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New member introduction, and I bought a broken truck.

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by SodakTaco, Mar 12, 2012.

  1. Mar 12, 2012 at 12:18 PM
    #1
    SodakTaco

    SodakTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
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    144
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    Male
    Wyoming
    Vehicle:
    2011 DCab TRD Sport
    Floor mats
    Hello all,

    I've been lurking heavily ever since unexpectedly trading in my SAAB 9-5 for a 2011 TRD sport double cab with the 6spd in superwhite a couple of weeks ago. I took it for a test drive not expecting to like it nearly as much as I did, and a couple hours later I was driving it home. I continued to drive it and enjoy it for a couple of weeks when I noticed that there was fresh oil on the floor of my garage. "Oh it's probably a loose plug or filter they didn't get tightened at the dealer," I thought. I wish that were the case.

    After the in town toyota dealer cleaned the oil that was apparently all over the underside of the engine, I brought it back the next day so they could locate the source of the leak. When they removed the skidplate it was immediately obvious what was wrong. The previous owner had hit a bump or something so hard, that a power steering coupling was pushed up in to the oil pan and cracked it. The skidplate was pretty beat up as well. They told me no warranty coverage as it was obvious damage, not a defect, and I immediately called up the dealer I had purchased the truck from. They told me to bring it in and off I went, feeling sick about my purchase.

    At the original dealer, I waited for a couple hours while it worked it's way through the line of cars going in to service. Eventually they told me that they were going to get it fixed up free of charge and they would be ordering up a new oil pan and associated parts for the replacement. I was relieved, but it got me thinking, if the previous owner had hit something that hard, what else could be broken?

    The Toyota dealer said that there was no other obvious damage to the underside at all, and the truck rides fine as far as I can tell, but I was wondering if anyone had a basic series of tests I could try out to expose any other damage or weakness before I bring it in for repairs? I like the truck a lot, and I'm sure it's far too late to just return it and get my SAAB back, but I just don't want to get stuck with irreversibly damaged vehicle.

    I apologize for the lengthy first post, I'll have something more positive once I have everything sorted out.
     
  2. Mar 12, 2012 at 12:21 PM
    #2
    SodakTaco

    SodakTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2012
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    144
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    Male
    Wyoming
    Vehicle:
    2011 DCab TRD Sport
    Floor mats
    Oh yes, and I also want to recognize Spradley Barr Toyota in Cheyenne for being super helpful and not even charging me for the two visits to diagnose the problem, and Spradley Barr Ford in Ft. Collins for doing the right thing and fixing the problem when they legally could have told me it was my problem now.
     
  3. Mar 12, 2012 at 12:25 PM
    #3
    TurboGT

    TurboGT Stirring the pot since...

    Joined:
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    Gabe
    Portland
    Vehicle:
    '16 Inferno DC LB 4x4
    None yet, starting over!! OME lift w/ Dakars & 885's Remote Start w/ window control
    Grats on the truck, welcome to TW, and too bad about the oil pan issue.

    One up to the dealership for taking care of it, and hope that ends the issues for you.

    You should also read up on the Krazie_Sj Super Oil Change thread to insure the ultimate costs in changing your oil.

    Krazie also has the hands-down best suspension lift thread
     
  4. Mar 12, 2012 at 12:26 PM
    #4
    NvrSumR

    NvrSumR Well-Known Member

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    Jeff
    Colorado
    You didn't notice the beat up skid plate when you bought it?
     
  5. Mar 12, 2012 at 12:29 PM
    #5
    blackhawke88

    blackhawke88 wo ai ni bao bei ^_^

    Joined:
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    SGV, CA
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    07 TRD Offroad
  6. Mar 12, 2012 at 12:35 PM
    #6
    brny67

    brny67 Well-Known Member

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    Bill
    Moyock NC
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    welcome, and hopefully everything works out for you.
     
  7. Mar 12, 2012 at 12:37 PM
    #7
    SodakTaco

    SodakTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    2011 DCab TRD Sport
    Floor mats
    No, I was a moron and didn't even take it anywhere to get it inspected. It only had 11k on the odometer and is in super nice shape everywhere else. I didn't even bother to look under the truck, and looking at it head on from bumper level, you can't see any problems. It's such a slow leak that the toyota dealer in town told me even with an independent inspection, the plate may have kept the problem hidden. Valuable lesson learned, just because it's practically new and certified(and a toyota), doesn't mean I should forgo an inspection.
     
  8. Mar 12, 2012 at 12:42 PM
    #8
    SodakTaco

    SodakTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Floor mats
  9. Mar 12, 2012 at 12:48 PM
    #9
    blackhawke88

    blackhawke88 wo ai ni bao bei ^_^

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    nope, after I replaced the oil pan, it has been perfect.
     
  10. Mar 12, 2012 at 12:56 PM
    #10
    SodakTaco

    SodakTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Floor mats
    That's the sort of thing I was hoping to hear, well I'm off to run this thing down to the dealer, and then I'll be stuck with my motorcycle for a couple of days(Oh darn!):rolleyes:

    It's a shame I hadn't installed D-rings or decided on a ramp system yet, I could have just loaded up my bike, and rode it home so my girlfriend wouldn't have to come pick my ass up. Oh well.
     
