Hi All,
Just had a shock last week when putting my 20Valve through the MOT.
It passed,but only just.The advisory was corrosion on sections of the floorpan towards the rear of the car,and sections of the sills (Towards the front of the car).Also some brake pipes where on the way out as well.
I clean the car on a regular basis,get the wheelarches jetwashed,and as much of the floorpan/underneath as possible...but it wasnt enough with this seemingly endless crap weather and seemingly endless road salt.
The MOT guy said that stones (Summers crap on road!) bounce off the underneath now and then and perforate the plasticy underseal protection.Then the old tinworm gets in with a good diet of salt when winter comes!.Our Mareas are all getting on a bit now,so given the age of my car (2000),it hasnt done too bad.Cant Blame Fiat at all...not like the old days with 131's etc.
So,get it on a ramp!..and have a look before you HAVE to decide how much you love your car,does it just keep your bum off the ground,or does it touch your soul?...AND how much dosh you have on hand to repair it.Am getting mine sorted,but its going to cost the best part of 300 quid to keep it alive for possibly a few years more...chemotherapy springs to mind.:-(
To say i was/am gutted was an understatement...and to think we actually pay the goverment for the what can only be described as "Assault" on our cars given the state of the UK's roads summer OR winter.
Out of sight,can be certainly out of mind,and we cant let these nice cars go quietly into history.
Just had a shock last week when putting my 20Valve through the MOT.
It passed,but only just.The advisory was corrosion on sections of the floorpan towards the rear of the car,and sections of the sills (Towards the front of the car).Also some brake pipes where on the way out as well.
I clean the car on a regular basis,get the wheelarches jetwashed,and as much of the floorpan/underneath as possible...but it wasnt enough with this seemingly endless crap weather and seemingly endless road salt.
The MOT guy said that stones (Summers crap on road!) bounce off the underneath now and then and perforate the plasticy underseal protection.Then the old tinworm gets in with a good diet of salt when winter comes!.Our Mareas are all getting on a bit now,so given the age of my car (2000),it hasnt done too bad.Cant Blame Fiat at all...not like the old days with 131's etc.
So,get it on a ramp!..and have a look before you HAVE to decide how much you love your car,does it just keep your bum off the ground,or does it touch your soul?...AND how much dosh you have on hand to repair it.Am getting mine sorted,but its going to cost the best part of 300 quid to keep it alive for possibly a few years more...chemotherapy springs to mind.:-(
To say i was/am gutted was an understatement...and to think we actually pay the goverment for the what can only be described as "Assault" on our cars given the state of the UK's roads summer OR winter.
Out of sight,can be certainly out of mind,and we cant let these nice cars go quietly into history.