Can someone explain the basics of the corrosion problem?

[Brad Hearing]

Im know this has been asked before but when I look all I find is people saying basically "yup, that sucks. get it fixed under warranty if you can".

Im trying to learn exactly the issue with the hinges on doors, esp after reading a post where i guy traded in his jeep because of it. A friend of mine has a jeep with a back door that wont even open. I dont understand why he cant wd-40 the door back to life but I figure if I can do anything to prevent it in mine now is the time.

from what I gather the problem is two-fold:

1) the hinges are outside the vehicle which exposes them to the elements, and
2) the metal used rusts after a while

to that end couldn't someone just apply a grease or oil to the hinges to protect them? Also whats with the bubbling of the paint? is that related? is there something that can cause it to happen or is the problem baked in at the factory?

Is it a legitimate structural failure of the design or just something to be expected as a result of having hinges on the outside?

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[Ratbert]

The best writeup I've seen: https://www.theautopian.com/owners-are-furious-about-the-jeep-jl-wranglers-corrosion-issues/

 

[Operative73]

The best writeup I've seen: https://www.theautopian.com/owners-are-furious-about-the-jeep-jl-wranglers-corrosion-issues/

Yep, this. Two different metals, the softer will lose. The Zinc shims will work in that they are even softer and will corrode before Fe or Al.
Same principle a to why sea-going ships often bolt Zinc anodes to the hull, esp where there is cavitation or freshwater ships use Al anodes bolted to the hull.

Chemistry. the engineers should have seen it coming, probably did but figured it would be the owners problem not the manufacturer's

 

[Brad Hearing]

The best writeup I've seen: https://www.theautopian.com/owners-are-furious-about-the-jeep-jl-wranglers-corrosion-issues/

thanks for this.

so basically they fucked up a very simple design - a car door - and then act like its normal to look wrecked after a few years.

awesome.

 

[Ratbert]

Im know this has been asked before but when I look all I find is people saying basically "yup, that sucks. get it fixed under warranty if you can".

Im trying to learn exactly the issue with the hinges on doors, esp after reading a post where i guy traded in his jeep because of it. A friend of mine has a jeep with a back door that wont even open. I dont understand why he cant wd-40 the door back to life but I figure if I can do anything to prevent it in mine now is the time.

from what I gather the problem is two-fold:

1) the hinges are outside the vehicle which exposes them to the elements, and
2) the metal used rusts after a while

to that end couldn't someone just apply a grease or oil to the hinges to protect them? Also whats with the bubbling of the paint? is that related? is there something that can cause it to happen or is the problem baked in at the factory?

Is it a legitimate structural failure of the design or just something to be expected as a result of having hinges on the outside?

It's unexpected that you didn't mention aluminum. That's the fundamental issue.

 

[Ratbert]

thanks for this.

so basically they fucked up a very simple design - a car door - and then act like its normal to look wrecked after a few years.

awesome.

The doors and hood are aluminum for the significant weight savings. Aluminum is a pain to deal with, especially when it interacts (intentionally or not) with dissimilar metals.

Some of the issues can be attributed to dissimilar metals in the design, others seem to be related to prep issues, and yet others could be explained by water getting where it shouldn't. There doesn't seem to be one answer to explain the various issues.

 

[NPC 20883467]

...so basically they fucked up a very simple design - a car door - and then act like its normal to look wrecked after a few years.

 

[gato]

There is nothing magical about aluminum. Planes have been made of aluminum for ever. They are nearly universally parked outside year round. They have been used in cars for two decades. People know how to prep and paint aluminum correctly.

The issue is combining the marvels of Chrysler and Fiat quality processes to produce the JL/JT, added to the fact that Stelantis knows for a fact that we, the Wrangler buyers, will endure any amount of quality failures and continue to buy Wranglers.

I have corrosion on my hood near the hinges. Jeep cares made me waste my time going to 4 different dealers with appointments they booked, only to be told they don't handle corrosion cases.

They basically wore me out, so I gave up pursuing it. I will either sell or fix it privately with a trusted body shop.

 

[Rustynail11]

so you didn't get the info you needed about this issue from the thread you started on 9/23 asking basically the same thing?

 

[Brad Hearing]

so you didn't get the info you needed about this issue from the thread you started on 9/23 asking basically the same thing?

I don't think I did actually otherwise I probably wouldnt have posted again, but I suppose I could crawl back through my history to see if thats the case.

The link posted in this thread however nails it on the head. Im collecting bookmarks that I can use as a reference later and this one is the latest addition

 

[AnebuR]

What I'm not clear on is if left untreated, the worst that will happen is the aluminum oxide barrier on the door surface might make the paint flake off or the corrosion might create holes in the aluminum?

 

[Brad Hearing]

What I'm not clear on is if left untreated, the worst that will happen is the aluminum oxide barrier on the door surface might make the paint flake off or the corrosion might create holes in the aluminum?

My friends jeep is so corroded the rear passenger door wont even open. Seems like if its around the hinges then it has to be dealt with

 

[JW-UK]

What I'm not clear on is if left untreated, the worst that will happen is the aluminum oxide barrier on the door surface might make the paint flake off or the corrosion might create holes in the aluminum?

The worst thing that can happen is your Jeep eventually starts looking like a Landrover.
Old Defenders are well known for dissimilar metal corrosion.
Here the floor and rear body tub are (were!) aluminium, the seat brackets, chassis and door frames are steel. Road salt speeds up the reaction.

 

[TheNewGuy]

My friends jeep is so corroded the rear passenger door wont even open. Seems like if its around the hinges then it has to be dealt with

The corrosion is normally on the surface of the hinges and shouldn't affect hinge operation. Unless the pin and the OEM hinge liners have corroded which can be remedied if he can get the door off.

 

[Brad Hearing]

The corrosion is normally on the surface of the hinges and shouldn't affect hinge operation. Unless the pin and the OEM hinge liners have corroded which can be remedied if he can get the door off.

Yeah he says he cant even move the door much less get it off. I say he isnt kicking hard enough from the inside of the jeep.

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