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theresalang99

Tacoma Coolant Loss

Hey, I have a 2002 Toyota Tacoma with a gasoline engine and 172058 km. Lately, the check engine light's been popping up. When I scanned it, it shows a coolant level error. The coolant reservoir was nearly empty and keeps dropping after I top it off. Any ideas?

Summary of the thread

A 2002 Toyota Tacoma is experiencing coolant loss, indicated by a check engine light and a coolant level error. The coolant reservoir is nearly empty and continues to drop after refilling. Possible causes include leaks in the water pump or radiator hoses, or potentially a head gasket issue, though the latter is less likely without additional symptoms like white smoke or milky oil. Suggested solutions include checking for leaks, pressure testing the system, and possibly conducting a leakdown test. The issue was resolved by replacing a leaky radiator cap and worn radiator hoses.

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4 comment(s)

hannes_held1

I had a similar issue with my Tacoma. I'd check your water pump for leaks first. Also, give those radiator hoses a good squeeze and look for any cracking or weeping. Might be a small leak that's hard to spot at first. Is there coolant on the ground?

theresalang99 (community.author)

Thanks for the tips! I'll check the water pump and hoses more closely. No obvious puddles, though. Could it be something internal, like a head gasket issue, even without seeing coolant in the oil?

hannes_held1

Head gasket is a possibility, though less likely if you're not seeing other symptoms like white smoke or milky oil. Given the low coolant level and lack of external leaks, it's worth pressure testing the system. If you're not comfortable doing that yourself, take it to a shop. A leakdown test would also help rule out head gasket issues.

theresalang99 (community.author)

Thanks! I appreciate the advice. I took it to a mechanic. Turns out it was a leaky radiator cap and some worn radiator hoses. Cost me 52€ to get it sorted.

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TOYOTA

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TACOMA