Rusty Surprise
Author
Discussion

DB9VolanteDriver

Original Poster:

2,658 posts

206 months

Tuesday 30th April 2013
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Removed armrest. Saw this. I can understand rusty externals, but a rusty armrest?!?!?!



AdamV12V

5,314 posts

207 months

Tuesday 30th April 2013
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And there was me thinking that Rusty Surprise was a 1960's female vocalist!

Jockman

18,414 posts

190 months

Tuesday 30th April 2013
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WTF.

Have you spilled something recently confused

Gibberish

568 posts

173 months

Tuesday 30th April 2013
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Do you have the old type battery? Could it possibly be acid vapors?

I think it can be a problem over the long term, when batteries are mounted inside the car, as ours are.

DB9VolanteDriver

Original Poster:

2,658 posts

206 months

Tuesday 30th April 2013
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Maybe the previous owner spilt something, but that would seem to only affect the large part that contacts the base in the car. The recessed 'rails' (one shown in the lower photo)wouldn't be affected I think. If it was battery fumes, you'd think the corrosion would be everywhere in the car, no?

In any case, I was surprised by this. I'll clean it up and give it a coat of rust proofing paint before re-fitting it.

sjp63

1,997 posts

302 months

Wednesday 1st May 2013
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From the photo it doesn't look like that steel has any corrosion protection - cad/galvanising/paint/etc. if that's the case it's not really surprising it has surface corrosion. Go into any factory where they are handling steel fabrications and you will see corrosion on new components. Even finger prints can start it off.

Having said that I wouldn't expect a luxury car company to use unprotected steel even in hidden areas.

Gibberish

568 posts

173 months

Wednesday 1st May 2013
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The only reason I suggest battery fumes is because mine still has its original battery (old type) with a plastic vent.

I suppose if that vent was not in the correct position, if you trickle charge over long periods, the battery must vent sulphuric acid vapour into the car; attacking steel components that aren’t protected.

I believe years ago, steel roofed cars with inboard batteries, could be badly affected with corrosion.

But if you say it’s had a previous owner, a much more likely cause would be leather cleaning/treatments, as the leather can get quite wet, if deep cleaned.

sukh_m

1,325 posts

222 months

Wednesday 1st May 2013
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Jockman said:
WTF.

Have you spilled something recently confused
Phil, didn't you know this part was "standard" on all DB9's? hehe

DB9VolanteDriver

Original Poster:

2,658 posts

206 months

Wednesday 1st May 2013
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It is more likely the reason as stated by sjp63...unprotected steel. No liquid of any kind has been in contact with that surface because if it had, the white cloth that serves as padding/insulation for this surface would also be stained, but it is still in pristine condition.

Any way. got to take care of it. Can you imagine some time in the future having the floor of your armrest compartment, of all things, rust away completely like in the bad old days of passenger floors doing likewise?