subject: What if there's rust on the car? [print this page] Rust is a reality for anything that has iron in it and cars are not exempt from it. Rusting on car's exterior is something that must be taken seriously. A little rust does not really directly affect a car's performance, but it may be an omen of an even worse condition. Thus, every potential buyer of used or second hand cars should learn what rust in car means.
In this article, we will talk about a the major implications should rust be discovered on the car may it be on the body itself, or underneath.
Plain Old Age
This one is obvious a car that is simply too old will inevitably have some rust on it. Rust proofed cars are not even exempt from this, as some part of the car will inevitably be reached by the agents of rust. A well maintained car that has run for less than 100,000 km's should still be free from rust. However, those that have a higher odometer reading are expected to have some.
Rust can be used as an indicator of whether the car is as old as the seller declares it to be. Furthermore, the presence of rust that was brought about by the natural aging process might indicate that the engine might already have some rust too. Thus, stay away from these kinds of cars, as they may be retiring very, very soon.
If you suspect that a car is older than what the seller claims, take a look at the bottom of the car. Take a look underneath and check for rust among the visible engine parts. The presence of rust in this area is a very strong indication that the car will eventually give up soon.
Road Salt
Winter brings with it ice and snow the things that make roads dangerously slippery. Thus, road salt is typically sprinkled generously so that the ice will melt. This increases tire traction, which improves the maneuverability of cars during this seasons.
However, road salt is also a potent agent for metallic corrosion. This happens because salt acts as a catalyst that promotes the chemical binding of iron in the car and oxygen from the atmosphere. A car that is known to have been operated in such a climate might have premature rust due to accelerated corrosion.
Be cautious when inspecting these cars. While it is true that rust is "normal" in such situations, this can also be the perfect sign that shows the previous owner's negligence (or ignorance) of proper car care. A simple rust proof coating would have solved the problem, and the previous owner not knowing that may mean that he or she does not also know how to take care of other equally important car parts.
The Worst Case Scenario
This does not happen all the time, but it sure does happen.
Some cars get into massive collisions which often wrecks them totally. Usually, these cars are sent to junk yards where parts are salvaged and sold in used parts shops. However, there are quite a number of shady establishments that, instead of doing stuff legally, take advantage of the situation at the expense of the public.
If a car had a head-on collision but the rear is virtually untouched, the totaled car is sliced cross-wise along the middle of the side doors. Basically, the broken front half of the car will be sent to the recyclers, while the rear half will be stored in a warehouse.
Then, another car had a rear collision. The same process is done, except that the front half is stored and the rear is sent to the junk yard instead. If the first car (front collision) and the second car (rear collision) are of the same make and model, then they are simply welded together and salvaged.
This welds are often made in a shoddy manner. This will then allow the buildup of rust on the places where the welds were done. Be sure to check the bottom of the car for these signs or risk having a gargantuan financial headache.
