Hey y'all, So, I've got an '07 Outback that I picked up back in October. I didn't notice it for a few weeks after I bought it, but it's got some rust bubbling starting at the quarter panel seam with the bowl shaped body panel where the fuel filler lives. I uploaded a pic for reference. Other than that, I can't find any rust on the whole car. It's been slowly advancing over the course of the winter. While it's only bubbles now, I know it's only a matter of time before it's terminal car cancer. I also know that the life of a Subaru here is the inevitable losing battle against rust, and once it starts, you can only do your best to slow it down. So, my questions are this: It's started to bubble. How much of a chance do I actually have at keeping it at bay for some more years? Because the rust is in that seam, does that mean I'm completely hosed? Does anybody have a "here's how I did it and it worked well / horribly" story? Share? Does anybody recommend a shop that can do some mitigation for a reasonable cost? Thanks in advance!
Hmmmm....that's one place I haven't closely examined yet on my '05. It looks to me like it is coming from inside the seam. I would think that there is no cheap way to fix that properly.
Raymond will tell you that they 'primarily do collision, there are better places for rust'. While their office responded quickly, their estimators sure don't seem eager for work.
If you really want to take care of it take a wire brush wheel and a drill and get as much out of it as you can, then go and get some POR15 and a paint brush that you dont care if you throw away or not and some gloves that you can toss and take the drill with the wire wheel and take it down as far as you can, Then tape off the parts you dont want to get covered in the POR15 then open the can making sure you dont get any of the POR15 in the can seam then paint it with the POR15 and wait for it to harden. If you do get some of the POR15 in the rim and you cant clean it out, then take some wax paper and put that between the top of the can and the can so it can be used again. POR 15 is kinda spendy tho, I think I bought it for $12 for a 4 oz can and you wont even need a eighth of that can for that small of a spot. Also wear clothes you dont care if you get them dirty or not either cause this stuff doesnt come out of clothes at all, and itll come off skin only in time
And there is always the option of Shorty the Firefighter's Body Shop. They do awesome rust repair. When they're done you would never know you had a rust issue in the first place.
If you want it done cheap, and especially if it's in a place like under the gas cover, go to your local technical college. If they have an autobody program, they will fix it for you for just the price of materials, zero labor. One of my buds offered that route to me on my car, just have to be able to be without a car for a little while. Pretty much just pay for the paint, and you're also helping the next generation of autobody specialists out there. Just my .02.
That's essentially exactly what I was thinking, minus the product. I'd actually never heard of POR-15, but it looks legit. Obviously inside the gas door, I'm not worried if it's painted black, so this might be exactly what I do. Definitely a possibility I hadn't considered. Does anybody have any exact experience with this? How long would I be without the car? Might not be an option, considering it's my only car right now. Thanks for your input, everyone!
My buddy said it could be up to 3 weeks for them to get around to it. So may not be an option if you have no other car.
So i could drop mine off in 3 weeks. Sweet! Lol But seriously, that idea makes me tink. I'd love to get all mah damages repaired for the cost of materials!
Welle auto supply is a licensed POR15 dealer. They are located in Blaine right off hwy 65 and columbia heights off hwy 65. Other auto parts stores can prolly get it in but most of the guys prolly have never used the stuff but the guys at Welle have used it and know what theyre doing with it
