5 Important Questions About the Toyota Tacoma

The Toyota Tacoma might not be massive but it definitely packs a lot of toughness compared to other pickup trucks. This is a compact truck that has been around for years and shoppers are drawn to it whenever they need a vehicle that can be taken off the path. The evolution of the Toyota Tacoma can be seen through the years especially starting 2016. It is the year when the Tacoma was given a new cabin exterior together with having the choice between a 4-cylinder or V6 engine. Those who are shopping for the Toyota Tacoma can choose a rear-and-back 4-wheel drive and it comes in manual or automatic transmission.

The Tacoma attracts clients who want a rugged truck who has an adventurous spirit. The Tacoma Sport, TRD Pro, and TRD Off-road have trim levels that have features like chunkier suspensions and shocks, terrain select system, skid plates, and a locking differential.

Despite its popularity, there are still a lot of questions that get frequently asked by those who are curious or interested in buying the Toyota Tacoma. If you are one of them, you will find out the answers to the commonly asked questions here.

1. What is Auto LSD?

The auto LSD gets the equal LSD (Limited Slip Differential) functions by utilizing the traction control system. This is why the Auto LSD and TRAC have identical brake control contents. When the Auto LSD switch is pressed by the driver, the LSD effect is achieved by the system by controlling the hydraulic pressure. This is on the drive wheels and engine output control based on the pedal effort that is applied to the accelerator.

The Auto LSD has the tendency to enhance the acceleration effort to apply a greater drive torque on the wheel which touches the ground.

2. What does SR5 mean?

In the late 1970s, the connotation of the SR5 denoted a HiLux option code which is not far from the Z71 option code which refers to an upgraded Chevy or Tahoe/Yukon or GMC. The ‘S’ denoted sport, the ‘R’ denoted RN which is a motor code and ‘5’ for the 5-speed transmission which all happened in 1975. It did not take long before it caught on the SR5 connotation which was given to the Corolla and other Toyota models. Even if the HiLux name was given in 1979 because of the US market, it is still being used today for the pickup similar to a Tacoma or the 4Runner which is dependent on the market.

There is some part of history that says the Corolla was 1st to get the SR5 designation and then it was given to the HiLux series but most of the information found says HiLux was 1st.

3. What does TRD mean?

It means Toyota Racing Development and the content of the package is dependent on what Toyota model it is installed on and where it goes. For instance, Tacoma trucks offer a TRD sports package and an off-road package.

The main difference between the 2 is what kind of traction control system it has. The TRD sports package uses an ABS brake controller computer in order to detect wheels spin and the brakes are applied using a pulsing manner so the power is forced to the wheels with traction. The axle on the rear has an open differential instead of a slip differential.

The TRD off-road package has a manual actuated rear axle lock which secures the differential at the rear of up to 15 mph. The dashboard has a switch to make I actuated.

4. What is the biggest tire size I can put on my truck?

There are a couple of things you need to consider when you are thinking about this. 1st thing is the size of the truck. For instance, a Chevy S-10 cannot accommodate the tires of a Dodge Ram. The rim size and style of your truck will also affect the biggest size of tires your vehicle can have. This will depend on the make and model of your vehicle because sometimes you can fit a total of 33” tires if it is not lifted. The bigger ones might be able to fit but they will cause interference to the balance and suspension of your vehicle. Although, if you lift the truck, it can accommodate 37” tires or it depends on the lift size.

Make sure to take note of the considerations when buying a set of tires for your vehicle because you do not want to use a car that is imbalanced.

5. What does a bad u joint sound like?

A bad u joint makes a banging or clunking noise when the car is on the 1st gear and this is most common symptom when it needs your attention. This is because of the excessive play applied to the joint and it can also show itself when you shift gears if your transmission is manual or during heavy acceleration and also deceleration.

Another noise it makes is a squeaking sound when u joint needs to be lubricated. This is going to sound like the brakes are squeaking except that the noise is going to change based on the speed and it will not be tied using the brakes. There is also a sound similar to a bad engine belt which you can hear only when the car is moving.

These are the top 5 questions that people usually ask about the Toyota Tacoma and you will also find this very helpful. Remember that they are also curious individuals like you who want to know a lot about the car before buying it. In addition, these questions give you a lot of basic information you need to know if you already own a Toyota Tacoma.

Leave a Comment