100/LX rust concerns and salted roads?

re_guderian · 10-28-09, 03:44 PM

I've sold the minivan, selling the 80, and looking hard at 100's and LX's ('99-'01). After owning an FZJ80 from Penn/MD/VA and going through rust-hell, I'm wondering how rust-prone the 100's are. I'm looking at one that spent it's life in UT and NY. Is rust likely to be an issue? I haven't yet inspected the truck (it's out of town) and want to know if I should write it off out-of-hand based on it's history. Thoughts?

SWUtah · 10-28-09, 04:03 PM

The salt they use now in the rust belt is like salt on steroids. Buy a truck from AZ where you live. My 2004 came from Tx. and it is rust free. I paint the bottom in the Spring to cover any potential rust problems and keep it rust free, I also bottom blast it every week in the winter to keep the salt off the bottom of the 100. I bought a 1999 a few years ago from AZ and the bottom look like new no rust at all. I also saw a 3 year old 100 series a couple of years ago that spent its life in Michigan and the bottom was covered in rust and all the aluminum parts were corroding. Good luck on your search.

re_guderian · 10-28-09, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SWUtah

The salt they use now in the rust belt is like salt on steroids. Buy a truck from AZ where you live. My 2004 came from Tx. and it is rust free. I paint the bottom in the Spring to cover any potential rust problems and keep it rust free, I also bottom blast it every week in the winter to keep the salt off the bottom of the 100. I bought a 1999 a few years ago from AZ and the bottom look like new no rust at all. I also saw a 3 year old 100 series a couple of years ago that spent its life in Michigan and the bottom was covered in rust and all the aluminum parts were corroding. Good luck on your search.

Thanks for the info. I think I'll pass on this one then. I'm not willing to go this (rust) route again. I had to dremel off my fan clutch, and snapped the rear shock bolt, and LSPV is rusted in place, etc. etc. etc...

Trunk Monkey · 10-28-09, 04:28 PM

My 100 spent it's life in UT and it's not bad. There's the usual light orange on the underside, but all the bolts have been fine and there's nothing eating into the metal.

NMuzj100 · 10-29-09, 02:13 AM

UT = No issues
NY = much more of a concern

When I was under my 100 this week I was shocked at the lack of corrosion for a 10 year old vehicle. But It's spent it's whole life in New Mexico and Colorado.

MidTex · 10-29-09, 12:07 PM

I once saw a 3 year old TX LC and 2 year old NY LC parked side by side on a dealer lot - they were even the same color. The NY LC undercarriage was covered in rust while the year older TX LC had none. Huge differance.

SWUtah · 10-29-09, 02:53 PM

If you live in the rust belt it is very important to do the annual rust elimination and under carrage painting to cover any problems, I do it in the spring along with weekly bottom blasts to not let salt build up under the 100 series.

OursSauvage · 10-29-09, 09:48 PM

I bought my '99 LC in Frisco, 2 1/2 years ago
Absolutely no rust
Now, still no rust on body (oil treatment, even inside the body/fenders/hood hidden area)
Frame: Anti rust paint each spring and before each oil treatment
So far so good

Be aware to not use an indoor garage to store your car at night... it's better to keep it frozen, to avoid the salt being powerfull

2000UZJ · 10-29-09, 10:09 PM

I drove down to Florida for 3 weeks. Was on the beach (ft.lauderdale) and sat outside. I looked underneath and had very slight oxidition that was turning into rust at the end of the trip. Mine has been in GA its whole life with the occasional cross country or beach trips. Each time I go, I find a tad bit of surface rust.

I finally took it to a shop and they stripped, blasted, and coated the frame with a rust stopping primer, and rhino-lined it. So far (5 months) and a few trips back to the beaches. Not a speck of rust!

SWUtah · 10-29-09, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2000UZJ

I finally took it to a shop and they stripped, blasted, and coated the frame with a rust stopping primer, and rhino-lined it. So far (5 months) and a few trips back to the beaches. Not a speck of rust!

What did that cost and who did it. Very cool. Was it a Rhino liner place?

OursSauvage · 10-30-09, 04:39 AM

About rhino-liner, I would be affraid rust still grow under, silently and stealthy

1loudLX · 10-30-09, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OursSauvage

About rhino-liner, I would be affraid rust still grow under, silently and stealthy

if the surface is prepared prior, IE, cleaned and painted then putting bedliner on will not let anything harbor.

OursSauvage · 10-30-09, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1loudLX

if the surface is prepared prior, IE, cleaned and painted then putting bedliner on will not let anything harbor.

