Undercoating??

[Vibe_dude]

has any one in Canada had their vibe undercoated for the winter? was thinking about doing it,but was wondering if it was worth it.......just wondering if the car would hold up well with out the undercoat to protect itany comments would be great.Thanks

[jake75]

While I am not claiming to be an "expert", I have read that not only is undercoating not necessary for today's new cars, it can be a cause of rust because it can trap water.

[Vibe Rater]

DO NOT undercoat your car. Use Krown.

[AKLGT]

i have undercoated ALL my vehicles. but we just get the black under coating stuff for $5 a can and then tape off everything, spray and let dry! $20 and you're good to go! helps deaden the sound too. i don't know about where you are, but it does protect the under carriage w/ all the salt and gravel they use in the winter here.

[ToolGuy]

Undercoating now a days is not like it used to be where holes were drilled into the body and then the UC was sprayed in. Those were more the sources of rust. Now companies do not do that anymore. All is done is what can be seen. Also, usually you have to go back for reapplications or it is recommended. The $5 can method may work for a while but usually does not last forever, no coating does. I say do not do it or spray what you can see on your own.

[Raven]

Krown rustproofing is the best. Yes they do still drill holes in order to spray the product into impossible places to reach. They then use plastic plugs which can be removed to reapply the following year. It is a yearly treatment not an undercoating. I do both my vehicles each year for about $100.00 Can. each. If you do it when the car is new it is guaranteed not to rust.

[B18B]

I'm gonna back Sunny on this one. In addition to the Vibe, we've got a '97 Nissan with said undercoating (annaually inspected by the original applicator), and a '94 Acura which has been annually sprayed by Krown. The Nissan is beginning to show a little rust on the passenger door (no previous accidents here) while the Acura's sheet metal is still flawless. While i'm sure the material used may differ, the Acura still has 3 extra Canadian winters.There are 2 downfalls to the krown spray: First being that sometimes it can make any rubber gaskets swell, and second that the oil they use pools up after a while soiling some of the lining in the trunk (probably not an issue with the Vibe). Don't worry about the holes...so long as they are resealed, you're in good shape.

[ToolGuy]

Any place that still drills holes in the metal I would stay away from. Years ago they all used plugs to fill the holes and since the newly drilled hole was not primed and painted, it usually was a source of rust. Plus your cars rust warranty will not cover their holes. Possibly the company that drills holes coats the holes each and every time the plug is removed in the yearly visit but I still would not like that. The plugs usually stick out like soar thumbs on the car too. Just my O though... Cars now a days have better coats, paint and usually do not rust anymore. I have not had a car done since 1987 and they did not drill holes then.

[21Rouge]

Quote, originally posted by Sunny »Krown rustproofing is the best. Yes they do still drill holes in order to spray the product into impossible places to reach. I have decided to take the Vibe to a recommended Krown dealer almost as soon as I get it. I know with Krown they do drill new holes to gain access to the tight spots but will try to use existing holes where possible. For those of you that have looked does the Vibe have many manufacturer predrilled holes that could be used for such a purpose?