Freaking out after finding rust... - Page 11 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

BMR Sales · 07-25-2016, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FJ60

Respectfully inform the Kia dealer that you feel unsafe driving a vehicle that has rust holes in its frame and ask for your money back. When I worked near Schofield Barracks my employer always bent over backwards to help active duty personnel as a means of "supporting the troops." I'm confident the Kia dealer does want negative publicity in the form of taking advantage of a Marine.

And this would be my approach!

Wizard1183 · 07-25-2016, 03:54 PM

Damn I missed the rust in peace party! Lol you live on a freaking island where SALT water exists. ANY car is a rust bucket there after a few yrs. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news

christianchevell · 07-25-2016, 07:19 PM

Yup our stock "undercoating" is just a thin layer of paint on the metal.. I have seen a lot worse cancer, you cut it out ,repair ,attack with rubber undercoating and tar seams etc etc where ever needed if its that bad. His does not look that bad though ,but should be inspected carefully to see the real condition and if its just minor do a minor fix for the owners safety and to prep it for the obligatory undercoating. Coastal cruisers here in Oregon have a common Cancer problem from the Pacific and the salt air. Its on Older cars even not by the coast when your a old motor head you deal with it. A new front cradle is a little drastic for a couple cancer spots but hey you have to look inside the frame rail and see whats up and yes welding up a small uneven hole even can be ground down to look like the rest of the frame you just work your way toward the center slowly working in welding building it up or use a piece and then tack it and go. And good luck to you what ever you decide to do!. Buying a car "as is" can be tough without a stipulation to fix it, I Held a dealer to a fix it once, and eventually got out from owning the truck it needed work this one time dealing with a used car lot and their incompetence fixing it...........and another time traded a car for another after a repair to a car I just bought once back to the dealer for another car.

LCPLPunk · 07-25-2016, 07:37 PM

Ok, so report for today (and today isn't over yet)

1. Took the car to the Chevy dealership and they looked it over. They had like 2 managers and three other techs come look at it and they mostly all agreed it had been in an accident. They said the welds didn't look right and there was some overspray in the engine bay where there shouldn't have.

2. I took the car to an independent place to see how much they'd charge to fix, but the shop I was looking for moved and the guy who was there told me he didn't have a lift (another auto shop moved into the original shop's location), but he looked at the pictures and said it was a safety issue with the rust.

3. I took the car to the Kia dealership. The manager there gave me a Carfax which showed no accidents, however the car had been inspected for safety twice in the last six months and passed both times (the inspection was done by the dealershp). I told the guy that they had basically failed to identify a safety issue with the frame and he told me he would give me a call in the afternoon after he talked with his service manager (it's only 234 pm here, and no call yet)

4. I talked to a lawyer with the Army's Judge Advocate Corps and she basically told me that it was sold-as-is and they should make it right, but didn't seem to be any real forcing function to do so. She said she could write me a letter to support getting it fixed.

5. I called one shop that I thought would be able to fix it and they said they don't do welding like that (even though their website says they do work with welding and frame) and said he didn't know anyone around that does.

6. I called another shop and sent him pictures and I am waiting for him to call me back. This is the place: http://www.mobilefleethawaii.com/service.html
Originally he said they'd charge me $75 to look at it, but I asked him to just look at the pictures real quick just to tell me if it's repairable or not.

Update: Mobilefleet said they wont' do it. :(

1Coopgt · 07-25-2016, 07:47 PM

Are there any salvage yards in Hawaii ? You might see if you can find a K member from a totalled Camaro that was in a rearend accident . Not the easiest thing in the world but it's a shot .

HuJass · 07-25-2016, 08:13 PM

Time to call your state's attorney general.

mustang50lx · 07-25-2016, 08:14 PM

It is likely more rusty than it looks. I would replace it. If you can't do that I would at least get it on a rack and smack it with a hammer to see how bad it really is.

LCPLPunk · 07-25-2016, 08:31 PM

I would love to replace it, but I bet a new subframe is probably over $1,000, and that's not including install. I could probably do the install myself, but I'm not sure if I have the tools to do so (I have a decent number of tools).

I called the Kia dealership back about 10 minutes ago and the guy is still waiting for the service manager to return.

I also called another repair shop and the guy seemed knowledgeable when I mentioned repairing the frame. He commented on how Corvette frames are lighter metals, but that it might be workable with the Camaro frame. I sent pictures and am waiting to hear back.

