Buying a new taco, need advice/frame rust?

Hey guys, new to the forum. I'm sure similar threads/question have been made and asked about this but I kinda need advice ASAP as I'm looking to buy a pickup tomorrow but need to let the owner know ASAP if I'm going to or not because he has another guy that is going to check it out Saturday.

Anyways, I took the truck to Toyota to have a used car inspection done and they found a section on the frame, right above the passenger side leaf spring mount. He's willing to knock $500 off what we had agreed on as a result of this find.

My question is, how much does this type of repair generally cost? I know there are kits out there to box the frame in the effected area, but what about am I lookin at as far as labor cost?

I may buy it regardless as his asking price is basically right at book value, which is low when it comes to tacomas around my area. But, if it's gonna an arm and a leg to fix then I may pass on it.

Apologies for the long post, already learned quite about these trucks on here and looking forward to spendin a majority of my free time on here in the near future.

 

Also if anyone knows of any repair/fabrication shops near or around Salem Oregon feel free to share just in case. Tried calling dealerships and auto body shops but have been told they don't/won't do frane repairs.

 

Sorry OP, it is really impossible to provide any really concrete help without a more accurate description of the damage and pictures. My advise and the best option for this close to the spring mounts, there will be a ton of stress in that area, so best plan is to cut it,weld it and grind it. I'm sure you can have that done for $500 at a quality 4x4 shop.

In some cases you could get away with patching the area or they sell reinforcing plates also. But these are less ideal solutions, especially in that area of the frame.

 

I took a few pictures of the area that is rusted. The last pic is of the entire effected area. And yeah the dealership said a lot of people use the reinforcement plates to "fix" it. I've been trying to find a 4x4/fab shop around my area without much luck. The only shop I found said all they do is make/sell custom bumpers and diy bumper kits. :/

 

Very unusual for Oregon trucks to have that kind of rust. You are talking big bucks for a fab shop repair. I have the tools and experience to do the work myself and I'd walk away from that purchase.

 

I wouldnt touch that with a ten foot pole and double upped condoms

 

Run the hell away from that truck.

 

How much is this guy asking for the truck

 

I wouldn't sign up for that either

 

X2 The damage is suspicious. Pretty bad frame rot and I'd steer clear.

BTW, it's a seller technique to tell you someone else is scheduled to come look at the product. Don't be pressured by that tactic. Turn it around and tell them you'll have to pass because of the frame rust unless they pay for a frame replacement of course

 

Is that really the only bad spot? What are those two red wires running to by the way, an elocker may be?

 

Unfortunately he bought the truck a year ago from a guy in Canada. That's the main reason I wanted to have a used car inspection performed on it.

Lol I can't lie these aren't the responses I was hoping for. I appreciate your guys's honesty though. He said he'd take 9.5k for it. Roughly 160k miles.

And thank god for this forum otherwise I would have never even known frame rust/rot was even a common thing for tacomas.

Really the only reason I'm contemplating still buys is is because every other damn Dbl cab 4wd taco around me is upwards of 15-16k even more if they're at a dealership.

 

According to the dealership, that is the only bad spot on the truck. Not sure what the wires are leading to. But it does have the rear locker.

 

Anybody know if frame rust recall/program is still valid? I've read that it lasts 15 years from the purchase date but I've also read that the program ended in like 2013?? Thinkin Toyota may fix/replace the frame or maybe even buy it back...? Maybe that's just wishful thinking. Lol.

 

Dude just save up the extra money and get a truck that isnt going to snap in half spending a little more now will save you in the long run

 

Only have experiences with NE tacos here, but the rot you see on our northern trucks creeps up from inside of the frame, so you won't really see stress cracking and puckering until the metal rots all the way through. In that way there isn't a person earth that can 100% guarantee you that the perforation they've located is the only rot on the frame that would cause structural concern. It may be the only spot on the frame that's ALREADY perforated but to play it safe you should assume that the salt didn't just affect that one spot on the truck without affecting the rest of the vehicle. IT's not impossible, just incredibly unlikely. Unless they brought in a welding xray tester to confirm...

 

I'd stay away if I were you.

 

9.5 with 160,000 miles and that frame rot? Hes dreaming

 

What you might want to do is call the dealership, with the vin# and ask them is it qualifies for a frame replacement. I would first find out if it was ever sprayed with CRC, when it was being recalled, because if it wasn't you will not have a 15 year warranty on the frame.

This was copied from a posting on a different thread here:

For 2001 to 2004 Tacoma trucks:

Toyota no longer sprays the frame for corrosion protection.

If a truck has frame perforation from rust and has never been sprayed - time has run out. Claims will not be honored.

If the frame has been previously sprayed by Toyota and then develops rust perforation, Toyota will send an engineer to inspect and evaluate before frame replacement.

Contact your local Toyota service dept. They should confirm this.
Give them the VIN of the truck and have them check to see if it has ever been inspected and sprayed.

 

They're still doing the recall if your frame was undercoated previously it should be extended until 2018. I'm getting the frame replaced in my 04 which was good until 2019. The warranty extends to 15 years after the production date of the car so for example the 2001's are in their last year this year. The 1995-2000 models are screwed if they want anything done now.