uh oh... found a hole...

signia · Mar 3, 2007

Whilst removing some mud from the rear wheel arches today I heard some cracking and after a bit of light knocking found a hole up inside the wheel arch directly below the C pillar. The rubber bung came out along with a fair amount of rust.

I've rubbed back all the loose rust and it appears to be just a case of the bung hole now being a bit bigger and not round any more!
It's the same both sides. I've felt up around the other side of the hole and the base of the C pillar is nice and smooth.

My knowledge of body work repair and rust is limited, so the questions are, will this fail an MOT and is it easy to repair? Is it a case of patching up? Or do I need a new wheelarch!?

I assume the problem as been water ingress coming down the inside of the C pillar at some point? Probably from alpine windows/sunroof?

If anyone's had this fixed before - any suggestion what it might cost to have done?

Cheers.

greenjeepster · Mar 3, 2007

I don't know about Mot, but if you mix bar and chain oil with diesel fuel and spay the underside once a year it will stop the rust from spreading. Tack a piece of metal over the hole and seal with silicone should be all you need for a fix.

retsgom · Mar 3, 2007

greenjeepster said:
I don't know about Mot, but if you mix bar and chain oil with diesel fuel and spay the underside once a year it will stop the rust from spreading. Tack a piece of metal over the hole and seal with silicone should be all you need for a fix.

You """""SPAY""""" your car ?????

greenjeepster · Mar 3, 2007

I put it through a pump sprayer from a garden store, the bar and chain oil sticks well and the diesel cuts it so it will spray through the pump. You may want to avoid spaying the exhaust, but I don't and have never had a problem. We like salting the roads so bad here in the winter that if you don't treat your cars they will rust away in a few years.

Chuggly · Mar 4, 2007

If it's within 12 inches of the seatbelt mount it will fail the mot

Tim

signia · Mar 4, 2007

thanks guys,

so if it's within 12in of the seatbelt mount, I assume it can be welded rather than replaced to get is to pass an MOT?

I was also wondering, because it's so small, (and I've no experience with a welder) can I seal and rivet a small patch over it?

I've got my waxoyl at the ready to fill the section up and rust protect going forward, but I want to repair first.

thanks

russ black · Mar 4, 2007

pop rivets? interesting concept. Would you fancy trusting a bit of steel welded properly into place to return the main structure to its original strength to hold your /your wife/girlfriend/kids seatbelt in place or a few thin hollow squashed out tubes going through some other bits of thin metal plate, with the strength of plastic bolts if you were to hit something?

I know what I would have, pass me the Mig welded and grinder !

By the way it will fail MOT straight away if rivetted and they will go over it with a fine tooth comb looking for any other bodges.

signia · Mar 4, 2007

russ black said:
pop rivets? interesting concept. Would you fancy trusting a bit of steel welded properly into place to return the main structure to its original strength to hold your /your wife/girlfriend/kids seatbelt in place or a few thin hollow squashed out tubes going through some other bits of thin metal plate, with the strength of plastic bolts if you were to hit something?

well, duh! Obviously not, if the part which is damaged is integral to the structure of the car. But at this stage I'm not sure whether the part which has the hole actually is.

If it's not, then I'm happy to patch it with anything to keep the moisture out.

It's quite a way from the lower seatbelt mount and not visible from inside. You have to put your finger through the base of the C pillar (where there is a gap) behind the plastic trim, and feel down in there on the outside edge of the underside of the arch.

There was always meant to be a hole there - with a rubber bung it it - about a 2p size. Now the hole is just a little bigger and not round anymore.

discomania · Mar 5, 2007

I think your getting worryed about nothing to be honest, clean the area up, paint it with some rust stopper, put the bung back in with some silicone.

Buzzcox · Mar 21, 2007

Not only will it fail if it is within 12inches of a seat belt but also if it is the same distance of a body mount, i know , i had £300 worth of welding done to get it through my mot.

signia · Mar 22, 2007

Yes, it is within 12in of the seatbelt mount on the arch, so it will need looking at. The base of the C pillar is exposed (what used to rest on the bit that's rusted away) although the pillar itself is still nice and shiney and smooth, so that's good.

Went to see a mate of a mate who's handy with a welder last night. He took a look and said it's easily weldable if I clean it all up.

Cheers.

uh oh... found a hole...

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