Rust prevention

[garethm5]

I’m new to the Yaris,since I stay on the coast,the salt air attacks everything on cars 

got a used automatic Yaris,has some rust,will get it done at some point as I’m a learner driver

once I get it done just wondering the best way to protect it and stop the salt air damaging it too much

though about carbon fibre but that’s very expensive,fibreglass is more affordable but can find much on that either 

thought of clear vinyl but outside it would only last about 5 years before needing replacing 

just wondering if there’s any other ways to protect it that will last quite a long time 

[Auris James]

Don't use fibreglass. Messy and trap moisture. Any divots caused by rust scabs, grind treat then fill.

The rust on the sill seam needs grinding back, to remove as much rust as possible. A rust converter on any rust patches and rust primer, undercoated and top paint in matching paint for top coat. Underbody, grind, wire brush, rust treat and stone chip/ paint chassis black.

Dinitrol and bilt hamber products are recommended.

I use waxoil spray for my Volvo 940 chassis and do it every 2 years. Its only good for underneath/inner arches and black.

James.

 

[garethm5]

thanks for the information,what I meant by fibreglass is replacing the entire bonnet for a fibreglass one,plan to get the repairs done at a body repair specialist

[sproutdreamer]

Auris James is right on this.

We have an 04 Yaris which although only having 40k and mechanically very good was very rusty underneith and the bottom of one door. The upper body rust if treated NOW is quite recoverable. The tool I have found best is a finger belt grinder for the bigger areas (12mm wide) or a Dremell tool for the spots and you can carefully grind away the rust spots, treat it with kurrust or similar and touch in the paint with primer and then top coat. The bigger areas will require a spray.

The sills again should respond to a finger grinder but after grinding and rust treatment I would just use underseal coming up the sill a little and using masking tape to get a neat line.

What is more important though is that you have a good look underneith, the floors, where the sills join the rear wheel arch, the crossbeam, the mounting points for the rear suspension in particular. Make sure you have a good tap around to make sure that you do not have irreparable rust in areas that will fail the test BEFORE you start spending time and money on superficial top body cosmetic repairs.

Our Yaris was awful underside but it was all superficial rust although a lot of it. I spent about 5 days with the finger grinder on the sills, floors, cross beam and suspension mounting points and then applied hammerite with bitumin underseal paint and spray can about £70 worth.

You need to be sure the car is worth spending time and money on.

[garethm5]

where I stay,it’s almost impossible to find automatic cars,so is with spending money to keep It in good condition,plus the driving instructors where I stay only have manual cars,plus got the car from someone I know,checked underneath and no rust there,any rust I have seen underneath is just surface rust 

[sproutdreamer]

I am pleased to hear that it is ok underside so worth spending some time on the body. Just take your time with the body rust and if you create a hole this is easily fillable with bodyfiller and then sand it down. Our car was from Glasgow and I think they use more salt on the roads than in England so cars do rust more up there. Good luck with it , they are very good little cars, ours is also auto which is nice to drive.