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technobug
Dodge Dakota
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10/22/2003
12:56:28
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 Subject: My 1mo. old R/T is rusting!!!!!
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Well, I've owned my R/T for about a month now. I gotta say that I am far from pleased with my purchase. To my horror I discovered that the front suspension components are completely rusted. I just happened to look in the wheel well while the wheels were cranked to one side. Is this normal for Dak's? Does dodge not paint or coat their parts? I just can't believe they would leave these things bare. I live in So Cal so I don't have an issue with salt. Hell it's 90deg here and it hasn't rained for 2mo.
Definately not pleased. The windshield is total pitted too. Looks like it got sand blasted.
What should I do? is this normal for Dodge productas?
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kevin
Dodge Dakota
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10/22/2003
13:11:00
|  RE: My 1mo. old R/T is rusting!!!!!
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those parts are cast iron, and don't need to be painted for protection from rust. The visible layer of rust protects it from further corrosion.
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EBL
Dodge Dakota
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10/22/2003
13:33:29
| RE: My 1mo. old R/T is rusting!!!!!
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I suggest you do not follow so close to the rear of the vehicle in front of you and your windshield will not become "sandblasted.
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smartass
Dodge Dakota
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10/22/2003
13:59:20
|  RE: My 1mo. old R/T is rusting!!!!!
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I also recently pulled on a little yellow tab in my engine, and this long metal "stick" came out, covered in this sticky, drippy, oily-looking material. Is this normal?! I also noticed that all the little rubber "feeler-nubs" on my new tires have been worn bald! After only 3,000 miles! Is my truck falling apart?!
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Hemi
Dodge Dakota
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10/22/2003
14:12:44
| RE: My 1mo. old R/T is rusting!!!!!
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Like kevin said that is just surface rust. It is not structural rust at all. It will go no further than that.
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Sesquash
Dodge Dakota
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10/22/2003
14:34:40
|  RE: My 1mo. old R/T is rusting!!!!!
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Guys..give him/her a break! There is no such a thing as a silly question, if the person feels the need to ask it....
....they feel the need for input, or support in any form....
It doesn't cost us anything to answer in the mind-set as Kevin and Hemi did--in reassurance. To mock, is to infer superiority. Nobody, is superior to another, as we will all take the Dirt Nap together. Think about it...
Cheers!
Sesquash
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technobug
Dodge Dakota
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10/22/2003
16:06:19
| RE: My 1mo. old R/T is rusting!!!!!
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No worries, no offense taken here. I've just never owned a vehicle that has rusted. Even my old chevy wagon had a coating on parts. Needless to say, but so did my Nissan and Toyotas.
The wind shield is not from driving. The glass itself is of very poor quality. The exterior surface has a very rough texture to it. You can only see it in certain conditions, but it's there. You can feel it. If it was from following too close as some intelligent person suggested, it would most likely have beat the crap out of my paint too, no?
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Todd
Dodge Dakota
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10/22/2003
16:24:14
|  RE: My 1mo. old R/T is rusting!!!!!
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Regarding the sandblasted windshield.
technobug:
I noted you live in So.Cal. I lived in that area for 20 years, and due to the normal and seasonal Santa Anna winds (50 MPH +) and the dust and fine sand they carry (and at times rather large sand particles) I have had pitted glass.
It has nothing to do with following to close to another vehicle (EBL). It is an unfortunate part of living in the dry southwest of the US.
Todd
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technobug
Dodge Dakota
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10/22/2003
17:09:51
| RE: My 1mo. old R/T is rusting!!!!!
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I agree, the Santa Ana's are a pain, but this just isn't the case. My R/T is black and doesn't show any scratches yet. Neither does any of the other winndows. Only the windshield. I'm begining to wonder if the windshield has been replaced on this truck. :(
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Todd
Dodge Dakota
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10/22/2003
22:42:40
| RE: My 1mo. old R/T is rusting!!!!!
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technobug
Just posting a possible cause.
The windshield takes all the brute force when driving (add wind speed to what the speedometer reads) and the angle of the glass as opposed to the other angles of the vehicle. The air slips over the most of the vehilce, yet the windshied is a relative flat wall standing in the path of air flow.
If you check the headlights you may find a similar pitting occurring.
Secondly the paint has an acrylic clear coat (and usually two coats of wax) to protect it.
I have seen this problem on all the vehicle I owned here in California. I do not remember it occurring when I lived in areas with higher humidity (moisture in the air keeps the particle count lower).
However I could be making this all up.... :)
Todd
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rtdkota
R/T
10/23/2003
10:16:49
| RE: My 1mo. old R/T is rusting!!!!!
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Hey, if you are in so cal-- give me a shout---
619-274-1292... There's a lot of guys with RTs out here.. I am in San Diego--
Did you buy this NEW or used?
Sam
www.socaldakota.com
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gen1dak
Dodge Dakota
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10/23/2003
12:12:47
| RE: My 1mo. old R/T is rusting!!!!!
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All this started when the Japanese (as far as I can tell...they're the first ones I noticed it on) started taking even these steps to give a more refined look to their products. As evidenced by the posting, the rust puts off customers despite it not being necessary. Take a look at vehicles from 25 years ago and none of them have painted suspension parts.
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EBL
Dodge Dakota
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10/23/2003
12:50:32
| RE: My 1mo. old R/T is rusting!!!!!
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Sorry about the following too closely. I have never lived in the Southwest.
For headlight pits, I've found buffing with alluminum polish to work well. I wouldn't try this on glass.
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technobug
Dodge Dakota
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10/23/2003
13:41:52
| RE: My 1mo. old R/T is rusting!!!!!
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Sam-
I'm in OC. I just bought a new R/T about a month ago. It's an `03 Blk CC R/T w/ the Stampede kit. I'll give you a call. Thanks. ;)
Thanks for the input guys. I'm still not sold on the damage from driving in SoCal theory. I barely have 1000mi on it yet. If the glass pits that easy, I'd hate to see it after 50,000.
Plus I do some aerodynamics work as a job and the air is already separated from the body by the time it gets to the windshield.
Anyways, all the input was appreciated.
I guess I just need to adjust for life with a Dodge.
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