one of my good friends took the moldings off of his Z-71 and it looks sweet. im getting ready to do that to mine

 

Don't know why you would be having a mold, or algae, issue unless moisture is trapped there for some reason, supporting growth.

To remove it,if you can get at it, try mixing a 50/50 combo of water and household bleach. Spray it on or pour it on the area your concerned about.... wait 5 minutes and hit it with a high pressure hose stream of water... like from a garden hose. You may need a brush as well if you can get at this supposed growth. Sounds like something is not draining, but in all the years of owning cars I never had this problem. The problem of actual RUST is a whole nother thing. Sounds like you have a corrosion issue, not a growth issue, but without seeing it I wouldn't know. Also, plastic or not, mold will grow. It grows on my vinyl fence all the time, as well as trees, stone, just about any surface that faces north (ie in the shade). Mold doesn't like direct sunlight, apparently.

 

thanks for the welcomes and good advise (and stabs at)...

i've tried bleach several times and in varying strengths, but ti doesn't help. this fungus seems to be embedded in the plastic. it really does look like rust, but i've never seen plastic rust and the body panels are pristine.

oh well... they are coming off... is this a job i can do, or best left for a body shop?

thx/ old surfer

 

i'm thinking... it'll look awesome!

 

I had this same problem with my '04 and the dealer replaced them under warranty. This was last year and I recall reading a TSP or something on the problem. If you complain enough, you might get the same thing.

 

the fungal side molding ishistory- had a friend who owns a body shop remove it and remove the sticky stuff - took all of about 40 minutes - $20.

looks better without it - so i ain't putting it back.

but thanks for the information - good to know that it might have been covered by chevy.