tgingles -- Hold up on the poll response -- went to downtown Seattle Toyota over lunch to talk to them and look at some new FJs on the lot. Opened the hoods on three and all three had the exact same dimple on the top, and one had a similar dimple to my "second" one by the spot weld point - just a slightly different location. These were pretty much off the truck FJs. Looks like what we are seeing here has something to do with manufacturing process -- either stamping or clamping prior to welding. Probably not a proof or indicator of anything other than that these are not caused by whatever is leading to bulges and cracks...
tgingles -- Hold up on the poll response -- went to downtown Seattle Toyota over lunch to talk to them and look at some new FJs on the lot. Opened the hoods on three and all three had the exact same dimple on the top, and one had a similar dimple to my "second" one by the spot weld point - just a slightly different location. These were pretty much off the truck FJs. Looks like what we are seeing here has something to do with manufacturing process -- either stamping or clamping prior to welding. Probably not a proof or indicator of anything other than that these are not caused by whatever is leading to bulges and cracks...
Nice research ND-NW. Thanks for ruling some of that out. It won't hurt to keep an eye on those places though. It might turn out to be a manufacturing process that leads to a rip/tear in a specific, weakened location.
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"I'd like to die in my sleep like my grandfather. Not screaming in terror like the passengers in his car."
I have the exact same thing on my passenger side but only one with is nearer to the V-Shape mine is an 03/07 build. Thank you for coming out and showing pictures you can see my pictures a few pages behind.
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07 Black Diamond
Upgrade Package
3M Clear Bra
Roof Rack
Garmin Quest 2
Vip Security System
TRD CAI
TRD Exhuast System
Tan FJ40 1982... Completely Restored(In Kuwait)
Stock 2F
Toyo Mt's
"Looks exactly like it" seems to be the start of a trend -- If this is caused by flex/compression I doubt the location and size would be that precise. Does anyone with tgingles' dimple see the second dimple I described earlier (under the spot weld location to the left of the first)? That could ease our minds that this was a defect in the stamping die and we could eliminate this potential "noise" from these threads. I would hope that Toyota is having all FJ's that come in for service inspected in these locations to get some real data. But that makes way too much sense...
All that said, if these dimples are the first warning sign, that would be a great boost for getting better numbers for Toyota -- even if it means I am "in the group". As soon as I get some confidence that this is a progressing issue on my FJ, I will file with the NHTSA. I don't see any of this as an issue affecting my plans to keep having fun with this rig for a long time -- still the best vehicle I've owned.
RANT: Folks if you have this problem file a complaint!!!!! It is the only way that We can get representation as a group with Toyota. They MUST respond the the NHTSA if requested to do so. So I say it again FILE A COMPLAINT!!!
I'm going with the assumption that either Mr. Stettler (the rep who I hadn't heard from in two months) and/or someone from Toyota must've read some of the recent post (complaints) about me being virtually forgotten about. Because out of the blue today, I finally got a very apologetic phone call from Mr. Stettler stating that he didn't mean to leave me in the lurch for so long and that he felt very bad about that.
Anyway, a decision was finally made about my particular FJ's cracks. They have agreed to do a complete warranty repair (replacement of the inner fender panels) to be performed at the Toyota dealership of my choice. And, I am going to look closely into the abilities and reputations of not only my local dealership, but also the half dozen other larger dealerships within the 60 mile radius of Brunswick, GA (Jacksonville and Savannah) as well before I apprehensively decide who is going to make my FJ look like bernd's.
Mr. Stettler told me that the "newer" style panels would be replacing my '06 style inner fenders. And, he assured me that the newer panels "are built better and have more reinforcement" than the panels that I currently have.
Of course I share the very same concern as bernd and everyone else who is having this "surgery" done, that a possibility will still remain that the new inner panels could eventually crack again at a later date. Mr. Stettler said that he could not guarantee that there wouldn't be a repeat performance of the very same problem in the future, however, he did say that the odds of it ocurring again will be "less likely."
Like I said, I'm going to very selective in who actually does the work. And, if I've waited this long for an answer, another week or so in deciding who actually takes on this elaborate procedure certainly won't do any harm.
I'll keep you posted on what happens. But regardless, I have no doubt whatsoever that this and accompanying threads is what brought results to the table for those of us concerned. With that, I thank you all for your help and support.
I'm going with the assumption that either Mr. Stettler (the rep who I hadn't heard from in two months) and/or someone from Toyota must've read some of the recent post (complaints) about me being virtually forgotten about. Because out of the blue today, I finally got a very apologetic phone call from Mr. Stettler stating that he didn't mean to leave me in the lurch for so long and that he felt very bad about that.
Anyway, a decision was finally made about my particular FJ's cracks. They have agreed to do a complete warranty repair (replacement of the inner fender panels) to be performed at the Toyota dealership of my choice. And, I am going to look closely into the abilities and reputations of not only my local dealership, but also the half dozen other larger dealerships within the 60 mile radius of Brunswick, GA (Jacksonville and Savannah) as well before I apprehensively decide who is going to make my FJ look like bernd's.
Mr. Stettler told me that the "newer" style panels would be replacing my '06 style inner fenders. And, he assured me that the newer panels "are built better and have more reinforcement" than the panels that I currently have.
Of course I share the very same concern as bernd and everyone else who is having this "surgery" done, that a possibility will still remain that the new inner panels could eventually crack again at a later date. Mr. Stettler said that he could not guarantee that there wouldn't be a repeat performance of the very same problem in the future, however, he did say that the odds of it ocurring again will be "less likely."
Like I said, I'm going to very selective in who actually does the work. And, if I've waited this long for an answer, another week or so in deciding who actually takes on this elaborate procedure certainly won't do any harm.
I'll keep you posted on what happens. But regardless, I have no doubt whatsoever that this and accompanying threads is what brought results to the table for those of us concerned. With that, I thank you all for your help and support.
LCS congrats at last some good news for your benefit. As you can see here am not the only 07 build that has these bulges on my FJ i hope they figure it out and i hope they wont appear on your fj again.
__________________
07 Black Diamond
Upgrade Package
3M Clear Bra
Roof Rack
Garmin Quest 2
Vip Security System
TRD CAI
TRD Exhuast System
Tan FJ40 1982... Completely Restored(In Kuwait)
Stock 2F
Toyo Mt's
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