Alright......im not gonna beat around the bush or sugar coat things or anything. IM AFRAID I GOT RIPPED OFF!!! My intention of this posting is partially a rant but more of a plea for suggestions......here it goes....
I live in socal and have never really known of the problems that rust can create. I recently purchased a 2001 sequoia limited 4x4 with 84,000 miles on it. The purchase was on the midst of a week long car search that was nothing short of a nightmare. It was the end of a long day and we went to look at this car and it was a diamond in the ruff......so we thought. The interior of this suv was amazing given the mileage, especially compared to the others that we looked at. We drove it and it ran great. The engine looked clean with no blatant red flags. Ran the carfax and had one previous owner in Ohio. Everything checked out great on carfax. Checked the truck for signs of rust and it had some minor rust on the bottom but looked like nothing more then a car that had been on snowy salted streets. I guess my inexeperience with dealing with rust b/c of living in socal get the best of me.
Purchased the car later that night for a reasonable $19,000. Thought it was a great deal. The interior was great, the mileage on a toyota was nothing to worry about and it was limited and 4x4 and the color we wanted.
Took the truck to Pepboys to get a basic maintenance service and they said the back shocks needed to be replaced. At $30 a piece I said go ahead. 2 days later they call and say that the bolts are so rusted that they cannot replace the shocks! I picked up the trcuk this evening and got my flashlight and screwdriver when i got home.
I looked around the undercarriage of the car and it seemed relative clean with the exception of some rust. Then i look a little closer and see some peeling off. I take the screwdriver and start scrapping to see how bad it is. The whole coat of paint came of to reveal a piece of metal that looks like i could whittle down to nothing with my screwdriver. Further inspection reveals this all around the bottom of the truck. IT APPEARS THE DEALER PAINTED OVER THE RUST TO MAKE IT LOOK CLEAN@!!
now i intend to tow a boat with this and after looking at the hitch i wouldnt feel comfortable putting the boat behind there. @#$@%%#!!! NOw i dont know what to do! I feel royally ripped off and infuriated. Looking back it was my fault in making the purchase it was just a seemingly great car at the time the search was most discouraging. The truck was purchased from a little no name dealer down the street. I dont know what to do.....
I guess my first question is:
1. Can a 6 year old car in ohio whose interior was impecable really have that much rust damage?
2. I know that its hard to guesstimate but what type of prices are associated with repairing the rust?
3. What the hell do i do!!!?
I apreciate anyone who read this far. Thanks for the suggestions!
CLIFFNOTES: bought a sequoia only to find that the rusted undercarriage was painted over and in horrible condition. WHat do i do!
My first thought is to go back to the dealer. Ask wtf is that and throw around some threats ie: attorney generals office, media, your own attorney ect.
im trying to determine whether this amount of rust is even normal???? I find it very hard to believe that this amount of rust is from normal wear and tear on the vehicle. It only 6 years old and the interior is impecable. Therefore the previous owners at least took care of their car. Something is fishy.
Here in FL, there are always articles and news clips about flooded cars being resold as preowned. They are usually cars flooded in another state and resold in your state since the the records are more difficult to track. It's typically difficult to discover unless you know specifically what to look for. You mentined an impeccable interior, maybe that's because the interior was replaced because of water on the inside.
Not sure what else you should look for, but if I were you, I'd be searching google to find out what to look for in flooded cars. Unfortunately if you did by a flooded car, I do not have a solution for you... but google a search once more to see what others in your situation has done.
there is an Article about what to check for on pre flooded vehicles I read not to long ago.
How to spot potential flood damage and fraud:
Search under the dashboard with a flashlight for mud, grit, rust or mold.
Search for mud and grit in the engine compartment; wires, alternator, starter motor, and power steering pump crevices.
Inspect the vehicle’s undercarriage for rust and flaking.
Be aware of odors, both musty and recently shampooed.
The car history reveals it has been titled several times over a short period.
Be wary of "curbstone sales" on street corners. TxDOT will verify a dealer's license at 1-800-687-7846.
The title is in an insurance company's name or has brands like flood, salvage, rebuilt.
There is no title.
The vehicle was last titled or registered in a flood-affected area.
Just a few.
Others:
The following tips help consumers protect themselves from purchasing a flood damaged vehicle:
* Check inside the trunk, including around the spare tire, for evidence of moisture, silt, or corrosion.
