Done. Maybe it will help future owners.
Frame rot? Not sure what to do.
- Thread starter JustRon
- Start date
Done. Maybe it will help future owners.
gm350reratliff
New member
A frame swap doesn't have to be performed at a dealer but not all independent shops will tackle it. Body shops may be your best bet for swapping the body on to another frame. Since your pricing frames, I would also factor in every nut and bolt on the frame as well as the body mounting bolts, new control arms, and anything else that may be suspect.
Good point. A frame swap will ultimately [probably] be too expensive (and complex). I can imagine the shop calling and saying they need this part and that part- stuff that wasn't expected. It would be different if I knew someone that could do it, but I don't.
I don't even know how to get past the first line of defense at Toyota. The young woman I spoke to was answering things the way she was trained, but I don't know how to speak to someone who might care. I don't really think they do care, though. From their perspective, it's an old vehicle, and shit happens to old vehicles (esp. in the northeast).
Ralph Blake
Member
It's really sad but after looking at the pictures, and reading what you were being told,it's just a matter of time until you just have to understand, the only thing to do is scrap it and move on.
Moving on is the tough part... that was pretty much my car budget.
I am not doubting that's what will happen; I just can't stomach that reality at this point.
Ralph Blake
Member
Really wish there was more i could do, been there myself my car got caught in a heavy rain and ended up flooded, not my 4runner another car a Nissian and a really good car. I was lucky a guy took on fixing it and $1500 dollars later it's almost as good as it was. air Bag red light is on but it runs good.
Being in NYC fard from where the 4Runner is in VT does not help things. also being stressed for car money is also tough. I do feel you just can't be sticking more money into this 4Runner. Anyway i really hate reading how this rat took advantage of your trust.:50cal:
Many years ago, I had a dealings with a marine giant. The customer service and any issues with customer service were handled by the same group of people and they would not let me get past the first line at all........we went at it for over two months, off and on. Finally, my last call to them, I asked for the name of the President of the Co. and his mailing address as I wanted to write a letter detailing my experience with their product and their customer service. They gave me the info and called me back within 30 minutes with a viable solution. I am not saying this would work for you and your issue, but it will at least, inform the head of the company of your experience and interaction with them.
LandCruiser
New member
Her job is to act concerned while telling you to FOAD.
You can look for a garage for rent near where u live in NYC and keep the car and part it out. Also there is plenty of yard in Bronx call and see if they have a frame.
Try the northeast 4runner group in Facebook. Maybe someone can help you. I would but I don't have space for another car. Or the knowledge to swap a frame. But maybe someone close to NYC does. Good luck.
Try the northeast 4runner group in Facebook. Maybe someone can help you. I would but I don't have space for another car. Or the knowledge to swap a frame. But maybe someone close to NYC does. Good luck.
YotaDriver
New member
The use of road salt in the northeast can absolutely destroy a car if it's not washed off as soon as possible. I typically run my car through the car wash on an almost weekly basis during the winters up here. Here's an example of what my rig looked like when I got home from a ski weekend in Vermont:
Notice I took this picture at the car wash. That's because I never leave road salt on my cars, and I always get the underbody rinse because otherwise what's the point?
For comparison sake, here are a few pictures of the underside of my car, which has spent the past four years of its life in either Boston, New Hampshire, or Maine:
This bracket actually looks a little rusty...I might have to get under there with a wire brush to clean things up a bit.
Anyway, my point is that vehicles should only rust that badly when they're neglected.
Notice I took this picture at the car wash. That's because I never leave road salt on my cars, and I always get the underbody rinse because otherwise what's the point?
For comparison sake, here are a few pictures of the underside of my car, which has spent the past four years of its life in either Boston, New Hampshire, or Maine:
This bracket actually looks a little rusty...I might have to get under there with a wire brush to clean things up a bit.
Anyway, my point is that vehicles should only rust that badly when they're neglected.
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inscarguy
Member
there are a number of things you can do.
1- find a dedicated frame shop to do the work. we have one here is Ma that a lot of shops use when the job is too big for them.
2- it may not be the perfect job but some manufactures allow sectioning of the frame. GM does it a lot. you could find a good section of frame and have the old one cut off and the new section welded in. I have seen it done as a last resort but if done right the repair will be fine.
3- if you have a lawyer friend or someone you know send the seller a "scare letter" that if he does not respond to you he will be going to court. here is ma its only 50.00 to take someone to small claims court. not sure of the laws where you are but here we have a 90 day lemon law.
4- unless you are absolutely in love with the vehicle I would not put a frame under it. it is very costly. I looked it up in my database and a new frame is 5300.00 plus 31 hours for the install. at say 40.00 hr for labor(body shop labor) that's over 1200.00 labor. not worth it.
5- I just checked, on the frame Toyota provides all the attachment parts that weld on the frame to be available. all crossmembers, mount brackets etc. you might be able to get away with just that. here is a pic.
good luck.
1- find a dedicated frame shop to do the work. we have one here is Ma that a lot of shops use when the job is too big for them.
2- it may not be the perfect job but some manufactures allow sectioning of the frame. GM does it a lot. you could find a good section of frame and have the old one cut off and the new section welded in. I have seen it done as a last resort but if done right the repair will be fine.
3- if you have a lawyer friend or someone you know send the seller a "scare letter" that if he does not respond to you he will be going to court. here is ma its only 50.00 to take someone to small claims court. not sure of the laws where you are but here we have a 90 day lemon law.
4- unless you are absolutely in love with the vehicle I would not put a frame under it. it is very costly. I looked it up in my database and a new frame is 5300.00 plus 31 hours for the install. at say 40.00 hr for labor(body shop labor) that's over 1200.00 labor. not worth it.
5- I just checked, on the frame Toyota provides all the attachment parts that weld on the frame to be available. all crossmembers, mount brackets etc. you might be able to get away with just that. here is a pic.
good luck.
Yikes at all the pictures in this thread!
I don't buy used cars that come from north of roughly Atlanta, GA. Zero rust.
My 240SX is a '92, and doesn't have a spec of rust anywhere on it. Makes working on it much easier.
But I would have to say a frame that's completely eaten through in ~7-10 years has probably been neglected for at least a large portion of its life.
I don't buy used cars that come from north of roughly Atlanta, GA. Zero rust.
My 240SX is a '92, and doesn't have a spec of rust anywhere on it. Makes working on it much easier.
But I would have to say a frame that's completely eaten through in ~7-10 years has probably been neglected for at least a large portion of its life.
What? How did you manage to make that happen? That's really what I'm looking for, but the 2 dealers I spoke to in VT said I'd be paying for it (and it wasn't going to be $2000).
Was this a long time ago when it was still under warranty?
07V8
Member
I really don't understand what you guys are or aren't doing. My car has been subjected to PA and now Chicago winters since new. There is not any place in the world that uses more salt than Chicago. I have minimal surface rust just starting on the welds. I wash my car only a few times in the winter because it really is never ending wet salty roads. When I do my suspension next week, I plan on wire brushing and using the product linked below. It's by far one of the best products on the market.
Corroseal Rust Converter | Metal Primer | Rust Paint
Corroseal Rust Converter | Metal Primer | Rust Paint
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This happened in December of 2014. I took it to a dealer and asked them to contact Toyota and see if Toyota would help with the issue. It was long out of warranty.
Toyota has been doing 4th gen frame replacements on a case by case basis. It isn't clear how Toyota decides which frames to replace and which to deny.
I wire brushed the cross member under the transmission and applied a rust converting paint. Several years later, the bottom plate of that box section cross member was gone - rusted to oblivion.
There is no rust on the body, but the frame was shot.
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