This area worries me, not had a look inside I suspect rust from inside?
I’d have to get in there and have a look! Is the paint bubbling too?
This area worries me, not had a look inside I suspect rust from inside?
This is something I do every spring now! Only had my 500 just over 2 years nowI had a look at that when my wings were off because it's a common rust trap on older Lancias / Alfas (esp the 156 GTA - the wings rust readily there and are made of unobtanium) and it didn't look like a particular area for concern, but on the 500 there's a bolt in that area which holds the bumper on which seems to gather a layer of dirt around it, so it can't do any harm to clean / rustproof that area when the wheelarch liners (or wings) are off.
This area worries me, not had a look inside I suspect rust from inside?
This is something I do every spring now! Only had my 500 just over 2 years now
So last summer was the first time I’d had all the liners out … I got 4 dustpans worth of soil & grit out from behind ? I’m actually surprised I didn’t get weeds growing in there!
I also strip down my rear beam come spring and then re coat in waxoyl
The spring pans are always full of grit & salt after winter!
I spent days under my car this summer making sure the arches & underside were completely coated in rust prevention
All the time & effort on my car seem to be paying off I got asked at the petrol station this morning if my car was new!? he almost fell over when I said no she’s 10!
I was watching a chap on YouTube.. reviving salvage I think .. he has been working on a 500 he got from Scotland and my word the rust on that car!!!!!!I need to look at my rear axle when I'm back there, I cleaned the spring pans out and put some Hammerite in there whilst replacing the springs / shocks but haven't looked at the rest yet.
I don't think the front corner of the front wing rusting is specific to the 500 though or even Fiats in general - most cars rust there eventually if that's where the wheelarch liner ends and the bumper is bolted on, so always a good idea to keep on top of it.
Alfa 156 GTA was a very special case though - the normal 156 didn't rust particularly badly there but the GTA had flared wheelarches which created a little pocket at that corner, and they didn't even bother rustproofing it. The last new (i.e. rust-free) front wing sold in 2015, so guaranteed most of 'em have a nice dollop of filler in their insanely expensive front wings by now
I’d have to get in there and have a look! Is the paint bubbling too?
Yep that is paint bubbling I have a feeling there's water between the panels maybe from the aerial or rear loom seal? need to pull out the boot liner
Oh, reading this is the pic of the o/s/r rather than n/s/f like I thought? If so I'd better pull the rear wheelarch liners at some point to see what fun and games lurk back there...
Nearside rear not the petrol cap side
Did a bit of investigation - nothing scary in the rear wheelarches behind the liners at all, except spidersNearside rear not the petrol cap side