Greetings All

I just purchased a 03 standard cab 4X4 ranger.
After getting it home I noticed rust on the bottom of the passenger side door.
I checked the driver side and no rust.
This lead me to believe that maybe water is slipping past the window seals and settling in the bottom of the door panel.
Is this a common problem and how much of a problem is it to remove the interior door panel for a closer inspection?

Thanks Michael

 

It is a common problem for sure. My 04 has the bottom of the passenger door rusted out, and just like yours, the drivers side has no rust whatsoever. I really dont understand why one door rusts and the other doesnt. Ive been grinding away at it for two years now, but it keeps coming back. Yesterday I hit the rust with a rust converter, poured some inside the door as well. Patched up the holes, and will paint it later on this week.

Im not holding my breath, the rust will probably be back. But at least this way i buy it some more time. Im on the lookout for doors on craigslist, you should keep your eye out as well. My frame is rust- free though! Hahaha

 

Less use, less open air…

Driver’s side is open and close a lot more.

I’ll have to look at mine just to see.

 

thats the only thing i could think of. and then i counted the millions of times ive gotten in and out of my truck with muddy, wet boots on...figured the drivers side would rot faster.

 

Thanks for the info guys.
I would not have noticed it untill I saw just a slight bit of rust on the outside bottom of the door.
I'am not sure if the rust has gone all the way through yet.
Thank god it is in a spot thats some what hidden.
I believe in that rust converter ,I used it on my 00 F 150.
I want to take the interior door panel off ,if its not a PIA ,so I can see just how much damage is done.

Thanks Again Michael

 

I have the same issue, like the others said it is quite common. My doors are going to be re-done at a body shop just for that, it runs about 200 a door (prices in my area) for the fix and paint.

 

Auto/truck doors are not completely sealed against rain/snow/dust/mud intrusion. That's why virtually all have 2 or 3 small drains designed into the door bottoms. Check to see if yours are open and draining freely. They can get completely plugged especially with 4x4's that have been used off road. A nasty mix of mud, twigs and road salt can stay damp inside the door year round and keep the salt corrosion going summer and winter.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Side note:

I find that it is good preventative maintenance to work a small amount of oil into the pinched welds at the bottoms of the door skins to help keep the water from starting rust inside. I like using motorcycle chain lube because it has a volatile carrier that lets the mixture flow deep into the seams just as it would flow into the chain pins and bushings. The carrier later evaporates, leaving thick oil/grease to protect the unpainted metal inside. There will be a small amount of leakage from the bottoms of the doors for a while so plan accordingly. I leave the doors open after oiling to allow initial drip off and then clean the door edges occasionally to get the rest.

Obviously, this treatment is most effective when the vehicle is new and rust free. I would NOT do this to a door that you plan to repair/repaint soon.

 

I have a tiny bit of rust under the door also. It's a comma thing.

 

Well guys I have been searching the web for more info.
One thing that I have read is forget about the rust converter and go with a rust encapsulater.
My two choices are POR and Rust Bullet.
Rust Bullet has two patents so i might try that for $22 for the kit.
I know one thing that if I can stop the rust ,I will be cleaning that passenger side door sile on a regular basis.

 

I guess the next question is how to stop it from happening ?

Check the drain holes, number one.

Can a anti-rusting spray be applied to stop the rust or prevent it from happening ?

 

At first I thought that it was water entering the door panel however after further reading it sounds like it is just water and debris laying inbetween the door sile and the door panel which starts rusting on the pinch weld at the bottom of the door.
As far as a cure , I don't think that a rust converter will do any good.
I plan on using a rust encapsulater ,either POR15 or Rust Bullet.
My choice is Rust Bullet because it has good reviews,a couple of patents and it is a 1 step process.
Whats nice is that the rust is in a inconspicuous spot so repairs don't have to be perfect.
I just want to stop the rust before it reaches the out door skin.

 

on my truck it's the drivers door with the rust. I plan to check out the rust Bullet, thanks for the tips.

 

My 2011 I just purchased has the problem on all 4 doors and tailgate seam. I was so upset upon discovering this on a 2 year old truck, that I was going to back out of the deal. The dealership volunteered to take it to their bodyshop, grind it down, seal the pinch weld, undercoat the insides of the doors, and repaint. Hopefully this will correct the problem and I can enjoy a rust free truck for 5 to 10 years.