Frame rust recall

Unless you do not want to fix stuff yourself - I'd not bother (except for, maybe, the struts and any of those items that are cheap in part cost). I'd rather spend the money on anything major I myself not want to fix later (i.e. Timing chain cover gasket, Main seals, etc. ). Most of the rest of the stuff you listed I can do in my Driveway - WHEN they need to be changed. But it's up to you ...

 

You should be able to bring your truck back to your house. Talk to the dealer. They'll probably appreciate not having to be responsible for it while you wait.

 

I few others arranged it with the dealer so they could stop in once or twice a month and start it up, drive it around the lot to move the tires and turn it around. It at least kept the tires from getting flat spots, charges the battery and moves the fluids around.

 

My number just got called, wasn't supposed to happen till this summer..... Me and the truck are out on sabbatical 1600 miles away.
Looks like summer after all !

 

I just got my truck back from Toyota, I'm assuming 2.5 days of work. It wasn't in the shop when I went in Tuesday and it was ready today, the advisor said they stayed overnight to finish it. My shocks were not cut off, but removed properly and the original hardware reused.

Their list of Notes:
- ABS/4WD warning light on (accidentally left abs cut off on lol)
- Dent/hole in the A/C condenser
- Low side A/C line from compressor leaking dye
- Dented A/C line on high side to the condensor
- Had no freon in the system

My First impressions: So far just a few little things but overall everything looks good. We'll see how it is after a couple days.
Cons:
Found banana peel in fuel tank strap?? lol
Alignment not to my specs(I forgot to tell them about it up front)
The battery ground to the body wasn't tightened down (just the tip screwed in, then they tightened it)
Fuel smell around gas cap, fuel line wet with fuel at connector (had them come take a look and they didn't see drips, sprayed cleaner on it and said keep an eye on it)
Snorkel alternative not reinstalled correctly and rattles like a bitch (I removed it to bring it home)

Pros:
Frame looks emmaculate
Bumpers look to be back on correctly
Extended Brake lines installed
Lots of new hardware (bolts/nuts) on brackets that weren't replaced

 

Oh they also weren't careful with the brake fluid either..

 

I just wasted ten minutes trying to figure out other ways than photobucket to post pics, since PB is down for maintenance. LOL!! Here are a few pics of rust on my 2006. I live in WV, so road salt is always ussed. I have not made an appointment yet though.







I think I am safe in assuming that my frame will not pass!



NT

 

I think I spy sarcasm None shall pass. Failure is good in this case. Good luck on your quest.

 

lowers are always replaced. uppers are not a standard replacement

that said, my uppers were replaced due to the tech busting the upper control arm bolts..... rust build up being the cause.

 

any update?

 

I just bought some UCA's from the classifieds here just in case. No sense putting the crusty old ones back on a shiny new frame.

 

I'm not posting this question to be judgmental of how well you maintained your Tacoma. I own a 2006 Tacoma too, which lived all it's life in salty Massachusetts, but mine passed the LSC, seeing photos like yours scare me. I was just curious if you washed the undercarriage regularly (once a month in summer and soon as possible after road salting), especially after snow storms or when roads were salted?

 

I run it through an automatic wash every chance I get and do the undercoat wash. In hindsight, maybe I should have done it at the house more often. I'm just happy Toyota is standing behind their product.

 

I'm not sure how much spraying the frame of a vehicle helps prolong it's life against rust. I had a Jeep Wrangler with a lot of goodies on it and I washed it pretty much everyday or other day and because they show so much frame I always sprayed it off also. I always wondered if I was doing it more harm than good. Rust needs moisture to thrive and I was giving it plenty of that.

 

Where are you going with this? Did the Jeep rust out or not?

A 10 year life span is ridiculous for any vehicle frame. A degradation that severe, one that requires the manufacturer to replace the frame at their cost, is obviously beyond the acceptable industry standard. I'm sure washing the undercarriage every time it's gotten road salt on it would help slow down the inevitable. So would spraying the undercarriage with a protectent, so would keeping it garaged during the winter months... in the end, none of it matters if you're working with a material that is compromised coming out of the factory.

With that said now that I have the new frame, I'm definitely paying more attention to how long I leave road salt on the truck. I'd like to retain some resale value when I sell it down the line so I'm not taking any chances.

 

I agree that the frames were a problem right from the factory and there probably was nothing anyone could do to save them. In fact it's probably better if it's rusted bad so it can fail the inspection. I don't know where I going with this, all I know is I just bought a 2005 with a brand new frame and I would like to keep it that way.

 

I was sincerely curious about your Jeep. Just wanted to know if it rusted out despite the care you put into washing it? Good luck with the new Tacoma BTW.

 

Thanks for replying back and being honest. Before I bought my Tacoma, I owned a 1988 Nissan Hardbody 4x4 truck and really loved it for all but the last year of the 18 years I owned it. I know that I washed this Tacoma twice as often as the Nissan and know by the corrosion that I would never get 18 years out of this Tacoma. I just wish Toyota noted in the owners manual for people unfamiliar with the Tacoma frame rot, that applying an undercoating (like Fluid Film) is highly recommended as a preventive maintenance, seeing how previous year Tacoma's have a history of frame rot and were still being made by Dana.

I hope your frame replacement goes as planned, with no surprises either mechanically or financially. I have to say that Toyota does stand by their Tacoma, seeing how they are replacing frames on 11 year old trucks, when I doubt any other car company would step up like that.

Good luck,
Mark

 

That was the reason I asked my question. One tip that I just read that seemed counter intuitive was, garaging a vehicle can cause corrosion to accelerate. A garage with poor air flow and higher humidity causes the vehicle to retain moisture and never fully dry, especially after a snow storm, when roads are salted, thereby accelerating corrosion. I know if I used Fluid Film from day one, that I would have a mostly rust free frame, if it is applied at least once a year. I think even in the 3rd generation of the Tacoma, the owners manual should advise people of the history of frame rot and tell them an undercoating like Fluid Film will possibly extend the frames life.

 

So I've been following this thread for a long while now and have read nearly every one of the 1900+ posts. I just registered to ask the following:

The frame on my 05 was replaced. New 5100's and everything seemed to be going well. I've only had it back for 2 days and I realized, no 4WD. The dealership had my truck for 2 weeks. The 4WD worked fine when I brought it in. When I turn the dial, no light, no 4wd. 100,000+ miles on it. Did someone drop the ball when reassembling everything or is this a "coincidence"?

Thanks in advance!

Jeff