electronic corrosion inhibitor

Just wondering if anybody else purchased this device as part of their factory build. Toyota guaranteed the frame to be rust free for life with it installed and knowing tacos history with rust, I didn't think twice. I haven't done any fluid filming and it's been a year and a half with no notable rust. Anybody else have experience with this little module?

 

Do you have a link to this device ? Thanks.

 

yeah, it was part of my purchase package, but I have no faith in it whatsoever.

snake oil, IMO

but, it's there - they "registered" it, so if I ever have a frame problem - it's supposed to be covered.

george3, I'll snap a pic, but it's just something attached to the battery, and grounded to the truck so (supposedly) an very small electric current to the truck keeps rust away ....

 

Probably not the same device, but my dad had something similar on an old '79 c10. It had far less rust than most of those in the salt belt. Must have done something to help lol

 

I have seen something like this on boats.....some comments from the web:


Electronic rust protectors will eat a hole through your wallet and probably won't protect your vehicle any more than it's protected already, according to the Automobile Protection Association.

Dealers charge as much as $800 for the quickly-installed device — a small box that applies a weak electric current to the metal on your vehicle — which normally retails for as low as $150, says APA president George Iny.

The consumer watchdog doesn't recommend the devices, which are based on the concept of cathodic protection used on the submerged parts of bridges and boat motors.

Those devices only work when the metal is submerged in water. While device manufacturers have plenty of anecdotal evidence from satisfied customers, Iny says he's seen no studies showing electronic rust inhibitors actually protect your car on the road.

 

All very interesting. I'll leave the cobwebs on my wallet. Thanks.

 

here's the one that came on my truck.

my apoligies to the OP if that is NOT what you were talking about ...

 

The frame is already tied into the electrical circuit as all the grounds are tied to the frame.

 

Snake Oil, as mentioned above.

 

Your arguments against the effectiveness of the inhibitor are substantial, however, with it installed, toyota guaranteed lifetime corrosion protection for the frame. If the device doesn't do diddly squat I'll still make damn sure they stand behind that guarantee.

 

The idea is that it works the same as cathodic protection for underground pipelines. The idea works on them because the circuit is completed through the damp soil around the pipe. How is the circuit completed on a vehicle ?
I just said no when they tried to sell the module to me when I purchased my truck.

 

that would be really cool if it actually worked.

 

Save your money, they're complete garbage. I've only seen them on cars and suvs, never on a truck. But they don't work, I haven't see the exact one pictured before. Most of the ones I've seen are attached to the fender with a piece of adhesive and a screw through a small aluminum brick into the fender. Great place for galvanic corrosion to start. The only good thing is if you have documentation from toyota saying they're guaranteeing the frame for life. If your keeping your truck long term it could be worth it just for the piece of mind.

 

You say this is part of the factory build option. Was this an actual toyota option, or a dealership option. I've never once heard about an electronic rust protector offered as an actual toyota build option.

Sounds more like a dealership option like paint protection, or seat cloth protectant.

If it's through the dealership your warranty would be covered by the dealership, not Toyota.

 

Great job Toyota. You figured out a way to cash in on your rusty frames. So this is how they are planning on paying for all of those replaced.

Bravo.

 

Snake oil would probably help prevent rust if applied periodically.

 

I seriously doubt this is an item offered by toyota.

 

Dealer or Distributor installed.

 

Yeah...if this was port installed(Gulf States/Southeast Toyota Distribution/etc), I could believe that Toyota would stand behind it.
If it's just another dealer gimmick, then good luck to you when the rust sets in.

 

Dealer installed. Either way, they're going to stand behind it if I ever run into problems. My local dealership has a pretty decent reputation they're keen to uphold. I'm glad to hear the feedback from both sides, honest! Bundling the extra $ into the financing made it palatable and I DO have the guarantee in writing. The horror stories from all of those with rusty frames gives me the heebie jeebies.