Thanks.. going to think on it after I find out what's up tomorrow. Don't think I'd get anywhere near 10k in an adjustment, even with the rust advertised in pictures before sale(at least in CO)
How boned am I? [Rust]
- Thread starter Murdoch
- Start date
Thanks.. going to think on it after I find out what's up tomorrow. Don't think I'd get anywhere near 10k in an adjustment, even with the rust advertised in pictures before sale(at least in CO)
Did you run a Carfax on this. I have an 04 V8 and it's spent it's entire life up here in Wisconsin and I've seen a LOT of 3rd and 4th Gen frames up here that look like yours.
I'd be astonished if that 4Runner was a Cali truck.
I'd also be concerned with the fact that someone did the half-assed rattle can cover up instead of truly addressing it.
Anyway, not to pile on, hope it works for you, it's still a nice ride, but I'd pull a Carfax and cover your bases before you go back into the dealership.
Good luck!
Let me know if I am missing something, but why do you think the dealer should do anything. It is up to the buyer to inspect and look over vehicle to make sure it meets their satisfaction for the price being paid or walk away. This apparently was not done well in this case and so now you want the dealer to give you some money back or take the vehicle back? Unless they have a set time for return and refund in writing you are out of luck. Personally I would chalk it up as lesson learned, buy some Eastwood products and some wire wheels and put some time and muscle into it to stop what is there, prevent future growth and make it look good.
I do have the fax and the service record history from the Toyota site even, its quite odd
Seymore Butts
New member
That looks horrible. I wonder if it was a flood car near the ocean. If the dealer takes it back, you'll really luck out.
oldmansimek
New member
Coming from new England that looks a hell of a lot like road salt rust. No offense but you also paid way too much, I bought a 06 sport with 68,000 miles from toyota a little over a year ago in mint condition with zero rust and every record from the guy who bought it new there for $15,000. Not sure what the dealer you bought it from will do but I would be doing everything in my power to get rid of that. It is also possible that its from salt water I had a old police interceptor when I moved to key west and it had no rust until I parked it on a dock for about 2 years, it looked abut the same as your 4runner when I left.
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Sporin
New member
Is that a thing out west? I know that much of the east coast has very little legal beach driving available.
Yeah, that would be my thought as well. It might be no big deal but it LOOKS like a half-ass cover job. Now my perceptions is lifelong northern New England trucks so surface rust doesn't really bother me, but I'd start poking around and make sure it's just surface rust.
:yo:
I know it's probably not what you want to hear, but unless they have a really clear "Return it for any reason in XX Days" type of policy, I wouldn't expect them to do much for you.
bombventure
New member
I live 20 min. from the ocean here in WA and driving on the beach is legal where I’m at. Lots of stupidity sadly. Go to the beach on the 5th of July, it’s disgusting. I don’t know how they haven’t made it illegal yet. It wouldn’t be a problem if people picked up all their trash, but that don’t happen. The whole beach for miles is littered with trash, fireworks, and other debris.
Last time I was at the beach there was a Dodge Ram sitting out more towards the water and as the tide came in, the truck started to sink in the sand. Owner was nowhere visible. We left maybe 20 min later so I don’t know what happened to the truck.
You’re more prone to getting “in trouble” if you’re out there at night, but really only if you have a huge bonfire going that they think is out of control. Day time? Have fun, don’t kill yourself.
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My truck's original owner lived in Laguna Beach, just up the road from Dana Point. It doesn't look like anything even remotely close to that. Maybe the truck was routinely used to launch a boat in Dana Point Harbor and it got dunked in salt water on the boat ramp. I've seen some pretty rusty boat trailers as a result of that. Still not sure how that explains all the rust on the front axle.
Bumbo
New member
The photo of that radiator support is very telling. The story about this truck doesn’t pass the sniff test.
I have a 2004 that has been in CA beach cities, CA inland and deserts, and a few years in Oregon... it looks nothing like that. I’d fact id have a hard time trying to find any note worthy rust anywhere on the truck.
Sorry OP, I really feel for you. The price you paid, that is a hard pill to swallow.
Sporin
New member
Thanks for the info. Beach driving is very limited on this coast, particularly up my way in New England.
Overall, having looked at dozens and dozens of well used, New England 4Runners, that front radiator crossmember is a very telling "quick" assessment spot for frame rust. I looked at some, even on main line dealer lots, where that thing looked like it could be torn off by hand.
jreask
Member
OP--If you have the carfax, please let us members know where the truck has been. There is no way it's been in CA for its entire life. Take a good look at the use and mileage history. Something doesn't add up. I'd appreciate your letting us know the history according to CarFax. And CarFax is not always accurate on all of the history.
Geologist
Member
Cali does have mountain towns where it snows for 4ish months out of the year, mostly in NorCal. It's possible that it came from one of them. Either way, that's too much rust for a 4Runner that didn't spend winters in the snow. Also, that rattle can paint over the rust is crap. I'd go to town with a wire wheel brush, then repaint. Good luck.
Well I talked to someone with only so much decision making power and the owner is calling me tomorrow. I don't have a good feeling about this. They are willing to replace an axel and(maybe or?) struts... and add the skid plate that's missing. I was open to having someone treat the rust as those in this thread have described, let me see it, then add a por-15 or whatever.
