OK, Here's the deal. I was washing my truck last weekend and below is what I found.


I recently had the tires rotated and balanced. This is where the weights were. The alloy wheel is corroded. Is there anything that can be done? How can this be prevented. The only place the truck has been for service is at the dealer. Nobody else has touched it. Do you think this is a warrenty issue? I plan on trying to make it one on my next vist.

Now here's the other issue..... Rust!!! The lower inside of the doors. All 4 of them.


I'm truly ticked off. Now I know I live in the snow/salt capital of the northeast, but a vehicle with only 30,000 miles should not have this crap on/in it. I will definately be discussing this with the dealer. I just wish I had a decent dealership around that seemed to care about customers..

What do you all think?

Thanks.

Tom

 

That's a warranty issue if I've ever seen one. Well, the wheels are... not sure they'll bite on the body work. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

I'd raise 55 1/2 types of cane about that. I'm so EEEVIL... :o

 

T21

You've had your truck for almost 3 years now and you are just noticing the rusting on the lower door seams?

I suppose that also means you haven't done anything to maintenance those areas like wipe them down after car washes and keep those areas waxed up.

Maybe now's a good time to start. Oh, and by the way. Dont forget the bottom seam on your tailgate too.
Zap

 

My 98 F150 did that. On My 01 SCrew I have kept all the bottoms of the doors and tailgate coated with oil .

As for the wheels I had my tires rotated and the fellow that does this for me always puts the weights on the inside of the rim only on aluminum wheels. The weights will cut the clearcoat and allow corrosion to get in behind it. Once it starts it will continue to creep. A Coworker a few years ago had this on his Chrysler and he did manage to get new wheels on warranty. Some of the fellows in our office will take their new cars in right away and have the weights moved to the inside of the rim to prevent this

 

Canadian,

I have heard some talk of oiling their door seams etc, exactly what kind of oil, and how often do you do it. I live on the Gulf Coast, and am thinking I ought to do that as well.

 

Man thats not right for a truck with only 30k on it. I dont neglect my truck, but i dont wipe down the cracks everytime i go through a car wash or a puddle. Thats weak man, but let me know how things work out


Jim

 

Hey all, Thanks for the replies.

I would just like to say that I am pretty good at keeping my truck clean and wiped down after washing it. This winter has been a really rough in my neck of the woods. Lake effect snow (from Lake Ontario) weekly. This is the first winter my truck has been a daily driver, so more miles and more exposure to salt. I really believe the rust has shown it's ugly face just this winter. The truck was washed and waxed good last October. Unfortunately, I was not the one to wax it. I had it done at the autobody repair facility after hitting a darn deer. (not too much damage- front bumper and headlight). Needless to say, I have oiled the areas mentioned. Yet to see if I'll get anywhere with the dealership about repairs. I can see I'm in for a battle.


Tom

 

You won't believe what i used to use. It's oil for Steam Engine's. A friend of mine used to buy this stuff. It is thick like a grease but if you heat it you can spray it with an air compressor gun. It pretty messy so I used a gear oil with no degergents or additive on this truck. It works best doing late every fall when we have a few warm days left. The sun shining on the truck will make the oil run and will creep into the seams before salt and water creeps into them. Don't put on too much or it will drip on your running boards and make a mess if you have a cement driveway.

 

Thanks,

I'll try it.

 

Hey is anybody else having the same problem with rust on the lower tail gate seam?

Let's face it guys - this is a maintenance item, the door rust.

 

First off, the only thing you can do about it is have the wheel repaired or replaced. As far as preventing it in the future, yes. The tire mounters are SUPPOSED to use coated wheel weights, specifically for this reason, but keep in mind, these guys make dirt for pay, and unfortunately, some seem to hold a grudge against those who can afford a vehicle that costs twice what they make in a year. Regular weights for steel wheels, coated for aluminum/alloy wheels. The corrosion on your wheel comes from dissimilar (pardon the spelling error) metals galvanizing. The problem you now have is: who balanced the wheel last? They are at fault. No documentation, no case. If they are the original skins, you may be able to push the cause a bit further, since it should not have been tampered with from the factory.

We have a lot more salt here than snow thanks to the rich b**ch crybabies here who have to be able to go anywhere at anytime. This may explain why my S'crew has the weights on the inside of the wheel only. The balance job isn't as good, but it makes the wheels look pretty for all the shallow Putz' around here!

Good luck!!!

SL

 

Hi everybody,

2002 supercrew lariat...2wd..

bought in oktober 02..

my chrome rear bumper has rust on it in the bend area where the liscence plate is located..

Nothing can rub in that location.. so I was suprised..

taking it in next week to the dealer.. I'll let ya know what happens..

Rolf