LCPLPunk · 07-25-2016, 08:44 PM

The repair shop got back with me and they said it looks fixable, but they need to see it in person. Unfortunately, they are closed Monday and Tuesdays. :P

Soybeanrice · 07-25-2016, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LCPLPunk

The repair shop got back with me and they said it looks fixable, but they need to see it in person. Unfortunately, they are closed Monday and Tuesdays. :P

Youre good man. If anything try to get the kia guys to pay the shop since they did fail to inspect a car.

LCPLPunk · 07-25-2016, 09:27 PM

Oh, they inspected it, twice in fact, and they said it was good to go. Now, what's tricky, is that if you look at the Manual for Hawaii vehicle inspections it doesn't really say much about frame damage, but it does about alterations or modification.

Tenring · 07-25-2016, 09:51 PM

GM Parts Direct has the front cradle for $373.67 plus shipping.

After a quick search, there are a number of them in junk yards for about the same price. Shipping would be a premium to Oahu, but can be done reasonably with the right carrier.

LCPLPunk · 07-25-2016, 09:56 PM

Wow, 373 isn't too bad at all, but shipping might cost me just as much. What do you define as 'reasonably'?

LCPLPunk · 07-25-2016, 10:12 PM

Ok, can you show me where you saw the 373? I just looked on GMPartsDirect and it looks like it's $728. I threw it in my cart to check shipping and it will cost about $600 to ship. :P

07-25-2016, 03:54 PM	#142
Wizard1183 Drives: ABM SS2/RS M6 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Lafayette,LA Posts: 2,322	Damn I missed the rust in peace party! Lol you live on a freaking island where SALT water exists. ANY car is a rust bucket there after a few yrs. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news __________________ Life is short, drive it like you stole it!

07-25-2016, 07:19 PM	#143
christianchevell old school chevy rodder Drives: 2021 zl1 a-10 WildCherry Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,622 View My Garage	Yup our stock "undercoating" is just a thin layer of paint on the metal.. I have seen a lot worse cancer, you cut it out ,repair ,attack with rubber undercoating and tar seams etc etc where ever needed if its that bad. His does not look that bad though ,but should be inspected carefully to see the real condition and if its just minor do a minor fix for the owners safety and to prep it for the obligatory undercoating. Coastal cruisers here in Oregon have a common Cancer problem from the Pacific and the salt air. Its on Older cars even not by the coast when your a old motor head you deal with it. A new front cradle is a little drastic for a couple cancer spots but hey you have to look inside the frame rail and see whats up and yes welding up a small uneven hole even can be ground down to look like the rest of the frame you just work your way toward the center slowly working in welding building it up or use a piece and then tack it and go. And good luck to you what ever you decide to do!. Buying a car "as is" can be tough without a stipulation to fix it, I Held a dealer to a fix it once, and eventually got out from owning the truck it needed work this one time dealing with a used car lot and their incompetence fixing it...........and another time traded a car for another after a repair to a car I just bought once back to the dealer for another car. __________________ 2021 Wild Cherry ZL1 A10, Sunroof, Data,Red Carbon Interior, Nav, RotoFab Big Gulp , Elite x2ultra, Borla ATAK, Driveshaft shop, BMR susp, Speed covers, intercoolers, ATI , 2650 MAG, DSX lid, 103 NW, TSP Longtubes & cats, LPE, 1le mods, ,LME cover, Katech pump and chain, Trunnions, BTR stage 2, LPE boostapump, Gforce, Speed eng , Granetteli, etc etc Last edited by christianchevell; 07-25-2016 at 07:33 PM.

07-25-2016, 07:47 PM	#145
1Coopgt Drives: All Black 2012 1LS Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Rochester,NY Posts: 2,042 View My Garage	Are there any salvage yards in Hawaii ? You might see if you can find a K member from a totalled Camaro that was in a rearend accident . Not the easiest thing in the world but it's a shot . __________________ Mods, K&N CAI ,VTC , GM Perf Axleback Exhaust, Elite Eng CC and CSS, GM Strut Tower Brace,Carbon Fiber Anvil Spoiler,ASC T5 Splitter,Gen5diy Foglight kit.

