This post is especially intended to all the owners of the 1998 Toyota Tacoma - just like me! Although this vehicle is considered to be an old model, it still feels good to take good care of your very first car! We should all be aware that failures might come up in your Tacomas soon. For more than 9 years, our vehicles have excelled in different kinds of tough road encounters and tasks. But we can’t avoid some problems that will soon hit our beloved vehicle in the next years to come.

One good example of a possible problem is a faulty starter. It’s not practical to spend cash for professional assistance in doing so. We can save our budget by doing this task by ourselves without depending on someone else’s automotive specialties. Replacing a starter in a 1998 Toyota Tacoma is easy anyway. So all you have to do is follow these instructions that I provided which I got from WikiHow.com. I gathered this info a year ago when my Tacoma’s starter malfunctioned. If ever your starter gets into trouble, just follow these very useful steps on how to replace a starter in a 1998 Toyota Tacoma!

Steps:

Read through entire process, and consult repair manual if possible, to gain an understanding of all of the steps required. Look carefully at the layout of the starter, engine, brake lines, etc, to determine what will be involved with replacing your starter. 

Disconnect negative terminal on battery. 

Remove the flexible rubber liner from the back of the wheel well on the side of the engine where the starter is located. This will give you better access to the starter. 

Take away the plastic cap from the battery cable on the starter. Then, unscrew the nut that holds the cable onto the starter, and get rid of the cable. 

Remove the other battery connector from the starter. 

Take off the two bolts that grasp the starter onto the engine. 

Pull the starter forward to disconnect, and then wriggle it out through the hole in the wheel well. Set the old starter aside, you can usually return it to the parts store where you bought the new one. 

Twist the new starter into the engine compartment in an alike fashion. 

Insert the starter into the engine, make sure that the gears engage the flywheel, and are not just resting on top. 

Tighten bolts using your fingers to make sure they are threaded correctly. Then tighten it again. The repair manual suggests using a torque wrench to tighten them to 29 ft. lbs., be careful to not overtighten and break the bolt. 

Attach the battery cable and battery connector (wires removed in steps 4 and 5). Then replace the plastic cap. 

Change the elastic rubber in the wheel well. 

Reconnect the negative battery terminal and try starting your truck.

As an avid fan of the Japanese automaker Toyota and a Formula One fan, I do my best to tune in to what's happening with Toyota's Formula One team. The latest news is that finally Toyota is showing signs of resurgence and it may be time for the team to overtake its competitors like Renault, BMW Sauber, and Williams. And much better if they can catch up to Ferrari and McLaren.

Only six races remain in the season and the next race will be this Sunday in Istanbul. The 2007 Turkish Grand Prix I think will be the real turning point in this yea's campaign of Toyota in the sport. With a sixth place finish at the Hungarian Grand Prix, Ralf Schumacher is also confident that they will be able to compete with the top guys.

Friday test for the team is very positive. During the morning practice session, both Schumacher and teammate Jarno Trulli are in the top ten. In the afternoon session, the result is even better as Schumacher posted the third fastest lap time while Trulli posted the fourth fastest.

"So far everything is going fine and we can be happy with our work today," said Schumacher. "We went through most of our program despite the time lost in the second session. The results today were encouraging with third place in second practice and we hope we can convert our form today into a strong qualifying result. It’s only Friday so it’s hard to tell where we are but our first target for qualifying is to get both cars in the top ten."

Schumacher added: "I think we have a good chance to do well. My performance in qualifying and the race in Hungary showed we are capable of fighting for strong results and I hope we can do that again."

Meanwhile, Trulli has this to say: "It was a reasonable day for me today. We worked on the set-up but I had a bit of an issue getting the car exactly how I want it." The Italian though has some problems with his car. "I was not so happy with the balance and I felt that under braking I could not push as hard as I wanted to, so now we will work hard to find a compromise before qualifying," Trulli said on that. The Italian though is confident that he can do well in the qualifying session Saturday. "I am really focused and motivated this weekend to score points again because I have had a couple of unlucky races. I expect to once again get into Q3 and from there I am ready to score points."