I have never felt so stupid in my entire life and can't believe the one I bought is the one I didn't check the underbody on. Life isn't exactly going great in the first place and this situation just makes everything worse, whatever
I have never felt so stupid in my entire life and can't believe the one I bought is the one I didn't check the underbody on. Life isn't exactly going great in the first place and this situation just makes everything worse, whatever
It happens dude, don't beat yourself up over it. Its not even that bad.
Personally I would fight for a buy back, go to a local shop and have them write something up saying that its structurally unsound (tell them you realize its probably fine, because it is, just explain the situation). If you show the paperwork/letter that they give you to the dealer and they still don't play ball threaten legal action. Chances are it won't ever get to that point.
Let's say nothing comes of it, you're stuck with the truck. Who cares? It's rust, it doesn't look structurally unsound, wash it down extremely well and at the least spray fluidfilm everywhere to stop further rusting. At most, scrape off the surface rust and coat with por-15 or master series primer. Or pay someone to do it for you.
Or do nothing at all and probably still be fine just like majority of northern daily drivers exposed to salt brine.
You'll be fine. - Brian
Personally I would fight for a buy back, go to a local shop and have them write something up saying that its structurally unsound (tell them you realize its probably fine, because it is, just explain the situation). If you show the paperwork/letter that they give you to the dealer and they still don't play ball threaten legal action. Chances are it won't ever get to that point.
Let's say nothing comes of it, you're stuck with the truck. Who cares? It's rust, it doesn't look structurally unsound, wash it down extremely well and at the least spray fluidfilm everywhere to stop further rusting. At most, scrape off the surface rust and coat with por-15 or master series primer. Or pay someone to do it for you.
Or do nothing at all and probably still be fine just like majority of northern daily drivers exposed to salt brine.
You'll be fine. - Brian
Beaumont67
New member
Salt belt driven trucks, Frames also rust from the inside out....thin metal not pretty.
- can't just re-paint big rust blisters
- whole frame should be sandblasted and any rust pits neutralized first / plus epoxy primed >> big $$ to fix right
- with Extend (mild phos acid) rust converter or equiv. Loctite ® Extend ® Rust Treatment - Loctite
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Forty6and2Ahead
New member
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Sand blasting the frame? That’s an OCD enthusiasts route which (correct me if I’m wrong) I don’t peg this guy as. With the exception of maybe a few questionable spots, it’s hard to tell, I’m willing to bet most of that comes off with a needle scaler. A good encapsulation paint and you’re golden for the life of the truck.
You guys are acting like this is the end of the world, Murdoch is going to have an aneurysm. It’s not, it’s not great, but it’s not gone to the point of no return. When you can apply light pressure to your frame with a screwdriver and it punches straight through..then you worry.
Strider
New member
Sorry man, that sucks. I agree though, it’s not the worst thing to happen or rust i’ve Seen.
I actually live in Parker, CO and have 2 4Runners. Both have some rust on the frame and I have followed the wire brush, scraping, rust inhibitor, priming and undercoating every 3-6 months on each. My wife’s has had many seasons of this as I do a bit at a time and always catch more as I work with it. Her’s is great now on the outside leaving only spraying inside the frame now.
On yours, I agree that front radiator and struts and all look pretty rusty. Don’t fret too much, wait and see what happens. If they say no, remember the power of Yelp, online reviews and the ability to post your own pics to it. People read that stuff and so does the business. I’d be professional about it and see if they eventually change their mind. Getting a written second opinion from a shop like someone said is a great idea. On Arapahoe and Jordan is a place called Toycare. All they do is Toyota’s, they ought to be able to give it a look, provide some options, rating of severity and pricing.
On price, i’d Agree it was premium. Seems like $15-17k would have been dealer pricing, but oh well, these things last forever and yours has a lot of life.
Best of luck to you! Reach out if you need any help or recommendations. I’ll go review your Yelp review if you go that route too.
I actually live in Parker, CO and have 2 4Runners. Both have some rust on the frame and I have followed the wire brush, scraping, rust inhibitor, priming and undercoating every 3-6 months on each. My wife’s has had many seasons of this as I do a bit at a time and always catch more as I work with it. Her’s is great now on the outside leaving only spraying inside the frame now.
On yours, I agree that front radiator and struts and all look pretty rusty. Don’t fret too much, wait and see what happens. If they say no, remember the power of Yelp, online reviews and the ability to post your own pics to it. People read that stuff and so does the business. I’d be professional about it and see if they eventually change their mind. Getting a written second opinion from a shop like someone said is a great idea. On Arapahoe and Jordan is a place called Toycare. All they do is Toyota’s, they ought to be able to give it a look, provide some options, rating of severity and pricing.
On price, i’d Agree it was premium. Seems like $15-17k would have been dealer pricing, but oh well, these things last forever and yours has a lot of life.
Best of luck to you! Reach out if you need any help or recommendations. I’ll go review your Yelp review if you go that route too.
afiremensrunner4
New member
DON'T TOUCH THE FRAME!!! I have a friend thats local who is a toyota mechinic and he advised me that toyota will most likely be doing a recall of the frame due to premature rust issues. Our frames came from the same plant that made the taco frames. The tacos were having issues with frames rusting prematurely. If you have done something he said that the frane will not be abled to be warrentied.
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