Rust!

[Dean]

I noticed the other day, when i was filling the car up, that there is rust developing around the filler neck on the body.

As a novice at body repair, it doesn't look like an easy job, and is starting to worry me slightly.

Has anybody done this job themselves and can advise me?

Cheers

Dean.

[H48HPE]

my car also has rust there but to be honest I havnt got any intention of sorting it for 3 reasons:

1, im going to get a whole new wheel arch and rear wing welded on at some stage,

2 the rust will reappear a couple of months after ive sorted it

3, i cant be bothered with removing the filler pipe and the thought of making sparks from grinding near pretrol doesnt fill me with enthusiasm.

this seems to be a common problem with maestros, (and the worst offender the ford fiesta Mk.3) but at least you cant see it on a maestro.

andy

[K260EWF]

i also have that problem and i which to get it sorted but as you say i don't want to go grinding and the like near petrol. funny my old maestro had the same problem!!!:laugh:

[Wonko_The_Sane]

Me too..:( It's not the filler bit as such..but the entire surrounding panel! It seems to be developing stress fractures...

A flat body panel in great condition, with sudden gashes from nowhere appearing in the metal...almost like someone's knifed the panel! :(

I'm at a loss as to how to patch THAT up nicely..

[John S]

I brushed my rear wheel arches out and then (making sure no rust was present) sprayed black underseal inside the wheel arches - looks well neat. Thing is though, I did notice some of the sealant peel off in a tiny area around the filler neck so I spray this periodically with waxoyl.
The rear wheel arch seams tend to part in the odd place too. In these areas I use a tiny screwdriver to scrape the mud out the gaps and then I spray waxoyl in the seams. I'm hoping that this will go a long way to slowing down the inevitable. Metal that is corroded in inconspicious areas e.g. around wheel arch edges covered by plastic finishers is best 'amputated' in my opinion to prevent spreading of the corrosion. You can then simply hammerite the area, waxoyl it and then put the arch finishers back on.