2005 tacoma 2nd gen terminal frame rot rust cancer

Have they declared your's unfit to drive, megamole?

 

No, they said drive it until we hear something, if it gets worse come back in so we can check it. Having trouble adding the image from my iPhone but will do it tonight.

 

Sorry iPhone always make the image upside down. Weird but you get the point. So anyone with rust/ rot report it to your dealer!

 

Four Salty Canadian winters and 50k miles, Oil Guarded every September.


I believe in preventive actions. My 2001 Accord is still mint too.

 

Take your bed off?? I take mine to Oil Guard, local franchise, they drill a few holes, stick a wand in every corner and I'm really happy with the results.

 

There is only a little dirt, (iPhone pic) I don't even get my truck dirty. My 93 I got muddy a lot and all the spots the mud stuck, rotted out. That's before I was a big believer in oil spray.

 

I don't have any trouble seeing how nasty the rust is.. Looks like it goes thru to me. I guess they didn't learn a thing from the gen 1 fiasco.

 

As an update, I dropped off my truck first thing on a Friday and got the call that it was ready the following Tuesday afternoon. Picked it up this morning.

I haven't had a chance to take it on a sideroad yet to hear shakes and rattles, but so far, so good.

 

So it went from quote of 2 weeks to 3 days? At least it wasn't the other way around haha.

 

Indeed...it went from 2-2.5 weeks to actually being about 4 working days (I believe they're open on Saturdays). Mind you, the whole process started in April.

They also did my brakes (had me in a tight spot, since I needed inspection), which seem to be acting weird now, but that's a different issue.

 

Why would people just paint over rust that is clearly flaking/bubbling. If you just paint over it the rust will just flake off taking the paint off with it exposing new metal to rust. Painting over serious rust accomplishes nothing...

Rust is like cancer you have to nip it in the bud or it will only get exponentially worse. When you have scale rust you need to take a wire brush and remove it completely exposing fresh metal and then give it a thorough coat of paint of some sort.



Really good article on how rust works, how to prevent it and how to fix it. http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/repair/how-to-fight-rust-and-win-14930616 It's talking about rust on painted panels but it overlaps somewhat with frame rust imo.

 

Things you should probably do as a 2nd gen owner:

1.) maintain good records / paperwork for parts purchased, work done -- no matter who or where. Start now if you don't have anything in hand.

2.) Create an account with your VIN at: www.toyota.com/owners/‎

You can add your own service records here.

This also puts you on the notification list for recalls etc. The seatbelt notification is already up, for example.

Periodically download your service history so you have a local backup copy.

3.) Find your closest dealership and sign up for their coupon / service deal mailings

4.) Take your truck to the dealership shop either for a free multipoint inspection (often a coupon deal or packaged with an oil change) and/or take it there for a major mileage service point

This is particularly true for people in states which do not require an annual vehicle inspection

5.) Learn about consumer organizations in your area which may assist you: Better Business Bureau, Chamber of Commerce for example. Review the terms of sale and any warranties / extended warranty you might have. Learn how to contact the state Attorney General's office and what services they offer.

Why do these things?

Rigorous record keeping is generally a good idea with a variety of benefits down the line.

If your frame is starting to have issues then it needs to be seen by someone qualified to warn you if it's unsafe.

Having a Toyota shop work on your truck at reasonable intervals establishes a chain of interaction that can be useful if a problem does arise later.

 

So as an update after driving it a few days, there's a pretty good rattle with lateral movement, and it sounds like there's an exhaust leak (never had any issues before). I'm in the middle of a lot of travelling, so I don't know when I can get to the dealer, or if they'll stand behind their work.

 

I just did this exact thing with my '06 today. Dealership was friendly and open to hearing my concern. They put it on the rack and took pictures but said they considered what was there to be surface rust, not perforations. If mine is surface rust, I'd call it severe. I reached up inside the C-channel in front of the technision and pulled off a flake of rusty steel the size and thickness of a quarter. They say I'm am in the databanks now and I plan to watch the rusts progression carefully.

 

Maybe we should create a website called "Toyota Rust" or Toyota Tacoma, Rusty or Trusty." This way more Tacoma owners become aware of there rusting frames and it gets more people into the face of Toyota corporate. I think most owners don't even know about the condition of the underside of there truck, unless the dealer mechanic mentions it. I am sure the techs are told not to mention it unless it is life threatening.

I know a few people with a Tacoma that bring it to the dealership and have never even opened the hood or looked under the truck. It seems only the enthusiasts are getting under their trucks, not regular pickup truck owners.

 

Just to let you know, if you take pictures with the buttons facing down, the dumb computers will understand.

 

That is the biggest single hole i have ever seen.
And i live in pa, where we salt all the time.
Good luck & keep us informed.

 

Cancer ate away at my 95, and I didn't discover it until I came home from my last deployment... Just outside of the 15 year extended frame warranty. Truck was garaged the whole year. SMH. Bit the bullet, cut out the old, and welded in new steel in two spots. Sold it private sale with full disclosure.

I'm going to talk to the dealership in a week or so when my 25k is due. If they don't have any ideas/warranties/products I'll lay down the card board, mix up some diesel and old motor oil, and hose that betty until she's dripping. One application every fall until the truck dies. I've heard a lot of old-school truckers go that route. With any luck I'll get some good penetration over time and it'll keep the water and salt out.

 

So far, and in NH, my 2007 frame is looking normal, meaning very little surface rust and none of the issues with the de-lamination rusting from the inside out. I just pray it stays that way. Chris, maybe I should use your advice and do the same before I do have problems. My Dad and my Uncle's used to do it and their trucks and farm equipment always stood up to the winters here.

 

"enthusiasts" here