rust in engine bay

Hello, I am seriously thinking about buying this Tacoma however I found rust in the engine bay. Its a 2008. Is this serious?Thanks!

 

If the price is right and it’s mechanically and cosmetically in good shape, that little surface rust is no big deal imo. How is the frame?

 

The frame is "undercoated" by the used car dealer (not toyota) but still displays some rust. Salesman says they undercoat all trucks prior to sale. Its a 2008 xtra cab with 149k v6 TRD...$12k. I may ask for it to be placed on a lift so I can inspect further. Where is rust crucial on a frame? Does this seem like a good deal?

 

“Displays some rust” sounds fish. Surface rust on the frame after an undercoating is iffy. The whole point of the undercoat is to prevent rust. I’d check the leaf spring mounts, body mounts and by the wheel wells

 

That’s not that bad, the previous owner evidently didn’t take care of it. It you buy it, just bush on or spray those areas with some corrosion x and check it periodically and reapply If needed. It will stop the rust but you do need to be proactive and check it and reapply.

 

I think that’s a bit too much money considering the trucks condition.

 

Take a Screw Driver and jab it really hard into the area where Items like the leaf spring mounts to the frame are located and where the cross member supports are for the transmission. To me the Used car joint that under coats everything that is a big Hide the problems and make er look good to em move personally I have always moved on away from a spray and hide it all used car dealer

 

To me that's an awful lot of rust under the hood. If it lived by the coast with the salt fog maybe but I'd check if that truck was in a flood or hurricane and was submerged.

 

Run away as fast as you can,the dealer covered up the rusted frame with coating,a sure sign of a used car dealer scam.

 

I am thinking the same thing. I just started the search and find it a bit daunting. I am terrified of rust. I guess that price is too much considering the rust.

 

Truck is not worth buying at all.

 

I’ll bet if you took that truck to that same dealer to sell or trade they wouldn’t give you jack chit for it because of the rust.

 

You can bet on that,I bet the dealer didn't pay more than $5,000 for that truck.

 

Undercoat is a horrible thing to do to a frame. First off prep work is absolutely crucial. If they didn’t properly prepare the surface removing all rust and cleaning every square inch you’ll have a rotting frame and you won’t be able to see it.

Based on previous experience I do not trust these used car dealerships. They’ll hide things and use cheap temporary fixes to get it sold.

If you really want it do what another member mentioned. Spend as long as you can with it. Check every square inch of that frame and make sure the drivetrain has no issues.

 

If there wasn’t a rust problem underneath why would the used car dealer waste their money to apply undercoat?... Since they do it to them all you know that no prep work went into this. Pass!

 

Could you run the VIN & see if this particular Tacoma has been through the frame rust recall?

 

That is def a don't buy truck. Too much rust. I am sure the frame is a mess and has been covered up by the undercoat. Find yourself a better truck if you intend to keep it.

 

Honestly, inspect the hell out of the frame, check for bubbling of the undercoat. If you find that, “pop” it off and I guarantee you get flakes of rust under it. That’s rot. That’s run. If it’s just surface rust from the truck sitting then use it to negotiate. The truck has high miles and rust for that price. Test drive it and push it to the limits. Make sure everything works smooth. Try to get them to come down at least 2gs.