2003 Taco Frame Restoration Journey

i would also think you could get the frame replaced if toyota inspected the frame in 2012, no?

 

No, unfortunately the previous owner didn't get it undercoated by Toyota. That was a requirement to get the extend the warranty of the frame. When I called corporate I did say that right in their service history details of this truck it does say "warranty enchantment 15YR/No Mileage Limit" when the previous owner got it inspected.

 

Have you tried calling Toyota in California at their frame replacement line? If not, call 1-888-270-9371. When it's answered, do nothing and wait for a live person, then ask to speak to a Case Manager. They are the ones who make the final decision. If you qualify with the Case Manager they will issue a Case # and require the frame to be inspected at a Toyota dealer. It must have at least one 10 mm through hole caused only by corrosion and there may be a mileage restriction like under 200,000 miles. It only needs one hole to qualify. Have your VIN number ready. They will check all dealer service work done at that time. Make sure you read the details of the invoice copy you have and good luck.

 

Definitely worth calling especially regarding the last statement on your Service Invoice -

 

call them, it's worth a shot!

 

I called before I started the fix, got a case manager. They said because the previous owner never got the coating done it was not warrantied anymore. Do you guys think pursuing this issue with a different case manager might lead to a different outcome? I don't recall, don't have the recall letter, but I think the owners had until the end of 2012 to do the undercoating in NY.

 

Yes, it was 12/31/2012. The deadline was later due to concerns by NYS over the undercoating formula.

Toyota has been sticking by the undercoating requirement when the vehicle was in a cold weather state during the deadline period. There are many owners who can attest to that.

 

Did you ask the Case manager if they might reconsider because the reason it was not undercoated before 12/31/2012 is because on 10/02/2012 the dealer said, in effect, the frame was fine and, in effect, the frame did not need to be undercoated. Here in Ohio the Toyota undercoating program was at no cost to the vehicle owner so why would your prior owner turn down a free service when he was already there unless he was informed by the dealer's technician it did not need to be undercoated since it had passed inspection so well. He was there, they had the truck, why wasn't it undercoated? That is a very long shot but maybe it's worth one more phone call.

 

Does anyone know what the 'formula' is? like i said in an earlier post, i had our truck undercoated the day we brought it back to Vermont from Arizona. The shop that performed the undercoating really seemed to know what they're doing, using a process that was developed in canada (https://corrosionfree.com/). I'm curious to know what Toyota thinks is appropriate.

Additionally, does anyone know if Toyota supplied guidelines or instructions for the undercoating process required for the frames? Are there specific areas that should be focused on? I'm concerned because the truck is an '01 which has aged out of the frame replacement program.

 

Nice work Man!
My 2003 was originally sold/registered in Indiana. but the previous owner never got the truck undercoated?
I don't get it. Maybe he he didn't get the notice. I guess he figured it'll be fine for a few more years while he's driving it. He's going to sell it in a few years anyway.
Thankfully the frame's ok. I intend to take the bed off this summer and take off surface rust and add undercoating inside & out.

For others I'm adding this info.
www.autorust.com The company is located in Cranston, R.I. You can have them send you repair panels if you don't live close enough to take your vehicle in.

 

Don't know about the formula, but whatever it was, it did not hold up well. When I took my '01 in for the undercoating, they found holes in the frame. So the frame was replaced, and the new one was not undercoated. By the time I bought my '03, the prior owner had already taken it in for the undercoating. So I have the extended warranty until 8/18. Most of the undercoating on the '03 has flaked off, so I'm watching it closely. I'll have Toyota inspect it in June when I'm there for the state inspection.

There probably were guidelines for the dealer to follow. They have SOPs for everything.

 

OP What was you process for cleaning up your rear axle? I just purchased a 2006 from MA and I want to make mine look like yours!

 

Haha, wire wheel the shit out of it, change out the vent valve, clean it with something that will get oils/grease off, then I painted it with my Eastwood rubberized rust encapsulator. It may look pretty but not sure how long it will hold.

 

Thanks, my new-to-me truck has a new frame and everything else was typical Northeast surface rust. I plan on spending weekends this summer making it nice before bathing it in Fluid Film.

 

Yea, I can always try with the case manager again. It is weird that the previous owner didn't come back for the free service. Must have not been aware that the undercoating was necessary to keep the warranty active.

 

Yea, you're definitely going to have to keep up with it to last you a while. I'm only at the beginning stages of becoming a rust expert haha. I wonder if the new factory frame coating is enough, and just spraying fluid film will keep it from rusting over time.

 

I have wondered that as well. This frame is immaculate...I could see the stickers from the blurry online photos before I bought it. I plan on keeping it that way so I'm gonna use internal frame coatings and fluid film. Also got to touch up all the surface rust on small stuff underneath.

 

My original frame on a 2001 is mint (no rust) and has been under coated inside and out of frame
every year since new with fluid film. I live in lots of snow and salt.

 

I also want to figure out how to coat (properly) inside of body panels with FF. If I understand it correctly it also inhibits rust that's already there as well?

 

My doors and rocker panels have holes drilled with plugs that get sprayed yearly also. Front fenders have lots of holes to access from under hood. I remove my tail lights and spay inside there. I can get most of the inside of my box just laying under truck. My undercoating gun has a couple quick attach hose that let me get everywhere.