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Frame replacement in DC, MD, VA area?

Discussion in 'North East' started by vwbuggsy, Nov 14, 2018.

  1. Nov 14, 2018 at 9:41 AM
    #1
    vwbuggsy

    vwbuggsy [OP] Well-Known Member

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    N-fab steps, Wet Okole Covers, line-x, tint, vent shades, budget stereo upgrades, weathertech floor liners
    Can anyone recommend a dealer in the DC, MD, VA area where they got their frame replaced and had a good experience? Replacing an entire frame seems like a pretty big deal, so I'd rather drive a bit if needed to get to someplace that will treat me fairly and do good work. I'm in Waldorf, MD so ideally if you had a good experience in Waldorf, Prince Fredrick, Bowie, or someplace close but I'll drive a good bit if needed.


    I recently got my "warranty extension" sticker from Toyota. Today, after my wife drove my truck, I noticed something hanging down underneath it. I thought maybe a stick had gotten stuck up under there. I go to pull it out and see it's actually the exhaust hanger hanging down!

    I guess this will qualify for frame replacement, since it's certainly bigger than a dime? Does the fact that it happened where the exhaust hanger was welded matter at all?


    [​IMG]
     
  2. Nov 29, 2018 at 8:47 AM
    #2
    vwbuggsy

    vwbuggsy [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Just in case anyone else finds this post looking for a place to get their frame replaced:

    I took mine in to have the dealership look at it on 11/27/2018. I made the appointment by calling them and saying I had gotten several letters about "the frame, the propeller shaft, and the leaf springs and figured I should take it in for you to look at it." When I pulled in to their little drive-thru garage thingy one of their service leads and one of the two guys that does their frame replacements were there. I told them that the exhaust hanger on the passenger side was hanging down because the frame had rusted through there. The frame guy took one quick look under there and said "yep, put him in a rental that's going to be a fail for sure."

    So, I'm on my way to new frame town. After the whole rental thing was lined up (they put me in a Corolla, which I'm not wild about but it beats walking), I happened to catch the frame replacement guy outside on a smoke break as I was transferring a few things from my truck to the rental. We BS'd for a good half hour and it really made me more comfortable about their process at the dealership. They only have a couple guys doing frames and they do "a few each week" and have done "more than I could keep count of" since the whole debacle has gone down. I feel pretty confident they'll do a good job for me.

    They said they'd gladly do anything that needs to be taken apart anyway for no labor charge, and anything that is made easier buy the disassembly at "the nice price" on heavily reduced labor charges. So, I'm going to try to source some low-mileage take-off upper control arms and shocks all around at least. No mention of any BS up-front costs, though I expect they'll find something they want to do to it along the way. I guess if it's something actually broken and not BS and I can afford it, I'll let them.

    They said if I wanted to come in and take some pictures when everything was taken apart they'd be cool with that.

    Anyway, at least starting out everything seems to be being handled very well and I feel good about things at least for now.

    I will resurrect and update this thread again (along with the major rust thread in 2nd gen forum) as any particular news comes in on the process.

    All the best!
     
    LocoLocal and george101 like this.
  3. Jan 5, 2019 at 9:33 PM
    #3
    MagGreySR5

    MagGreySR5 Member

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    Can you please tell me which dealer you went to? I bought my '09 in Massachusetts almost a year ago from a Toyota dealer. They assured me the frame passed inspsection, and had it coated it in CRC. I recently received a letter from Toyota saying my coverage runs out in late Jan '19, so I have one last shot to have this inspection and don't want any monkey business. Since I paid really good money to a Toyota dealer for this truck, I'd expect Toyota to stand behind it. Thanks.
     
    george101 likes this.
  4. Jan 6, 2019 at 6:17 AM
    #4
    vwbuggsy

    vwbuggsy [OP] Well-Known Member

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    TL;DR version: I wouldn't use Toyota of Waldorf Maryland as my first choice.

    I am using Waldorf Toyota in Waldorf, MD. I can't say I'm wildly happy with them. I have a corolla for a loaner car rather than anything remotely truck like, but that beats walking.

