What does everyone think of this rust?

[mike561]

This is behind the glove box and the passenger floor, i had to cut away the carpet that got soaked, has anyone seen this happen before? i dont know what to do:

['97ventureowner]

I would kind of expect something like that in a 24 year old car. I've come to the realization after working on countless vehicles over the years that nothing lasts forever . Actually I see that all the time in my neck of the woods, as they use a lot of salt o our roads in the winter and rust gets into all crevices of a car up here. Many cars I've bought in the past had practically no floorboards left in them and I'm sure that's where the rust started... then spread. Most of the "older" daily driver cars on our roads here are of the early to mid '90s vintage.Most cars from the '80s are no longer around.
I would try to clean it up as best as you can and apply a rust stopper/preventative on the area. The trick is to keep moisture from the area.

[mike561]

yeah the only thing i can think of is putting the rust stopper all over that area, and bondo over that spot to try and seal it up as best as possible. i dont get it though, there arent any signs of exterior rust on the body, so its kind of hard to tell if this car has ever been in snow or not.

['97ventureowner]

Common areas for rust on the interior or underside of the body are usually near seams or welds as evidenced by your photos. Moisture can find it's way into the most remote parts of your vehicle and the process begins.

[mike561]

all of this stuff makes me to just want to sell the car, i cant afford these type of repairs, the engine is one thing but stuff like this is major too.

['97ventureowner]

If that's all the rust you've found then it's not really that bad. The best thing to do since the exterior of the car appears to be in pretty good shape is to either get under the car, or put it up on a lift. Look all under the car paying close attention to the backside of the body panels, trunk area, floorboards, and frame. If it is still in good shape then you should be set for awhile. As soon as you start seeing new areas of rust, take care of them right away and you can extend the life of your car. It appears you already have 2 good things going for you, a good running engine and a decent body on the car. Especially on a vehicle that old. You can save a lot of money by doing the repairs yourself. Not sure if you're up to it? Learn how. There are plenty of opportunities to learn whether it 's from books, the internet, or watching someone else.

[mike561]

yeah the engine runs great, thats definetly one thing im glad about having the car, and the interior is really clean, aside the soaked passenger side carpet now, the seats are still flawless (and dry) anyway. im thinking that maybe one of the drain ducts on the pass side could be a little clogged, because it only leaks like that when it rains very hard and constant like yesterday. i may have that checked out too, how would i access the drain system on the pass. side of the car anyway to make sure its clear? ive never taken that area apart before.

[PeteA216]

I don't understand how the carpet got soaked though. I thought the underside of the carpet was rubber to prevent things like that. When you initially said the carpet was wet, the first thing that came to my mind was a leaky heater core If that rust started from the other side then there is no metal left in the spot. Grinding it all out, and welding a new piece in is the best solution if that's the case. I'm not sure where you live and if they use salt in the winters, but you car looks to be in amazing shape (at least the body) It's very rare in my area to see a Caprice of that age in that great of shape. In terms of rust, the body of my '84 is in great, rust free shape aside from parts of the door bottoms. It's seen 3 winter, once by the previous owner, and 2 by me... I've since stopped that and now keep mine out of the salt ridden winters. Anyway, I have had a lot of problems with floorboard rot. Nothing structurtally threatening, but small rust-throughs mainly on the rear floorboards. Not noticeable from the inside, and the insulation has gathered moisture, but since my carpet has that rubber underside, it keeps it dry on the interior. I've done my best to weld up the major ones, and where any rust has started on the underside (I always say this I know. Sorry) when dry I take some long term grease and spread it and work it into the rust and leave it alone. It's messy, but it stops the rust dead in it's tracks. I put grease in the small rust-throughs in my rear floorboard that weren't weld-worthy yet and that keeps water from getting to the insulation.

all of this stuff makes me to just want to sell the car

It's a great looking car, and it's value has nowwhere to go but up now at it's age (well down a bit now due to the gaping hole in your carpet).

[mike561]

well i live in FL, so im not too sure how rust could form here, unless the car has spent some time in the snow during its past life. i appreciate the comments on how a great looking car it is though, makes the decision easier for me to sell or not. but yeah there is rubber under the carpet though, the leak was under the carpet as well as above it too (behind the glove box on the firewall) so both sides got moist. i may have fixed the part on the flor, i put some bondo body filler over it, but im not sure if that will work though, i think water is able to seep through bondo still it seems like. i know new metal being welded in would be the best thing though, these body places charge so much though, for such little things like that. btw i still have the peice of carpet i cut out, so i could dry it and just place it back in.

[silicon212]

Another possibility of rust formation that I am surprised nobody has brought up yet are things such as spilled soda/water or a leaky heater core module. Possible flooding at some point in the past is a real possibility, especially if you live in coastal FL with its hurricane/tropical storm issues.

[mike561]

for now, ill just get a tarp to put over the whole car when heavy rain is expected. i also keep a bucket under the dash as well. i just removed the pass. seat and took up the carpet (i took up the carpet so it can be used still) what a disaster under it though, the padding under the carpet was saturated and could not be salvaged. there was also alot of surface rust on the floor of the back pass. side as well where the water ran down to and pooled up for years probably, but the metal still seems solid thank goodness.

[bobss396]

Pop a couple of holes in the floor under it and it'll self-drain, problem fixed!

Seriously, give the carpet a good sniff test, you'll be able to smell coolant if the heater core is leaking.

Look up top under the hood for leaves and other junk that allows water to lay above the rust spot area. You may have to take those strainers off, but clean out any debris that is contributing to water collecting. You might even find rust under the windshield, I've seen that on older GM cars before and the fix is not easy.

Bob

['97ventureowner]

Originally Posted by silicon212

Another possibility of rust formation that I am surprised nobody has brought up yet are things such as spilled soda/water or a leaky heater core module. Possible flooding at some point in the past is a real possibility, especially if you live in coastal FL with its hurricane/tropical storm issues.

I had thought about bringing up the subject of the car being in Florida and the effects of the "salt air" that is prevalent along the coastal areas. I haven't seen much about it , but have heard from people living in those areas that their vehicles seem to have the same issues as those of us living in the colder climates where salt is used on the roads in the winter. The problem extends beyond the flooding from tropical storms/hurricanes, and I guess the air in those areas is laden with salt and can get into areas of the car that is difficult to see and cause rust to form.

[PeteA216]

Another possibility of rust formation that I am surprised nobody has brought up yet are things such as spilled soda/water or a leaky heater core module.

I did... 8th post down from the top. Anyway, I've heard the exact same thing as '97VentureOwner, but haven't ever seen it first hand even though I've been to Florida many times.

[bobss396]

I don't think being in Florida really has any bearing on this particular rust area. Unless the car was closed up outside for a prolonged period of time, then there could be a case of the humidity creeping in. But then you would see it elsewhere, as in the trunk, back floor.

I still think this car has a leak of some sort allowing water to collect. As many of these cars do, although most of them get junked before things like this pop up.

Bob