Rust on door sills - what to do?

Adam18290 · 10 Apr 2008 at 17:41

Hi there,

Got some rust building up either side on the bottom on my door seals and also on the bottom of 1 of my doors. Have researched on the net and its supposedly quite a common place for the KA to rust.

Now I havent a clue about motors so wondered what you think would be the best thing to do?

Got some pictures below.

Drivers Side:

Passenger Side:

Drivers side Door:

Thanks in advance

mjt · 10 Apr 2008 at 17:46

is it just me, or is imageshack even slower than usual?

it doesn't even load properly

Well Splattered · 10 Apr 2008 at 17:51

I had exactly the same on my KA sill on the drivers side. It cost £190inc to have it cut out, patched and resprayed. Its now like new cosmetically. If you let it continue rotting, then it will fail its MOT depending on how close the hole is too the seat belt securing point.

I also have a hole exactly where yours is appearing on the door.

Lopéz · 10 Apr 2008 at 17:54

If that corrosion on the sill is weak enough to be punctured by the MOT testing hammer the car will fail the MOT, sills are considered structural on modern monocoques.

Solution is usually to cut a section of sill from another car or a new part, cut out the rotten section and weld it in.

Mark A · 10 Apr 2008 at 17:58

Depends how deep the rust goes, looks like you should have got it treated when you first noticed a small bit of rust. If its too late you'll have to get it cut out as suggested above.

If its just surface rust you need to take a wire brush to it and get it down to bright steel. Then use some rust converter to kill any rust in the pitting. After that spray a few coats of primer on then your cars colour.

Once you've sorted that rust it would be a good idea to get a waxoyl kit and spray it into all the box sections, under the cills, inside body panels and door panels etc. This will help to keep any further rust at bay. The Ka doesn't have a galvanized chassis so rust is very common.

Mr Jack · 10 Apr 2008 at 18:17

Only one thing to do, park up near some chavs, leave the keys in the ignition and walk home.

greengiant · 10 Apr 2008 at 19:07

How old is your KA?

Adam18290 · 10 Apr 2008 at 19:13

greengiant said:
How old is your KA?

X Reg 2000

greengiant · 10 Apr 2008 at 21:13

Quite bad rust for an 8 year old car? Mind you it could have been a wee scratch on the sill which has let water in under the paint over the years. If the rust is superficial then try wire brushing it down to clean metal, then hammerite it?

Defcon5 · 10 Apr 2008 at 21:29

Mr Jack said:
Only one thing to do, park up near some chavs, leave the keys in the ignition and walk home.

Walk home to read the part on his insurance which states he will not be paid out if he left the keys in the ignition?

Mark A · 10 Apr 2008 at 22:43

Defcon5 said:
Walk home to read the part on his insurance which states he will not be paid out if he left the keys in the ignition?

I doubt the chavs would have taken the Ka anyway, would ruin their street rep

.