Frame rust recall

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

 

^No light? That's interesting. If the mechanic simply forgot to plug in an electrical connector at the front diff or T-case, I would expect a flashing 4WD indicator light.

 

All the talk of undercarriage washing, and Fluid Film is all well, and good (I haven't used Fluid Film, but have always run the truck through a wash that has an undercarriage sprayer), but the most common failure point is by the cats. This is the boxed section, and by all appearances, looks like it's rusting from the inside out. As far as I can tell, it looks to me like a drainage issue. I don't know if Fluid Film would have stopped this, as it appears to start on the inside of the boxed section. The majority of my old frame didn't look bad for a 10 year old truck, it failed because of the area by the cats.

Is using Fluid Film a good idea? Sure. Not too sure it would have stopped this issue though.

 

Thanks Ken.

Yeah I'm not sure if the 4WD just happened to crap out at exactly the same time the frame was done or it something wasn't properly reinstalled.

 

Either drainage issue or the protective coating Toyota used inside the frame is not as good as the outside. In Oct 2014, I went to my local dealer and paid to have the inside of the frame sprayed with corrosion-protective compound. The mechanic used the same stuff as specified in the 1st-gen service campaign, minus the etchant. The mechanic used a thin hose with a spray nozzle attachment to reach inside the frame.

 

Fisrt, Welcome to the forum. I think you can be pretty certain that your 4WD problem is related to your frame install. Call your dealer ASAP to have them get it fixed. And please let us know the outcome.

 

Probably a combination of the two. Having the dealer coat the inside is not a bad idea, I may look into this myself for the new frame. Did they use paraffin wax, or something else?

 

I agree. I always garage my 09 but do not when it has been in rain. Leave it outside to dry then park in garage with a dehumidifier when needed. I spray yearly with mix of 30 weight oil and WD40 and have absolutely no rust. And yes I have checked behind the cats...nothing there. Granted I dont drive in snowstorms or when roads are drenched in brine....but do drive all winter in New York.

 

Update - dropped my Tacoma off at the dealer on Thursday 1-28. Unsafe to drive so I got a loaner. I'm told 4 to 6 month wait ! Offered a Corolla or Camry, but I need a truck. They didn't have any so they set me up with an F150 4 door. Nice job on the dealers part, however, I'm really taking a liking to the F150. I "stole" my Tacoma from the dealer today to wash the salt off and did not like the ride at all! Hoping that changes with the frame or else I might be in the market for a Ford!

 

I gotta say I had one too and really liked it. Way too big for me for a trail rig/dd which mine is but for just a dd work truck I gotta say the ford impressed me.

 

Dogaminator posted a scan of the dealer instructions for coating the frames. They are using NOX-RUST 712AM.

I coated the inside of my frame with

$80 3M 08891 Rust Fighter-I - 30.4 fl oz

3M Rust Fighter using an

$18 Astro Pneumatic Tool 4538 Economy Air Undercoat Gun

Astro Gun and

$35 3M 08998 Rust Fighter-I Application Wand

3M Application Wand, and got the plugs listed in the dealer instructions. Note there are some errors in that version of the instructions.

 

I just realized that Toyota replaced my SPC LCA cam bolts with factory ones..bastards..Do I raise hell or let it go. I bought the SPC ones because they were cheaper than factory when mine were seized.

 

Sandman I can see bare metal spots on the welds of your frame. Mine has the same issue. These unpainted areas are going to rust.

 

Yup. GM And Ford were my ride for many many years. Looked Great, Ride Nice UNTIL just a few years go by.... Then, Fender / door bottom rusting our, Bad F wheel bearings, Dealer continually said "that's normal" to many of the shimmy, shakes, noises. I had to beg for Warranty service!

Not IF, But When there are a major issues - Toyota issues TSBs , Recalls, Limited Service fixes, etc. My 2012 is still better than my last GMC !!

 

I'll have to look at that in person and see if it's just the lighting or not.

 

Cool man, thanks for the info.

 

Just dropped my 08 off. They found some holes. 5 months to get a new frame WTF.

 

That's half as long as it took to get mine.

 

damn wish i could trade it in