Technical Rust under Mk1 Punto

[andyr]

Wife just recently bought a 1999 Mk1 Punto and today I was underneath it and saw quite a bit of rust on the axle, coil springs, under body and petrol tank and rear exhaust. Mind you car is 7 years old and 84 thous on the clock so i suppose there is gonna be some rust there.

Typical of us though to buy the car and only now have a good look underneath after we have bought it.

I took a few digital photo's and was wondering if someone could look and judge by the photos if it looks serious or just normal surface rust.

http://www.ibizanet.utvinternet.com/PUNTO2.jpg
http://www.ibizanet.utvinternet.com/PUNTO3.jpg
http://www.ibizanet.utvinternet.com/PUNTO4.jpg

Its got to have an NCT (Irish equivalent of the UK MOT) but not until a year away (March 2007) but as it stands at the moment if you have looked at the pics would you say that any of that rust would be a MOT failure?

Would a wire brush and a tin of brush on Hammerite do a good job of sorting it out?

Thanks,

Andy.

 

[beau]

looks like slight surface rust to me? lol

if your that worried you could wire brush it and put that thick black coating stuff that puts under cars to protect from rust?

hammerite is said to be crap, and it just rusts after few months...

 

[Wallis_Online]

That definately looks like surface rust ! If you think thats bad you should see the underside of my car ! it is a 94 mk1 Punto and needs a bit of work doing on the underside due to the rust before the next MOT, espically on the jacking points which started to crumple on me the other day whilst under the car replacing the fuel filter !!!

 

[pid119]

yours aint that bad this is rust , it wont fail an mot like that but your brake pipes may

 

[jabs]

my mk1 punto has just been in for a safety recall check by fiat cos of potential corrosion of brake pipes. apparently a problem where lot of salt used on road

1996 90elx cabrio

 

[Wallis_Online]

Yeah mine had that as well, a few months ago - was fine though so didnt get any free repairs ! lol

 

[T.E.D. Jordan]

As long as nothing structural is rotten then it will all be fine and what you have is just normal surface rust and just clean your brake pipes if you're worried about them. use some fine sand paper and rub them back then gunk them with silicone or something. Fiat do this to all their cars round here and it gets them through. Safetest bet is to replace rear pipes if you think they're bad. By the way, im not just giving friendly advise. I do this kind of work for my fathers mechanic business

Jordan

 

[MATT 68]

I cant see thi irish equivelent of the mot being any stricter than the british and any way youve nothing to worry about, ive seen alot worse, its only surface rust.
Like you suggested, wire brush it then spray on some stoneshield to protect it.

 

[pubcrawler]

I find that Finnegan's Waxoyl is brill for stopping rust like that. Clean, easy to apply (brush or spray) and it goes a long way.

 

[andyr]

I cant see thi irish equivelent of the mot being any stricter than the british and any way youve nothing to worry about, ive seen alot worse, its only surface rust.
Like you suggested, wire brush it then spray on some stoneshield to protect it.

Someone we know took their car into the NCT (Irish MOT) the other day and it failed on a blown rear bulb. She even checked all the lights were working before setting out!

 

[andyr]

I find that Finnegan's Waxoyl is brill for stopping rust like that. Clean, easy to apply (brush or spray) and it goes a long way.

Can you brush that straight onto the rust? - the thing I like about hammerite is that you can just apply straight onto rust without much preparation, maybe a wire brush first.

 

[dave]

how you manage to get a rusty petrol tank they are plastic

 

[andyr]

how you manage to get a rusty petrol tank they are plastic

Bloody Hell, maybe we have one of those magic cars with the type of plastic that rusts!

 

[T.E.D. Jordan]

how you manage to get a rusty petrol tank they are plastic

Think he's confusing the petrol tank with the spare wheel well, as mine is a little rusty too

Jordan

 

[andyr]

Think he's confusing the petrol tank with the spare wheel well, as mine is a little rusty too
Jordan

Lovely shiny blue coil springs you have there Jordan

 

[T.E.D. Jordan]

Lol thanks.

They're actually purple (no smarmy girl comments :yum: ) but when you take a picture with flash the colour goes to blue, with any camera! only on the box can you see their real colour

Jordan

 

[dave]

there must be loads of spare standard non rusty rear springs, knocking around the forum. as lots of people have fitted lower ones. i am taking some off in a few days if they are ok you can have them for postage cost, but to post to ireland some times is too much money

 

[pubcrawler]

Can you brush that straight onto the rust? - the thing I like about hammerite is that you can just apply straight onto rust without much preparation, maybe a wire brush first.

yes mate, just get the loose stuff off and slap it all over!

I'm assuming that the stuff is still around, it was all the rage years ago but seems to have slipped into the background lately.

As the name suggests, the coating dries to a waxy constitution, this seals the surface from air and moisture. I believe it contains an anti rust ingredient as well.

Good thing is it resists stone damage by creeping back together and repairing itself. (shades of Terminator 2?)

Oh yes, it's also good for dipping your nuts (and bolts) in before reassembly.

 

[andyr]

there must be loads of spare standard non rusty rear springs, knocking around the forum. as lots of people have fitted lower ones. i am taking some off in a few days if they are ok you can have them for postage cost, but to post to ireland some times is too much money

Ta very much for the offer but yes you are right they would cost loads with the weight and packaging to Ireland.

cheers,

Andy.

 

[MATT 68]

Someone we know took their car into the NCT (Irish MOT) the other day and it failed on a blown rear bulb. She even checked all the lights were working before setting out!

PAHH!!!! thats nothing, mine failed at the w/e for 1 indicator not being orange enough!( honest)Some of these examiners are bloody :tosser: