Rust!!!

[small town sonic]

Hey yall I was wondering if rust was covered in the bumper to bumper warranty. I was just swapping my summer tread out for my winter tread yesterday and I noticed some rust on my front passenger side cross member. this seems really odd to me since I haven't even had to car for 2 full years. I was told that gm used rust resistant steel on the sonics so why is there rust. any help is appreciated

 

[CANAM]

It's going to be hard for any metal such as steel to not rust when exposed to the elements, even 2 years worth.

 

[small town sonic]

Yes I no. When I found out that they used rust resistant steel I was asking my gm dealer about undercoating my sonic last fall. I was told that gm doesn't recommend getting it undercoated so I just let the idea go for now. I live in northwestern pa so I wanted to protect my car from the salt and stuff. So yea I just wonder if gm will stand behind it

 

[$ub$onic]

I soaked the underside of mine in a product called "fluid film". Also did my the inside of my doors too. Everytime I crawl under I take a can with me. It works pretty good

Another note: when you pull your real tires off clean out the top spring mount. Mine had a bunch of crap in it. This will lead to rust/ rot later too..

 

[Dragcamaro]

gm rust warranty is 6 years/ 106k miles, I dont know how bad it has to be for them to do something about it

Fluid Film is an awesome product

 

[small town sonic]

What is fluid film? I've never heard of it.
And I never thought of cleaning out the spring mount ill have to make sure I do that

 

[small town sonic]

Oh wait I guess I have heard of fluid film. We have it at work

 

[Black Turbo LTZ]

I to was told that I didn't have to undercoat the car, but my luck I had a nickel sized rust bubble on my hatch( they sandblasted the hatch and repainted it completly to make sure they did a good job) Btw with that in mind check above your licence plate where the lights are, that peice if put on to tight or to loose will cause the paint to chip under and rust.

 

[ahtoxa]

Exposed materials underneath the vehicle will always accumulate surface rust. That's not a cause for concern, really.

Biggest cause for concern are areas where dirt can get trapped along with moisture, such as fender lips where they lock with fender well liners, etc.

 

[small town sonic]

yea. I just hope gm will take care of the problem when I take it to the dealership next week. its a newer car and I want to keep the rust to the bare minimum even though its bound to happen

 

[08Bluesky]

Makes me feel a bit better about crawling under last week to clean and undercoat the new Sonic prior to our first snowfall.

Still, it’s always a crap shoot as to if such really helps or not. My thinking was that I keep my cars for way more than 10 years and it was purchased to be my bad weather car staying outside all the time – so even after cleaning and looking at the nice paint covered underside last week…. I hesitated just a moment before spraying the undercoat, then went for it and sprayed away.

Besides, My PT Cruiser Sub-Frame rotted out in 10 years, hoping the Chevy’s lasts longer.

 

[$ub$onic]

What brand did you use?

 

[08Bluesky]

Rust-Oleum Automotive 15-oz. Rubberized Undercoating Black Spray Paint – $3.93.can - Home depot - 4 cans (so-far)

Did not intend to "go cheap" - but it sure seemed like the very same material the Auto Part stores had for $10

Yet to remove the inner liners and spray behind - but I fully intend to. (for now I just pulled them out & sprayed a bit behind)



Again, surely there are many differing good, bad & better materials - I'm thinking Rust-Oleum is as good as any??

And I know, just like they “used to say” opinions are just like……
VCR’s – everyone has them, just not everyone knows how to use them.

Time will tell.

 

[$ub$onic]

The best one I found is 3m.

Stay away from the dupli-color one.

 

[CyberGreyTURBOZ]

All automakers will recommend not rustproofing your vehicle and according to them it will void your warranty. Even Engineers will tell you that rustproofing any new cars now days isn't needed, but i see cars that are only a few years old rusting real good all the time. Its all a bunch of BS and honestly they probably don't want you to rustproof your car because they want it to fall apart so you need to buy a new one sooner. I really dont agree with that undercoating in a can, but i have never used it either. My sonic has been fully rustproofed with good texaco rustproofing and besides needing touch ups here and there over the years it will keep my car rust free. If you want proof my parents have a garage queen 97 Suburban with 110k that will never rust. Its embalmed in rustproofing! Unless the paint starts to peel and its rusts from the outside in.