Undercarriage Rust! Problem or not...?

Pushing_Tin · 09-25-2009, 04:29 PM

I was underneath my car today and noticed this rust on both arms near the front tires. You can see where the black paint has peeled off.

Attached are some pics of the rust, thoughts/comments?

Sibze · 09-25-2009, 05:09 PM

To me it seems like a lot of rust on a car thats less than a year old...

spearfish25 · 09-25-2009, 06:10 PM

i have a number of places like this as well. What concerns me is the impending winter and road salt. A mechanic recommended I spray the undercarriage with a sealer. Anyone have thoughts on that? Certainly don't want to spray it on the exhaust or other hot parts...

kenchan · 09-25-2009, 07:21 PM

I would clean that off (lightly wire brush the rust off too) and use some Duplicolor engine enamel paint matte black. Why engine enamel you ask? Cause I've used the stuff on exterior and it is very strong and dries very fast.

Also...if you look from the back of the car the exhaust flange is rusty and ikky looking. I sprayed that as well. Basically I use this stuff when cleaning up partially rusted metal bits. (Also works great for plastic bits as well).

Another thing you can use is Rustoleum...but it takes longer to dry and I think most of them are semi-gloss/gloss finish.

Pushing_Tin · 09-25-2009, 07:32 PM

I know corrosion is covered under warranty, but I don't know whether this amount of surface rust is really a problem.

carfr3ak · 09-25-2009, 07:39 PM

Bring it to the dealer. It's not a huge problem now, but the paint around there is gone and it has begun to rust. If you don't stop it now, it will spread slowly but surely. Doesn't help that your car is in a corrosion-promoting environment in the winter. Make use of that 5 year corrosion warranty, this is your baby.

frost · 09-25-2009, 07:41 PM

I guess I would be a little concerned being how new the car is. I'll have to crawl under mine for a "salt, snow, water free" comparison.

NissanZ46 · 09-25-2009, 08:25 PM

I concur with the earlier post - give it a light wire brush clean and use some hard enamel paint to cover it up, possible use some rust inhibitor before painting aswell. That should fix the problem, although I'm a bit surprised by the amount of rust on a near new vehicle.

Pushing_Tin · 09-25-2009, 08:47 PM

I looked at the rest of the car pretty thoroughly and those two arms were the only areas with rust. I'm curious if any of you have the same issue. My car was built last November and I bought it at the beginning of January.

frost · 09-25-2009, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pushing_Tin

I looked at the rest of the car pretty thoroughly and those two arms were the only areas with rust. I'm curious if any of you have the same issue. My car was built last November and I bought it at the beginning of January.

No rust, not even paint chipping. 5K miles.

dcrew1x · 09-25-2009, 08:57 PM

hmm..

I recently got a chance to look underneath my car when I had it on a lift to do my short shift kit install..

I didn't see any rust thankfully.

I'm in the swampy southern humid part of Georgia as well. I only have about 2k miles on it though.

I guess I'll have to check once every month or so just in case.

nogoodname · 09-25-2009, 09:22 PM

undercarriage spray is a good investment to me.... here's why.... view 11 posts up

Benibiker · 09-25-2009, 10:29 PM

My 2002 Jeep Liberty's undercarriage looks better than that, I'd have the dealer fix it.

MacDaddy · 09-25-2009, 11:22 PM

It would seem Nissan found the cheapeast steel they could for this car, rotors, steering linkage and now this...but what do expect for 40K

Benibiker · 09-26-2009, 12:30 AM

Some rusting down there is normal but when a painted surface is peeling and rusting then something's not right.

09-25-2009, 04:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
Pushing_Tin A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Eugene, OR Posts: 2,875 Drives: E63 AMG Rep Power: 227	Undercarriage Rust! Problem or not...? Update page 3 I was underneath my car today and noticed this rust on both arms near the front tires. You can see where the black paint has peeled off. Attached are some pics of the rust, thoughts/comments? Last edited by Pushing_Tin; 12-31-2009 at 01:12 AM.

