Toyota Frame Settlement Postcard

it seem the differentials fluid is drained , why?

 

I can't wait to hear what the dealer is gonna try to squeeze out of me when my truck goes in. I haven't heard anything since my truck failed inspection.

 

How can you tell?

 

just saying from some of the post maybe not .?

 

Well...Frames in and they've already started the swap. The beds off and the new frame is sitting across the aisle, NAKED.
Manager says I should have it back in a week.

 

I stopped by the dealership and seen 3 new frames, didn't check to see if there was names on them but hope I might get a call this week

 

There is a case number on the frames. no names.

 

Yeah I just called and mines not in yet but at least I know that they're starting to show up!

 

The last picture is from this morning when I dropped off the hitch to the tech. He said he should be done tomorrow. He's going to take it home to make sure everything is good and I'll take it home Wednesday. I'll stop up after lunch today and take pics of more progress. He was changing the front struts this morning. Not part of the process but I am replace them and the rest shocks Ali g with a new hitch since my original was a rusted mess.

 

Moving right along

 

He is just letting the engine and trans hang on the support bar. Crazy crazy haha but nice to see people getting a new frame.

 

Interesting that they're leaving the the engine/trans/transfercase with the body. I thought of this awhile back and wondered if anyone was doing it that way. By doing it that way, they save a lot of work with, hoses, wires, coolant, refrigerant, shift cable, exhaust, etc. Even if some special fixtures were needed to support the engine/trans/transfercase, it would save time. The only thing I would wonder about, is if the front structure is strong enough to support the weight of the engine, and if the rockers are strong enough to support the whole load. Since they have a strap on the rear, obviously the entire weight is resting on the front lift pads. I'm guessing that the official Toyota way is not like this and some creative tech figured out a way to save a bunch of time.

Here's a video that shows what I would call the more traditional way. After all, this is the way the truck was originally built.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibfjzXwY8GE&t=2s

 

There's a alarge strap around the transmission and looped up through the back seat area or the cab that supports some of the weight as well. I'll try to get better pics of it.

I know the guys can still make some time on these but no like they used to. It used to pay of 60 hours but toyota cut that down to 45 I think.

 

TIME IS MONEY
LESS TIME MEANS MORE MONEY

 

TIME IS NOT MONEY.

 

If you work at the dealer it is.

 

I took my truck in for the leaf spring replacement because on both sides the middle leaf is broken all the way through. On the passenger side, the middle leaf broke and separated about 3.5 to 4 inches.

I dropped it off in the morning and got a call around noon saying that they cant do anything because the frame failed its inspection. They told me to come get the truck and that it is safe to drive. I agree to an extent but it has gotten worse even in the past two weeks. Either way, the tech said that he was going to pass his report on to his manager or a higher up and that they would give me a call. That was two weeks ago.. I called today and spoke with a random person and they said that the replacement frames come in by age? I guess since my truck is a 2005 it should be one of the sooner ones.. Im not sure.

What I really want to know is-
1- does Toyota still have a truck buyback program? (they did this for the first gen Tacomas when they were replacing frames, they would just buy the truck from the owner for 120 or 150% of bluebook value - not sure who made the decision Toyota or the vehicle owner.)
2- will I get a complimentary rental truck? or will I have to pay out of pocket for that.
3- is there anything that I should know about the process or anything I should keep an eye out for?

Thanks!

 

Check your Toyota owner account to see if your truck is actually waiting on a frame.

 

It sure is, have you never been paid "by the hour"?

 

No, that expired a couple or more years ago, and never covered the '05+ models;

You will get a free "loaner" vehicle--maybe a truck maybe not--one forum member got a RAV4 hybrid;

Everything there is about anything associated with a car dealership is suspect and to be watched closely;