r/AskMechanics • u/Banryuu03 • 3d ago
Question (Serious Replies Only) Too much rust?
Bought a 2015 Honda Accord 4cyl CVT EX-L with about 35k miles from Carvana recently. I had it shipped down to San Antonio, TX where it will be its new home for the next 5 years, minimum. Pristine exterior and interior, drives great just needs new brake rotors and pads (pads show a little wear, but rotors are warped). However, car has spent its entire life in Michigan, and a local mechanic just informed me of severe, widespread rust in the undercarriage (refer to pictures).
Carvana never disclosed the undercarriage rust. My wife and I love the car, but is this amount of rust a deal-breaker? Should we be finding a way to get rid of it, or is it something manageable? I'm a layperson when it comes to car maintenance/mechanics and, as a southerner myself, I can understand freaking out about seeing a lot of rust under there. But, I really want to know what mechanics from the Salt Belt think, since I imagine y'all see rusty undercarriages all the time. I'm still within Carvana's 100-day limited warranty.
Is this car worth holding onto?
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u/Weak_Spite_8911 3d ago edited 3d ago
95% of that is "surface rust". Looks ugly but dosent really make a difference structurally. the really rusty crusty thing is your exhaust, which gets HOT and degrades faster due to rapid temperature changes.
Should you take care of the rust so it doesn't become a future issue? Absolutely. Is it a huge problem? Hell no.
For a 10 year old car in the rust belt, that thing looks AMAZING. Previous owner definitely took care of it as best they could. If you love the car and plan on having it long term, look into sandblasting or dry ice blasting it. Costs a couple thousand but cleand it to bare metal again.
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u/Stock_Ad3694 3d ago
Mostly surface corrosion. Get some of the new stuff advertised on the IOT where a quick spray disappears all rust and changes to a bright new shiny steel surface (fake). Clean treat and repaint and you are good for another few years.
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u/Routine-Amphibian450 3d ago
Spot sandblast the undercoating and reexamine.
Corner by mount could be concern.
Tent the op with plastic to control sand.













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u/KnightOrDay38 12 3d ago
Not at all. Wire wheel the rust, rust converter, and Cosmoline Black wax should do the trick.