Failed Frame Inspection

[jrallan26]

I took my Tacoma to the dealer for an oil change. The dealer performed a frame inspection. The truck failed the inspection. The dealer plans to replace the frame at the end of the month.

Is there any expenses that I'm on the hook for?

[Seanz0rz]

That's a bummer, but at least it is under the recall.

You should not be out of pocket for anything.

[paddlenbike]

Is Toyota still allowing Dana to make the new/replacement frames?

[jrallan26]

From what I heard at the dealer, the recall is ending soon.

[YotaFun]

Get it done, No cost to you at all!
You'll pretty much get everything new underneath except exhaust and engine and driveline lol.

They should also supply you with a rental.

[YotaFun]

Get it done, No cost to you at all!
You'll pretty much get everything new underneath except exhaust and engine and driveline lol.

They should also supply you with a rental.

[jrallan26]

What's the difference between the new frame and the old frame..... Besides the rust.....

[Seanz0rz]

my guess is a better coating/treatment to keep the rust at bay.

[YotaFun]

Pretty much what Sean said, same frame design just a better coating.

[CJM]

Finally after almost 20 years my T100 frame is starting to rust a bit more. I have a small spot on the rear lower fender too thats about 3" long X 2" wide. I think im just gonna let it go and then glass it later maybe.

Amazing how just a poor coating seems to have contributed to horrendous frame rust for toyota.

[jrallan26]

Today I was invited to "visit" my truck at the dealership. Felt very weird to see my truck in a million pieces. Hopefully I'll have my truck by Monday.

[YotaFun]

LMAO what stage are they at?
Are they putting the new frame together with parts?

[4x4mike]

Invited? To visit?

I bet it's a weird site to see. How long has it been in already?

[jrallan26]

It's been a week so far. Currently I'm using a Venza for a loaner.... I miss my Tacoma (MallRunner) edition...

[jrallan26]

Visiting the truck was traumatic and therapeutic at the same time......

[Good Times]

what no pictures?! or were you not allowed to take pix more for liability sake? would be an ideal time to add a bunch of mods :P

[jrallan26]

I didn't think about pictures.....

[jrallan26]

The truck is ready. Picking it up in the morning.

[jrallan26]

Got the truck back yesterday.
The Good: Underneath has the new truck feel. All new suspension. Didn't realize how bad my leaf springs were shot. The truck looks 2" lift in the rear.
The Bad: The pinch weld on the passenger side got boogered up. Gonna visit a body shop next week to get it looked at.

[Good Times]

did you get new suspension or was that something you had them install? pinch weld got boogered up? I thought this was just a frame swap?

[YotaFun]

Lance, The Tacoma's usually get all new suspension minus front coilovers, do to the fact the bolt for the rear shackle usually freezes up in the bushings. So new springs are part of the kit.

The pinch weld got boogered up probably due to them lifting the truck body front there.
Usually our guys ratchet strap the body to the lift to make sure it doesn't move and that no body damage occurs.

[jrallan26]

Exactly.....

[paddlenbike]

It simply is not possible to have someone else work on your vehicle and not mess something up.

[jrallan26]

Exactly.... I can't complain. I had a brand new Venza at my disposal for 2 and a half weeks.

[4x4mike]

Perhaps the pinch weld was damaged when they pulled the body and maybe stored it while they were working on the frame? Or maybe the body wasn't completely unbolted from the frame when they began to separate the two?

[YotaFun]

Ken thats not 100% true....
I am part of the % of techs that make sure a vehicle leaves the shop just as it came in or better.

Its funny, on my team I am usually handed all the Trucks and body on frame SUVs because they see I tend to care more about those then the cars (I treat ever customer car as if it were carrying a newborn home), and I have a good knowledge of them over the cars (I can usually pick out the year of the truck or SUV just by looking at it, I'm best with the 3rd gens :-P )

Some people are hacks, some people are meticulous, and some people just have those off days where it just happens

[paddlenbike]

Avy, no offense, I've just had bad luck. I do everything myself for that reason. Last month I decided it would be best to take our new Acura in to the dealer for its first oil change. Even that didn't work out well--they ran the front bumper into their lift and damaged the front bumper. They didn't say anything about it and of course when we brought it to Acura's attention they claimed they didn't do it but would fix it anyway. This just happens to me everytime I pay someone to do anything. Again, no offense. You should come to work for my local Acura dealer, I would request you specifically. :)

[Seanz0rz]

I don't think I have ever had a good experience when having something done to my truck. Every time I am disappointed. Took it in for a rear spring recall appt, they didn't have the parts, but told me my belts needed replacing (they didn't, and wrong end of the vehicle guys...). I have tons more.

I have my trusted mechanic for stuff I can't or won't do on my own, but my experience with dealerships is VERY disappointing. I avoid at all costs. Sad that that is the way it is. Dealerships really need to go above and beyond to make sure this kind of thing doesn't happen, honest mistake or sloppy job.

[paddlenbike]

Sean, especially disappointing when shop rates seem to run $115/hr.

[CJM]

I dont like dealers either for those reasons.

There are good and bad mechanics everywhere, but the dealers seem to have them the most. I LOVE people who tell me the car is only repaired by the dealer, this usually means they did a piss poor job.

"how can my battery be bad I just had it in for service?" well sir its COVERED in dried acid, if I had a dollar for everytime I heard that one Id be rich.

I also HIGHLY dislike the zillion point check they do. Often then LIE. My mom had brand new brakes, rotors and drums on her car and the mechanic at the dealer said they needed to be replaced..right..

Id sooner trust the hacks at ammco or midas honestly. If I cant do it myself I do the job with my mechanic buddy. otherwise I have literally 1 mechanic I trust and thats it.

[YotaFun]

No offense at all Ken.
I try to encourage my family and friends to use my dealer, especially when it's under warranty and request me.

I wish I was out there trust me I really do.

I have had bad experiences anywhere I took my truck or car, part of the reason I became a tech.

Tell you what it's tough for me to be a tech being honest, it scares away customers every time an asshole in the shop opens his mouth and try's to sell shit, like WTF???

[jrallan26]

Here is a teaser.....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/jrallan26/truck/null-3.jpg

[Seanz0rz]

I think you beat Ken for the cleanest frame! Take that ken!

[jrallan26]

I'm having issues with photobucket. I have more pics to post.....

[4x4mike]

I think you beat Ken for the cleanest frame! Take that ken!


Oooohhhh shiznut! Now you're going to have Ken taking the clay bar and some polish to his frame.

[paddlenbike]

A clean undercarriage is a standard I lost time for maintaining years ago. That said, if I lived in the rust belt I would be under there more often.

Looks nice OP!

[4x4mike]

A clean undercarriage is a standard I lost time for maintaining years ago.



Just because you're married now doesn't mean you should let yourself go.

[jrallan26]

http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/t589/iamthestig515/truck/null_zps4664448b.jpg

http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/t589/iamthestig515/truck/null_zps285ac2cc.jpg
Before
http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/t589/iamthestig515/truck/null_zps286355bc.jpg
After
http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/t589/iamthestig515/truck/null_zps23a4e0a6.jpg

[Good Times]

boy that before frame pix looks like it's still new! but that cancer doesn't look like fun long term.