Tailgate Rust Around License Plate Lights (1 Viewer)

[urist]

I've looked through some threads here and other places. Varying advice on dealing with liftgate rust

When I bought my cruiser, it had tape holding up the left license plate light. Eventually it fell down and I jerry rigged it to stay in place. But I saw some rust spots around the edges and put on a liberal coat of Fluid Film before fastening it back. Now I've ordered new license plate lights but before I put them on I want to fix that rust. See photo below. Ignore the plastic bag that was part of my rigging and helped keep water from splashing in.

Does that look like its rusted from the inside? Could I sand it down and apply rust converter, primer, and paint, or do I need to get a patch welded in? Its the only spot on the tailgate with any visible rust. Or would some more fluid flim on inside and outside do the job?

Thanks

Some of that gunk on the left side is from the tape that held it in place for a long time.

 

[Slashzero]

That doesn't look bad at all. Mine was much worse when I bought my 2003, and all I did was spray some Rust-Oleum up into the tailgate and over the surface. It's been 4-5 years now, and the rust has not gotten any worse, so I must have lucked out. Now if my O2 sensor would just stop blowing out once every few years that would be great.

Really, yours just looks like some surface rust. Tap on it lightly with the handle of a screw driver. If it feels solid, you are probably fine, but should treat it with POR-15 or Rust-Oleum, then you can also use some touch up paint if having black paint will bother you.

 

[urist]

That doesn't look bad at all. Mine was much worse when I bought my 2003, and all I did was spray some Rust-Oleum up into the tailgate and over the surface. It's been 4-5 years now, and the rust has not gotten any worse, so I must have lucked out. Now if my O2 sensor would just stop blowing out once every few years that would be great.

Great. I haven't dealt with rust or bodywork before. Learning as I go. And your thread was very helpful.

Really, yours just looks like some surface rust. Tap on it lightly with the handle of a screw driver. If it feels solid, you are probably fine, but should treat it with POR-15 or Rust-Oleum, then you can also use some touch up paint if having black paint will bother you.

Yeah, Its still structurally solid, which left me thinking it was mostly surface level rust. I'll snag some Rust-Oleum and give it a whirl. Thanks!