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Pickups Chevrolet Silverado & GMC Sierra Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra Undercarriage Rust
17 messages, Last post on Oct 03, 2009 at 4:02 PM
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I purchased a 2008 GMC Sierra this weekend and after I got it home I noticed that the undercarriage had quite a few areas with surface rust. The rearend housing also has a bit of rust and the backs of the front spindles are rusted. It is all just surface rust, but it still kind of bothers me. I took the truck in to get detailed at the GMC dealer today and asked about the rust. They said that there was a technical service bulletin for this issue and proceeded to spray a little flat black paint of areas that are easily seen. I guess they thought that I would look under the truck. I would prefer something a little more factory like the rubberized black paint normally used on the undercarriage. Are areas of surface rust on the undercarriage normal on a new truck? Should I even worry about it? Lastly, what if anything does the dealer have to do for a technical service bulletin? Thanks in advance. |
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Replying to: blurry25 (Apr 15, 2008 10:26 pm) If there was a tsb regarding surface rust, I ASSURE you that spraying flat black paint on unprepped surface rust IS NOT part of any TSB. There are sites like alldatadiy.com where you can get a detailed list of the TSBs available for your truck. The manufacturers really don't like you doing this as you may find problems with your truck that you never really noticed in the past but because of a description in the TSB suddenly you need to make a warranty service appointment. |
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Replying to: blurry25 (Apr 15, 2008 10:26 pm) |
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i am in autobody as well. and what i found that exp on frames and the under carrage is to clean it as best as you can. then use rust converter on the whole area thats needs to be painted. after that dries spay an etch primer on it. you can buy this in cans called ONE STEP self etching primer. this will help bond the new paint to the frame. i have done this to many vehicles and never had a problem. even on the factory coating just add the etch primer and you should not have a problem. it is all in cans so no need of spray guns. and for the top coating i use rock guard in cans. the paintble type . i found the other ones do not harden as much and if you want to touch it up down the road it is easier. but spraying black paint over it will just come off and is just for looks till you get out of the garage.
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Replying to: ntsmith69 (May 30, 2009 9:19 am) |
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Replying to: blurry25 (Apr 15, 2008 10:26 pm) I have a 2005 Silverado 2500 and the entire undercarriage is corroded. Started to get bad after about a year. I live in coastal FL. I have deposed the GM corrosion engineer who developed the spec for the wax undercoating. GM does not apply this coat. It's suppliers do, and some parts are uncoated. He says its for cosmetic protection only and only designed to last a year in the worst environments (GM designs its coating for what it calls the 95th percentile of environments). After that, GM expects the coating to flake off and the vehicle to corrode. GM refuses to cover undercarriage corrosion because they say it was caused by the environment. Duh. All corrosion is caused by the environment. GM also says that their bumper to bumper warranty doesn't cover undercarriage corrosion, only sheet metal. This is not true. The bumper to bumper warranty covers everything except that which is not specially excluded, and there is no exclusion for the undercarriage. There is an exclsuion for corosion caused by airborne fallout, but GM is claiming that salt and even rain count as airborne fallout. Note that GM added a further exclusion for sea air and road salt to its 2007 warranty. It shows they know their vulnerability. GM should repair your vehicle or give you a new one under the warranty, but they won't. That business with the black paint is nonsense. The dealer made it up. Either that or GM has really stepped in it. Can you get me the number of that TSP. Also, can you tell me where you live? State and proximity to salt water. Do they use road salt. What is the extent of the corrosion. You may be able to get relief based on the outcome of my case. I'm thinking it might even develop into a class action. I believe GM is misleading the public about its corrosion vulnerabilty and warranty.
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I have a 2005 Silverado 2500 and the entire undercarriage is corroded. Started to get bad after about a year. I live in coastal FL. I am suing GM for this right now. Case goes to court in two weeks. I have deposed the GM corrosion engineer who developed the spec for the wax undercoating. GM does not apply this coat. It's suppliers do, and some parts are uncoated. He says its for cosmetic protection only and only designed to last a year in the worst environments (GM designs its coating for what it calls the 95th percentile of environments). After that, GM expects the coating to flake off and the vehicle to corrode. GM refuses to cover undercarriage corrosion because they say it was caused by the environment. Duh. All corrosion is caused by the environment. GM also says that their bumper to bumper warranty doesn't cover undercarriage corrosion, only sheet metal. This is not true. The bumper to bumper warranty covers everything except that which is not specially excluded, and there is no exclusion for the undercarriage. There is an exclsuion for corosion caused by airborne fallout, but GM is claiming that salt and even rain count as airborne fallout. Note that GM added a further exclusion for sea air and road salt to its 2007 warranty. It shows they know their vulnerability. I believe GM is misleading the public about its corrosion vulnerabilty and warranty. Let me know if you are having corrosion problems with your GM vehicle. Together, we can hold GM accountable. |
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looking at my frame last weekend i noticed the wax peeling off rusting members from stem to stern. warranty service doesn't seem like a likely option - any ideas? (nbs1500wt, 2008)
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Replying to: x_silverado_x (Jun 29, 2009 4:09 pm) Sorry about the extra post I had to delete.. I'm new here..just trying to figure out how the boards work. |
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Replying to: x_silverado_x (Jun 29, 2009 4:09 pm) I am currently suing GM right now for this very problem. I live in coastal FL and have extensive corrosion throught the undercarriage. GM refused to cover under the warranty because they say it was caused by the environment. Of course it was. All corrosion is caused by the environment. FYI. I have deposed the senior GM manager from Michigan who developed the coating spec for the undercarriage wax coating. He says it was only designed to last and protect the vehicle for a year in the most hostile environments (the 95th percentile as they call it), and that GM fully expects the coating to fail and the vehicle to begin corroding after a year. GM added an exclusion for corrosion due to sea air and road salt in the 2007 warranty. I have a 2005, which does not have this exclusion (they clearly added it because they knew their vehicles were vulnerable). Yet they still will not cover it, claiming that there is an exclusion for airborne fallout (they consider salt in the air and even water in the air to be airborne fallout, though it does not say this in the warranty). The warranty is a sham and I believe I will win in court two weeks from now. Can you give me more info about your vehicle. My action may help you.
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