Japan's Toyota and Isuzu companies have announced their plan to develop and produce small diesel engines for use in Toyota lineup for the European market. The details of the alliance have yet to be ironed out, but Isuzu will play a major role in the agreement, and production of 1.6 liter engines is slated to start around 2012, the automakers said last Thursday.

Toyota already produces diesel engines in Europe, but the venture concentrates more on so-called hybrid technology, in which a car switches between a gas engine and an electric motor for fuel efficiency. The pact allows Toyota to get help from Isuzu to compete closely with rivals such as Honda Motor Co. in diesel technology. The latter has also announced its efforts to strengthen its diesel lineup.

Toyota, the world's largest automaker, acquired 5.9% of Isuzu late last year to tap the truck maker's expertise in diesel engines. The two had been negotiating details on how to cooperate based on a broad agreement to jointly develop small, next-generation diesel engines, reported Reuters.

The Nikkei business daily reported in June that Isuzu would invest some 30 billion yen ($259 million) to build a new plant in the island of Hokkaido to supply roughly 200,000 diesel engines to Toyota from 2012. Both companies said then that nothing had been decided, the report continued.

Toyota is keen to spread gasoline-electric hybrid technology as a fuel-saving alternative to pure internal combustion engines, but it is also looking to catch up with rivals in the diesel field. Ahead of the announcement, shares in Toyota closed up 2.0 percent at 6,680 yen, while Isuzu gained 4.7 percent to 554 yen. The Nikkei average, meanwhile, rose 2.6 percent. 

The agreement, which seals talks that began last November, will allow Toyota, Japan's top automaker, to take advantage of Isuzu's highly reputed diesel technology, the International Herald Tribune reported. The demand for diesel vehicles is growing especially in Europe because of worries about global warming. Diesel is widely known for good mileage, and recent innovations have made diesel cleaner.

The European compact car engines are the first fruit of the collaboration between the two automakers. Let’s just see whether this venture would damage domestic as well as foreign auto parts like the traditional engine, water pump Canada and more. 

• Star Safety System™ - includes Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) with cutoff switch + Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist
• Star Safety System™ with Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) includes Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)with cutoff switch + Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist
• Driver and front passenger Advanced Airbag System
• Driver and front passenger front seat-mounted side airbags
• Three-row roll-sensing side curtain airbags (RSCA)
• Drivers knee airbag
• Active headrests
• Direct Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS)
• Hill Start Assist Control (HAC)
• Downhill Assist Control (DAC) [38] (4WD models)
• Front and rear energy-absorbing crumple zones 
• Side-impact door beams 
• Energy-dissipating interior trim 
• Driver and front passenger seatbelt warning sensor 
• Adjustable shoulder belt anchors for front seating positions 

• Front defroster-linked CFC-free air conditioning with air filter
• Front CFC-free dual zone automatic digital climate control system with air filter 
• CFC-free rear air conditioning system with air filter and rear vents for second- and third-row seats
• CFC-free rear automatic digital climate control system with integrated multi-function display, air filter and rear vents for second- and third-row seats 
• AM/FM/6-disc in-dash CD changer with satellite radio capability, MP3/WMA playback capability and six speakers O S S P [5] S
• JBL® AM/FM 6-disc in-dash CD changer with satellite radio capability [12], MP3/WMA playback capability, hands-free phone capability via Bluetooth®wireless technology and nine speakers including subwoofer in seven locations

When the Tundra was introduced (the much larger Tundra is what I mean here), people questioned the car maker if the vehicle can match up to the already established nameplates of the Big Three. After all, Toyota used to focus on small cars like the Corolla and the Camry. But Consumer Reports tested the Tundra against the F-150, the Silverado and the Dodge Ram. And the Tundra was adjudged as the best among the four nameplates.