    But the worst is that they tried to make me sign some bs "waiver" saying I understand that any parts beyond the frame replacement to make the frame work safe and road worthy were my responsibility. It basically was worded such that they could replace anything they wanted (any add on services) without calling me for pre approval since I had already signed. It was also worded such that I was accepting all "liability" for any work performed, but didn't specify that it was financial liability, which in theory could have made me liable for any damages caused by shoddy repair work on their side. This was armature hour bullshit, typed in all caps with misspellings and not even on dealership letterhead. They said they wouldn't even order parts like the frame until I signed it. I said I'd consider it and take a copy so my counsel could review (we do have a lawyer the family's used for contact stuff in the past though I didn't end up taking them this).

    Toyota customer care refused to get involved other than to say I could choose any dealership I liked. So I walked back in and said "I'll have my truck back, you guys can have your loaner, were done". This prompted a meeting with their service manager. The service manager asked me about the issues, which I described, and said I'll just take the truck back and try another dealer. He told me that this could be a problem because they've already ordered the frame and parts, and they were tied to my VIN! I told him the service writer had told me parts wouldn't be ordered until I signed the BS waiver, so.... Somebody is/was lying. Now you understand why I have issues with your dealerships credibility! If there is a problem, that sounds a lot like YOUR problem! I still want my truck back because I'm not signing and you can have fun explaining to Toyota why you had to ship my parts to another dealer.

    Eventually with that as leverage we came up with a modified and more tightly worded document that I was willing to sign for them. I probably could have gotten them to stuff it all together if I had pushed enough, but I actually don't mind what they were trying to do it was just that their quasi contract was crappily worded.

    The modifications included that they must call me to pre authorize any work they perform beyond the scope of the frame warranty enhancement, and that my liability would be financial only and limited to only those parts and services not included in the frame replacement and pre approved (in writing since I no longer completely trust them) by me.

    Now, I know just enough about contacts to be a pain in the butt. I'm fairly certain this "waiver", which is basically a contract, wouldn't even hold water. Usually if you sign away anything it needs to be in return for something of value above and beyond anything already agreed to or that you're legally entitled to. In this case I received nothing of value in return for signing. Based on the class action, Toyota must replace frames that fail inspection, and mine had already failed, so I only got threats of refusing to perform work they were legally obliged to perform based on the court ruling. Like I said though, I'm no lawyer. I believe they will ultimately perform the work well but that hasn't even started yet, so who knows. If I were you, I'd pick someplace else. I had a place recommended to me in another thread, I'll see if I can find it.
     
  5. Jan 6, 2019 at 6:34 AM
    #5
    vwbuggsy

    vwbuggsy [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Here it is, somebody recommended Shore Toyota in South Jersey. I don't know if there is a good place closer, but it might be worth the drive.

    https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/frame-rust-recall.263311/page-165#post-19298437

    If you look further back in the thread above I actually posted the document Toyota of Waldorf tried to get me to sign. I never posted the updated one I actually signed, but I can if you like.
     
  6. Jan 6, 2019 at 8:41 AM
    #6
    MagGreySR5

    MagGreySR5 Member

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    Buggsy, thanks so much for all the info and shared experience with this. Wow, it all seems daunting. I hope this is all resolved in your favor without any financial cost to you. What really frustrates me is I scheduled an inspection for my truck the day after Thanksgiving back home in Poughkeepsie NY. I showed up early, and the dealer (DCH Wappingers Falls Toyota) gave me some BS about they were too busy to do the inspection, that since the frame had already been treated by another Toyota dealer, Toyota was basically done with me. I argued that Toyota still has to warantee their work, which then took the wind out of the service writer... but ultimately, they said I would have to wait hours that day for them to even take it into the bay and were looking for every excuse to make me go away. I really didn't have 4 hrs to wait unfortunately, so I left there pretty unhappy.

