Rust??
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Joined: Aug 2008
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Rust??
I just bought a used 2005 with 35K miles in CA with a clean Carfax and looks like a new car, however I just changed out the shifter for a MGW short shifter and noticed a lot of the metal parts under the radio bezel are rusty.. then I noticed the metal on the passenger seat rails were also rusty.. uh.. was this car in a flood?
The car has a clean title and drives fine, but I've only had it a few weeks. Thoughts?
The car has a clean title and drives fine, but I've only had it a few weeks. Thoughts?
SUBVETTE
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,841
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From: San Diego CA
I've had the bezel off mine a couple of times, once for MGW install, and noted no rust anywhere under there. Mine has spent its seven year life in CA under my ownership since new, so not sure why your CA car would be different. Perhaps your car originated out of state in a more moist environment and then again it could have been a flood victim. Your Carfax report should show a chain of ownership to determine where it has been.
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From: Wetumpka
Maybe someone spilled a drink and it got wet under there? It also could be moisture that got trapped in the car. The easiest way to tell if it was a flood car would be to pull the door panels and look at the metal hardware. Just look in places where the water may have reached but the metal could not be replaced.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,549
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From: Southampton NJ
I've had the bezel off mine a couple of times, once for MGW install, and noted no rust anywhere under there. Mine has spent its seven year life in CA under my ownership since new, so not sure why your CA car would be different. Perhaps your car originated out of state in a more moist environment and then again it could have been a flood victim. Your Carfax report should show a chain of ownership to determine where it has been.
doesnt look good
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Currently somewhere in IL,IN,KY,TN,MO,AR,MS,AL, or FL
You have a computer under the floor mat in the passenger footwell that controls most of the car and another mounted even lower that controls the engine. If you submerge these cars in water the repair cost especially on an '05 is very likely to be more than the car is worth. I think you are just seeing normal rust from humidity in a car that wasn't driven much. Pictures would help.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Aug 2008
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You have a computer under the floor mat in the passenger footwell that controls most of the car and another mounted even lower that controls the engine. If you submerge these cars in water the repair cost especially on an '05 is very likely to be more than the car is worth. I think you are just seeing normal rust from humidity in a car that wasn't driven much. Pictures would help.
Bare steel can rust from ambient moisture. As long as it's not excessive I wouldn't worry.
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Melting Slicks
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Since you bought it privately, can't hurt to ask the owner assuming he was the original owner what the story is/was. What's the worst that can happen????? You're not asking him to take the car back or anything, just curiosity.