How serious is this rust hole?

[jerrin91]

Hi Pistonians

I own a 2001 Toyota Yaris and was checking the car's tyre pressure when I randomly decided to check if there inner wheel well/ arch sill was clean. To my shock, I found out that there is been a muck build up around the corner which is very easy to miss unless you are closely standing directly beneath the car. Anyways the muck due to the dry wether has gotten dry and so was easy to remove just by poking it. However in the process, one small rusty chunk (about 4cm) came off and now there is a rust hole there.

So my question is how serious is this? Does it affect the car's structural intergrity which is a MOT failure? Is this easy cheap fix if I take the car to a cosmetics shop? I am worried dirt and water is going to slip through the hole and get deposited there as it's close to the rear door

many thanks

[TooMany2cvs]

It'll certainly be within 30cm of rear seatbelt mount and suspension mounts, and that's one of the most important areas for structure on a monocoque - joining sills, inner and outer wings - so it's definitely a fail.

It won't be a horrorshow to fix, for a man with a mig, and it does look very localised. And, yes, the sill will be getting filled with grot and moisture from it, as it is now - but should have drain holes in. Check they're free, jack the front up, and give it a bloody good wash out before getting it sorted. Then get it all wax-injected after it's welded, and it should see the rest of the car out.

[J4CKO]

Just needs a patch, probably £50 to £100 to get a piece of metal welded in to satisfy the MOT but to be honest, I wouldn't spend too much on a 2001 Yaris, depends how good the rest of the car is.

It isnt actually that hard to do if you have access to a MIG welder and some tools.