Spoke with my Service Manager last night. He did discuss this problem with Toyota Factory Rep yesterday as promised. The Rep told him that Toyota IS AWARE of this problem and think that it is LIMITED TO JUST A FEW VEHICLES. He also stated that TMC engineering IS LAUNCHING AN INVESTIGATION to determine cause and remedy. My Service Manager assures me that based upon his past experience with Toyota, they will do whatever is necessary to resolve this problem and take care of their loyal customers. He also reiterated that my dealer installed OME lift would not void any future warranty claim for this issue-it would only impact suspension parts. Lift is being installed today!!!
Out of curiousity, was any mention of the manufacturer dates of the FJ's most likely to be affected by this??
The obvious reason I ask, is because the earlier build date models do not have the suspected reinforcement plate behind the area in question, as indicated by the absence of the weld dimples on both sides of the crackable region.
The newer models do have the weld dimples, and sure enough, those are the FJ's that apear to be least affected by this, regardless of aftermarket lifts, bumpers, etc.
Mine has cracks on both sides, and it's a 11-06 build date . . . . and no signs of any reinforcement plates welded in from behind. What's you build date, Ken??
I think Toyota is underestimating how widespread the problem is. We got together last night with a few of our trucks and checked. Almost all trucks showed some sign of bulging or cracking. Here's what I recall:
1. very slight bulge on pass side (NGA-FJC)
2. bulges both sides, slightly larger on one side (k9crazy)
3. small cracks both sides (bmthiker)
4. small bulge, forget which side (lab601)
5. small bulge on one side (fjcrusr)
6. small bulge on pass side, larger on driver side (East Coast trail team rig)
In any event, it appears that if you drive this truck in such a way that flexes the frame, you WILL stress this area and in time it will crack. Some sooner than others, depending on how much flexing.
__________________ Rick C ~ ~ I aim to misbehave. 2007 GSJ15//Ti Ag//4WD AT All-Pro bumper, USB links, IFS skid, Extreme LCA links, LCA skids & Bandi mount Bud Built trans skid/crossmember/gas skid Metal-Tech red sliders OME 886/895 springs & shocks Super Swamper 34" LTBs Warn 9.5xp/Masterpull line Demello rear bumper
Toyota did a 1 million car recall last year on cars that had problems losing steering including Prius.
They might have to change a few hundred or a few thousand out of the 70,000 or so FJ's out there (taking a guess on # of FJ's in the field). Not a huge problem in the greater scheme of things.
This is good news. Looks like the sky is not falling.
Is there a picture somewhere of this weld plate to get a reference?
Such a reinforcement would be welded behind the primary sheet metal (out of view). However, its precence is indicated by the spot welds that surround the area in question.
Spoke with my Service Manager last night. He did discuss this problem with Toyota Factory Rep yesterday as promised. The Rep told him that Toyota IS AWARE of this problem and think that it is LIMITED TO JUST A FEW VEHICLES. He also stated that TMC engineering IS LAUNCHING AN INVESTIGATION to determine cause and remedy. My Service Manager assures me that based upon his past experience with Toyota, they will do whatever is necessary to resolve this problem and take care of their loyal customers. He also reiterated that my dealer installed OME lift would not void any future warranty claim for this issue-it would only impact suspension parts. Lift is being installed today!!!
A Toyota field rep will be at Earnhardt (Superstition Springs) Toyota in Mesa on the 21st. The service manager at the dealership asked me to bring in my FJ at 9am that morning so they could see it. If there's anyone else in the Phoenix area that wants to bring theirs... well, the more the merrier. I've printed all the pictures I need and some of the posts, charts, graphs, physics lessons, etc. just to show them how important this issue is to many of us.
PM me if you want to join in.
__________________
"I'd like to die in my sleep like my grandfather. Not screaming in terror like the passengers in his car."
Body Rips: Update
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