Tips from the experts to Diagnose and Fix these Common Issues
Wondering what the top problems of the 2nd Gen Tacoma are? Our mechanic reveals the five most common problems of the 2nd Gen Tacoma, years 2005-2015.
1. Pedal Entrapment
The floor mats in the 2nd gen Toyota Tacoma tend to shift around and can slip over and stick to the accelerator pedal, causing pedal entrapment. This is an obvious safety concern, especially if the floor mats shift and press the accelerator pedal while driving.
The plastic anchors on the bottom of the mats can break, causing the slippage. Toyota will install a new accelerator pedal and floor mats to fix this common 2nd gen Tacoma issue.
2. Defective Throttle Position Sensor
A bad throttle position sensor on the 2nd Gen Toyota Tacoma displays a few symptoms, and there are a few different causes and solutions.
Symptoms of a bad throttle position sensor include:
- Lack of power
- Low fuel economy
- Higher emissions
Causes of a bad throttle position sensor include:
- Carbon build up on the throttle body (Carbon causes the car to falsely read the throttle is closed)
- Throttle position sensor is old and out of adjustment, causing an advance in timing and the engine to not run right. This causes a rough idle and lowered engine power.
Solutions to a bad throttle position sensor include:
- Check the electrical connections and the sensor for continuity. A sensor with no continuity is defective.
- Remove carbon from the throttle body
- Replace the sensor if the problem persists
3. Cracked or Warped Headlights
The side marker light bulbs are known to overheat and warp the headlight plastic. After repeated distortion, the plastic can crack or change in appearance. The solution to this problem is to replace the headlights, which is a DIY job that can be accomplished at home.
4. Frame Rust/Frame Rot
While many Tacomas come from the factory with frames pre-coated for protection, a large number of Tacomas’ coating does not protect from outside elements very well, and this leads to rusting and frame rust. This is a common issue with the 2005 – 2015 Tacoma that you want to diagnose and treat early. Toyota has reached out to known owners to remedy this issue, from replacing the frame to re-applying a coating.
5. Weak or Broken Leaf Springs
The Tacoma leaf springs are known flatten and break over time. A broken leaf spring can damage other parts like the gas tank or the tire. Symptoms of bad leaf springs can manifest as a stiff ride or the load weight sags the truck bed, even if the load weight meets the specifications in the owner’s manual.
If the leaf spring breaks, it can be replaced, but it’s best to replace the whole assembly (including the u-bolts) in pairs. If this common 2nd gen Tacoma issue manifests while you are driving, the results and can be very dangerous, so it’s best to inspect your leaf springs today.
Shop 2nd Gen Toyota Tacoma Parts featured in this post:
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