Rust Repair

[Too Late]

So I have a few rust patches I need to get repaired. Filler cap, both rear arch panels and in the door pillar. Its only my station wagon, a sport ka but the first quote was over a quarter of the cars value

£380+ vat

That seems excessive

Its a metallic grey

N

[Dr Doofenshmirtz]

POR15 is the only paint that holds back the rust for a season or two. But on a Ford or Mazda (certain models) which are known for bad rust issues, you'll be fighting a loosing battle.
Time to sell up and buy something less rust prone?

[Ozzie Osmond]

Whatever the answer is it's not £380 + VAT. In fact it's more likely to be spelt Halfords.

I favour a good rub down, wash with methylated spirit and then a coat of Hammerite in the nearest colour to your car. Leave it to cure fully (couple of weeks IMO) and then overpaint with a touch-up stick in your car's proper colour. A few quid well spent.

[Vince70]

Being that the ka is metallic the chances are that the paint won't be able to be flowed in and that whole panels will have to be repainted to a join so it won't be as easy to paint as it sounds.
And Ka's are known to be terrible rot boxes so the chances are when you start grinding the rot out it will end up needing a bit of patch welding.
So it's not really a bad price if the job is done well,
The only problem is if you repair it properly it will only rust somewhere else, or rot out underneath.

[Nigel Worc's]

Where in the Country are you ?

If you're not too far from Worcester, I know a nice chap who'll give you a reasonable quote, but most importantly, tell you whether to bother or not

[paintman]

Common rot areas on the KA & many of those I've seen with bubbling areas where you describe have rusted right through, the filler area being particularly bad.
So don't be surprised if as already said bit of welding is needed.
Metallics can be blended out, ending new colour coat at a panel join is the best way of making a repair noticable. Esp with pale metallics & silvers which need blending into the adjacent panel to take the eye off.

Edited by paintman on Sunday 23 September 21:56

[Fubar1977]

Yep, when these things start going, they just keep going...it`s endless.
Do a cheap patch up and get rid!

[SuperVM]

Treat it with Kurust, paint over it with POR-15 or the like and use the car as it is for a bit. It won't look the best, but hopefully it will impede the rust's progress for a while longer.

[ikarl]

Too Late said:

Its only my station wagon, a sport ka

A what???

Why the fk would you call it a station wagon?

[Riley Blue]

It's the wagon in which he drives to the station perhaps?

[zb]

ikarl said:

A what???

Why the fk would you call it a station wagon?

I would hazard a guess it's their snotter to get to and from the train station.

[nagsheadwarrior]

ikarl said:

A what???

Why the fk would you call it a station wagon?

Haha, Whoosh Parrot?