The inside of my grill lid is rusting I've seen lot's of questions in regards to the grate on a grill rusting (like this one: Can I still cook on my propane grill with rust?) but my situation is a tad different in regards to the lid. When I rub my finger on the inside top of the grill lid, small amounts of rust particles/shavings are falling down.

I have a 5 burner Kenmore grill and the inside top of the grill lid is rusting. It appears there is actually a heat shield of sorts attached to the inside of the lid that is the part rusting. The bolts appear to be rivets or something that I can't remove. The lid is not made anymore so replacing it is out of the question. Actually the thing is only 3.5 years old and a lot of the parts aren't made which has been a frustration to this issue. 

I can't remember the color and metal type of that inside lid cover shield when new but I thought it was stainless steel, however I suppose I was wrong. I'm thinking about taking the pressure washer to the inside of the lid, followed by a wire brush, repeat of the pressure washer, and then dry as a remedy. I'm assuming painting is a really bad idea because of fumes, food, etc.

Is it time to pitch the grill because of that lid rusting, or does some type of maintenance to it seem like a good idea? At the end of the day I don't want rusty burgers and steaks!
If you're particularly anal about the looks of the inside of your grill there may not be a solution, otherwise clean the inside as best you can and coat with an oil based cooking spray. Season the inside after spraying by bringing it up to cooking temp (about 350 degrees) without food for about an hour and let it cool. If you over heat the grill sometime during the summer or you live in a particularly corrosion prone environment you may have to repeat this at the end of the season for winter storage without rust.