09-25-2009, 08:57 PM	#11 (permalink)
dcrew1x Track Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: SoCal Posts: 821 Drives: Graphite Bullet Rep Power: 368	hmm.. I recently got a chance to look underneath my car when I had it on a lift to do my short shift kit install.. I didn't see any rust thankfully. I'm in the swampy southern humid part of Georgia as well. I only have about 2k miles on it though. I guess I'll have to check once every month or so just in case. __________________ 2009 PG 6MT Sports Stillen Gen3 CAI \| Stillen CBE \| AMS Short Shifter \| Nismo Brace Kit

09-25-2009, 10:29 PM	#13 (permalink)
Benibiker Base Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Honolulu Hawaii Posts: 235 Drives: Red 17 370Z Touring Rep Power: 15	My 2002 Jeep Liberty's undercarriage looks better than that, I'd have the dealer fix it. __________________ 2017 Pure Red 6MT 370Z Touring

09-26-2009, 12:30 AM	#15 (permalink)
Benibiker Base Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Honolulu Hawaii Posts: 235 Drives: Red 17 370Z Touring Rep Power: 15	Some rusting down there is normal but when a painted surface is peeling and rusting then something's not right. __________________ 2017 Pure Red 6MT 370Z Touring

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09-25-2009, 05:09 PM	#2 (permalink)
Sibze A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 16,202 Drives: In your way Rep Power: 62	To me it seems like a lot of rust on a car thats less than a year old...

09-25-2009, 06:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	i have a number of places like this as well. What concerns me is the impending winter and road salt. A mechanic recommended I spray the undercarriage with a sealer. Anyone have thoughts on that? Certainly don't want to spray it on the exhaust or other hot parts...

09-25-2009, 07:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141520	I would clean that off (lightly wire brush the rust off too) and use some Duplicolor engine enamel paint matte black. Why engine enamel you ask? Cause I've used the stuff on exterior and it is very strong and dries very fast. Also...if you look from the back of the car the exhaust flange is rusty and ikky looking. I sprayed that as well. Basically I use this stuff when cleaning up partially rusted metal bits. (Also works great for plastic bits as well). Another thing you can use is Rustoleum...but it takes longer to dry and I think most of them are semi-gloss/gloss finish.

09-25-2009, 07:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
Pushing_Tin A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Eugene, OR Posts: 2,875 Drives: E63 AMG Rep Power: 227	I know corrosion is covered under warranty, but I don't know whether this amount of surface rust is really a problem.

09-25-2009, 07:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
carfr3ak Base Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Nor Cal Posts: 71 Drives: Nissan SUV Rep Power: 15	Bring it to the dealer. It's not a huge problem now, but the paint around there is gone and it has begun to rust. If you don't stop it now, it will spread slowly but surely. Doesn't help that your car is in a corrosion-promoting environment in the winter. Make use of that 5 year corrosion warranty, this is your baby.

09-25-2009, 07:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
frost Retired admin Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Winterfell Posts: 106,613 Drives: Your Wife Crazy Rep Power: 0	I guess I would be a little concerned being how new the car is. I'll have to crawl under mine for a "salt, snow, water free" comparison.

09-25-2009, 08:25 PM	#8 (permalink)
NissanZ46 Base Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: house Posts: 62 Drives: 2011 Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 15	I concur with the earlier post - give it a light wire brush clean and use some hard enamel paint to cover it up, possible use some rust inhibitor before painting aswell. That should fix the problem, although I'm a bit surprised by the amount of rust on a near new vehicle.

09-25-2009, 08:47 PM	#9 (permalink)
Pushing_Tin A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Eugene, OR Posts: 2,875 Drives: E63 AMG Rep Power: 227	I looked at the rest of the car pretty thoroughly and those two arms were the only areas with rust. I'm curious if any of you have the same issue. My car was built last November and I bought it at the beginning of January.

09-25-2009, 09:22 PM	#12 (permalink)
nogoodname Lifetime Premium Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Montreal Posts: 22,357 Drives: E46 M3 Rep Power: 1764	undercarriage spray is a good investment to me.... here's why.... view 11 posts up

09-25-2009, 11:22 PM	#14 (permalink)
MacDaddy Base Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: NRH2O, Texas Posts: 32 Drives: 09 370Z MB 7AT Rep Power: 15	It would seem Nissan found the cheapeast steel they could for this car, rotors, steering linkage and now this...but what do expect for 40K