Would you buy a TJ with rust below window?

[Brad1980]

Okay, so I have been looking in salty/snowy New England and had just found rusted frame after rusted frame. I even posted a photo of one the other day as it was the best I had found but was still horrendous.

Anyway, I actually found one with really nice frame - but about a 6 inch hole of rust beneath the windscreen on the drivers side. This doesn't seem structural to me, it just seems....irritating. I suspect as it deforms it may even cause a windshield crack, but hasn't yet. Am I underestimating the seriousness of this? Of course, I should have photos to post, but in my excitement over the rest of the vehicle, I failed to take any photos of this.

Common problem? Easily fixed? or Omen?

many thanks!

 

[Squatch]

Omen. I spent many years in upstate New York, so I have some first-hand experience with the dreaded "tin worm". If you have one area where you can easily see the rust, you will have other areas where you cannot so easily see it. It's not a gamble I'd be willing to take, myself, for what it's worth...

 

[Chris]

I agree with the above. If you have rust in one area that bad, it’s a certainty that you have it in other areas you can see, and it may be even worse. It’s a gamble, but not one I would be willing to take if spending a lot of money.

I think your best bet is to look for vehicles from out of state, in places where there aren’t major rust issues.

 

[sgtjdgelinas]

I lived in New England many years, owned many cars there. I'm certain that if you have rust there, that the whole bottom of the windshield frame is rotted out. I had a CJ that was just like that.

 

[weldedcambolt]

look south

 

[weldedcambolt]

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads...e-2000-jeep-wrangler-sport.10340/#post-163641

 

[89sandman]

I lived back east when I was younger. First thing I noticed when I moved to the west coast was none of the cars had huge rust holes in them. Guess it depends on what your price range is and what it is priced at.

 

[TJ2]

Way back 10 years I found one in Chicago with that condition. Cheaper than normal in the market.
I already signed the documents and just waiting for the shop to bring my jeep out of the shop for the did a good TLC..

I backed out on the last minute, the salesman was so pissed and we have an awkward exchange of words.

Glad I did walked away.

 

[JeepNWilly]

wow I have never seen a TJ body part be that rusted even here in Florida with all the salt in the air from our proximity to the ocean. YJ's and CJ all over the place but not TJ's. I thought all TJ body parts were made of galvanized steel.

Examine it as much as you can and if the issue if only in the windshield frame you can get a new one or used one in excellent condition.

 

[cjaama]

wow I have never seen a TJ body part be that rusted even here in Florida with all the salt in the air from our proximity to the ocean. YJ's and CJ all over the place but not TJ's. I thought all TJ body parts were made of galvanized steel.

Rusted out windshield frames on TJ’s is quite common in the Northeast, but as others have said, it would be indicative of more rust elsewhere. I’d be shocked if that was the only rust anywhere on the body and it wasn’t just “repaired”.

Tops of fenders, rocker panels, below the passenger taillight and the tailgate are also common body rust/rot locations. People usually just swap out the windshield/frame if that’s a concern. My old TJ had a rusted out windshield frame and I never did anything about it for the five years I owned it and never had adverse results.

So, it depends on what you’re spending. And you’ll definitely want to check the frame closely and not rely on it looking ok.

 

[cjaama]

Oh, and body mount locations! That's an actual important one to check out regardless of the price of the Jeep.
The windshield frame on my former TJ:

 

[JeepNWilly]

View attachment 39736

Rusted out windshield frames on TJ’s is quite common in the Northeast, but as others have said, it would be indicative of more rust elsewhere. I’d be shocked if that was the only rust anywhere on the body and it wasn’t just “repaired”.

Tops of fenders, rocker panels, below the passenger taillight and the tailgate are also common body rust/rot locations. People usually just swap out the windshield/frame if that’s a concern. My old TJ had a rusted out windshield frame and I never did anything about it for the five years I owned it and never had adverse results.

So, it depends on what you’re spending. And you’ll definitely want to check the frame closely and not rely on it looking ok.

Here in South Florida I have never seen a rusty TJ

 

[JeepNWilly]

Oh, and body mount locations! That's an actual important one to check out regardless of the price of the Jeep.
The windshield frame on my former TJ:

I guess that salt gets everywhere wow

 

[cjaama]

We dump salt on the roads for about 7 months out of the year and then drive on them. There are no bounds for what it will do to a vehicle, particularly one that seems like they actively tried to make it rot. For the record, I have driven other vehicles that were less prone to rust. I had a '96 Volvo 850 5 years ago and there wasn't an ounce of rust anywhere.
Here's a couple more shots of body rot from my old TJ:

 

[cjaama]

Like, this much salt goes onto the roads... not a little tropical sea spray

 

[JeepNWilly]

Like, this much salt goes onto the roads... not a little tropical sea spray
View attachment 39742

Lol damn

 

[Flib]

I can sympathize with those in the north east. Living on the east coast of Canada we have salt water all around us and tons of it on the roads. Rust is just a way of life here. The TJ I just bought has the dreaded rusted windshield frame, found one locally, rust free for 120 bucks with the glass. The important thing for me is the frame, floors and other certain areas when buying any vehicle. I do all my own body work so not that much of an issue for me. Luckily the frame is good as it has been under coated since new. lol, I just realized that some in the southern parts of the US may not even know what under coating is

I just recently sold a 2000 Honda Accord that came to Nova Scotia in June of 2017 from South Carolina, completely rust free, I posted the car online at 12 noon and it was sold by 4pm so it just goes to show how much people take that into consideration in these parts

 

[jeep_boss]

Like, this much salt goes onto the roads... not a little tropical sea spray
View attachment 39742

I'm afraid to like that post, because karma >.<