Looking at a 2013 Tahoe LT, replacing my old 2005 (sniff, sniff)

Hi Folks, I'm afraid the time has come to say goodbye to my old 2005 Tahoe LT (123k miles, runs/drives like new) - she's getting too rusty and the state probably won't pass it again at sticker time.

Anyway - I'm looking at a low mile 2013 LT with 60k miles, she's in really great shape, super clean underneath, and the interior is in great shape. It's a one owner car that seems to have been taken care of but there is rust in the areas right behind the front bumper, radiator support area (see pics). Is this common? Should I concern myself with it? Thanks for your input - stay safe. Dave

I'd be surprised to see rust in that area and not a lot of the same further back. Kind of amazes me how these vehicles (and trucks) rust underneath in the snow belt and coastal areas.

Same here, the undercarriage of this truck is crazy clean. It's like it was dipped into salt water - nose first. I love my 05, but she's rusty from to back, rockers, rear qtrs - it's too bad, she runs amazing, has low miles, and can drive it anywhere.... (rust never sleeps)

That could be a slow coolant leak, if the rust area is confined to the immediate radiator area.

Regarding the power steering line, mine looked exactly like that, but my mechanism said that it was OK. It continued to bother me, and ultimately I had him change it out anyway, along the the pump itself.

Thanks Guys - I passed on the truck.

dcastine said:

Thanks Guys - I passed on the truck.

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Good call - that thing was a ticking rust bomb. You would be money ahead to locate a handful in a dry climate city like Phoenix or Houston, fly down there and bring home the one you like best.

Geotrash said:

Good call - that thing was a ticking rust bomb. You would be money ahead to locate a handful in a dry climate city like Phoenix or Houston, fly down there and bring home the one you like best.

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My existing truck, man I love this thing. But she needs help. I only use this to chase car parts and run to home depot and the dump. I think I'll just get her patched up - she only has 120k on it.

dcastine said:

My existing truck, man I love this thing. But she needs help. I only use this to chase car parts and run to home depot and the dump. I think I'll just get her patched up - she only has 120k on it.

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Pfffftt...easy fixes for a decent shop. They make patch panels for the area behind the rear wheels and replacement rockers. Or if you're handy with a welder, even better!

Those pictures sure look like a previous repair was done by just covering the rust-thru and surrounding area with bondo. Trouble is bondo acts like a sponge and absorbs moisture, including saltwater in winter driving. Precisely why the bubbling areas are so bad.
Those areas need to be cut-out with a rotary disc and replaced with fresh metal. After you cut-out the bad metal, vacuum and clean inside as much as possible so there's nothing to hold onto water or moisture. A great time to apply rust converter to keep the surrounding inner metal cavities cancer-free.

There should be patch panels available, but if not, use similar gauge sheetmetal and form it as best you can, welding it into place. Once welded in place and water-tight, grind the welds smooth. At this point it's fine to use bondo to cover any irregularities. Once painted, it's sealed-up and should last for years. It's actually not that bad to do and the results will last! I use a welding primer on the backside of the repair piece to protect it from future corrosion too.

Did this on a 79 Camaro and Trans Am that came from out of state with rust in lower front fenders and rearward rocker panels.
Being in AZ, and in the metro PHX area, I'm blessed that my bride's '13 Tahoe and my '08 Ram are corrosion-free, inside and out. That said it is supposed to be 113 here on Saturday, so there is a downside though!