Dealer Frame Swap *UPDATE - Complete!*

** 5/29/2016 Update on Page 4**

Boy, did I luck out.

I've owned my '02 Xtra 5VZE 4x4 since it was almost new in 2002. We've done 200,000 miles together. It's still my daily driver car, 14 years running.


I took it in to get inspected today, and when the shop called me back, it went something like this.

"Hi, we're done with the inspection, and... there's a... few things that need to be done. A tail light is cracked, and a license plate bulb, but... were you aware your frame is rusted clean through? It's in a bad place, too, right near the leaf spring anchor, so... do you want me to fix these other things, because... I think you need to look into the frame before spending any money..."

That was a scary call. I love this truck. So out of curiosity I called a dealer, and had them check for recalls. Nothing, we can't help - no recalls. Then I decided to call the dealership where I used to get maintenance work done when the truck was newer. They informed me that Toyota has a 15-year warranty on Tacoma frames, and I'm still officially in that warranty period - just barely. They then asked me to bring it by so they could take a look. The results?



They informed me that, most likely, I'll be getting a call in a few days to bring the truck in. They'll then park it on their lot and give me a rental, likely for the next 6 MONTHS or so while a new frame is built for me somewhere in Texas.

The only caveats is that anything that breaks due to age and rust while disassembling and reassembling the vehicle is NOT covered by the warranty and will be charged to me. The service tech also told me that since they're taking it all apart, if there's anything I want done or replaced, there's a chance there will be no charge for the labor, because it will be out already.

So, where I'm at now I have two questions:

1. Is it a reasonable thing for them to charge me for the assorted broken/ worn things I described above, and;

2. What should I have them do "while they're in there"? This seems like the perfect opportunity to get the truck just right to last me another 100K-200K, but I'm not sure what might cause me problems down the road. I already know I have an engine oil leak somewhere - hopefully in the valve cover, but I'm not sure.

Here's are the major things I've already done:

Timing belt done around 140k
Suspension replaced with Old Man Emu in summer 2013 (struts, leaf packs, shocks)
Clutch replaced with Marlin 1200lb in summer 2013

So give me your thoughts, and thanks ahead of time for all your input!

 

Your truck is at least 13 years old has 200,000 miles things are going to break coming apart.

If you were doing the job yourself would you replace the old broken parts or go the cable tie bailing wire and duct tape fix??

You could have declined to fix the truck figuring it was not worth the money you would pay out to get a new frame

Just curious did you get the name of the first person who told you nothing could be done??

It would be nice to make them world famous!!

 

Yeah that first dealership were a bunch of peckerheads! Not saying a word about the frame swap program.
Also if youre wsnting more info and different experiences people have had do a search on here for frame rust or frame swap. There is prolly a thousand threads on the subject, hours of reading. Lol.

 

Who writes like that?!?

 

I know, right? One of the reasons I took the photo of the paperwork was because of that handwriting. It almost looks like a font. I'm guessing it's an older lady in the office, since that kind of penmanship isn't taught anymore.

Thanks for the advice on checking around the forum - I had no idea how common this frame swap issue was until after I made this post. I've been reading through a few other threads, and I'll keep researching as I go. Thanks!

 

Did the truck have the frame inspection done back in 2011-2012 by a dealer? I thought that was the only way to get the frame covered under the warranty.

What dealer is helping you out with this? I am in Newport News just an hour east of Richmond.

 

If that's true, that would explain a lot. I remember bringing the truck in for something recall or warranty related a few years ago. My memory is that it was related to the undercarriage protectant. I would have brought it to McGeorge Toyota for that - that's also the dealership that is helping me now. If that inspection was necessary to have the frame warrantied, I guess that could explain why McGeorge was willing to help and the other dealer wasn't - they would have had my records on file for the initial inspection.

 

One of the great parts of living in the southwest and buying used first gens, don't have to worry much (if at all) about rust issues, unless the truck was parked near the beach most of it's life.

Anyway, welcome to TW! If you're truck's frame is indeed repaired, be ready to spend a bunch more money on mods alone if you hang out here. I just joined myself a few weeks ago and my wallet is already sweating

 

Are you familiar with the online Toyota maintenence logs?

You can punch your Vin in, and it will tell you service that has been performed at a dealership.

http://www.toyota.com/owners/parts-service/history

Any chance you can check and see if the undercarriage inspection shows up on your report? My tacoma does not. Just picked my tacoma up out of Powhatan where it was for the last 9 years

 

14 year old truck, it's probably due for a whack of front end work, new shocks, springs, a bunch of stuff. Score for you! You get everything replaced for zero labor cost, and get to choose some nice aftermarket goodies. It will be like a brand new truck underneath. Spending a few thousand wouldn't bother me if I was in your situation. Good value for your money and your taco will ride like new.

