OK...I need some input from one of the card carrying smart guys here.

I think I may have found my Truck.
It is an 05 Tacoma DC with 70K on it.
The paint is near flawless and the interior is pretty good with a couple of exceptions.
There is a scratch on the plastic inside about a foot long.
There is also a spot on the dash that looks like maybe there had been glue from ...maybe velcro ...holding something on. This caused the spot to discolor.
Also..the mudflaps are broken off at the flaps on both sides in the front.

My first thought is that these are not big issues...
My concern is actually under the hood.
The truck runs flawless in the test run. It has the off-road package and still drove like a Lexus.

But the engine..and the tranny have ...what looks to be corrosion all the way down them.
The frame itself seems fine and no real signs of rust....
There is a spot the size of a quarter that has light surface rust on the frame under the passengers door...nothing else.
But I keep wondering how common this corrosion look is on the engine and tranny?
And is this the sign of something more serious?
I have the detailed carfax and there are no real issues listed on it. The truck was bought outside of Richmond when new and seems to have spent it's time there.
It has had one owner.

Any advice is appreciated.

5/15/2008 6:51:46 PM

batt'ry acid

5/15/2008 7:10:37 PM

Battery acid does not make sense....
It is pretty even and on both sides of the engine and tranny.
I am guessing it is due to something with the tacoma having an aluminum engine and tranny.
What I do not know is if this is happening on the outside, should I be looking for some other problem.

5/15/2008 7:15:19 PM

I hope this isn't too ignorant...

But if that's richmond va, couldn't the corrosion come from the snow/salt up there?

5/15/2008 8:51:21 PM

Not arrogant at all.
In fact, I wondered about that.
But I was a little confused since the rest of the frame looked so good.
That may be it though.

5/15/2008 9:22:20 PM

Quote :

"Not arrogant at all."

well i'd agree too but he was hoping he wasn't being ignorant not arrogant.

5/15/2008 9:55:44 PM

I miss-read it...
My bad

5/15/2008 10:14:43 PM

cocaine

5/16/2008 1:28:00 AM

nvm

[Edited on May 16, 2008 at 1:34 AM. Reason : .]

5/16/2008 1:33:32 AM

My Trooper spent 15 years in Richmond and is pretty rusty espacially the frame. The white chalky substance is just the aluminium starting to corrode. Verry common and nothing to worry about, The steel corrodes faster than aluminium. I would be more worried about the frame rust and what you can't see. If it is full boxed like my Trooper than there might be more than you can see as mine rusted from the inside out. Being a 3 yo truck I doubt that it has any problems and I doubt that you will still have it in 15 years so I would go for it.
The spot on the dash will fade away as soon as it sees the sun for a few months.

5/16/2008 2:11:28 AM

salt from the winter.

my car looked freakin awesome until i went skiing and had 10lbsof salt end up on my car and under it.

5/16/2008 4:55:56 PM