* Check the engine for signs of moisture damage, such as rust, silt, or grass.
* Give the vehicle a smell test - inside and out - if it smells musty, it could have been flood damaged.
* Examine the underside of the vehicle for signs of excess moisture, including rust and flaking metal not normally associated with late-model vehicles.
* Check inside dome lights, glove boxes, and other places where water might have been trapped for signs of moisture, mold, rust, or silt.
* Check the interior for signs of mismatched items such as carpeting or seat covers.
* Test all electrical components, including lights, signals, switches, and audio system.
* Test the air-conditioner and the heater.
But if they did a Total interior replacement then I personally would check under the carpet for signs, like new drain plugs, or signs around the screws.
__________________ 2004 Toyota Sequoia, Phantom Grey Pearl, Limited - 2WD, Tow Package Mods done : Gibson Cat-back exhaust. Dual 12" Audiobahn Subwoofer system. Projects in Progress : Viper Alarm system 791vx w/remote start (additional components: Window up/down controls) Parts on Order : Future planned upgrades : Cat-forward exhaust, air intake system, sound proofing interior, custom audio system.
I have an '01 Sequoia 4WD and it has spent its entire life in Michigan.....as you can imagine we have lots of salt and snow here.
My undercarraige is nearly rust free, save for a few specs of surface rust on some of the bolts. The frame, floorpan, etc are essentially rust-free.........a few specs here and there, but certainly nothing like you're describing.
I'm guessing either a poorly repaired accident (CARFAX doesnt always show them) or some sort of flood issue (maybe in Salt water?) is showing through..........??
If you CARFAXed the truck, you may be covered by their "Lemon Check" or whatever their guarantee is...
So i took the car back to the dealer and told them that this was BS and that it was not normal. They said that if toyota said it was not safe they would exchange it for another 2001 limited 4x4 they have. So i took it to toyota and they said that the rust is pretty bad and to stay away from the car basically. They didnt say it looked like anything more then normal driving in salted roads. However this is a dealer that is in southern california......i dont know how much the mechanics here know about midwest/eastcoast cars. All the research i have done has shown that many people live in similar enviornments and have no rust. Based on those pics thats a fair amount of rust.
Anyway, i go back to the dealer where i bought the car and take the other sequoia that they offered to trade to the same toyota dealer to inspect it. Sure enough toyota comes back with roughly $2000 in repiars/maintenance that this vehicle needs. However toyota said that this truck is much better probably because of the rust on the other.
I went back to the dealer this evening and told them to fix 1/2 of the stuf that toyota quoted. I figure the toyota quote is rather steep so im thinking that if the dealer fixes 1/2 the stuff then ill be looking at $500-1000 in maintenance.
I wish i could take this all back and start over. However the loan check has already been cashed and frankly i feel lucky that the dealer is willing to trade with the other sequioa. However i have reached the point of trying to minimize loss as oppossed to finding the best deal. I wouldnt go near either of these vehicles if i wasnt tied up with the financial situation. I know this is mostly my fault for making an impulsive purchase without having a mechanic looking at it.
I was thinking checking into the terms of my loan (capitol one) and seeing if there is a clause regarding fraud. Another option would be the carfax buyback garuntee, but after the toyota dealer said that it is normal for an ohio car i kinda gave up on that.
...and frankly i feel lucky that the dealer is willing to trade with the other sequioa. However i have reached the point of trying to minimize loss as oppossed to finding the best deal.
That's the best way to look at this situation. Most dealers would not even entertain an exchange. What sort of repairs are needed on the "new" truck? We may be able to help you get the repairs/maintenance done for less, especially if you are a DIYer.
Quote:
I wouldnt go near either of these vehicles if i wasnt tied up with the financial situation.
What's the negatives with the second truck? Our 2002 SR5 has 95,000 miles on it and it's been awesome as far as reliability is concerned. It's my wife's truck but I drive it last month for a full week to make sure everything was solid, and that there were no funny noises or indications that repairs may be needed; I was surprised how it still drove like new. The quiet and smoothness made my Infiniti G sedan seem rough by comparison.
Don't worry, if the second Sequioa is even just average, you still have an awesome truck that will give you years of solid, dependable driving. Treat it to a professional detail to really spruce up the interior and exterior; you will feel like you bought a new truck and it will chase your misgivings away!
