Hi, I have a 2009 Acura RDX and have noticed in the past certain acuras rusting prematurely because of the design (3 year old TL rusting where the grill was attached to hood because water collects there). Has anyone noticed the RDX door bottoms (rubber stripping) are constantly wet (no air flow or drainage) and full of mud and debris. Any solutions? Dealer says not to remove them or there will be increased road noise. Thanks.

 

Potential Rust Trap

After a year of use the lower door seals were found to be full of wet grungy road dirt. The seal channel holds it there, where it could develop into rust.

The seals are friction fit; just pull down at the back of the front door and the front of the rear door. The seal channel has an internal metal form which can be pinched together some to make for a tighter fit. This may help keep some of the dirt out, but the end of the seal channel is open, and road spray can still find it's way in. They are quite easy to clean though.

Here is a picture of the dirt in the seal channel and on the flange of the rear door:



After cleaning:

 

Since then, I spray them out every so often. They get pretty grungy, but no sign of rust yet.

 

I noticed that too - my wife ends up accidentally kicking the driver side one a bit sometimes when she gets out of the car, and i find it hanging off a bit. I try to clean them well at lieast once or twice a year.

 

Well, I have cleaned the seal, but never removed it to clean under. I think I need to do that. Remember, the seal is held in place with metal, which will scratch the paint on the door bottom. So before replacing the seal, I will *seal* the paint with a good wax - any other ideas?

 

Wax is very good idea, as it's always wet.

It may be hard to see in my pics, but the metal channel is coated in rubber -- no metal contact.

You can gently bend the metal channel by hand to make it grip the door better.

 

I'm A/R and OCD so I must clean and dry all that every time I wash any of our rides. Including door seal and jambs, under the hood, under the hatch, under the gas door. If you clean and dry all that every time, you don't have as big a mess to clean and it may never rust as long as you own it.

Yes we live in Cali, not as much extreme weather as other states. YMMV!