Bent Rear Tail Gate TSB completed

I installed the Bent Rear Tail Gate TSB today & want to share the information with all. It came out very nice & the tail gate is much stronger + heavier like it should feel. I followed the instructions used on the TSB # BO004-07. Instead of using the reinforcement bracket Toyota used I used a piece of 3/8 thick, one inch “L” channel steel. Just like the instructions had 2 pieces which joined together at the top center of the tail gate I did the same except with L channel steel. Only difference was I used one 4” x 1” piece of steel to join the 2 larger pieces of steel together. If you look closely at the pictures of what Toyota’s reinforcement bracket in the TSB document had, one of the two pieces of reinforcement has what appears as heavier material (plus extra bolt holes) where the two of Toyota’s TSB pieces join together is the location of where I used a 4” x 1” piece to join my (2) L channel pieces together. I believe Home Depot has these pieces in stock if you need one. I recommend using 1 inch“L” channel steel if you are going to do this TSB. Any width larger than 1” means you will be grinding one of the “L” channel sides to fit in the top of the gate firmly. All was drilled & bolted as the TSB stated. I kept the tail gate on the truck as the TSB suggested. The TSB suggested the user could remove the gate or leave it installed while installing the pieces. I left it installed so as to not scratch it from moving the gate around. Another reason to do it yourself is because if you bend your gate & let them fix it, you will be getting a new gate with your original hardware then painted by their body shop. I chose not to go down that road. The bolts I used were 1/4” by 1” with Nylon Lock Nuts so the nuts would not back out. I used Rustoleum after the modification was installed on any metal to prevent rusting. After the mod is installed the plastic tail gate cover will fit right over the nuts like they were never even there provided you install the bolts where the TSB suggests. Also, I noticed that you may be able to install the complete piece of "L" channel steel (without cutting it into two pieces) through the location of where the gate latches to the bed if you remove one of the internal latching mechanisms on the gate & slide the uncut piece of L channel through there. Just a heads up. Hope this all helps anyone. Like I said, the tail gate is much stronger now! Another fine improvement!

 

i got a new gate about a month ago. I bent the original one within a month of owning the truck, so a new one was the only way to go. I solved the issue in my own way though, check out the pics of it in my gallery.

 

I knew that when I made the mod & was too lazy to get the camera.

 

Dealership: Faulkner Toyota in Trevose, PA. Write-Up Service Mgr.: Ms. Joann Burgos (215) 244 - 9300
E-mail: jzhelesnik@faulknertoyota.com

Just took my truck to Faulkner today for a steering wheel shimming. They said the tires were out-of-balance. I only have 2100 miles on Odometer. They re-balance all four-tires under warranty. They already did the Harsh-Ride Spring TSB as well as the re-alignment on my truck about two months ago. They would have done the alignment again, but since it was done only two months and 500 miles ago, they wanted me to give it a try with only re-balancing. They would perform another Alignment if needed.

But my main point is this.... When I brought the truck in and mentioned the BENT TAIL GATE TSB in passing while Joann was writing up the work order, she took it upon herself to include this BENT REAR TAIL GATE in the ticket for the mechanic to check it out. When my truck was done with the re-balancing, she informed me that she ordered the NEW TAIL GATE for me.. I'm like, "Really, wow, golly, gee, I do not know what to say!""

Remember, my Tail Gate is NOT bent(yet). It is in mint condition as I have yet to use the BED for any major hauling yet. This did not matter, she said. As long as there are TSB out for trucks under warranty, she said her manager will approve pretty much ALL TSBs. I said, "WOW !!"" I am going to send all my TW bro's here for all their BENT REAR TAIL GATE TSBs. She said, "bring them on."

So, for those of you near the metropolitan Philadelphia, PA area, what are you waiting for? Contact her for the TSB work (BO018-07) and mention that you heard from a fellow TW forum member if she asks how you got her name & number.

I just love this dealership. No BS, no pleading, and no haggling necessary. Just straight warranty work...

 

yeah, i took mine in to get the intake rattle tsb fixed and mentioned my bent tailgate to the lady (Julie) at the service counter and she said she'd look into it..... two days later i got a call from her saying that i had a new tailgate on the way, and asked when would be a good time to get it put on. This was at the Lithia Toyota/Dodge in Klamath Falls, Oregon if anyones interested.

 

Okay, I'm a Newb... what's TSB... something to do with warranty I gather?...

KV

 

TSB: Technical Service Bulletin. its a "reference" for Toyota techs when diagnosing common problems (usually fixes for customer complaints. like the stiff rear springs, or my intake rattle) with a vehicle.

 

I was in my local dealership the other day (Had to replace my ABS wiring harness (x 2) ) and had heard there was a TSB/ recall about paint flaking or rusting on the tacomas anyone else heard of this?

K.V.

 

x2

 

I spoke too DAMN soon !!!! These guys painted the new Tailgate at the Dealership and the color DOES NOT MATCH !!! The body shop tried to give me the BS and I had the TAILGATE lifted off of hinges and put it next to the side of the truck to show the COLOR VARIATON. Even some of the Service bay guys think the color is OFF!

They claim they have painted the Tail gate per the color code on the truck, but it does not EXACTLY match my SUPER WHITE color on the rest of the truck. The new color is a bit more "off-white" and creamier and I complained vigorously to the Body Shop Manager. I even wrote a letter to the Dealership Management.

Well, they say they will need to look over ONE more time and make determination. I have an appointment with the BODY SHOP and SERVICE SHOP manager next week to go over this.

I WANT THEM TO REPAINT the TAILGATE!!!! I will let you know what they would do to resolve my complaint next week after I come back from the dealership....

FOR those Super White Taco owners, beware !! Pay attention to the color variations if you GET the NEW TAILGATE from the DEALERSHIP that they painted . Look over very carefully preferrably OUTSIDE, not inside under the fluorescent lighting condition. The lighting will affect the color visibility !!!

 

Sweet man! Thanks for the heads up

 

Keep raising hell. I hope it all works out man

 

That sucks, khfactor. Classic case of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." - but they should make it right. Don't let 'em off the hook! If all else fails, demand your original tailgate back and reinforce it yourself. The new ones are still flimsy & weak anyway.