I completely agree with most of what you are saying. When all is said and done the 2nd truck is still going to be about $1000-2000 under the suggested kbb for retail
My only problems are that the interior of the first one is quite a bit nicer then the second one. (however i suppose mechanics are the top priority, and the second one could use a nice detail) It has 97,124 miles and it need a bundle of work. I figured i could get the maintenance done for less then the dealer obviously. When i spoke to the dealer that i purchased from, they were going to see how much it would cost at their mechanic to fix the brakes and the 4 wheel drive boots (?) which i suppose were leaking. Toyota quoted $550 for the 4x4 aspect. The brakes in the back according to toyota were at 40%. Apparently in CA it is illegal to sell a car with less then 50% of brakes. So they are going to call us tomorrow on whether they will make those repairs.
Otherwise it needs your basic 90 mile service, timing belt, another belt that suppossedly was damaged b/c of the timing belt being bad, air filter, fuel filter, all kinds of fluids. Also the back window does not roll down. I have done some research regarding buying a new motor, even a 4runner motor off ebay. Obviously i will look into thta before paying toyota $500. I understand that most of these are minor maintenance its just when there are 10 of them at 50 bucks it adds up. Like i said i hope that the dealer will do the two things we verbally agreed to and this nightmare will be over.
appreciate all the help
PS - im really curious about the rusted truck. I have gotten mixed reviews when talking to people about the source of the rust. Now that there are pics i am curious what everyone thinks with regards to the rust. IS it normal wear and tear or osmething more?
Otherwise it needs your basic 90 mile service, timing belt, another belt that suppossedly was damaged b/c of the timing belt being bad, air filter, fuel filter, all kinds of fluids. Also the back window does not roll down. I have done some research regarding buying a new motor, even a 4runner motor off ebay. Obviously i will look into thta before paying toyota $500. I understand that most of these are minor maintenance its just when there are 10 of them at 50 bucks it adds up. Like i said i hope that the dealer will do the two things we verbally agreed to and this nightmare will be over.
I have to get my timing belt done as well. Filters and fluids are regular maintenance, so no extra costs.
Back window may just be stuck to the rubber seals... a common occurence in Sequioas. Try to "break" the seal between the glass and the rubber surrounds, both inside and out, and use the keyhole to activate the window, rather than the dash switch, while using your palm to coax the glass down. It might surprise you and work. I just unstuck my back glass and it took me a little more than 5 minutes of fiddling to get it to work.
WoW Did you carfax this Truck??? because after looking at those Pics it screems one thing to me.......SALT WATER. I bet that truck was under water from one of those hurricanes. I've heard how some cars were moved to other states so they were not registered to LA,MS,AL. I would demand that the dealer prove the history of this truck. You should not have to compromise. If they are so willing to give you another truck they must know they have wronged you. The fact that it was painted over indicates they knew something was more wrong than normal.
P.S. That undercarrage looked worse than my 85 4runner that I sold last year. Northeast..Saltwater beaches...abused.
Most people who live near the ocean or in the norhtern states learn how to take care of their cars. They wash the undercarriage regularly and garage the thing. That's about all you need to do now a days in order to prevent the rust. If you really want to go the extra mile you can pay for a spray-on rust preventative (like Z-Bart), but that's a bit of overkill as most manufacturers apply this type of stuff already.
What you're seeing is someone who didn't know how to take care of their car. Salt and ice build up on the undercarriage and can quickly rot the metal away to nothing if not kept clear.
I had a 02 Tundra that I purchased in the fall of 2001. I live just south of Cleveland Oh in the secondary snow belt. Drove the Tundra daily in the winter on salted roads. At the time of my trade in in June of 2006 it had almost no rust on the frame. The shocks still had the yellow paint on them. It was a TRD 4X4. Our 98 4_Runner has no rust on the frame or pan either. It has been driven on salted roads since 1997.
Could the dealer have applied some type of undercoating material on the underbody to prevent you from seeing the rusty frame ? You bet he could have used that to disguise the rust.
I think that vehicle was either stored in an area of very high humidity and maybe on a damp dirt floor or it had been a victim of salt water flooding where the frame got the salt solution inside the frame rails. It could also have been parked in a salt water floodplain where the water height never went above the bottom of the doors. In that case you wouldn't have the mud deposits in the dash and other areas but would certainly have a very rusted frame.
RUST question on a sequoia....HELP!
. Good luck
The fact that it was painted over indicates they knew something was more wrong than normal. 
Linear Mode
