uno_94 said:
when cleaning my car i had a look round and could'nt actually find any rust
so where are the common spots on them, i cant believe an uno to have no rust!
It seems that Uno's vary in rust resistance, and depending on mk1 or mk2 they seem to rust in different places too.
The first place that normally goes are the door bottoms, both mk1 and 2. If yours hasn't gone then you are very lucky, especially if it's an old Uno.
The front strut towers under the bonnet can also go, especially if the inner wheel arch protector has been removed.
Other places are the rear wheel arches, both inside and out. For some reason mk1's seem to be well protected there compared with early mk2's. I recently bought some parts off a mk2 turbo on an 'H' registration, and the inner rear arches had completely rusted through. Mind you, so had just about everywhere else on the car. There was more daylight than metal!
The metal around the fuel filler cap has a habit of rusting, more so on mk2's.
The sills can go, but again less so on mk1's for some reason.
More so on mk2's, the metal under the rubber strips on the roof can rust, as can the areas around the sunroof if one has been fitted.
Other places to check are the floor pans, the boot floor/ spare wheel well and front inner wings.
Really you should check everywhere, especially underneath!
Rust protection seems to vary with Uno's. Some seem to last forever, while others rot at the first sign of rain.
I have a 1986 mk1, and it has never been welded! Both door bottoms had gone, though I was lucky to find a rust free passenger door. Just need to find a good drivers one too.
I have the odd spot here and there, but it is amazingly solid for a 19 year old car.
If you do have a good rust free Uno, go out and buy a big 5 litre can of Waxoil. Remove all the interior panels and apply it EVERYWHERE there is an inner metal panel. And if possible inject it into the sills too. If you can, also inject it into the front chassis rails. If you have good doors, then make absolutely sure you coat the inside of them as much as you can.
It pays to check any car, as some can look great on the outside but can be rusting away merrily underneath.
Oh, and so few people clean the rear wheel arches and the underside when washing a car. Don't let mud build up under the arches, especially over winter as it just sits on the ledges and can cause the arches to rust from the inside out. Once the rust starts to show on the outer bodywork it often means the metal has rusted right through.
Look after your Uno!
Chas