07-25-2016, 08:13 PM	#146
HuJass Drives: GM Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: CNY Posts: 1,599 View My Garage	Time to call your state's attorney general. __________________ 2015 Camaro 1LE 2009 Challenger R/T 2007 Solstice GXP 2004 Colorado ZQ8 2002 Trans Am WS6 Collector Edition 1999 Blazer 1994 Grand Prix SE B4U

07-25-2016, 07:37 PM	#144
LCPLPunk USA-1 Drives: 2010 Camaro SS L99 Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Near DC Posts: 1,893 View My Garage	Ok, so report for today (and today isn't over yet) 1. Took the car to the Chevy dealership and they looked it over. They had like 2 managers and three other techs come look at it and they mostly all agreed it had been in an accident. They said the welds didn't look right and there was some overspray in the engine bay where there shouldn't have. 2. I took the car to an independent place to see how much they'd charge to fix, but the shop I was looking for moved and the guy who was there told me he didn't have a lift (another auto shop moved into the original shop's location), but he looked at the pictures and said it was a safety issue with the rust. 3. I took the car to the Kia dealership. The manager there gave me a Carfax which showed no accidents, however the car had been inspected for safety twice in the last six months and passed both times (the inspection was done by the dealershp). I told the guy that they had basically failed to identify a safety issue with the frame and he told me he would give me a call in the afternoon after he talked with his service manager (it's only 234 pm here, and no call yet) 4. I talked to a lawyer with the Army's Judge Advocate Corps and she basically told me that it was sold-as-is and they should make it right, but didn't seem to be any real forcing function to do so. She said she could write me a letter to support getting it fixed. 5. I called one shop that I thought would be able to fix it and they said they don't do welding like that (even though their website says they do work with welding and frame) and said he didn't know anyone around that does. 6. I called another shop and sent him pictures and I am waiting for him to call me back. This is the place: http://www.mobilefleethawaii.com/service.html Originally he said they'd charge me $75 to look at it, but I asked him to just look at the pictures real quick just to tell me if it's repairable or not. Update: Mobilefleet said they wont' do it. :(

07-25-2016, 08:14 PM	#147
mustang50lx Drives: 2015 SS Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Plum, PA Posts: 94	It is likely more rusty than it looks. I would replace it. If you can't do that I would at least get it on a rack and smack it with a hammer to see how bad it really is.

07-25-2016, 08:31 PM	#148
LCPLPunk USA-1 Drives: 2010 Camaro SS L99 Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Near DC Posts: 1,893 View My Garage	I would love to replace it, but I bet a new subframe is probably over $1,000, and that's not including install. I could probably do the install myself, but I'm not sure if I have the tools to do so (I have a decent number of tools). I called the Kia dealership back about 10 minutes ago and the guy is still waiting for the service manager to return. I also called another repair shop and the guy seemed knowledgeable when I mentioned repairing the frame. He commented on how Corvette frames are lighter metals, but that it might be workable with the Camaro frame. I sent pictures and am waiting to hear back.

07-25-2016, 08:44 PM	#149
LCPLPunk USA-1 Drives: 2010 Camaro SS L99 Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Near DC Posts: 1,893 View My Garage	The repair shop got back with me and they said it looks fixable, but they need to see it in person. Unfortunately, they are closed Monday and Tuesdays. :P

07-25-2016, 09:27 PM	#151
LCPLPunk USA-1 Drives: 2010 Camaro SS L99 Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Near DC Posts: 1,893 View My Garage	Oh, they inspected it, twice in fact, and they said it was good to go. Now, what's tricky, is that if you look at the Manual for Hawaii vehicle inspections it doesn't really say much about frame damage, but it does about alterations or modification.

07-25-2016, 09:51 PM	#152
Tenring Drives: 2015 SS/RS M6 Commemorative Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Arizona Posts: 2,269	GM Parts Direct has the front cradle for $373.67 plus shipping. After a quick search, there are a number of them in junk yards for about the same price. Shipping would be a premium to Oahu, but can be done reasonably with the right carrier.

07-25-2016, 09:56 PM	#153
LCPLPunk USA-1 Drives: 2010 Camaro SS L99 Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Near DC Posts: 1,893 View My Garage	Wow, 373 isn't too bad at all, but shipping might cost me just as much. What do you define as 'reasonably'?

07-25-2016, 10:12 PM	#154
LCPLPunk USA-1 Drives: 2010 Camaro SS L99 Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Near DC Posts: 1,893 View My Garage	Ok, can you show me where you saw the 373? I just looked on GMPartsDirect and it looks like it's $728. I threw it in my cart to check shipping and it will cost about $600 to ship. :P