Toyota steps up

[crazyal]

I finally got around to bring my 2000 Tundra to the dealer for the frame inspection. I knew the cross member that holds the spare tire on was weak but the frame was strong. A couple of years ago I pulled the bed and power washed off all the scaly rust and then used some commercial rust inhibitor I had left over from a company I worked at that did bridge painting. Since then the frame had surface rust but when I ultrasonically checked the thickness of the steel it was still almost as thick as the sections of the frame with no rust (several thous thinner).

I never drive the truck unless I need a truck because of gas prices. So when a coworker needed to borrow a couple of 24' staging planks I have I figured I could kill two birds. While at his house dropping off the planks we got to talking about it and he showed me his 99 GMC cubevan he uses for pulling his rally car. That frame was falling apart and it's currently unsafe to drive. The winters up here are real hard on vehicles.

Just talked to the dealer and they are going to replace the frame. It sounds like it comes with new springs and rear axle along with new lower control arms and bushings. I have to call back next week for all the details but things look good. You can say what you want about Toyota but I pass trucks of all brands of about the same age all the time parked in people's yards around here with blocks under the frame because they split in half.

Since I only put 1000 to 2000 miles a year (either during snow storms or when I need a bed or to pull something) on the truck if I have the option of selling it back or having them fix it I'll probably just have it fixed and get another 10 to 15 years out of it. I had pretty much decided that it's life was going to be like the other thousands of trucks around here, half ***** weld job and an old snow plow sitting waiting until winter. Whether they were forced to or not I'm glad to see Toyota stepping up to the plate.

 

[Rustyiron]

It's nice to hear that they are standing behind their product. It sounds like your frame was ok from your post, I guess that their inspection revealed otherwise? and considering all of the other problems that they have had lately, (with recals) weather real or not (runaway throttle) like you said they "stepped up". I have always wanted a toyota p.u. but would like the old 22r 4 banger but I think that motor/truck has not been made for quite a while. What does your truck have in it engine wise and whats the real mpg?

 

[crazyal]

I've got the 4.7 v8. I've been getting about 15mpg but it needs a new O2 sensor and a tune up, not driving it often makes doing the routine things much more difficult.

The 22r/re was a good engine for their small trucks. It would run forever.

 

[Dmace]

Nice to see Toyota still stepping up, definitely makes the company look better overall. :thumbsup:

 

[RobertN]

As much as I am pro-American/non-import foreign owned company dislike, the Toy 22R, was one of the best motors made. You could thrash it, and it would keep going. Maybe because it was not real powerful, there was not much to break? Whatever, that was a solid motor.

The 22r/re was a good engine for their small trucks. It would run forever.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I had a 86 Toyota with the 22R. 168,000 miles on it when I traded it in. Only thing ever replace other than normal wear items such as hoses, belts, fluids, brakes, ect was the $20 slave cylinder.

Great little truck and motor combo. That thing would pull my 17' 3,500# boat as well as my 4.3L S-10 Blazer.



Chris

 

[Carl_NH]

Crazyal,

Just a follow up on your frame replacement. How did it go and what did they end up replacing and what was your out of pocket?

Our 2000 tundra 4WD -V8 just failed the inspection yesterday and they have ordered the frame. Also rear axle is really looking bad with 1/8" rust flakes and cant even access the fill port anymore..

We have 118K on it and I have been waiting for them to fail the frame before putting any major $ into it, but now will do shocks, brakes, exhaust, and manifolds (right one is leaking) at my cost since there is no point in putting 11 yr old parts back on.

How did yours come out and what did they cover and not cover as part of the frame replacement?

Thanks

Carl

 

[LBrown59]

A guy I know came up smelling like roses on the defective Toyota frame deal.
Toyota took his old defective truck and 250 bucks and gave him a brand new truck for it.
This after him having driven the old truck for a year or 2 and putting several miles on it.
How could anybody pass up a deal like that?

 

[Carl_NH]

LE Brown,

Toyota bought the Tacoma's with a similar issue for 150% of the retail value. The Tundra's is not a buy out (unless its a very special case) they either do the CRC coating if its a bad rust situation or a frame replacement if the frame has perforations.

I am looking specifically for crazyal feedback on his situtation and anyone else that has had thieir frame replaced - it seems dealers have different policies on the replacement parts and labor costs to install.

Carl

 

[crazyal]

it's kind of a two part process. The do a detailed inspection of everything that should be replaced. My truck needed some things, the rear leaf springs both had broken leafs, a valve for adjusting the power steering force was broke, etc. They made note of all of it and then wrote up an estimate to fix everything. They even had the timing belt change on the list. Then we went over each one on the list.

I had a bad O2 sensor (the heater in it died years ago) so I had them replace that. One of the two rubber boots on the steering rack was going bad, I had them replace both since they have to do an alignment after the frame swap. There was a bad cab mount, I heard it making noise so I knew something was wrong and since it needed to be done before you put the cab on the frame I had them do it. There were a few other odds and ends.

I ended up writing a check to the dealer for just over $800. I got the impression that they may have offered me a good deal towards a trade-in but since the Tundra is a second vehicle I really couldn't justify it. I've heard of dealers just charging you for parts and no labor for the extra stuff but mine didn't do that. I know the head of the parts department pretty good so he gives me bodyshop prices so I got 25% off retail.

My rear axle is pretty rusty too but I don't think it's an issue. The frame comes with a new rear brake proportional valve (the think connected to the other end of the rod that connects to the axle). I have thought of picking up a needle scaling gun from Harbor Freight, removing as much rust and scale as I can and painting the rear axle.

Since having the work done I have bought new leaf springs ($550), Replaced the timing belt and water pump ($200), replaced the rotors, calipers, brakes in the front, and the wheel cylinders in the back ($400), and while doing the timing belt I found the front fan had a broken blade ($100). So overall I probably put a little over $2k into the truck but it's like a new truck.

I figure if it made it 10 years driving daily in the winter then it should make it at least another 10 now with only occasional use.