Moisture and interior rust on 100 series LC

[Smapty]

I bought a clean title 2002 100 series landcruiser from a reputable dealer about a month ago. Absolutely love the car but now that I've owned it for a while I've started to notice some details that are freaking me out.

Car was bought by the dealer at an auction bc it was a real estate company's company car. It presents very well and it passed a 3rd party inspection that I arranged before purchase with flying colors. That said, the seat rails have a tiny tiny bit of rust in a few places, but check out the image attached that I took of the rear console area when I removed the panel cover. This should NOT be rusty, right? How would this have happened?


To top it off, I removed the passenger side rubber mat and the interior was slightly moist under that mat (but nowhere else in the car). Now we just did have a rare rain in SoCal so Im wondering if the car isnt sealed well or if there is an AC leak and if any of that could have created the rust in the attached image. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Trunk Monkey]

I'd poke around under the carpet more, see if the rust is isolated to that area or is in other parts. Hopefully you don't have a flood damaged vehicle. If it's just in that spot then I'd start looking for other sources.

 

[Mike6158]

I put a post up about rust here: Got rust? (not body related)

 

[Smapty]

I put a post up about rust here: Got rust? (not body related)

Awesome thanks! That's exactly what I saw in mine. Any idea why yours was rusted? Also if you don't mind I'm having trouble getting the center console off after removing ALL the screws, bolts etc. on my 2002 100 series. Any idea if more pieces need to come off (cup holder etc) to get that piece off and out?

 

[Mike6158]

The cup holder "pops out". It's kind of nerve wracking but pull it straight up and it will come out. Then the trim piece around the shift knob comes off. Make sure you pull the 4 screws at the bottom of the console too.

 

[2001LC]

Keep in mind this is a non painted factory Toyota part. IMHO Toyota should have painted every parts but you'll find other interior parts not painted also.

Moisture from hot humid weather, wet cleaning carpet (not recommended) and spills can cause the rust you're seeing.

 

[Mike6158]

+1 ^^^ I forgot to mention that.

 

[BOB F]

1998 LC here. I just replaced my windshield. Search my posts. Poor factory install, leaking, rust, wet passenger carpet.

If someone talks about sealing the bottom of the windshield, get it pulled and dine properly.

 

[hifu]

Living near the shore, not closing up the vehicle while hanging out on the beach or on an island like us will also do that. When I first got my cruiser I fished a lot out of it in the beach, I always point my truck toward the wind and fish off the back. I noticed any open an unused outlet quickly turned to rust.

 

[labcab]

The wet carpet on the passenger side is probably the A/C evaporator door behind the glove box. It's well documented here. Drain gets clogged and the seal deteriorates over time. It's an easy fix.

 

[Smapty]

We had a couple days of pretty significant rain. Passenger side carpet isn't wet so I know it must be the evaporator. My door actuators are going bad so I took off the rear passenger side door to start the process. Noticed some moisture at the very bottom of the metal well on the interior of the door. Is this normal?