Hello Forum Folks. For anybody that drives in the northern region of our fine country need to pay attention to the area pf our cars behind the cute plastic rocker covers. I live on a dirt road and never thought to look under there. while doing suspension work recently, with my fat head under my ride, I saw how much dried mud was packed into that space, the length of both doors. After pounding out the dired soils, rich with whatever cloride the county puts on my road for erosion and dust control, I was sickened to see the extent of the corrosion under there. Now I find myself trying to figure out a workable and effective plan or attack.

So in short, if you driive in salted regions, make it a point to flush out this long pocket behind the plastic rocker panel cover. I recon they don't use salt in England.

 

Let me confirm the validity of the previous post. I live in the midwest on Lake Michigan where salt is king for 5 months. I love the AWD, but when the plastic cover over the rocker panel on the passenger side came loose, I almost cired when I discovered the deteriorated and rusted metal. I immediately went to my local (excellent) beody shop. They took the plastic off and discovered two feet of rusted, flaking, metal. For $800 dollars, they removed the rust, and replaced the metal. It's firm and strong and my 03 will last years longer so my daughter can drive it safely in a year and a half.