How do you check for rust on a frame like this?

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To check for very serious rust you can crawl around under it with something like an ice pick and start probing. Just don't probe brake lines or electrical.
 
it doesn't look that bad, honestly, as the skid plates and other parts that tend to completely disintegrate first are still intact. however, that paint looks rather fresh, as if they were trying to hide the rust before a sale. If you don't see any obvious holes/defects, you'll either need to scrape or grind the paint off in places that are prone to bad rust, or buy it and wait until the paint comes off, possibly exposing the horrible rust they were trying to conceal. Neither sound promising. Unless you desperately love this one, it may be better to RUN AWAY!
 
Another poster above said it looked like they were trying to cover up a lot of rust before the sale. I would have to agree. I would stay away from this one, just based on that picture. Rust will be unavoidable depending on the region you are in. It is better to be able to see what you are dealing with as opposed to an unknown.
 
flyfanatic14 said:
To check for very serious rust you can crawl around under it with something like an ice pick and start probing. Just don't probe brake lines or electrical.
Click to expand...
If I'm selling a car and someone turns up with an ice pick..... I'm probably calling the cops, lol
 
RDOOGZ89 said:
Another poster above said it looked like they were trying to cover up a lot of rust before the sale. I would have to agree. I would stay away from this one, just based on that picture. Rust will be unavoidable depending on the region you are in. It is better to be able to see what you are dealing with as opposed to an unknown.
Click to expand...

I'm a very snowy area and this is a USA 2006 car that's from brooklyn and imported in canada in 2009. I think it has been in snowy areas all its life.
 
I just bought a car like that one. Rust everywhere underneath that they hid with a heavy coat of undercoating. I don't regret I bought it, because I can handle rust. It's a lot of work.

If you buy, buy it cheap and tell those ****ing cocksuckers it's obvious they're hiding rust.

Then, make sure you have a lift and get under there where a grinder or steel brush and take care of section at a time. You'll need a face mask, some gloves, a drill with grinder bits and various size steel brushes. Oh, and a shop vac to suck out rust inside the frame.

It's hard work getting at all the rust but you can clean it up then coat it with rustoleum undercoating and it'll last a long time. Check it every summer and spray under there if you see any metal.
 
Well this turned out weird.
The guy said he felt insulted that I asked about the black stuff on the frame.
Then he backed out of the sale.
I have the screenshot if you guys wanna see it...
 
blckbeard said:
Can you elaborate? How can you tell?
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A car with a rusted frame has some value as it may still be useful for a while before the frame snaps or the suspension falls off. Or it may have some value as a parts car. Whatever this value is, it is a lot lower than a rust-free roadworthy car's value.

Your seller, who you already know turned out to be a jerkoff, sprayed the frame to cover up the rust, hoping that a gullible or uninformed buyer will pay more for his rusted out truck than he could get for it had he disclosed the rust problem from the start.
 
It's possible he cleaned up the frame before he sprayed it. I'm in the process of doing that with my 4runner right now. You can tell from all those lumps, though, that he did a poor job.

Probably a good thing you didn't buy that vehicle.
 
blckbeard said:
Well this turned out weird.
The guy said he felt insulted that I asked about the black stuff on the frame.
Then he backed out of the sale.
I have the screenshot if you guys wanna see it...
Click to expand...

what a sleazebag. that definitely erases any question about whether he was trying to hide it. def post the screenshot; would love to see it.
 
For future reference, it's worth noting that it's probably not possible to completely cover extensive rust. In addition to the frame, there will likely be rust on e.g. the hose clamps on the transmission cooler lines, bolt heads in the engine compartment, brake calipers, and other components. It's also _very_ difficult to spray all rusted areas (I know this from experience!!), especially inside frame members, inside mounting brackets, and other convoluted pieces. You'll need a mirror and good flashlight to inspect these areas.

In addition, others have noted that undercoating is often (always?) a really bad idea for old 4runners with existing rust. Even a well-kept vehicle from the areas described will surely have some rust. Moisture will invariably get underneath the undercoating, and the rust will then be exacerbated by the undercoating and you won't see it until it's a problem.

Bottom line: if you're looking for a 4Runner you plan to keep for a long time, it would appear this was a good one to pass up.
 
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