Skid Plate Problem

[lojeff]

I had my 4runner to the dealership today for oil change and brakes. They told me the bolts on the skid plate needed to be drilled out and re-threaded. $140

Does this sound strange to anyone? How does this happen? Should I just get a different skid plate that would use other holes in the frame?

 

[sketch1]

It sounds to me like they might have stripped the bolts trying to remove it...assuming that it really needs to be done.

If the plate was bolted on fine when you took it in (who installed it by the way, factory, dealer, you?) then I don't think it needs to be re-threaded. The only reason it would is because someone stripped it... and if the dealer installed it they might have crossthreaded it to begin with...

And if they refuse to fix it for free, which I would try strongly to get them to do, and assuming you already have an electric drill at home it would be much cheaper just to buy a tap and drill it out and thread it yourself.

 

[Thai]

I assume that you have all your oil changes at the dealership, right? If so, then this should NOT come out of your pockets if you're still under warranty. This is either Toyota's fault or your dealership's fault since you have not touched the skidplate.

 

[lojeff]

It is the factory skid plate for the sport edition. I have only changed my oil myself a couple of times as I thought the skid plates were too much of a PIA. I usually take it to a local garage or a dealership's express lube. Today I had an appointment because I wanted them to check the brakes.

If they stripped it trying to take it off, is that my problem or theirs? BTW, I take it to the beach almost every weekend so it gets abused under there.

 

[mtnracer]

If they refuse to fix it for free (probably their fault anyway), I would take it home and fix it myself. Then start frequenting another dealer.

 

[Bluto]

Your dealer or local garage probably wacked the bolts with a impact wrench.



My skid has very little tolerance when aligning the holes. I messed mine up the first oil change. But I was using hand tools. Bought a metric tap & die set. Cleaned eveything up.

 

[gonzo]

i had the same thing happen, although i know it was the dealer's fault because they were the only ones to have ever touched the vehicle. they told me it was probably from off-roading, and pointed to some sand way up in the under carriage as proof of me being off-road. they would not fix it. i took it to a local muffler repair shop and they did it for $80.