• If you currently own, previously owned or want to own an Avalanche, we welcome you to become a member today. Membership is FREE, register now!

Rust From Roof Rack Installation

bfron

Full Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2002
Messages
517
Location
Reading, Pa
Check under the weather stripping rubber at tops of doors, the shavings are imbedded into the rubber and on the paint. The paint surface has definitely been compromised. Now what do we do? Has anyone confronted the dealer on this yet. Just think, a 38K vehicle, 4 months old and rusting. There is no way that I know of to completely reverse this. Please each and everyone with a RR check this out and keep list posted. If there anyone on the list with a close relationship with their dealer who has this problem please keep list posted as to the solution you were offered.

Brad - Rusted Pewter Z71
 
There are quite a few TSBs on the roof rack and metal shavings is the biggest problem to date.
 
Washed it, waxed it this weekend - checked for metal shavings - NONE!

But, I don't think the dealer installed my roof rack - it came from the factory on the truck! How do I know this?? Because I found my truck on the internet (GM buypower) and called the dealer before they knew it was coming. Actually bought it before ever seeing it (though I'd driven a couple of other Av's before then). Waited around that Saturday afternnoon and watched them drive it off of the transporter - roof rack installed (though the dealer did put on the running boards). Took delivery with 5 miles on the clock!

Bought it last December - does anyone know if they changed from dealer installed to factory installed racks at some point in time?
 
wechhism
You may be right that the rack way installed at the factory. Because you purchased by GM buypower they may have transfered your AV from another dealer. The dealer's name that is on your window sticker is the first dealer to own your AV. If that name on your window sticker is your dealer's name then it came from the factory with the rack installed.
 
I just joined the club recently and read about the roof rack problem. ? :mad: ? Bummer... ? Checked mine yesterday and sure enough - rust! ?Arrgh :mad:

I took the AV to the dealer and mentioned the TSB and also this club. ?They happened to have the factory rep on site that day and they offered to either remove and replace the complete weatherstrip assembly and clean the affected areas - ?or ?- ?to also repaint the area which would leave a tape mark. ?They also offfered to repaint the whole roof. ?I am opting for the first, more conservative scenario. ?They have the probelm documented in the GM system and will stand behind it if the rust continues.

They also pulled the weatherstrip further down than I did and showed me the lip where the weatherstrip mounts, looks like a mini rain gutter - it was filled with rust particles also! ?Make sure this area gets cleaned on your AV's also.

If it wasn't for the club I wouldn't have noticed this for quite a while. ?THANKS!

Bear
 
Picked up My Z66 Av tonite...began to think about the posts I've read and pealed back the seal above the doors. To my horror...it looked like rust had actually gone through the paint and about a 1/16" of rust was elevated above the surface (like a 25y/o ford). However, when I ran it back by the dealer...it was ice mixed with some dirt and the rust from the metal shavings. I was relieved when it wiped clean. I am going to leave it with the dealer...they are going to detail the area and see if the paint is affected. They seem willing to repaint the area if need be but I have worked a few minutes on it and it seems to come completely clean. They had no clue as to the bulletin on the roof rack install. I love this truck...big, red and very nice to drive. I have a slight pull to the left...gonna give it 500 miles and see if it straightens out...dealer said they would align for free as well as a tire balance. $7000 off sticker made this a no brainer. I paid 17500 9 years ago on a 2wd v-6 ext cab 2 door (plain jane) chevy. Paid $25500 for a $32600 truck today...4 doors and lots of goodies...looks good in the garage too :p
 
Anyone have a copy of the TSB or at least the #.

Thanks
 
Peter_OConnor said:
Anyone have a copy of the TSB or at least the #.

Thanks
Make: CHEVROLET TRUCK Model: AVALANCHE Year: 2002

Service Bulletin Number: 010102 Bulletin Sequence Number: 627 Date of Bulletin: 01/02

NHTSA Item Number: SB627409
Component: STRUCTURE:BODY ROOF
Summary:
SUBJECT ON STAINING OF THE ROOF PANEL. *YH
Make: CHEVROLET TRUCK Model: AVALANCHE Year: 2002

Service Bulletin Number: 050901 Bulletin Sequence Number: 626 Date of Bulletin: 09/01

NHTSA Item Number: SB626050
Component: STRUCTURE:ROOF LUGGAGE RACKS
Summary:
SUBJECT REGARDING OPTIONAL ROOF RACK INSTALLATION. *SLC
Make: CHEVROLET TRUCK Model: AVALANCHE Year: 2002

Service Bulletin Number: 300701 Bulletin Sequence Number: 625 Date of Bulletin: 07/01

NHTSA Item Number: SB625109
Component: STRUCTURE:BODY ROOF
Summary:
INFORMATION REGARDING TO INSTALLATION OF THE DEALER INSTALLED ROOF RACK. *YH
 
Well, got around to looking at my truck for rust. :( yep, I got it as well. Thank goodness it's still cold here, as it looks like it hasnt done much damage. Just in case though, I'm bringing mine in for service. Dealer knew nothing about the TSB, so I'll have to print off the summary. That plus the other TSB that affect me (tailgate hard to lock/loose cylinder)

I have yet to check my back window for cracks though...

Trash
 
Let's us all know how your dealer responds to your complaints. I hope they fix everything right with no headaches. :rolleyes: ;D
 
Just a note too: I washed the car last night, and after I dried it off, I ran a towel along the door trim where the rust problem is. Most of the rust wiped off so it doesn't look near as bad as it was at first. BUT it looks like some rust has started to settle into the metal :mad: Damn, I hope they don't have to repaint, or even worse: having this come back when warranty is over.

