Then why does the 2001 punto I picked up yesterday have 3 rust bubbles starting on its roof?

I am a prize tit for not checking and bought it private so no comebacks, it was a bit mucky so it got a wash this morning and I found them while drying the roof, along with some less than perfect paint on the boot and N/S/R quarter.
It is HPI clear though and straight, a really close look shows it has been the victim of a paint stripper attack and just blown over cheaply

It drives spot on though, the trip computer says I managed 43mpg on a brisk drive back home, this included a half-hearted attempt to out accelerate my dad in his 170K mile brava 1.6... I failed, he kept up.

Overall I'm happy with it, but a trip to the local bodyshop is in order for a quote, he garantees his work for as long as you own the car so thats got to be worth a try.

if its been repainted then they probably sanded off all the galvanising

Thats the thing, where it has had repairs/paint there is no rust... The main thing I wanted after a 23 year old car was one without the dreaded tinworm...

Believe it or not stone Chips are Buggers - even on the roofs
I'ev got 2 or 3 Spider Chip Cracks which rust Did make worse
They Straight through the Paint and Galvenised Surface - And water and muck gets in

I've had a Roof Bar mount go rusty too - as it'd be covered in muck - and a very cold winter and Lots of salt on the road got into the Mount and rusted - i treated it but you never get rid of it

Ziggy

My roof bar mounts were a mess (probably got chipped some time) and rust got under the paint. How did I miss that! DOh.

Spot blast it, treat with anti rust (scrubbed in with a scourer). Spot blast and derust again a day later. Touch it up and when it looks solid get it filled & resprayed. Zinc primers might help but the metal is wrapped in paint so more of a feel good than actually doing much protection.

It will look pants until you get it resprayed but doing the spots allows you to make sure its all killed before pro finishing.

Thanks for that, I have a compressor and air line so a cheap spot blaster is a possibility, got some hammerite K-rust too (if I can find it) so it's not too bad. I will try anything once...


I'm probably going to get lynched next tuesday, taking a FIAT to a BMW car club meet but a couple of the regulars there are Concourse types, if anyone can help me make that iffy paint look good without stripping it off and starting again, its them.

Mine dont look good either
But the rust was killed - or so i though - unless the bloody stuff has got under again

Zigy

Its worth blasting and treating each rust spot at least twice. Then prime and paint and leave it a while to be sure its killed. Then get it properly refinished.

HI,I have an 11 year old punto,and there are 2 rust patches on the roof
next to the window rubber.The fiat punto bodys are galvanised and in general they are pretty rustproof,but you will always find the odd bit of rust .I am very happy with my 11 year old car,apart from 2 quite small rust patches,the body is excellent.
tony

Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy with the car for a 10 year old machine, 1 tiny dent near the passenger door handle and the spots on the roof are about the only things I noticed... Like any car, it has niggles that I will sort as I go but for now I'm happy, 43mpg on the dash is nice too with my mainly country lane commute.