Hi all,

I have a 99 4Runner with 242k.

I noticed more body rust while changing my oil.

The new spot is below the driver side passenger door. Last year I addressed some rust below the opposite door and the wheel arch.

Ive been told its not worth it to fix properly, ie, welding in new metal.

Should I just let it take its course, or fix it?

Scott

 

The outside rust you see is the end result of the sills rusting from the inside. And they rust from the inside generally because of the sunroof drains keeping them damp. The sunroof needs to drain somewhere, and that's where they chose.

Are you in the 'salt belt'? Driving it on salted slushy wet roads in the winter is going to cause rust, plain and simple.

The sills aren't particularly structural in nature, at least not until the rust is REALLY advanced. The frame is much more important. When you wash the car, try to flush out the interior of the frame as well as you can, bend down, look under, and find the various holes in the frame easily accessible from the sides, and spray water in until it comes out of the drains clear.