Okay, maybe my car's starting to fall apart.

DH says those bolts that hold those on are the some of the dinkiest bolts on the car.

 

I'm reminded of this classic song by da Yoopers (sung to the tune Jingle Bells)
"Oh, rust and smoke, da heater's broke, da door just blew away,
I light a match to see the dash and then I start to pray-ay
The frame is bent, the muffler went, the radio it's okay,
Oh what fun it is to drive this rusty chevrolet"

So you're not at the Chevrolet level yet, that's good to know.

 

Fascinating.

Hobbit: can a replacement bolt secure that part back to the chassis; or does it screw into a threaded hole that also rusted out?

 

If you live in an area where salt is used to deice roads in winter, that should come as no surprise. Especially after 5-6 years

Unless you are willing to apply a rust proofing agent like Fluid Film

Fluid Film® | Corrosion Preventative, Lubricant and Rust Inhibitor

on a regular basis, corrosion has to be expected. A co-worker used to have a 1992 Honda Accord, purchased new. He never rust proofed it, or even hosed it off underneath.

In 2001 he hit a pretty huge pothole on Fermor just east of the Lag intersection, past the Mint, and the right front of the car dropped around 4 inches. The subframe itself had simply rotted away, the the huge jar from the impact broke everything. The car was in decent shape otherwise, but he had to junk it

Here is my FJ two years after spraying on the Fluid Film









Otherwise, the FJ's around here are already rust-red underneath after two years

 

Its an environmental problem. Your environment is too nasty for steel. :madgrin:

 

Pls check the years cited above? There must be a mistake?

 

maybe that's the problem i'm having with my 04 after driving the 08. my daughter doesn't notice the low rumbling noise, but to me, it sounds like a freight train. don't get in a newer prius and it won't matter?

 

damm that a lott of rust you got there
is this not something covered under warranty?

 

My 2004 was becoming very unenjoyable to ride in. I replaced the struts / shocks and the tires (which had ~50% tread left, but apparently were out-of-round.)

Now the car rides great again. My wife provided an unsolicited comment to that effect during her latest (500 miles one-way) trip to southern CA.

 

Sorry you are correct, he had a 1992 Honda, not a 2002

There are many exclusions to such corrosion "warranty" programs. Some, such as those of Dodge, are only 3 years!

 

Of that I have no doubt!

Friends of mine in St George Utah have a 2003 Ford F-250 SuperDuty diesel that used to be used to pull a camper. They sold the camper several years ago, but since the truck only has 42,000 miles on it and is paid for, it just sits in their garage

At the CTIA convention in Vegas a couple of weeks ago, I visited with them and happened to peek underneath that truck. It looks like it just rolled off the assembly line!

Got to love semi-arid environments. Similar vintage trucks around here look like Swiss Cheese

 

Sacramento is almost an ideal climate for car longevity. I see daily drivers that are 30 and 40 years old every day. They are usually 60's and 70's pickup trucks although you also see the classic American land yachts too.

My GF had a 93 Toyota pickup that we sold in 2007 after I bought the Prius. It had no rust at all, the undercarriage looked new including the exhaust system. Her brother who lives in Western NY had a similar pickup, although it was a 91 model. In 2003, it was sitting in a field with holes in the body large enough to put your hand through.

 

yep, salt is a killer. in SE MI (which sits on top of one of the largest salt deposits in the world) it was typical to see holes rusted into cars 3 years old. (most only lasted that long if washed twice a week all winter long!!)

 

Hi Nerfer,

Well, ya know der, da finish-american Yooper sports car is dat Imp-ala , Ha! Lived in Calumet for a good part of my childhood.

 

Welcome to my world.

Tom

 

Ya, you betcha!

 

Do the Nordic people naturally gravitate to the rust belt? Lewis Black postulates a theory that they were migrating west, but under the influence of heavy drinking they veered to the right and only made it as far as Wisconsin. :madgrin: