General Potential nasty corrosion problem

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General Potential nasty corrosion problem

David Bliss

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As I always do before giving my Panda a winter brake check i gave it a light pressure wash under the wheel arches. It was very noticeable that more debris than I would normally expect had found its way down the back of the plastic wheel arch protectors. More worryingly, on closer inspection I found that an unprotected part of the metal chassis was exposed and lay full of salt laden grit (see pictures).
This is only one of several problems I have discovered in the design of the Panda. Neither the Uno that I had for many years, nor the Seicento that I had subsequently, suffered from any of these problems. I am rather disappointed with the Panda

Potential Corrosion problem 1.JPG
Potential Corrosion problem 2.JPG

Potential Corrosion problem 1.JPG

Potential Corrosion problem 2.JPG
 
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Works fine for me;

The car is galvanising so even with all that salt probably shouldn't really have any issue with rust.
 
With the Panda being a cheap car by the time it will start to rust it will be worth next to nothing anyway. We live in a throw away society these days and most Pandas will end up being recycled. I can see a few special models like the 100HP and Cross being collected but thats it. And collectors will certainly keep their cars in tip top condition. Put it this way the new Pandas metal is a million times better than the old Panda. I know I owned one and it was completely rotten. However there are still quite a few original Pandas driving about that are in fantastic condition.

Im not being funny but that car is filthy anyway. I have mine washed every week at one of those hand car wash places that have sprung up everywhere. They give it a good blast everytime under the arches and there is never any build up of dirt or salt.
 
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Not to be funny, but any car that is THAT dirty will rust regardless of whether it's galvanised or whatever.
 
Yes, the Panda bodywork is galvanised, just like most modern cars. Just hose all the dirt and salt off and dont worry about rust.

It doesnt matter how dirty it gets - This will not cause rust on it's own.
 
Its not really that dirty, doesnt anyone actually drive their car? splashing around in the normally rainy conditions would wash most of that off.

Will have a look at ours later just out of interest, i have never seen anything worrying starting on the corrosion side of things underneath. one mot tester once tried to convince me that the base of the rear springs will rot as they are in a cup shape in the trailing arm, no problems there yet.

We had no rot on our cinq or sei in the usual boot floor area but the bumper brackets started to rust quite badly and the sumps needed to be looked after.
all cars regularly got onto the motorway whivh is the worst place for the salt as the concentration is higher and its like an 80mph jetwash.
 
Not to be funny, but any car that is THAT dirty will rust regardless of whether it's galvanised or whatever.
Are you having a laugh!?!?! Half hour drive up the road and I'd have more muck in the arches than that, or do you all live in areas where the roads are steam cleaned?
 
Are you having a laugh!?!?! Half hour drive up the road and I'd have more muck in the arches than that, or do you all live in areas where the roads are steam cleaned?

Well the roads where I live must be steam cleaned because even after a weeks build up (if not longer) my arches are never that dirty. Every road I have been on is only that dirty when a farmers tractor has been on it or there has been a spill. Not only that but with the heavy rain recently the roads are very clean. Dont get me wrong I do get build up of dirt in the arches but certainly not to that level. The build up of dirt on the bottom of that strut is a lot. If roads were as dirty as you say there would be thousands of accidents every day down to slippery conditions.
 
I guess it's the difference between country and town roads? The amount of rain, water run off, mud, and general crap on the roads in Durham are unreal, my car has that amount of mud on the doors after a few days lately (company car not panda).
Saying that, if you get the under chassis was at the ARC washes this should help?
 
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