Small rust spot on quarterpanel... - Honda Prelude Forum

L-U-R-C-H · 08-22-2002, 10:04 PM

I have a little bit of rust on my quarterpanel just above the wheel and was wondering what would be the best way to take care of it. It hasn't eaten all the way through the metal or anything but mostly just taken off the layer of paint and left rust. Could I get a suggestion on how I can deal with this problem? Thanks.

Brady92/4WS · 08-22-2002, 10:47 PM

take it to a bodyshop, it will cost anywhere from 100-300 depending on the shop and how bad it is

L-U-R-C-H · 08-23-2002, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brady92/4WS
take it to a bodyshop, it will cost anywhere from 100-300 depending on the shop and how bad it is

But what can I do myself so that it doesn't get worse? Sand it down and primer it?

Mark94 · 08-23-2002, 06:52 AM

Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do, the damage is done. The problem with Hondas is their quarter panel design which promotes rust. It's not just a surface rust area but the rust is actually behind the panel and eating through to the outside of the car. Hondas are designed with two panels, the outside panel which we obviously see and the inner panel. If water gets caught between these two panels the water has no way out and eats its way through in the form of rust. I had this problem corrected on my previous Prelude. The body shop can fix it one of two ways. Cut out the infected area and bondo it then sand it flat and repaint, or they can cut out the infected area, fabricate a new piece of metal to cover the hole and weld it to the panel, then sand it flat and repaint. The last option is the correct way to fix it because the bondo will eventually crack. Cost me $400 cash 4 years ago to get this done.

Get it done soon because it will just keep getting worse and require more labor hours to remove the infected area. It may not look that bad right now but it actually is pretty bad underneath.

One final note. The cause of the water getting trapped between the two panels is the weather stripping on the lip of the wheel wells. think about it, do you ever see a honda with rust on the front fenders? Just on the rear quarter panels where the weather stripping is present. There is no weather stripping on the front fenders. If you get it fixed, periodically take off the weather stripping to wipe it clean and make sure no moisture is underneath it.

Good luck.

Mark

bk94si · 08-23-2002, 08:09 AM

Thanks, Mark. I have the same thing on mine.

L-U-R-C-H · 08-23-2002, 10:07 AM

Yeah, yer right cuz I did notice that the weather stripping is coming off a tad. Would it be wise to order a new weather strip?

Also, won't cutting out the panel and welding in a new peice really take down the value of the car?

bk94si · 08-23-2002, 10:26 AM

Cutting and welding will cut down on the value but not as much as a gaping rusting hole in the side of your car.

L-U-R-C-H · 08-23-2002, 10:34 AM

Yeah, I understand. Anyone know where I can get some new weatherstripping for the quarterpanel?