Looks like this '03 is DOA.
Well, I took my '03 Limited in for its annual NYS inspection, and it isn't good. Shop called me and said I should come down at look at what they found. Bad frame rust problems. I know the shop owner, and he was nice enough to leave it on lift so I could see for myself. Frame has holes and section on drivers side, just in front of rear wheel well, has 4-5 inch long gap on bottom edge. But the worst part was the drivers side rear axle upper control arm was completely broken loose from the mounting bracket that attaches it to the crossmember just above the rear of the gas tank. Parts of the bracket were still attached to the front of the control arm, and the rest of the bracket was still on the cross member. No way would it pass inspection. I know it is over 14 years old, but up till now it has been fairly reliable. I have had to do normal maintenance repairs on it over the last 4 years I have owned it, but nothing unusual for it age and mileage (285k). The real shame is that it still runs great, and all systems function as they should. I got a real good deal when I bought it from a friend, who was the original owner, so it doesn't own me anything. But, this comes at the absolute worst time for me. I am in the process of buying a home in PA, which will, we hope be our last home, and I have all my available funds tied up in the purchase. I had hoped that I could get just one more year out of it, and once we sold our present house, and moved to PA, I would have enough residual funds to replace it with a newer model, maybe a Sequoia to gain some additional towing capacity. Not sure what I am going to do with it. It seems a shame to just junk it, but I can't in good conscience try to sell it without disclosing the frame issues, and it isn't worth much in it's present condition. Maybe I will part it out to get some value back on it.
So, I am looking for a replacement ride, that will fill the towing needs I have, and not break my 'retired' bank book. Want to stay with Toyota, but as we know, they still have high resale values, even for older ones.
Sorry for the rant, but, as most of us know, the frame rust issues for Northeast vehicles is a long standing problem, which will get most of us sooner or later. :frusty::frusty::frusty: