Buying Help on 2004 DCSB Frame

Hey guys! I'm finally returning to the Tacoma World after several years with a Jeep Wrangler and Subie. So I've been looking for a well priced 1st gen Tacoma and think I found a 2004 DCSB TRD OR selling for 13,800 with 92,000 miles. The truck itself looks super clean but I have questions about the frame obviously. The Toyota dealership says the frame has been inspected and is good to go. I have a few pictures and was wondering if I could get an opinion if I should be worried or not. I would have to fly out to pick up the vehicle so any opinions would be great! It is coming from a cold weather state!!

 

Here are a few more pics. The price is well below KBB so I'm almost too scared because it seems like such a good price and looks great!

 

Get pictures of the frame up front about right below where your feet would sit on floor. The inside of my frame rails were rusted out in this spot.

 

The frame doesn't look bad but the pics kinda suck. It doesn't look like its been coated either but again the pics kinda suck. If the frame wasn't coated and a problem arises then your SOL as far a "warranty" goes.

There is going to be people who chime in saying "it's no big deal, it's just welding" but if you're here asking, I would assume your not a welder nor can repair the frame yourself. I could be wrong though.

Looks as if it's at a dealer, call them and ask if the frame has been coated by a Toyota dealer. If not, and your worried about it, then pass.

When I purchased mine, I knew it was coated by Toyota and wasn't too concerned by the rusty frame. It was covered by the 15-year warranty and when I found a hole big enough, I got it approved to get a new frame. Mine was rusty right above the rear wheels, didn't notice it at first but then pushed on it with my fingers and a nice chunk fell in. The coated is, well to me a disguise or a cloak to mask the rust problem. The frames are rusting from the inside out and the coating hides all that and kinda keeps it together. when the dealers do the inspections, he said that they can only lightly tap on them with a ball peen hammer. If there is a soft spot they annotate it in the records but do not try to push it through.

You said the dealer said the inspection was good? What does that really mean? By Toyota's rules about perforation, if the holes aren't any bigger than 10mm, it will pass inspection. If there is rust through, but holes are smaller than 10mm and the frame wasn't coated, you may want to pass unless you can take care of it yourself.

See if you can get some better pics like said above by Norther Taco, the more pics the better help you will get on here. Good luck

 

This was all I got and is off the rack now.

 

I wouldn't mess with it. The inside of the frame rails will be looking like that gas tank sheild. Not good.

 

Really hard to tell since the pics are more focused on other parts and not the frame. It doesn't look as bad as my frame though.

Call them and ask if the frame was coated. If it was, get the VIN and call Toyota HQ. Ask them that if you were to purchase this vehicle would it be covered under warranty for a rusty frame. If it wasn't covered and it scares you, PASS!

 

looks like a really clean truck though, sucks if this thing wasn't treated and doesn't get a new frame in the future.

 

Thanks for the advice guys! I called Toyota and they said the undercoating was performed in 2010. They guy wouldn't tell me if it was covered for sure or not and said the case manager is the only one that can do that and will call within the day to confirm if it is or not. Though when I talked to the guy at the dealership he said his understanding was that if it had the coating it didn't apply for the frame recall. Which is true in theory at the time it didn't but doesn't mean it won't in the 15 years time given. They said they have done many frame replacements and his mechanics have cleared it twice with no holes showing.

 

They also obviously replaced the muffler and a sensor that was 400 dollars in parts and labor.

 

I didn't like the word the case manager told me at two different dealers, that's why I called Toyota HQ and they got back to me right away and said it was covered. The dealers do not always know what is going on. Get the VIN and call HQ anyways. If HQ says it's no longer covered then it's up to you if your willing to take a chance on it. Just remember that they do rust from the inside out (well my frame did and so did a lot of others on this site).

not trying to scare you or talk you out of it, just looking out for ya. Nothing worse than seeing someone come on here all sad and shit. No one on this site wants to see someone spend all their money on a truck just to find out it's a parts truck now.

 

Thanks! Yea I called Toyota HQ and just waiting to hear back from there case manager. But at least i know it did get the frame coating in 2010 so I'm assuming it will be covered.

 

the only other thing you would have to think about is, let's say, yes it's covered till 2019. the frame was inspected and no perforation was discovered in the next two years, then after that the 15-year warranty is gone, you notice its starting to rust through a few years later. if your ok with that then go for it.

if you decide you want it and get it, make sure you take care of the frame in the mean time. I've purchased fluid film for when I get my frame swap completed. whenever I get it back from the dealer I'm gonna spray the shit out of it since I will be in Illinois for the next couple of years till I get back down to Florida.

 

Yeah, i'm gonna see if theres any place around here that can clean the frame and put another coat on it. Though I"m in NM so not sure if such a place exists.

 

ahh new mexicoooooo. lived there for 5 years.

any shop should be able to clean it up and spray it for you. dont forget to post pics if you pick it up.

 

If I lived in NM I'd take the opportunity to find one down there. AZ and NM are the promised land for rust-free Toyotas.

FWIW, I think that truck is really rusty and I'd pass on it unless it was really cheap and wanted to start rebuilding it from the frame out. Junk like rusted up solid bleed screws on wheel cylinders and other random fasteners makes me cringe.

But I also realize the judging standard is regionally subjective. For Colorado that would be considered badly rusted but I guess for Ohio that would be practically brand new.

 

Ha ha awesome! Yeah, I've only been here over a year but so far love it! So many out door adventure to be had!

Yeah, very true. The problem is I haven't found any trucks this clean or low mileage for 13800. I can find tacomas for around 12-13 but have 200,000 miles on them and look like crap. I did find a nice Texas one that was fairly clean with 55,000 miles but didn't have the locker and they wanted 17 for it.

 

where in NM are you?

 

Well, prices are what they because of demand, you either pay now or you pay later. If you can get Toyota to put in writing that a frame rust-out is warrantied until 2019 and in the mean time plan for the inevitable then you may be fine. Just realize that to have a Taco frame replaced out of pocket is something like $12,000. Of course it's something you can do yourself with a decent shop if you buy a replacement or find a donor. My point being that rust never sleeps and the oxidation on that is well under way. It will slow down a lot in NM, though, so stabilizing and maintaining may be fine if it's still structurally sound.

 

If frame is solid I wouldn't worry about it. Nm will all but stop that rust. How long do you plan on keeping truck? 30 years lol.
You also will more than likely find out you have a 15 year frame warranty, that imo, you won't need once truck gets to NM.