Rust on undercarriage, deal breaker for purchase?

[wmflyfisher]

I will be looking at an 05 V8 4x4 tomorrow. The carfax has a very detailed record from a dealership. It's a Maryland vehicle. The dealer has sent me several pics of the underside and honestly I can't see much rust. That is my only concern about the ride.

How much rust would be acceptable?? If there is some or a minimal amount should it be a major problem in the future? I will be bringing it back to FL so it shouldn't progress if there is any. How would you take care of it?

Thoughts?

 

[Inv4drZm]

If it only has some surface rust, you should be good to go. Just grind it off and repaint.

If it has some deeper rust that has thinned out the frame or is flaking off in large chunks you may want to steer clear.

It all depends on how much work you want to put into it, you can use it for an excuse to knock down the price a little.

 

[wmflyfisher]

Thanks. Can I treat it with something vs having to grind it all down?

 

[Inv4drZm]

Thanks. Can I treat it with something vs having to grind it all down?

If it's not flaking off, I think people have painted over it with POR15. Never done it myself so not sure how well it works. Either that or a rattle can of paint might work too.

I've read where some people have had luck with something they mixed up and applied to the rust, don't remember what it was. There are plenty of threads on the subject so you should be able to do as much research as you want using the search bar above.

 

[simple]

I use Rustoleum Rust Reformer on my 4runner.

 

[Dropzone]

post pics.
after living in NY the first thing I did when I moved back to the PNW was dump both my car and truck..the salt kills the underside

 

[wmflyfisher]

Here's one.

 

[wmflyfisher]

Another. It's only letting me upload one at a time damn it. Just hope they're not trying to hide it with spray paint.

 

[wmflyfisher]

And another...

 

[Bumbo]

Looks like its been painted and or well maintained.

Stab it with a screw driver in a few places and go from there but it looks pretty good to me.

 

[Beaumont67]

Looks like its been painted and or well maintained.

Stab it with a screw driver in a few places and go from there but it looks pretty good to me.

Agree - I would not buy many vehicles, only based on photos.
- but judging on the photos, its worth a personal look & crawl underneath...for thorough inspection

In Canada and living in a rust belt (deicing Salt used on winter roads) - annual wax-oil undercoat sprays like Fluid Film, does work to slow down rust.

 

[AuSeeker]

It look great to me, never would know it was from up north, check it out very well in person in case the photos don't show any issues, especially check the passenger's side of the frame where the AC condensation drips down on the frame, that seems to be one of the major rust areas when rust becomes a big issue on northern frames.

 

[Dropzone]

Here's one.

how's the roof look after the rollover:fro:

that thing looks pretty good shape, unless they went to town with a few cans of Rustoleum

 

[46runner]

Is this bad? Or normal? 2003

 

[Inv4drZm]

Is this bad? Or normal? 2003

I would consider that bad; you have holes through the frame.

You could also consider that normal, you live on the east coast! There might be quite a few frames like that over there.

 

[AuSeeker]

I would say anytime you have holes from rust in your frame it would be considered bad, IMHO, east coast or not, had that frame been maintained properly especially during winter it wouldn't be like that, if you have any vehicle in snow country where they salt the roads Toyota or not there's a required constant maintenance procedure that is needed to keep the rust at bay!!

 

[green_manalishi]

Run away!


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[46runner]

thanks just needed a sanity check!

 

[wmflyfisher]

Looked at the ride yesterday and I really lucked out. Rust wasn't bad at all. A few minor spots here and there but nothing I won't be able to address. I went ahead and made the purchase.

 

[swampdodo]

Hey,

I'm in your 'neighborhood' just outside of Chattanooga.

Was that the 4runner posted on Craigslist...they were selling it at a 'good' price because of that rust (bought it at auction)?

If so, I saw that and was going to post it here as a 'what do you think?' post, but it was gone within a day or so.

Congrats. If that's the one the interior and exterior look great...except those rust spots.