05+ Tacoma problem / positive areas anyone?

[viatierra]

My 2007 Tacoma has been fantastic so far. Here's my take:

I'm getting 17 mpg on the highway, and thats with 255/85s, and a permanently mounted tent.

I thought about installing Recaro seats because previous Tacoma seats (and truck seats in general) are prettly lame. Decided against it because these seats are a real improvement and actually quite nice.

Paint chips... Yep.

I've probably drilled a dozed holes in my bed without any problems. Use a sharp bit and don't push too hard.

All told, I'm in gooey-sloppy love with my Tacoma! Although I have 2 frustrating issues:

Since day ONE, I get this crazy & irritating squeal when I hit about 70 mph. It's not a wiper or vibrating body panel, but it sounds like it. I told my dealer service rep and he just chuckled.

After making the switch from Land Rovers, I'm still having a hard time getting used to the poor visibility. There is just no way to feel cool when sitting so deep into the cockpit. I miss having the window sills down by my hip instead of up near my shoulder... Then of course there is the trying to see over the hood. I'm definately going to figure out a seat lift mod someday.

 

[Overland Hadley]

Since day ONE, I get this crazy & irritating squeal when I hit about 70 mph. It's not a wiper or vibrating body panel, but it sounds like it. I told my dealer service rep and he just chuckled.

Do you have the aluminum (silver) skid plate?

 

[Jacket]

Or it could be a vibrating/rattling air intake box or tube. I've heard about some having this problem, and solving it with some padding/foam.

 

[ECVMatt]

I have that crazy vibration noise too

It happens when I hit 70 or 75 mph and in situations were there is a gusty headwind.

I think the front door seals are failing and with in pushing its way in.

I really bumbs me out. I have been to Toyota, but they don't seem to want to acknowledge the problem.

Any fixes from you guys out there??

Other than that it is a great truck. I get the about 16-19, but did a cat-back.

Have a good one,

Matt

 

[Schattenjager]

The biggest issues are the frame cracking for early production trucks in 05 and trd rear diff failures. A quick search on ttora will yield many posts.

What qualifies as an "early" 05? Is it the entire 05 range, or just the last months of 04 that they built them? Mine is a 05 built in August of 2005. Surly I'm outta the woods... - right?!?!

 

[Lost Canadian]

I had a couple of the first year model run fit and finish issues, but nothing major, and all we're fixed. Mechanically, the truck has been perfect.

Of course every once and awhile my brain will play tricks on me and I'll think about getting something different, but that usually doesn't last long, and I snap back to reality in time to realize just how great my truck has been over the last 4 years. No, I'll be keeping this truck for a long long time.

 

[Overland Hadley]

It happens when I hit 70 or 75 mph and in situations were there is a gusty headwind.

I think the front door seals are failing and with in pushing its way in.

I really bumbs me out. I have been to Toyota, but they don't seem to want to acknowledge the problem.

Any fixes from you guys out there??

I read somewhere (maybe on toyotanation?) that the silver factory skid plate was causing bad noises at those speeds. Worth checking out if you have that skid plate on your truck.

 

[ECVMatt]

Thanks Overland Hadley

But I don't have the skid plate. I guess I am going to have to replace the door seals and hope that solves it.

Have a good one,

Matt

 

[tacomaharry]

Since day ONE, I get this crazy & irritating squeal when I hit about 70 mph. It's not a wiper or vibrating body panel, but it sounds like it. I told my dealer service rep and he just chuckled.



I had the same noise under the same conditions.

I found if you put your hand on the top of the windshield and press firmly it goes away.

There is a TSB from Toyota to fix this. There is a list on ToyotaNation site.

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=254821


NV006-07 AUG 07 Body - Windshield Wind Noise at Highway Speeds

They resealed mine and it's been fine since.

 

[ECVMatt]

Found the TSB for the front window...

I am heading out to my dealer right now...

Thanks so much I hope it solves the problem.

Matt

 

[viatierra]

Very interesting to hear from everyone on the squeal issue. I don't have the silver skid plate either, but some of these other fixes have promise.

Post up if anyone succeeds in correcting the problem!!

 

[maxama10]

I believe some early tacomas were prone to chipping (weak paint)

 

[tacollie]

Yikes! Are you heavy on the gas or do you have really big tires? My stock '04 gets 17-18 in city driving and 19.5-23 on the highway (27 mpg one time but that was special circumstances...)

One reason I have chosen not to heavily modify my truck is that every off-road mod I can think of results in worse MPG and I feel like the MPG on these vehicles is marginal now. If part of the cost of having a winch, lift kit, bigger tires, ARB bumper, etc, means a 15-25% reduction in my already not spectacular MPG then it's not worth it - I just don't spend that much time off road vs. on road. Perhaps it'd be different if I had a dedicated expo rig and a separate daily driver, but I don't.

I am running 255/85r16s. My 02 got much better milage even with 255/85r16. It had 4.10s and I think that helped.

 

[J4RR]

BTW paint sucks even through the 07's, mine has been chipping easily since I got the truck.

Here are some solutions to the trailer wiriing harness, I removed mine right after I got my truck so I wouldn't tear it off, haven't done the relocation yet, not in a hurry becuase I don't tow anything yet.

A friend put this diy write up together here:
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/s...7&highlight=TRAILER+WIRING+HARNESS+RELOCATION

Make your own hole in the bumper:

Or modify the existing hole from one of your license plate lights.

 

[Jacket]

^Hey - that first pic is my truck! A lot's changed since then....