Theory about the door/cladding rust.

[redlightningsvx]

While I was repairing some dents on my car today I noticed some surface rust along the driverside door line where the cladding bolts up. This is commonly one of the biggest areas for SVXi to rust at. I also looked at the passengerside door line and noticed NO rust. So then I removed both claddings from the doors and I seen something that might be rusting these doors out at that specific spot. On my pass. door with no rust the back of the cladding had no cell/foam strip across the whole length of it and the metal bar that bolts the cladding up to the door had minimal oxidation. So I look at the rusted door/cladding and noticed the bar that bolts it to the door is rusted/rotted to hell in 3 or 4 pieces. It was flaking like a potatoe chip. There was also a cell/foam strip across the length of it soaked in water and 2 foam strips at the bottom of the door also soaked with water. So i'm guessing with all of that factory foam crap combined with water that it's soaking moisture which in turn rots out the bar, then rots the door its self. Anyone else notice this or is this just the insomnia speaking?

[michael]

I'm pretty sure it rusts from inside out. The metal bar can rot all it wants but the door rot is caused by water coming in from the weather strip at the base of the window. If yours hasn't rotted yet you should inspect/replace your weather strip and remove your cladding to treat the mounting holes with some POR 15. While you're in there check your glass guides!

[dcarrb]

I suspect the vast majority of SVXs exhibiting rust perforation of any description have spent years in snowy areas where salt is used to de-ice the roads.

dcb

[michael]

true, but a properly designed vehicle should resist such problems. Especially when they all rust in the same spot, that would reflect a flaw in production.

[redlightningsvx]

It looks like it rots inside out because water stays trapped behind the cladding from the water soaked foam strip. Then it rots the bar, rots around the bolt holes, then water goes through the threads of the bolts getting to the inside.

[redlightningsvx]

On mine I sprayed etch primer then some chip guard on the bottom half inside and out which will not show any more rust again on that part of the door. I think if people would remove the foam strip across the cladding and the 2 at the bottom of the door than this would help prevent the rusting along the body line.

[Crazy_pilot]

Pff...you haven't seen rust. THIS is rust:



I removed one of the nuts holding the cladding, then prodded another with the ratchet, and the whole piece fell off, the metal strip basically turned to dust, and chunck of door the size of my palm fell out.

[subbieatnz]

ouchy. ive never seen bad rust on an svx

[Crazy_pilot]

Originally Posted by subbieatnz

ouchy. ive never seen bad rust on an svx

This is what Canada, certain places more than others, does to cars. I'm pretty terrified to remove the plastic body cladding and see what's under there.

[gwarusee]

Originally Posted by Crazy_pilot

Pff...you haven't seen rust. THIS is rust:



I removed one of the nuts holding the cladding, then prodded another with the ratchet, and the whole piece fell off, the metal strip basically turned to dust, and chunck of door the size of my palm fell out.

Thats what my old doors looked like. The rear portion of the lower plastic cladding on the body also has those metal retainer bars inside. Mine were rusted too. I replaced the rear cladding bars with two sided foam tape and aquired some new doors, thankfuly, fully rust free!

[SVX92-97]

Just discovered the small bubbled rust spot on passenger door of 94 pearlie is rusted right thru right where the cladding meets the door. Pulled back on cladding and hole about half dollar size right where it snaps into door on one area. Gonna need another door, guess my 96 parts car will come in handy.

[svx_commuter]

My SVX had the plastic on the side repainted before I bought it. I think the white plastic was turning yellow and that was corrected with the painting. I got about three (3) different pearl whites on teh SVX.

I had the driver side door plastic off and there was no foam tape under the metal strip. All looked well and mine has been outside with the winter salt for eight (8) years. I think the rust stays away when the foam isn't there.

I agree that the foam tape is not a good thing for rust. Anything that holds moisture next to the metal will start the rust. The Hondas used to use a foam glue for the rear quarter panel. That held mositure and started the rust.

The SVX rear wheel wells have a plastic liner that hold dirt next the inner body panel. That starts rust in the rear wheel well. Also the upper strut mount of the rear strut rusts if the dirt isn't clean off.

I have not seen any rust at the bottom inside the doors. This is an area that usually rust where the panel seam together and around the drain holes. Common rust area on most other cars but the SVX seems to good in this area.

Peace,
John