Rust In Hidden Area

[beave84]

I was changing out my tail lights on my 2010 C/C and when I removed the old light I found rust at a bed seam and a ton of dirt and gravel. I went to the dealer about it and he said they've seen it there and all they can do is touch it up beacuse the design allows eveything to fly up and into there. It has 4K on it and has had fender liners and mud flaps since it was new. He said he recomends spraying behind the tail light with undercoating beacuse it'll just keep doing it. There is also a ledge about two inches wide that holds alot of mud against the back of the tail gate hinge.

 

This isn't a rant or anything, just letting you all know of this so if you want you can remove your lights and spray it so it doesn't rust out on you.

[Superperv23]

Any pics?

[beave84]

Any pics?

 

 

I'm trying but Photobucket is being an a$$ F%ck and saying it can't find my account, so when they answer my message for login help I'll post them

[beave84]

This is on the tail gate side right across from the rubber tail light mount.

 

 

 

Just below the first rust mark..Both are after the service manager wiped it down.

 

 

This was the amount of dirt I found. I don't drive this truck very often, Bought 7/10 and only have 4K on it. My 2011 is my daily driver.

[abschnick]

This is on the tail gate side right across from the rubber tail light mount.

 

 

 

Just below the first rust mark..Both are after the service manager wiped it down.

 

 

This was the amount of dirt I found. I don't drive this truck very often, Bought 7/10 and only have 4K on it. My 2011 is my daily driver.

 

I changed the drivers side rear tail light on my 07 and noticed rust there also. Plan on showing the body shop it the next time I am by the dealer. Also noticed at the bottom seam of my tail gate that rust is forming.

[pm26]

I wonder if this is the case with my GMT800 as well. I will remove a taillight and take a look. Once the rust starts, it will get only worse.

[Superperv23]

Did you check your 2011 and see if it is the same?

[beave84]

Did you check your 2011 and see if it is the same?

 

 

Yeah it has alot of dirt in behind the light no rust yet but its dark blue so there may be some, gonna undercoat it too just to be sure nothing sneaks up on me.

[hodges25]

I take mine offroad alot and I was noticing mud coming out from between the taillight and the outer bedside when i was washing it one day. I pulled off the light and lo and behold it was caked up everywhere in there. And I've also had the GM wheelhouse liners since a couple months after I got it.

[beave84]

I was talking to a buddy of mine about this and he had an idea how to fix it. He said take a piece of rubber roofing material and attach it to the back of the panel I have the arrow pointing at. Just enough to cover the holes. He said to use contect cement as it'll hold for a long time.When it warms up I'm gonna try this. You can access these from underneth between the wheel house liner and bumper.

 

 

[rogerf]

Did you check your 2011 and see if it is the same?

 

 

Yeah it has alot of dirt in behind the light no rust yet but its dark blue so there may be some, gonna undercoat it too just to be sure nothing sneaks up on me.

 

Just noticed yesterday that my paint lifted where the light assy butts against the metal inside the tailgate jamb...about 1/4 inch X 6 inch strips of bare rusty metal showing. Can't see it unless the tailgate is open but good indication of where this is going in 2-3 years.

[KMGZ400]

I wonder if this is the case with my GMT800 as well. I will remove a taillight and take a look. Once the rust starts, it will get only worse.

 

 

yes it is the case. noticed mine a long time ago while changing bulbs. rust and mud everywhere

[Big D's H D]

Hey, Beav84 Thanks for the tip on the hidden dirt! I also own a low mileage 09 2500HD not my daily driver either,

and its my first NNB G.M. truck that I've owned, had it now for 8months still looking for all the knooks and crannys where this crap hides so I can rinse all the salt and sand off. I have factory mud flaps, and just bought the linners.

I drove the other night in heavy rain and the next day saw road sand comming out of the crack at the tail lite also!

I'll now be buying some undercoat to spray in these areas before the liner install. The many "spots" that the engineeres at G.M. have over looked is Shocking to say the least! i.e. Does rotten toyota frames ring any bells. Can G.M. really afford to warrenty all this dumb design flaws they have like the (we forgot the rear wheel house linners) !

I will be taking this truck out on the beach camping alot and I need to find all the hidding spots where the beach sand is gonna hide so I can rinse it well Sorry for the long post I'am out to remove the tail lites now

Dave

[rogerf]

had it now for 8months still looking for all the knooks and crannys where this crap hides so I can rinse all the salt and sand off.

I run through unspeakable amount of road salt in NE Ohio and found this body full of these places. I make it a point of using a garden hose and liberal amounts of water to rinse the underside every Spring, followed by oiling rot-prone body seams. Expect issues, especially under the bed area. After 2 Winters, the factory finish was already lifting from almost every under-body support, both the wax-dipped frame finish and the painted sheet metal. Was bad enough that I took it to a rust-proofer last Summer. Not sure yet what Winter #3 did after having it sprayed but the shop told me it will likely take a couple re-treatments to kill it.

[Big D's H D]

Hey, rogersbowtie You spoke about rust proofing can you explain more about it , the type ,brand and where to go .I don't know of any place here on cape cod that does this I'am sure there is some one Years ago Ziebart under coating was the deal but havent heard of them for years. I've been told about mixing bakeing soda and water in a pump sprayer and coating underneith after a rinse to neutralize the salt? Other products like Salt-X,and Salt-away I've seen at marine stores look like they mite work to stop salt-rusting!

This looks to be a long fight against the hidden salt/rust/sand spots to rinse so I can keep this truck as long as I've planned to.

I'll pas along any tips I find,hope others do the same! Good luckDave