Skid Plate Bolt

Last week before going out of town I took my used 2018 Tacoma Pro Off Road in for an oil change at the dealership All seemed fine until the next morning when I shut the driver's door. I heard a new rattle as the door shut. A quick search revealed the front right bolt missing from the skid plate.

When I returned home, I went back to the dealer. They were apologetic and took me right in. When I got home, as the driver's door shut, I heard that noise once more. Would believe all they did was screw in what appeared to be an undersized 1/4 bolt!! It was halfway out, loose, and I was able to unscrew it the rest of the way by hand. Grrrr!

I read up on the stripped skid plate bolt issue both here and elsewhere. Seems to be a common problem that should not be a problem at all or at least you would think.

My question is this: would I be ok to simply remove the skid plate?

While my Tacoma is rated for off the beaten path, all I am ever going to do is drive it back and forth to work (highway driving) and pull my 14 foot jon boat to the local lakes where the boat ramps are paved. Yes, it's overkill for what I do, but it was a good deal and I wanted a 4x4 (my first).

Thanks

 

It does also keep the road splash from getting up into the engine but would not hurt to remove it.

 

I would not remove it permanently. It protects things like coolant lines and A/C lines from some road debris.

I recently had a semi trailer blow a tire a couple cars ahead of me. Half of the tire came out from underneath the car in front of me, unavoidable. Skid plate handled it nicely.

 

Why not just clean the threads up and have the dealer give you the proper size bolt?

 

Just seems too simple

 

How do you know the threads are stripped?

Have you tried (gently) installing another bolt from the plate to see if it would work ok?

If it will, and you are have the time, return to the dealer. Hand the writer the kluge they installed and tell him you want the correct bolt. And that you are willing to install it yourself if he'll just get the parts guy to give you one.

Or take one of yours as a 'sample' to the counter, buy it's cousin, install it in the parking lot and call it a day.

Just remember, this missing bolt is the least problem you will have from your 'free' services.

 

Thank you for all your responses. The plate stays on. I agree it protects too many important things to be removed.

After reading other threads on this forum, I went to Lowe's today and picked up the bolt they carry. I suspected the threads were probably stripped so I bought a metric bolt that size and gently worked it in. I figured if it didn't work I'd invest in a thread chaser. Luck was with me as it worked. I installed it with some anti-seize and am back in business.

Thanks again.