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Aluminum Body Parts--Magnet Test

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2.4K views 6 replies 4 participants last post by  Rav4-21  
#1 ·
I bought a new work light with a strong magnet. It would NOT stick to the hood. I realized it was aluminum. I then tested the rest of the '21 5th generation RAV. Magnet would stick to areas of the main cabin and monocoque/unibody chassis. Magnet sticks to the interior engine bay; roof; side doors (later discussion). Magnet does NOT stick to the rear hatch lift door; hood; front fenders; rear quarter panels (around gas filler cap); nose around grill. I suspect the outer part of the 4 driver and passenger side doors has an aluminum skin but inside is a steel "beam" for crash protection and other steel parts for the window motors and locks and thus the magnet sticks to them. Because the above parts are aluminum different paint and body repair techniques must be used than on a steel body car. This is one reason why the paint is so soft and scratches and chips so easily. There is no primer coat on the aluminum parts--a black anodizing is used and on the bright red cars a special white coating. The good things about aluminum body work are the light weight and MPG savings. Also aluminum provides rust protection--you won't ever get red iron/oxide rust. You may get aluminum/oxide white deposits in unrepaired scratches and rock chips which is easily cleaned off and does not cause rust pitting.
 
#3 ·
FKHeath said:
I also believe the front fenders are plastic.
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In the YouTube body repair videos and Reddit Rav4 Club collision photos they look like crumpled metal--so aluminum. There are never any loose strands as if they were fiberglass. If they were ABS or some other kind of hard plastic I doubt they would bend and crumple...they would be more likely to show cracking or clean breaks.
 
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#5 ·
Tazio Nuvolari said:
....The good things about aluminum body work are the light weight and MPG savings. ....
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So most of the car can't really rust. And yet my dealer charged a very substantial add-on for "rust protection". And my OBDI port is tied-up with a bogus charging plug "anode". (I thought I was buying undercoating, and I soon knew I was wrong.)
 
#6 ·
The TGNA space frame--the under the cabin floor (above the plastic splash guards); the roof; the A,B and C pillars, the engine bay, wheel wells and the suspension are steel and would rust with red iron oxide. The outer body panels as I discussed would never get RED rust. Those aluminum parts would get a WHITE looking deposit which is aluminum oxide. In my experience, aluminum oxide is easy to wipe off and does not cause pitting or holes or degradation to any substantial extent in the underlying aluminum...at least for a very long time like 20 years.
 
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