Should I fix rust on my car

[TremblingBluStar]

Here is the story - I have a 2001 Hyundai Elantra, and live in the Midwest where the winters are often hard on cars. Even though the car isn't that old, there is major rust on different parts of my car body, mostly around the lower side panels under the doors.

On several spots the metal is eaten clean through, so this isn't something I can just cover up myself. It would require some pretty severe body work, and I don't have the expertise to do that sort of thing myself. I'm also not sure it would be worth paying to get it fixed, as the car is 10 years old and I'm not sure how much longer before I get a new car (fingers crossed).

The car is in great shape mechanically. In fact, I've had to take it in for repairs other than routine maintenance once recently, and that was for a speed sensor that only set me back $200. Most repairs and maintenance I've been able to do myself.

I'm not sure why the rust holes bother me. I guess I don't want them spreading, if that's even how rust works.

Anyway, I was wondering if anybody has experience with body work and can give me any advice. Should I be worried about this, or just let it go until I can afford a new car?

 

[ares93]

Unless there is rust damage to the underside, chassi and other supporting areas of the car. You'll be fine. Although, depending on the side of the rust hole, you can grind the rust off with a dremel, grab some aluminum net, fasten it to the backside and apply some chemical metal. grind it down again and apply a fresh coat of paint. its far from optimal, you should weld it if you can, but its a quick solution. Don't tell my boss i told you this, he'll have my head.

The first car i had, an old -89 Probe GT, (Where my username comes from ARE-593) had severe rust damage to the underside. The jack went straight through the floor when i swapped to winter tires. Seems the Americans aren't so big on rust protection.

BTW, I do this for a living. I once came across a car, an old Challenger, that had a rust hole in the floor. The previous owner simply welded a license plate over the hole.

 

[Haggis and tatties]

Here is the story - I have a 2001 Hyundai Elantra, and live in the Midwest where the winters are often hard on cars. Even though the car isn't that old, there is major rust on different parts of my car body, mostly around the lower side panels under the doors.

On several spots the metal is eaten clean through, so this isn't something I can just cover up myself. It would require some pretty severe body work, and I don't have the expertise to do that sort of thing myself. I'm also not sure it would be worth paying to get it fixed, as the car is 10 years old and I'm not sure how much longer before I get a new car (fingers crossed).

The car is in great shape mechanically. In fact, I've had to take it in for repairs other than routine maintenance once recently, and that was for a speed sensor that only set me back $200. Most repairs and maintenance I've been able to do myself.

I'm not sure why the rust holes bother me. I guess I don't want them spreading, if that's even how rust works.

Anyway, I was wondering if anybody has experience with body work and can give me any advice. Should I be worried about this, or just let it go until I can afford a new car?

I had a rust issue 5 months ago when my 2001 hyundi Lantra sprang a coolent leak between the front grill and the radiator....when the guy took the grill off i was amazed at just how much rust damage had affected the entire coolent system of pipes, i thought it was just a pipe that was needed but i was the whole thing, and it was going to cost a utter fortune just for that alone, £700, and that was in the Hyundi dealers.......And also just like yours it was starting to show some rust spots around the body........in the end i just decided to trade it in for a Accent 1.3.......in the long run its been a hell of a lot cheaper to run.

Road tax disc is now £130 instead of £210.
Insurance is cheaper.
And MPG is just chalk and cheese compared to my old lantra which was going through pertol like there was no tommorrow.

Great cars all the same, loved me Lantra, but needs must when the mechanic is leafing though yacht catalogues in front of you.

 

[Keith1701]

Sounds, like a good idea to me.......

 

[Brolan]

Rust damage is expensive to fix, likely more than the current value of the car. But you should make an attempt to slow it down as it will keep spreading until you do. This means grinding or sanding down to bare metal, then using a modern anti-rust primer. The areas you will have to fix are far greater than you see, the paint is hiding a bunch of rust you can't see.

If you don't, keep in mind that it will start to affect the structural integrity of the car at some point, putting your safety at risk.

 

[TremblingBluStar]

Great cars all the same, loved me Lantra, but needs must when the mechanic is leafing though yacht catalogues in front of you.

I love my Elantra, but do kind of miss my 97 Accent GT. I had to trade that one in back in 2002 when it required $1400 worth of repairs! Apparently Hyundai parts were extremely expensive back then.

The underside of the car has some rust, but no holes. I have a bracket around the EVAP that has rusted and the thing is hanging down, but no parts dealer in the area carries one or can order it. I can't even find one online!

I can pick up a sander and grind down the areas, but there is a hole on the lower passenger side that is at least 5cm in width. Even if I sand and primer that area, wouldn't rust develop inside the body?

 

[ares93]

The underside of the car has some rust, but no holes. I have a bracket around the EVAP that has rusted and the thing is hanging down, but no parts dealer in the area carries one or can order it. I can't even find one online!

I think I know the part you're talking about. Surely its not that hard to find? Check a local car junkyard. There must be a crashed or scrapped Elantra you can buy parts from.

If nothing else, mate. I have a unsalvageable -99 Elantra somewhere. I can check if it still has it, but i doubt it. But it was in a fatality accident with a lorry. Last time i touched it, the door fell off.

I can pick up a sander and grind down the areas, but there is a hole on the lower passenger side that is at least 5cm in width. Even if I sand and primer that area, wouldn't rust develop inside the body?

You need to grind both sides. The inside as well. And if you grind it down to the metal and prime it correctly, rust should never return. Then all you gotta do is cover the hole with chemical metal, glass fiber or whatever you fancy.

 

[Captain Ice]

The underside of the car has some rust, but no holes. I have a bracket around the EVAP that has rusted and the thing is hanging down, but no parts dealer in the area carries one or can order it. I can't even find one online!

Check online under auto recyclers. Look for one somewhere in the western US and make a few phone calls. Elantras are pretty common cars, so you should be able to find a yard that has this part cheap. Also, check your local junkyard. A lot of junkyards are networked. If they don't have the car/part you need, they can get it for you or tell you who has one.

Also, doors and fenders may be able to be replaced with junkyard parts if they are rusty. However, if you do go this route, make sure that this part comes from a junkyard/recycler in a dry state (California, New Mexico, and Wyoming are good examples) as those that are available in your area are probably just as rusty as the ones you'd be replacing.

 

[TremblingBluStar]

You need to grind both sides. The inside as well. And if you grind it down to the metal and prime it correctly, rust should never return. Then all you gotta do is cover the hole with chemical metal, glass fiber or whatever you fancy.

I'm not sure I will be able to sand inside the hole! How can I fit a sander inside there? Or am I being dense?

I was hoping to make some repairs before it gets too cold outside. I'm not sure if that will happen!