know. Rear locker won't do much for you at that point.

Also you can think of the bed as used, or you can think of it as a tedious project you will have to do other wise you'll one day loose your bed to rust. This isn't FL, the littlest of rust is like cancer and will spread if not addressed.

 

If it was me I am a 4x4 guy if you don`t need4x4 it is your call

Then I never learned to drive a Automatic that would be some concern

The only Question I ever Ask when buying a Toyota 4x4 is "Why are you selling it"

Every thing can be figured out

 

i took it to the shop had them go over coast about 70 buks. the mechanic siad the truck is solid engine is good what looked like rust is dirt just needs a few things.

• Valve cover gasket
• both outer tie rod ends
• tranny service
• all 4 shocks
• all 4 tires

have until tomorrow to decide waiting on the shop to price everything out for me since owner had to leave early.
also when i tried to start it up the truck actully moved back about a foot even though it was on park anyone know why his might be?

 

so i went ahead and pulled the trigger been driving it all week and since i cant find a decent mechanic im gonna do the work myself any recommendations on what order and what else i should do.

 

I'd start with the Valve cover gasket as that could easily lead to new/further issues. While your in the engine bay go ahead and do the spark plugs unless you know they've been done lately. Then work on your tie rods and shocks together, and look at any of your other suspension parts while your in there to make sure they don't need to be replaced. Personally I'd take care of the inner tie rods while I was at it. Then have your tires on stand by so that when your done messing with the suspension you can put them on and get one alignment. After all that service the tranny. I don't know what all you need for that b/c "service tranny" is pretty broad. The only thing I feel comfortable with doing is replacing the filter and topping her off. Maybe someone else can chime in on that one.

ALSO, switch to full synthetic oil.

 

Yea I'm going full synthetic on everything. For ATF Is the factory stuff from Toyota the best or is there something better. Also for the motor oil I've always heard royal purple is the best should I waste the money or just forget about it.

 

We've been talking about tranny fluid and junk here the last couple of days. There's some good reading in here.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...9-taco-v6-4x4-automatic.423734/#post-12133768

As for the Royal Purple, yes it is the best supposedly, but I've always only run Mobile 1 Full Synthetic. It's only about $26 for 5 qts over at Walmart (always have the best price), and I've never met anyone who had something bad to say about Mobile 1.

 

If you cant buy it in common places its considered a boutique fluid, generally not worth the expense on a street vehicle. API SN oils are quite good. I"d suggest dino and 5k changes the first couple of intervals.

Also suggest safety first in your repairs. Brakes, steering components, excessively worn suspension bits, thenove on to other repairs.

 

Been lurking for awhile but finally back. Drained transmission refilled with Valvoline Max life synthetic. Drained the rear diff it came out grey so it's probably never been changed replaced with 75-90 synthetic Mobil 1 gear oil. Then did the oil got a Toyota OEM filter for 6 buks at the dealer. It's wasn't pre lubed and it said made in the U.S. thought they were made in Taiwan seems like they changed. Put in Mobil 1 high mileage was tempted to go with royal purple but all there stuff was 10 buks more and I'm sure what you get isn't worth the extra. Then I did shocks all around went with Monroe since I can't justify buying bilsteins for this truck. Replaced the battery with an AGM one from oreilys. All this work I did myself with the help of the forums here. Had to get the whole steering assembly changed since it was wore out. So this truck is good to go. Any advice on what to do next I was considering brakes.