Sales for the Tundra is going up and I expect it to still increase with the Toyota Prove It! That’s what Toyota calls its new marketing campaign. To show consumers like you and me the real capabilities of the Tundra compared to others in its class, Toyota will be going around the country bringing the Tundra and showing people that it has what it takes to compete with the established brands.

According to the automaker’s site: “It all comes down to one question: Does it have the guts? Prove it for yourself by putting the powerful, all-new 2007 Toyota Tundra to the test. Got questions? Toyota Tundra Specialists are on hand with answers.”

The Prove It! campaign will allow consumers to “Experience the raw power of Tundra’s available 381 horsepower, 5.7L i-Force V8 engine and see how it stands up to the challenges of our custom drive course.”

According to Toyota, they will be matching up with the competition. A part of the Prove It! campaign is the Tow It! segment. In this challenge, a 10,000 lbs trailer will be hitched up to the Tundra. This will show the true capability of the Tundra in towing. The next challenge is the Haul It! segment. In this challenge, the Tundra will be loaded with heavy payloads weighing up to 2,065 pounds. The Hitch It! challenge is designed to highlight the ease of which a trailer can be hitched into the Tundra with the aid of the pickup’s backup camera.

Already, many consumers have been turned to believers after Toyota Prove It! to them. David Y. from Glendale, AZ says, “Nice truck. I’ve been a Chevy man for 30+ years. This might change that.” Robert T. of Peoria, IL says, “I’m 6’3”, big too and it fit me better than good. Very nice truck. I’m impressed.” Chad S. of Tampa, FL says, “The best truck I’ve ever driven.” If you want more testimonials, you can visit Toyota’s Prove It! site.

With this Prove It! campaign, Toyota is showing consumers that they have a choice and Toyota has the most capable truck out there in the Tundra.

Most of you people are seldom informed about the Toyota NASCAR team because most of the time, you all talk about F1. So I’m here to give you just a little bit of the recent updates about the Toyota team in the NASCAR Nextel Cup.

As a loyal fan of Toyota cars, the Toyota F1 team and especially Toyota’s NASCAR team, I see to it that my fellow Toyota geeks are updated with the latest happenings about our beloved automaker! And so here’s what I have for the rest of the Toyota enthusiast - updates from the Toyota NASCAR Nextel Cup Series! And of course, I got this info from Toyota.com! Thanks for the info by the way. So guys, suit yourselves and dig in!

• PJ Jones (25th) was the highest finishing Camry driver in the Centurion Boats at The Glen in the No. 00 Burger King Carmy for Michael Waltrip Racing.

• Jeremy Mayfield finished 27th in the No. 36 360 OTC Camry, while Dale Jarrett finished 29th in the No. 44 UPS Camry.

• Other Camrys in the field included: Terry Labonte (30th), Dave Blaney (35th) and Brian Vickers (41st).

• Mayfield led two laps Sunday, and has now led six laps this season. In total, Camrys have led 126 laps in NNCS competition. Vickers (84), Blaney (35) and Waltrip (one) have all spent time leading the field, in addition to Mayfield.

• The six Camrys to start at The Glen matched the most to start a NNCS race this season, joining Infineon Raceway (June 24) and Pocono Raceway last weekend (Aug. 5).

Here's an interview with Dale Jarrett of the No. 44 UPS Camry of Michael Waltrip Racing. He finished 29th and these are his thoughts.

What was the race like with the Car of Tomorrow?

"It was a typical road course race. There was an adjustment period early in the weekend getting around the track with the new car, but once the race started, everyone seemed to get used to it. You have to change your driving style a little bit to adjust to the new car, since it doesn't turn as well as the old car, but it's the same for everyone."

Do you think the car played a part in so many incidents? "I'm not sure it's as much of the car as it is the drivers. All the guys out here are doing what they need to do to fight for every spot, and with that, things are bound to happen. These road course races always have a lot of beating and banging in them, and today were no different."

