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Question about a new to me 2012 Acura TL. The car was owned in NJ and has 87k miles on it, apparently owned by an older gentleman per the dealer. I recently bought this and decided to do some basic maintenance on it like replacing air filters, checking coolant, etc. I was trying to open up the air intake compartment and noticed two screws were impossible to remove and if I proceeded, I would risk stripping it. So I started spiraling and inspecting the engine bay and saw rust. It's a 2012 car so rust and debris is to be expected but is this amount of rust normal? I tried to capture some of the debris but it looked like organic matter interspersed. It also didn't help when someone I know told me he took a look at the engine and it looks rebuilt lol. I am sorry for the dumb question and just freaking out but I just need a sanity check. Thank you guys for all of your help! White spots on the scissor jack, I would assume it's just normal corrosion? Does this compartment look normal? There's some cobwebs and some debris in here too. Not sure what this green band is when removing the trunk liner on top of the spare tire compartment.
If it's only superficial surface rust, you could work on those parts with a wire brush or steel wool for the sensitive parts. With a little time and effort, you could clean up nicely. A clean rag and some diluted Simple Green would work wonders on the grunge. Just be careful near wire harnesses, they can become brittle on their old age.
As for the rebuild, it's hard to really know. It actually seems too dirty to have experienced that, you'd see more clean spots from hands/rags and general clean up activities.
Just my 2 cents!
Last edited by Flyinblyian; Sep 4, 2023 at 08:14 PM.
Spare tire well looks pretty normal. But the under the hood area looks like it was exposed to the elements for awhile, maybe sitting outside with the hood up? Perhaps it was parked near a salt water location, as suggested above.
If it's only superficial surface rust, you could work on those parts with a wire brush or steel wool for the sensitive parts. With a little time and effort, you could clean up nicely. A clean rag and some diluted Simple Green would work wonders on the grunge. Just be careful near wire harnesses, they can become brittle on their old age.
As for the rebuild, it's hard to really know. It actually seems too dirty to have experienced that, you'd see more clean spots from hands/rags and general clean up activities.
Just my 2 cents!
I appreciate the opinion! This car did live in New Jersey then Florida so it could possibly be that it was near the coast. Salt from NJ roads could probably affect it too but for an 11 year old car with 87k miles, you could be right that it sat for a period of time. But thanks for the tips on cleaning the rust!
Logically, it makes sense that it would be clean if the engine was rebuilt. Hopefully that’s not the case. The front of the frame was in excellent condition when I just had the AC condenser replaced yesterday.
Spare tire well looks pretty normal. But the under the hood area looks like it was exposed to the elements for awhile, maybe sitting outside with the hood up? Perhaps it was parked near a salt water location, as suggested above.
I think it may have sat too! Maybe and hopefully not with the hood up but it could be that it was near the coast of NJ and Florida. But thanks for the confirmation that the spare tire well looks normal. Is it normal to have debris there and the sort of bondo/pasty looking part towards the rear of the spare tire compartment?
Yes, bondo/plastic sealant is normal, my TL has the same material in the spare tire well. Well appears dry, you would definitely know if it was holding water from a trunk leak, etc.
I think it may have sat too! Maybe and hopefully not with the hood up but it could be that it was near the coast of NJ and Florida. But thanks for the confirmation that the spare tire well looks normal. Is it normal to have debris there and the sort of bondo/pasty looking part towards the rear of the spare tire compartment?
Yes, that bondo-looking material is OEM. If it's parked outside, leaves/debris will gather in the front of the seal at the trunk cavity, below the rear window. When the trunk gets opened, some of that debris will fall in. Mine is not often parked outside, but we have an Accord with a similar design that does. Periodically, I have to vacuum leaves/dirt/twigs out of the trunk. Sometimes that stuff can fall down into the spare tire well.
Yes, bondo/plastic sealant is normal, my TL has the same material in the spare tire well. Well appears dry, you would definitely know if it was holding water from a trunk leak, etc.
Originally Posted by JM2010 SH-AWD
Yes, that bondo-looking material is OEM. If it's parked outside, leaves/debris will gather in the front of the seal at the trunk cavity, below the rear window. When the trunk gets opened, some of that debris will fall in. Mine is not often parked outside, but we have an Accord with a similar design that does. Periodically, I have to vacuum leaves/dirt/twigs out of the trunk. Sometimes that stuff can fall down into the spare tire well.
Thank you guys for the confirmation! I seriously really appreciate you both for checking my sanity! I hope you both have a blessed day!
I hope you both have a blessed day!