    Will try one of the local dealers here outside Baltimore I guess now. Am wondering if the existing CRC treatment is showing signs of deterioration, and whether there are holes that may have been plugged previously that look sketchy now. I'd be happy just to know that the frame is still ok, and doesn't need replacement... Just can't believe DCH blew me off the way they did.
     
  7. Jan 6, 2019 at 8:43 AM
    #7
    MagGreySR5

    MagGreySR5 Member

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    Just to clarify the geographies in my story, I am moving to Maryland now... was living in New York State. Truck in question was actually purchased in Mass.
     
  8. Jan 6, 2019 at 2:06 PM
    #8
    vwbuggsy

    vwbuggsy [OP] Well-Known Member

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    N-fab steps, Wet Okole Covers, line-x, tint, vent shades, budget stereo upgrades, weathertech floor liners
    Not a problem, wish I could be of more help to you. I think my stuff will work out eventually. I don't think they are bad really or out to get me, just doing some things they hadn't really thought through.


    Well, there are several places in my area of southern Maryland or the DMV area you could try. I just don't have much first hand experience with them. My brother in law works for an auto body place next to the Toyota dealership in Bowie, Maryland and says they got lots of frames coming in, so they are obviously doing a lot of them. Doesn't mean they are doing them well though. I wish more people in this area would get them done and report in! With no other reviews I just went to my local dealer and hoped for the best.

    It would be nice if we had a rate your dealership thing on this forum.

    I bought my truck from Bill Kidd's Toyota in Cockeysville, Maryland. They were great to buy from I guess, but I didn't have much service done there. I mostly do my own maintenance and repairs and went there only for a good purchase price. I got the rear leaf spring TSB performed there but only after fighting with them for it for a while. My wife had some warranty work done there and it was performed well though.
     
  9. Jan 6, 2019 at 2:10 PM
    #9
    vwbuggsy

    vwbuggsy [OP] Well-Known Member

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    N-fab steps, Wet Okole Covers, line-x, tint, vent shades, budget stereo upgrades, weathertech floor liners
    PS, best of luck with yours wherever you choose. I think that CRC stuff is bad news, but it probably has a lot to do with who does it.

    When I get mine back, I'll be rust treating the new frame and cleaning it a LOT to try to keep it from rusting again for sure.
     
  10. Jan 23, 2019 at 5:47 AM
    #10
    glk21c

    glk21c Well-Known Member

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    Had my frame replaced in 2015 at Koons Annapolis Toyota. Overall it was a pretty painless experience. Had them replace the upper and lower control arms and front struts while it was apart, all of which I supplied, just paid them 1.5 hours of labor. I remember they wanted to charge me more for labor but negotiated it down since I knew the hours they were quoting was way too high.

    Good luck
     
  11. Jan 23, 2019 at 8:07 PM
    #11
    george101

    george101 Well-Known Member

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    @gik21c Congratulations on your frame replacement! I thought labor in the class action, labor was free. I'm asking, as my frame replacement will be in days. Thank you!
     
  12. Jan 24, 2019 at 7:53 AM
    #12
    glk21c

    glk21c Well-Known Member

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    When I had mine done there was no class action lawsuit in place, just the "special service campaign" or whatever they were/are calling it. To be clear, the replacement of the frame and related parts were free to me, asking for other parts to be replaced that had nothing to do with the frame replacement was not, which is what I was describing above.
     
  13. Jan 26, 2019 at 2:50 PM
    #13
    fatfurious2

    fatfurious2 IG: great_white_taco

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    I just dropped my truck at Ourisman Chantilly Toyota. They told me I had to take all my aftermarket stuff off. Something to do with Virginia and Toyota safety inspections.. don't ask me about my feelings about that. But went from top picture to bottom.

    The frame was supposedly ordered on 12/5. I just dropped the truck off today for my loaner. Hoping it won't be 4 more months like I have been hearing.

    F0C3C06B-BD20-444D-AF42-0BF9E4B6644B.jpg
    4C202D0F-335C-4485-B9F3-83BAA9ED5E59.jpg
     

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