Ahoy Tacoma drivers - - -
Ahoy Tacoma drivers - - -
- - - -------------> URGENT !!!!!!!!!!!! <-------------------- - - -
my 2001 started creaking a bit, then a bit more... "Old truck noises" I thought, naively. Then it started to feel like the drive shaft was coming loose. At that point I decided to run it over to my local mechanic on a day off, but when I woke up that morning, I noticed a little gas leak coming from the tank. I drove the p'up (gingerly!) to my man Shawn at Carmel Auto: he put it up on a lift & said "Holy #@%$^&*!!" Turns out the frame had rusted through at the joint just in front of the left rear wheel & the broken frame had actually punctured the fuel tank!! The right side was also stressed but not as badly rusted. I thank my lucky stars that I had it checked out when I did - I was possibly one good pothole away from going up in a fireball at X mph!! Shawn drained my gas tank (saved 12gallons of gas!), removed the tank, welded the frameback together, added new gas tank, rustproofed the bottom... almost $3K, but the truck is riding quietly again. Neither my stepson original owner/driver) nor I had ever rec'd any recall notice re the frame [[ the last one I got for whatever reason (AC?), about 5-6 years ago, resulted in dealer telling me I needed a couple $K in repairs on things unrelated to the "free recall inspection" (no, not the frame!) - No thanks to that said I !! ]] Anyhooo, holding out minimal hope that when I go in for the rusty spare tire bolt nest recall inspection ( what spare tire? none on mytruck & no retention bolt either!! ), someone will give me at least a free comprehensive inspection to make sure nothing else is about to go south!!! Reimbursement?? Further free repairs?? I'll ask but I expect that's about as likely as Xmas in July! Next p'up? - sorry, not a Toyota: "Burn me once, shame on you! - Burn me twice, shame on me!!!!!!"