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View Full Version : Does this look infected (with rust) to you?

Yianni
07-15-2025, 12:30 PM
Dear All,

I bought an '11 5MT Yaris liftback last Fall to learn how to drive a manual. It's been a blast. Car has 89K miles.

Being that it lived in the US Rust Belt for its first 14 years it has some rust underneath. So, I got it up on ramps the other day to poke around. Tapped on a bunch of parts with a mallet, and the underframe and exhaust seem solid. Have a wire brush and a lot of what I can see is superficial. Engine looks pretty good in terms of rust.

The suspension seemed most troublesome. I took some pictures. Being that I'm living in Texas, I don't really have much experience with rust. Any thoughts, suggestions, questions, etc. are welcome.

Thank you.
WeeYari
07-15-2025, 12:52 PM
Infected no. Normal surface rust yes.
ChrisZX2
07-16-2025, 02:46 PM
No, that thing is rusted out. I wouldn't feel safe driving that at any speed.
WeeYari
07-16-2025, 05:38 PM
No, that thing is rusted out. I wouldn't feel safe driving that at any speed.

Ignore that. ^

Mine has been running in the rust belt for 19 years. I know what rusted out looks like.
S_Siray
07-17-2025, 06:59 AM
How's the under body look in front of the rear wheels?

This was enough to total my 2008 S hatchback parts car. It lived at the Jersey shore for only 77,000 miles. We drove to Virginia to get a rust free car.
Yianni
07-18-2025, 08:53 PM
How's the under body look in front of the rear wheels?

This was enough to total my 2008 S hatchback parts car. It lived at the Jersey shore for only 77,000 miles. We drove to Virginia to get a rust free car.

Good question. Traveling now, but once I get home I'll get it back up on the tables and look at that specifically. I didn't take any pics, but my recollection that the front (pics above) looked more rusted than the rear. I tapped all around with a hammer and didn't see/hear any evidence of significant corrosion.