Well, of course, in theory... but rust is like cancer... could you be sure to remove each rust atoms everywhere ?
Paint for frame (IE black mat paint, sometime "anti-rust") is boring, because you have to do it frequently, but at least, you can see where the rust is because the paint is cracked
Maybe not with Rhino-liner (if it's the same as I saw in a buddy's Ram), because it's to soft and wont crack, keeping rust and moisture killing your frame (not in one or two years, we all agree)

SWUtah · 10-30-09, 04:33 PM

Could be worse.

2000UZJ · 10-31-09, 07:36 AM

I'm having the frame flushed with a rust stopper. Having protection on the outside is great, but 100's frames rust inside as well. I've rhino lines my LCA's, frame, skid plates. I also sprayed my exhaust pipes with a rust preventer and coated them with a VHT black. So i'd say im pretty much "surface" rust free, but internally, I still have some work to do.

mcalvarez73 · 10-31-09, 07:50 AM

i always use Fluid Film for anti-rust, it works really well... outside/inside the frame

macneill · 11-02-09, 09:06 AM

My 02 is rusting normally I believe. Nothing significant, but I am getting some bubbles around the hatch which concern me.

I don't drive it very often either, so I think I've been spared the salted roads.

Elijah · 11-02-09, 01:14 PM

I sure hope rust bubbles around the hatch isn't normal, especially on a vehicle only 7 years old.

Roverrad95 · 11-02-09, 02:32 PM

I bought my Land Cruiser in IL, where it spent most of its life. 3.5 years later it was coated in rust underneath, and was one of the major factors we kept the LX470, that to this day still hasn't seen snow. It was interesting when we drove the Land Cruiser to CA, and had them next to each other. The LX470 has absolutely no rust on it, versus a brown/orange rust on the Land Cruiser.

My LX only spent 1 year in FL, then brought it back to California, so I really don't get as much oxidation from ocean air.

Arizona and New Mexico are the best though... there is just dry, desert air with no salt or corrosive chemicals. It funny, cause even a 20 year old Corolla doesn't look great, but out there, they may have paint fading, but thats it.

AJP · 11-03-09, 10:31 AM

FWIW in Toronto ... ... we have lots of salt, cold, damp/high humidity conditions (eg things stay cold and damp for months) AND LOTS of rust . ... was told by a body shop that did work for the local Lexus dealers that they had seen more rust with the LX470's then they saw with the LX450 ... and more corrective work done under warranty. I use Krown ... which doesn't stop it ...but is as good as it gets to slow it.

hoser · 11-03-09, 11:35 AM

AJP, also good to keep in mind, there were a shxtload more LX470's sold than LX450's. So, the shear number of rust cases would be greater.

I'm grateful I don't see many rusted LC/LX's around here

Whenever I see a car for sale with those added "dealer" badges on the trunk area, I usually suspect rust!

Roverrad95 · 11-03-09, 06:16 PM

Thats funny you mention it, almost every 80 series I see in the rust belt not only rusts underneath (badly) but major body rust as well. While there are some 100s, definitely I see more with less of an oxidation issue.

NMuzj100 · 11-05-09, 10:39 PM

They should be better rust protected than average.

re_guderian · 11-06-09, 07:48 AM

Frankly, I really don't care that much about the body rust. It's every fricken' nut and bolt that rusts into a permanent metal bond that is more frustrating to me. It makes mods, repairs, and basic maintenance a total nightmare. Looking at one in Iowa, but I'm pretty sure that's part of the "rust belt", no?

Roverrad95 · 11-06-09, 02:52 PM

Yeah, Iowa uses the same salt compounds as IL, IN, OH, MI, WI, MN, etc. It's going to be rusty underneath.

The only good thing about smaller town Land Cruisers/LX470s is that they are usually better taken care of for some reason.

I'd rather buy one in Iowa than in Chicago. Chicago has a higher percentage for abuse and accidents. Just what I have observed (mostly with Range Rovers, but nonetheless, relevant).

99toylc · 11-07-09, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roverrad95

Yeah, Iowa uses the same salt compounds as IL, IN, OH, MI, WI, MN, etc. It's going to be rusty iunderneath.

The only good thing about smaller town Land Cruisers/LX470s is that they are usually better taken care of for some reason.

I'd rather buy one in Iowa than in Chicago. Chicago has a higher percentage for abuse and accidents. Just what I have observed (mostly with Range Rovers, but nonetheless, relevant).

I would disagree:
You are certainly right about accidents, but wrong about abuse since there is no where to drive them off road in Chicagoland (ask me how I know..) and you can score a pretty good example of a mall cruiser most of the time (since in high $ neighberhoods around here a wife having/driving an LC or LX is like a badge of honor

.
Iowa on the other hand is going to offer a lot of trucks ater use the way they were intended (off road )+ salt and tipical stuff... just my 0.02 c