Aside from being a fan of Toyota vehicles, I am a passionate fan of the Panasonic Toyota F1 team too! They may be down this season and they do need to make a raging comeback but I will still remain faithful to the team… my team! Anyway, last Sunday, to show my support for my team, I watched the Hungarian Grand Prix while cleaning my Mazda fuel filter back at home. It was quite exciting but too bad, Ralf Schumacher finished 6th while Trulli got the 10th spot after the race.

A day after the Hungarian GP has ended, I checked out some news on www.newsonf1.com where team Toyota shared their insights about the previous race.

Ralf Schumacher said, "The race was great. I made a strong start and was fighting for fourth place in the first few corners. The car was really good, at the beginning it was a bit nervous but we made some front flap adjustments and then it was okay. After the first pit stops we started to see different strategies from some of the teams. We went with a two-stopper and I think we made the right decision."
"It was a shame we lost quite a bit of time coming up behind Heidfeld later in the race but still three points is good for the team. We need them and now we are looking good for the rest of the season. It's my best result of the season so I am happy." added Schumacher.
Jarno Trulli said, "That was a disappointing race because we had looked competitive this weekend. It was very difficult for me after the start because again it was bad. I lost a lot of positions and from there I couldn't really do anything because it is so hard to overtake on this circuit. I was just stuck in traffic."

"Today we had a very solid race and Ralf was able to score points, which is good. Ideally we hoped for a better result because we had a good race pace here. Next time we will push for that. I was a little disappointed with the result for Jarno and we will analyse what the reasons are for his problem at the start. We will try to improve." said Tadashi Yamashina, Toyota Racing Team Principal.

"What made the race especially interesting was the tyre strategy. We were flexible between two or three stops and we had enough evidence from the first part of the race that the two stop would be better and Ralf almost got past the BMWs with that but he got held up behind Heidfeld. It was very interesting from a strategy point of view and we got it right. Today the whole team worked well and I am very proud of our pit crew's performance. They trained a lot this weekend and I am very satisfied." Yamashina added.

The first half of the current Formula One season has been dismal for Toyota. In fact, there have been rumors that Ralf Schumacher is on his way to retirement after the dismal start to Toyota’s campaign in the current season. Toyota’s fortune though changed halfway through the season. At the European Grand Prix, Toyota’s Jarno Trulli and Schumacher qualified eighth and ninth respectively. Unfortunately, Schumacher wasn’t able to finish the race and Trulli only finished 13th.

But at the Hungarian Grand Prix, the team finally showed resurgence after Schumacher finished sixth. This ties the highest finish for the team this season. At the United States Grand Prix, Trulli finished sixth.

As can be expected, Schumacher is elated with his team’s performance at the Hungarian Grand Prix. He has this to say in a recent interview regarding the improvements that their team has made: “We were already quite quick in the USA and Montreal in June but for various reasons things didn’t quite come together. We were unlucky with the safety car and so on, but the potential was there. We have got both cars into the top 10 in qualifying in recent races and I think it’s going in the right direction.”

With his sixth place finish at the Hungarian Grand Prix, Schumacher has shown that Toyota has what it takes to perform with the middle of the pack teams such as Renault, and William. Earlier this season, Toyota announced that they will challenge BMW Sauber as the best of the rest, meaning for the third place. After the Hungarian Grand Prix, Toyota is looking to be a good contender for that spot.

Asked what the team has to do to close the gap between them and the other top teams, Schumacher answered: “There is no easy answer. When you look at the most successful teams they all have an enormous amount of experience. There is no short-cut to that, obviously, but everyone is working hard and is tremendously motivated. We may not have had the results that we would have liked this year but we have improved during the season and we will keep pushing hard.”

Schumacher and the other drivers are now enjoying a short vacation as the next race is slated to be held on the 26th of August. Schumacher has this to say about the break in the schedule: “It’s always nice to have a bit more time with my family.”