Frame Rust Post Recall ?

So, here is my situation. 2003 Taco DC. Lived in TN till 2011. When I received "rust" letter it said to just keep letter that there was nothing to do at this time. So, winter of 2011/2012 I spent in NEw Hampshire and I am considering going back for the rest of this winter. It is very confusing trying to figure out if Toyota will warranty the frame now if it does rust b/c it was never evaluated (b/c they said not to). If they don't warranty for rust what the hell can I do other than spray the frame once or twice per week like I did before? I love my truck and I don't want her destroyed!

 

Have you called Toyota customer service? Corporate, not the dealer.

There are 03s here in ny that we're holding up just fine when undercoated in 2012 (ny did not approve toyota's undercoating formula right away). You have the advantage of having been out of the road salt states for most of the truck's service life, which will help, along with keeping the undercarriage clean. My 03 came from Maine, was undercoated, but looks terrible underneath. I've already gone though the recall program three times (97, 00, and frame replaced on my 01).

If Toyota won't do anything, there is a thread here on coating the frame with used motor oil. They claim it works well.

 

Thank you.

 

If your 03 was never inspected by toyota, or undercoated by them, before nov 2011. You will have no support from toyota. But it can never hurt to double check with toyota corporate. I just got a can of fluid film, a lanolin based oil undercoated sort of thing. I was really impressed with it, and I'm going to order a gallon and spray it inside and outside of my frame. Motor oil washed off my frame before the end of the winter last year, fluid film seems much better

 

Had a gentleman look at it today who was ran a collision / body shop. He had seen a few tacos that were in bad shape. He took a quick look under the rig and said mine looked pretty good. There was some rust but nothing I should really be overly concerned about. Maybe spending just the one winter in NH didn't do me in. Having said that I won't be taking my rig back for another winter. He mentioned a rust inhibitor I could buy at Napa that came in a can with a hose that I can run inside frame. I may try this and keep researching products.

 

Sounds like cavity wax, that's what toyota undercoated the inside of the frame with. I have the same hose that fits at the end of the spray gun and I spray oil in there with it.. Pick up a can of fluid film and see what you think of it, it sticks on the surface pretty good. I doubt one winter in nh would destroy the frame, you should be good if you stop the rust you have now

 

Yes I was looking at fluid film and chassis saver by magnet paints. Fluid film sounds like the easier application and claims to stop rust. Looks an obvious choices for spraying inside frame.