  11. Mar 12, 2012 at 1:21 PM
    #11
    hetkind

    hetkind Well-Known Member

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    Howard
    Johnson City
    Vehicle:
    2011 SR5 Access Cab, white with Leer Cap
    bilstein set at 1.75, Racho 5000 rear with 4 leaf kit, floor mats, high lift jack, pull hook in hitch, bed rail corner braces, severe duty brake pads and devil horns on the grill....
    Sounds like a successful end to the story...

    Howard
     
  12. Mar 12, 2012 at 1:31 PM
    #12
    blackhawke88

    blackhawke88 wo ai ni bao bei ^_^

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    make sure you get the dealership to price match the cheapest price for the replacement parts.
     
  13. Mar 20, 2012 at 7:44 PM
    #13
    SodakTaco

    SodakTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Floor mats
    Well, it's been one week exactly since I dropped it off at the dealership to be repaired. They replaced the oil pan and steering rack, aligned it, took it to the toyota dealer to have some sensors recalibrated and washed it for me. All of this was at no extra cost to myself, so thanks again to Spradley Barr in Ft. Collins for doing the right thing. Truck drives fine, tracks straight on the interstate and I hope now that it will provide me years of trouble free service.

    Now to resist the temptation to start adding modifications while I work on paying down the loan.
     
  14. Mar 20, 2012 at 8:08 PM
    #14
    jw1983

    jw1983 Well-Known Member

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    Alberta
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    That's awesome that everything worked out in the end, props to the dealer. It could be been a real pain in your ass, as well as your wallet.
    I'm sure that the previous owner was being retarded and did some off roading and messed some stuff up. Lucky that was all the damage that it did, it could have been a lot worse. I'm sure like a lot of others on the forum that you're going to get the mod bug. If you do, it's okay, we want criticize you for it.
    So these are one of these times that where everyone should learn from what the OP had done. Make sure that you get the vehicle inspected before you buy it. It's better to spend a couple bills to save yourself from thousands in repairs rather than spending nothing and having a broken truck, out of warranty that's coming out of your pocket. Don't forget the regret of not getting it inspected.
     
  15. Mar 21, 2012 at 7:48 AM
    #15
    Twiostaco

    Twiostaco Well-Known Member

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    Austin
    Utah
    Vehicle:
    08 White DC TRD Sport
    5100's front set to .85 w/eibach springs, 5100 rear w/toytec 2"AAL, Light Race UCA, 17" Black Rhino Ocotillo wheels, 265/70/17 KO2's, K&N drop in filter, Grill Craft front mesh, one piece driveshaft (vibes gone) rear diff breather mod, BHLM, Fog anytime, 886 reverse bulbs.
    There are alot of cheap mods (rear diff breather relocate, tail gate hose clamp, 886 brighter reverse bulb, debadge/paint badges, Bhlm) to name a few recent mods ive done total cost less then 75$
     
  16. Mar 21, 2012 at 9:56 AM
    #16
    SodakTaco

    SodakTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Floor mats
    You are correct, just because the a vehicle is almost brand new, and a Toyota, it still needs to be inspected. I'm assuming the dealer didn't look at it too hard either, because if they had known about the problem and sold it to me anyway, they probably wouldn't have spent all that money fixing it without giving me any grief. All they said was basically, "Oh, you're right, that it broken, we'll take care of it." And I'm sure that ate away any profit they had made on the sale and more.

    If this thread happens to reach anyone looking at buying a taco or other used vehicle, get it inspected. I was lucky, but I could have very well paid out over $2k for these repairs if the dealer wasn't so agreeable.

    And to Twiostaco, I'll be completing the hose clamp for my tailgate probably in the next couple of days. I imagine the back up camera makes it an even more lucrative target to thieves. BHLM I will be waiting on until I decide to do a HID retrofit, probably later this summer before winter hits. Brighter reverse bulbs and breather relocate I will look in to this evening. The most useful I have planned is additional D-rings so I can haul my Aprillia around this summer, along with a rubber bed mat to help prevent shifting.
     
  17. Apr 13, 2012 at 6:17 PM
    #17
    SodakTaco

    SodakTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Floor mats
    So an update on getting my truck sorted out. I noticed a pretty good rattling noise recently from under the truck and took it in to the dealer today. The factory skid plate broke free from one side and was just kind of hanging there. I guess whatever happened to push the steering rack in to the oil pan cracked the welds on the skid plate too.

    Good news is they'll be able to replace the broken bumper mounts for pretty cheap and now I have an excuse to upgrade my skidplate.
     
  18. Apr 13, 2012 at 6:27 PM
    #18
    TrdSurgie

    TrdSurgie revised

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    Check out the relentless skids. Two days before the amazing prices go away
     
  19. Apr 13, 2012 at 9:28 PM
    #19
    SodakTaco

    SodakTaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Floor mats
    Damn, thank you for reminding me of that GB. This is exactly what I'm going to do and it'll even cost less than what they quoted me for the OEM replacement skid. Looks like a nice solid piece too.
     
  20. Apr 13, 2012 at 9:48 PM
    #20
    TrdSurgie

    TrdSurgie revised

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    Its very nice gear. Jump on it.
     

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