CHRIS GALE Posted January 21, 2002 Share Posted January 21, 2002 Does anyone have this problem on their seven? My car is two years old and I have noticed a small bubble the size of a one pence piece on the lower part of the side skin under the paint. I can only think that this is alli corrosion and I am unsure what to do. Any suggestions? C7 CJG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robmar Posted January 22, 2002 Share Posted January 22, 2002 I would suspect that if it is right at the bottom where the skin touches the chassis, then it is more likely chassis rather than ali that is corroding size of a 1 pence piece, so similar to a greasy finger print left on the bare chassis before it was powder coated sorry not sure what you could do rob Edited by - robmar on 22 Jan 2002 09:49:00 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murph7355 Posted January 22, 2002 Share Posted January 22, 2002 It will be chassis rust causing it. I've yet to find a solution as I have a bit on mine too (left hand side at a triangulation of the chassis tubes). So far I've just blasted as much of the crud out with soapy, then clean water. Made sure it's thoroughly dry and then used rust proofer on the chassis rail where I can get access. I think the only way to cure it properly is to pull the side skin away from the chassis, sort the chassis rail out then "refit". However I'm 99.9% positive you'll muller the side skin doing this and it'll look like a dog's dinner afterwards. I did have someone give me an estimate of 150-200GBP to sort it once. Wasn't that bothered (as the tube is perfectly fine and the blisters don't bother me that much). I've now decided to keep an eye on it and in a few years' time I'll probably strip the whole car down to the chassis and send it to Arch for a thorough overhaul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COCKER Posted January 22, 2002 Share Posted January 22, 2002 i had exactly the same problem on my 3yr old k seires. It is indeed alli corrosion due to salt and grime build up in in the small gap running inside and along the footwell area. The bad news was re skin was required, although the chassis was absolutely fine except for a clean and a bit of protection applied. I'm now paranoid about salt and dont venture out when the gritters about. I have also sprayed waxoil in the void and used duck tape to tape up the access to this area's from in front of the footwell (you would be amazed how much crap has gathered on the tape which would have otherwise entered the void). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Green Posted January 22, 2002 Share Posted January 22, 2002 I've had ally corrosion where the stainless steel sill "protectors" wrapped over a bit too much and dug into the paint. The skin was treated and re-painted, and I bent the sill protectors so they don't dig in anymore... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiddy1 Posted January 22, 2002 Share Posted January 22, 2002 Lots ofcorrosion on my 1995 car with 50K miles on the clock, you don't need salt, but removing the aluminium pannels as the electrical earth may help! Bi-matalic corrosion between the two dissimilar metals is enevitable. Isolating the two by a layer of silicon sealent will help. But as the floor pannel is strustural you want to have a good tight joint between the chassis and the ali...catch 22. Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Posted January 22, 2002 Share Posted January 22, 2002 you will prob find it is water under the paint prick it and pressquestion.gif fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHRIS GALE Posted January 22, 2002 Author Share Posted January 22, 2002 Has this topic been completly covered before, am i missing something. Does everone have this corrosion problem and no one cares. Maybe ile try the archives. C7 CJG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHRIS GALE Posted January 22, 2002 Author Share Posted January 22, 2002 Sounds like its not uncomon.I tried the pin Fred, but its definately corrosion. Dont suppose Caterham give anti- corrosion warrantee. C7 CJG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Posted January 23, 2002 Share Posted January 23, 2002 Ages old problem. Check-out Landrover (class action lawsuit in USA) and aircraft. There are neutralising chemicals for the aluminium (aircraft industry could help here). From my experience, powder coating is crap. Just one small chip or crack (unseen) and the water creeps (capillery action). No cure!!! Slow it down by scraping bac to clean metal, painting with anti corrosion, then paint then waxoil. Good until it comes through again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John E Posted January 23, 2002 Share Posted January 23, 2002 Yes this topic has been covered before, search under rust and corrosion. Lots of comments on ally skin corrosion and on the questionable powder coating that Caterham use. From memory there were certain years of car that seemed to suffer from both powder coating issues and corrosion of the ally skins. My car is a 1990 build and so far the ally skin is ok including the dodgy areas around the sill where the bulk head is. I've had lots of issues with powder coating including two wing stays that lasted only 12 months. Having stated that I had my roll bar re coated in July of 2001 by a local outfit and the coating is now rippled on the curve of the bar and the dreaded rust is coming through. Out with the matt hammerite me thinks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millsn Posted January 23, 2002 Share Posted January 23, 2002 Don't know how the ali is fixed to your cars in that area but if you could drill out the local rivets (they would have to be local to the rust problem) and again (if) you could buy or make a washer out of magnesium then you could attach this to the rivet. This would give you a metal 'washer' that would prefer to corrode more than the alumninium does. You'd eventually get a loose rivet but it would take some time. It's really essential to keep that area clear of mud on later cars as damp will collect and you eventually end up with acidic mud (believe it or not) which clearly will not do your paint / corrosion problem any good whatsoever. Ps Hello Mike. Nigel Mills - 2.0 Zetec carbs Edited by - millsn on 23 Jan 2002 18:45:38 Edited by - millsn on 23 Jan 2002 18:46:43 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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