| Bean |
Hi
Just purchase a 2006 MDX w/23k. Car is very clean inside and out and still under ACURA warranty with no CARFAX (I know car fax is not perfect) issues reported. Purchased from CARMAX who claims not to sell flood damaged vehicles. Have 5 days to return, reluctant to do so as took a long time to find this vehicle with the options we want. While detailing and giving the car a look over I have noticed small amounts of rust on many none moving components under the front and second row seats, also some under the dash (not as pronounced). I can find no other evidence of flood damage and have peeled back carpeting where possible without taking the car apart and found nothing. No electrical issues detected yet and the underside and outside of the car has no corrosion at all. Wondering if anyone has ever seen this issue or knows what might have caused it assuming the car was not flooded. Thanks |
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| midnightMDX |
| Can you take pictures of the affected areas? Since its under warranty, try having it inspected by Acura. I doubt Carmax would sell a flooded vehicle. |
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| Bean |
| Thanks, I will take some photos. I did go back to CARMAX today and asked if I could check out the 2 other 2006 MDXs they had. Both had corrosion in exactly the same spots. I guess the unpainted metals down there are not protected in any way (electro-plated for example). I will talk to the dealer when I get it in for service. Appreciate the reply |
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| highcountrymdx |
It's not at all unusual for the springs under the seats to have surface rust. The steel used for springs rusts very easily, and the paint they spray on is very cheap, and applied without any surface prep.
One of the best places to check for flood damage is under the carpets, which you already checked. Even if the carpets were replaced, it is almost impossible to remove all traces of flooding. The silt that comes with a flood is very fine, and very hard to remove completely.
CarFax is not perfect, but they will tell you, at least, if the car has a salvage title.
It sounds like you have done a pretty good job of 'due diligence', but it might not hurt to take to a dealer, or good repair shop. |
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| RN7676 |
I'll second that. There are numerous steel parts under the seats and under the dash that are not painted or plated. Ususally stuff like springs and small brackets. Just a reasonable amount of humidity will cause surface rust on these parts without even getting them wet. I think all MDXs are that way!
Skipping the paint or plating on non critical / non visable interior parts seems common these days. I guess it reduces the overall cost.
I've never bought from carmax, but their operation seems pretty solid. They do their own carfax style checks and would never resell a flooded or salvaged vehicle and even if someone tried to slip one past them, the carmax inspectors are pretty sharp and would certainly catch it. |
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| daveog |
The small amount of corrosion may be related to the A/C being used, which results in a small about of moisture forming.
Just curious...what does a low milage 2006 go for now? It appears to be a good time to buy the 2006, with the Gen 2 out for sale. |
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| Bean |
| I paid 33k with NAVI/RES and leather. After checking out the other vehicles at CARMAX I am pretty satisfied that it is "normal" as I saw corrosion in exactly the same spots on those cars |
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