Trash
 
Trash

Using a body clay bar should remove the rust. then cover with favorite wax or sealant. That is pretty much what the dealer will do.
 
No rust on mine - but I'm convinced that the rack and running boards were installed at the factory. I'm also pretty convinced that most racks are now installed at the factory due to this problem. It seems to be a plague on pre-November 2001 Avalanches...
 
Damn...got it bad...

I'll be going back to the dealer on this one too....
I had noticed a few little rust spots on the plastic ..only one or two so I didn't go nuts...
after I read the post I looked under the weatherstrip and pulled up the bed mat and had some there too...looks like all from shavings....
damn, damn, damn
Thanks for letting me know...
 
I also had rust but I was the one who caught it and brought it to the dealers attention. This after the installed the roof rack on my first AV and I came home and 3 days later had a major rain storm and went out and had a flood on the floor in the front on both sides because they drilled through the roof when the installed the roof rack. Needless to say I went back and told them I wanted an new truck entirely and they delivered. But the new AV had the rust in the weather strippings. :cautious:
 
My truck is in the shop as we speak getting some warranty work done (one of which is the rust). I told them the TSB number as well as what it is (metal filings from roof rack install), but the body shop guy seems to think that it is rail dust. Whatever. They're going to fix it, so I don't care where they think the problem comes from.

I'll let you know when I pick it up what they did and how it looks!

Trash
 
I just had my Av in for oil change and rust spots under door trim form the roof rack install. It looked like the rust was basically on top of the paint and they cleaned it up real well. I do notice a few tiny dark gray spots in the paint where the rust was. It looks like it might be pitting in the paint. What color is the primer? Hopefully at worst the spots are just some primer showing.
 
?Severe rust on my rails. I had the dealership install the rack. From all the posts at another group, I checked, problem! Took to dealership and no one had heard of TSB from GM. The writer and service mgr. looked and said it was from the transport on the railroads (rail dust), Said no concern, just hose out. The treatment of the metals now days is no concern for a rust problem. Nothing was done by the dealer. I live in one of the driest locations in the country.
?So I have filled a complaint with the Chevy 800# and am waiting to hear back from them. This S*CKS. After the GM/BBB "Lemon Law" on my '99 Burb, 17 times in 3 years for the same reoccuring problem, she's gone. Now this! If it hadn't been for the internet about this I would not have known! Thanks to all! I still LOVE this vehicle!
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Len Trout "WHTRUSH"
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Reno, NV.
 
Mine goes in tomorrow to have it fixed - they are also going to fix the bug shield problem - shop guy looked under the hood and his eyes lit up - said that they would have to do an extended drive test too ensure that the window noise was cleared up ;D

rust.jpg
 
Update: Allen Samuels [Houston] came through like a first class operation - took the roof rack off - fixed all damage and re-installed! They even cleaned and polished the Beast. :D

Service guy said they found some stuff on the rear fender, not their fault, but cleaned it off anyway - didn't have the guts to tell him it was rubber from the dragstrip runs. ;D

Job would have been done sooner, but every mech in the shop had to inspect the Whipple and check out the other mods. Big dealership - almost three miles across - to check out the paint job ;D ;D ;D
 
A different TSB

Make: CHEVROLET TRUCK Model: AVALANCHE Year: 2002

Service Bulletin Number: 261001 Bulletin Sequence Number: 628 Date of Bulletin: 10/01

NHTSA Item Number: SB628033
Component: STRUCTURE:BODY ROOF
Summary:
SOME VEHICLES WITH ROOF RACKS MAY EXHIBIT STAINING AND THE APPEARANCE OF CORROSION IN THE AREAS OF THE RUBBER SEALS THAT RUN ALONG THE SIDES OF THE ROOF PANEL ABOVE BOTH DOORS. *TT
 
I've got the rust on mine too and I got my Avalanche on 7/15/02 and its 7/30/02 right now. Mine is really bad too it is the length of the vehicle on both sides. Does anyone have any information on GM replacing their vehicle under lemon law? Especially if you have case numbers. I'd like to show that there has been a precidence set about this issue. I can't believe that a car/truck that is only a couple months old can show this kind of rust. I would expect this kind of rust from a 15+ year old car. I know in NC the lemon law states that if there is a defect that significantly devalues the vehicle that it falls under lemon law. I'd think rust would devalue that vehicle. Rust is like cancer. you can't get rid of it once it starts.
 
LRNERD your pic did not show must be too big...

The rust was formed from the metal shavings when they drilled the holes for the rack most likely....no lemon law will cover that unless they cannot fix it with 3 attempts.

Take it back to dealer show them and then tell them about the TSB pertaining to roof rack install and the rust.

It is easy to clean up spray some Quick Detailer...rub a little body clay....then protect with wax or sealant of choice....Search the board those who have had it have had it fixed and seem happy now...

Good Luck and welcome to the club ;D
 
I hope they can fix it I really like my Avalanche. But I don't want something that 3 years down the road is going to reoccur. By the way what does TSB stand for? I hope they won't have to repaint the top of the vehicle. It looks like mine is beginning to creep out from behind to rubber. I hope this pictures attaches it is 16kb.
 

Attachments

  • RustSmall.JPG
    RustSmall.JPG
    15.9 KB · Views: 46
Back
Top