I have a predicament

Alright I'm stuck, and I need some advice. I have a 1997 Tacoma and the frame on it is not very rusty . I've hit it with a ball peen hammer and it does not go through so I know it will not be bought back yet. Although I just looked the other day and rusty spots are beginning to appear. My issue is I only have until 2012 for Toyota to buy my truck back as that's when the 15 year window runs out. I don't believe my frame will become rusty enough for them to buy it back within one year. I can't figure out what the better decision for me would be, whether or not I should sell my truck now while the frame isn't very rusty and use that as a down payment for a newer truck? Or another option is getting a cheap gas saver and a new frame for the truck and transfer over everything as a project? or just wait and see if the frame will rust out in a year? (possibly fill with salt...)

 

take a long road trip north in the winter time in an area wear they salt the roads, the rust will come

 

Apply some salt on your own

 

are you near the ocean? drive in and out of it repeatedly like your having sex until it finally breaks in two

 

Thats why there was a rust buy back plan because frames couldn't hold up to people filling them with salt..really??? If it rusts they should hold up there end of the deal, but if you intentionaly make a good frame bad to try to make them cover your down payment...thats a little dishonest. I would buy a truck if you need it and hold on to your other truck as long as possible to see if it rusts but if not, just sell it to a private party before you intentionaly ruin it forever. just my thoughts.

 

If it hasn't happened yet, take care of it, wire wheel it, repaint it and run it til it dies.

 

Undercoat like a smart person would do and keep driving it. You can easily save it if it's not very rusty. It takes several years for it to rust through, even in the salt belt. That's why 2nd gens aren't there yet...

 

@ elytravis:
The adding salt was a joke. And about the frame rusting on it's own and them holding up their part of the deal.....well that's not entirely true. If my frame was covered in rust and had holes in it right now they would buy it back because of their recall (also because it's within the 15 year window). If my truck was covered in rust and had holes in it two years from now they won't buy it back even though that's what the whole recall is about (only because the truck is out of the 15 year window). The statement "if it rusts or not" isn't true either. The frame is going to rust. It's whether or not it rusts out in the 15 year time frame. All of the Tacoma frames are like that. It doesn't matter if it's a California truck or if it's a Virginia truck. If every state snowed and was spread with salt they would all rust, not just 3 percent of the Tacomas like a Toyota salesman told me a few years ago. Toyota shouldn't even have a time limit on how long the recall lasts because it's completely irrelevant to the frame rusting. What are they going to do when someone's truck breaks in two going down the road and that person dies because they didn't buy it back because it's out of the recall time?

@ Pugga:
For one I shouldn't have to wire wheel my truck and paint it again for it to last. Toyota should have the trucks already taken care of when they come off the assembly line. Even if I did wire wheel it and paint it over it doesn't matter because the frame rust from the inside out. Most of the frame is boxed so there is no way to do that on the inside.

@ 98tacoma27:
Yes the VA trucks are included in the buy back.

@isu2014:
Yes I could undercoat the frame, but that really isn't going to do much good. I wish it could be done that easily, but it's like coating a truck bed with spray in bed liner. For the best results you have to do it when it is new, not when the truck 14 years old and already beginning to rust. The frame will still rust from those spots and on the inside even with a rust proof coating on top. You are right though, the frames do take years to rust. That's partly the problem. It's going to take more than just a year to rust out, but by that time my truck won't be apart of the recall anymore so Toyota won't but it back.

 

Slow down turbo. You can still use pro-15 to undercoat and it works right over the rust. Won't need to do a bunch of grinding and crap; it takes the usual time to apply. http://www.por15.com/POR-15/productinfo/1GB/
If it's not going to rust in a year you should protect it now and make it last. No reason to neglect it if it runs well and fulfills all of it's duties.

 

Drive into the ocean, leave vehicle there for 4 days, drive right on out, drive to place where salt is used on the road in the winter. Repeat. You can thank me via paypal.

 

I would go over every square inch of the frame looking for a weak spot with a big hammer, possibly in area's where dirt and salt would acumulate, do a search on this forum for frame pic's looking for pic's that show holes.

Maybe you will get lucky and find a weak spot and take it back to the dealer and show them the weak area.

 

Sorry buddy, it's just how I first read it...I probably shouldn't jump the gun and get my panties all messed up.

Anyway, I thought I read somewhere that the initial rust recal was originaly 10 years and they bumped it to 15...so maybe they will bump it to 20. Also, I didn't realize it was rusting from the inside out like what was mentioned in another thread about frame rust. I would look heavily over the frame and try to find the ruined section that cant be fixed. I would also do some research. I heard the rust issue was from a factory that used some different method to make the frame. If you can trace the truck back to that factory you may have a better chance. If the rust is messed up somewhere severely, you may be able to call it "un safe." I wish you luck man, I have a '96 so I guess it may already be too late for me.

 

Go to a boat ramp with a neigbors boat back down the slip and "accidently" press the gas. That is in salt water, wait 45 mins then call 911. Do not wash the truck off

 

Blahhh well I emailed Toyota wth a few questions. I think you are right about them extending the recall from 10 to 15 years. If they extend it to 20 I will definitely keep my truck. I told a guy I'm in class with I'd sell it to him for 6k though, the lowest I want to take for it. I feel like I'd be giving it away for that much, with the tool box and wheels and only 120k on it.

 

They have to cut off the recall somewhere. Just about any vehicle 15+ years old in the right conditions will begin to rust. Should Toyota also extend other warrantys such as on the engine and transmission too? Toyota has done a good job fixing their mistake imo.

 

Can u get it spray coated like the 01-04s that pass inspection receive. Then if it does rust in the future maybe u can make the case that rotors sprayed it for u and it should have been good.