 

Agreed, seeing as how you wanted to keep it as long as possible, anything they find that should be replaced will be something you would have had to replace eventually anyway, and now you get it done with no labor cost. And a brand new frame. Definitely a score.

 

I have a wish list of items that dates back to 2002 when I first bought the truck. Since then, I've gone from poor college student to poor newlywed to raising a couple of kids. Weirdly, the necessary disposable income never came available to mod the truck. I lucked out and got rear ended a couple years back, and the insurance settlement was enough to get the new suspension, tires, and clutch, all of which it needed.

Well isn't that something. Looks like I had it in in 2009 to have the rust preventative inspected and the frame checked for "rust perforation". Thanks for the link!

I get that it's worth the money - convincing my significant other of that, well... that's a whole other challenge. I redid the whole suspension myself in my driveway a year or two ago, so I don't need anything new there, I'm just trying to figure out what else might be nearing its service life that would be a lot cheaper to get done now than later.

And that is an excellent point - I'll have to keep that in mind when the bill gets added up.

 

Id say a good time to chck all the brake lines, fuel lines, brackets that all of that. Muffler, bumper brackets and such. If they take it out and will out for a day or so, goot time to repaint some other things to do rust preventive maintenance. I'm not sur eif thats things to look for or not, i have a newer model that is my first one.

 

It wouldnt matter where you had it inspected and or treated, all dealers would have access to that info. Not sure whats up with that first dealership, not cool on their part. Atleast youre on the right track now!

 

This. I'd also add any bushings that don't get replaced with the frame.

 

I like this idea, and I'm sure everything under there could use a nice coat of paint, but I'm guessing the coordination with the shop to get the parts and then return them on their time schedule is pretty unlikely.

This is great guys; I'm compiling a list. But, there's been a slight delay in the plans. back in '04 I had a pop-up sunroof installed in the truck, and last fall it developed a small leak that's only gotten worse. I don't want to leave my truck on a lot for 6 months with a roof leak - I'd come back to a pile of humid rust. I told the dealership I need to fix this problem before bringing it by.

Apparently, no one in Richmond has any idea how to fix the sunroof. Only certified installers can get parts from the sunroof manufacturer, and the certified installer in Richmond told me there's no way to fix it, and that the whole unit needs to be replaced. Not buying that, I called the original (sunroof specific) shop that installed it down in Hampton Roads (±2 hour drive away). The guy that ran the place back in '04 still works there, and is familiar with how to repair the units, even though they don't stock them anymore. He said it should be simple to diagnose and get parts.

So now, due to ineptitude, I get to drive 2 hours each way to get it fixed instead of 20 minutes. Yipee. There seems to be a theme developing here. If the sunroof is easily repairable, I'm going to contact Donmar and tell them what the Richmond shop said, and recommend they either educate them or pull them from their list of certified installers.

On a side note, I took the opportunity to run to Lowes and pick up a few metric bolts to fix a couple minor issues on my truck before sending it in. My BPV relocation bracket was... well, I was holding the BPV in place with a bent piece of brake line threaded through the bracket (don't judge). I got the correct size bolts to do that up right, and while I was at it I got the transmission skid plate bolts that wandered off somewhere during my clutch replacement. Everything is all bolted up correctly now.

I also cleaned out the interior, and plan on giving the truck a nice wash before taking it in. My reasoning is that it will be better taken care of by the techs if it looks like it's been well taken care of by its owner. Plus, it really needed all that.

 

Lol, boy there is a theme developing with you and having to get a second opinion about things with your truck. What a joke. First the jackass stealership and now the moron sunroof installer. Jeesshhh!

 

Not sure with the 1st gen frames but the second gen frame recall Toyota has a list of stuff like the brake lines that are already included with the frame. Maybe someone here has that info for the first gens. If not search the threads. Might even be beneficial to ask them what they recommend as far as replacement when they are doing the job/what they recommend on your particular truck. I'd say definitely all suspension components but yours aren't that old not sure what kinda shape they are in. If you have the extra money maybe just do it. It'll feel like your driving a brand new truck. If your planning to keep it for the long haul then I would try and replace as much as possible. Even if you want to sell it soon adding parts now will help your resale value and your not going to be paying for labor.

 

I tracked that information down a few days ago, here's what I found on a receipt from another frame replacement:

Frame
Brake Lines
Brake Cable (I assume e-brake?)
Lower A Arms
Rear Leaf Springs
Bumper Sub Assemblies
Brake Fluid & Coolant

Strange that they will replace the brake lines with the frame, but not the fuel lines. Seems to me both are equally important to keeping the truck safe for the roads. I'm going to verify that list when I finally get back to the dealer to drop off the truck.

 

Yea I would definitely replace the fuel lines. I was gonna say e-brake cable but they replace that.