Rust Advice Ford KA
Discussion
TITWONK said:
that is shocking, how can ford get away with making and selling such a car? that just isn't cricket. no one expects a car to rust that quickly. well, maybe in 1970. robbing gits.
It's a Ford, they all do that sir. 
Even brand new Fiestas and Kas are not properly undersealed to the extent that other cars are.
The fiancée of OP here!
Thanks for all the help, it's given us plenty of food for thought.
I think our best bet is to sand back the worst of it around the filler and use one of those products from Halfrauds, then prime and re-spray locally. Hopefully not outside our limited expertise and should stop it getting really bad.
Quite appalled at how much it has rusted, shocking factory treatment from Ford!
Thanks for all the help, it's given us plenty of food for thought.
I think our best bet is to sand back the worst of it around the filler and use one of those products from Halfrauds, then prime and re-spray locally. Hopefully not outside our limited expertise and should stop it getting really bad.
Quite appalled at how much it has rusted, shocking factory treatment from Ford!
TVR Moneypit said:
What's the anti corrosion warranty on those?
"If exposed to moisture warranty is void" probably 
Good call actually as my brother managed to get arches on a late model escort repaired after about 6 years. I think the car in question is 8 years old though....I somehow doubt they had a 10 year warranty given they were flogging them for what...5500 or so?
Munter said:
TVR Moneypit said:
What's the anti corrosion warranty on those?
"If exposed to moisture warranty is void" probably Good call actually as my brother managed to get arches on a late model escort repaired after about 6 years. I think the car in question is 8 years old though....I somehow doubt they had a 10 year warranty given they were flogging them for what...5500 or so?
MSTRBKR said:
I distinctly remember a thread on here a few months ago where someone ranted about people shaking petrol nozzles to stop it dripping on the paintwork and saying how stupid it was. Well, there's the proof, blimey.
Leaving petrol that's dripped from the nozzle onto the paintwork won't help the whole rust situation, but it's not the reason the old Ka rusts so badly in this area. The problem is a combination of the following:
1) The metal is not galvanised. However that's a whole other debate, because galvanised cars still rust, some old ones very badly indeed.
2) Ford never painted underneath, not even in the rear wheel arches which are basically bare metal with a thin underseal that does little to protect the metal.
3) Bad design. The rear arches do not have any plastic liners. As a result, dirt flies off the wheel, up into the area directly behind the petrol filler cap. If this is never hosed out, mud and dirt will sit there, accumulate, and every time all that gets moist, along with continuous exposure to oxygen = rust.
The solution, though not of use to the OP, but of use to people with Kas that are not yet rusty in this area, is to get some treatment underneath (Waxoyl, Dinitrol, etc). Also, fitting rear mud flaps probably helps a tiny bit, and fitting front mud flaps helps protect the sills from stone chips.
TVR Moneypit said:
What's the anti corrosion warranty on those?
6 years, has to have a fully stamped vehicle bodywork check with a Ford main dealer, otherwise they won't be interested. The claim has to go through a main dealer, who will inspect the rust. Some have had success in getting Ford to replace the panel, along with rotten sills, but others haven't. ex vtskid said:
Mines got quite a lot of rust in those same areas, its been welded at some point on the drivers sill. It is a 97 model, though so quite a bit older quite surprised at how quickly the newer models rust, even ones that have seemingly been well cared for
According to quite a few people on the Ford Ka Owner's Club site, the earlier models were better protected in terms of underseal and cavity wax. I'm sceptical however, there are few 96/97 models out there now, most have been scrapped due to being serious rust buckets! Very common corrosion areas on older KAs
The fuel filler area will have rotted through from behind & needs a new panel. Common on small Fords. Bugger all to do with shaking the drips off.
Bottom of the B pillar rusts due to stone damage from the front wheels - later ones have the protective plastic strip to reduce the damage.
You might want to have a good look at the bottom of the A pillars. Usually go there as well.
Ford just can't be bothered to do the inside of panels. Just have a look at a few 4 or 5 year old Transit front wings!
The fuel filler area will have rotted through from behind & needs a new panel. Common on small Fords. Bugger all to do with shaking the drips off.
Bottom of the B pillar rusts due to stone damage from the front wheels - later ones have the protective plastic strip to reduce the damage.
You might want to have a good look at the bottom of the A pillars. Usually go there as well.
Ford just can't be bothered to do the inside of panels. Just have a look at a few 4 or 5 year old Transit front wings!
Edited by paintman on Friday 4th June 21:47
My sister has a Ka on a Y-reg which has just clicked round the clock back to 00000 and it's rusting in all the places mentioned. Still appears to be quite solid underneath though. Got our trusted mechanic to check it all over recently while it was in for a service. It's done well to get to 100k miles.
Gf's Ka is a 52-plate but has only got about 40k on clock, other than a little bubbling round the rear wiper it's in a lot better condition even though the paintwork was badly neglected until she met me. It's only about a year younger - go figure.
Gf's Ka is a 52-plate but has only got about 40k on clock, other than a little bubbling round the rear wiper it's in a lot better condition even though the paintwork was badly neglected until she met me. It's only about a year younger - go figure.
I also own a Ford Ka with rust problems - in particular around the fuel filler cap and rear wiper.
Don't despair though - I found some "Rust Screening Rings" on Ebay specifically designed for these problem areas - bought both and they have really transformed my Ka and are really easy to fit.
Try the following link cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&;item=130432799232&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT
You won't be dissapointed!
Don't despair though - I found some "Rust Screening Rings" on Ebay specifically designed for these problem areas - bought both and they have really transformed my Ka and are really easy to fit.
Try the following link cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&;item=130432799232&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT
You won't be dissapointed!
this is a 53 plate KA , when i cut the rusty area away on the outside i found the inside was even worse. A repair panel is only a tenner but it only covers a couple of inches around the filler neck , short of removing the rear quarter panel and repairing the inside ,the only solution was to fibre glass the inside of the filler area to the back of the repair panel to stop any more water and dirt from entering the space behind the panel . 
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