diagnostics and a spot of welding

[P38Penguin]

Hi guys and gals,

I've had my rangie about a month now and slowly getting everything sorted for her mot next month. There are a few things that I cannot do myself.

1 - The airbag fault message is on the display. I don't know if it's an actual fault or a sympton of a dying battery (leave it 2-3 days and it's as dead as a dodo (the becm does go to sleep)). Will get a new one sometime this week but would someone be willing to plug me in?

2 - The spare wheel well is in a sorry state. Very rusty and holy in places. I've never dabbled with welding but guessing it needs to be cut out and a new piece put in.

I'm more than willing to get my hands dirty and would appreciate any help you can offer. Beer tokens and my eternal gratitude are on offer

Thanks

mick

 

[MrGorsky]

The hole is there to let the leaking rain water out again.

It doesn't look too bad to me, just clean it up, Hammerite it, and leave the hole and it should be fine for another 10 years.

 

[Datatek]

I wouldn't go near it with any sort of electric welder, ECU's may not like it. I would just clean it up, treat it with Phosphoric acid to neutralise the rust and coat it with epoxy resin and some fine glass mat.

 

[mickwall]

And I guess connecting diagnostics will help with the airbag. Where abouts are you perhaps someone can help out.

 

[P38Penguin]

Thanks for the advice. If you look to immediatly up and slightly to the right of the hole there is like a cresent shape where it has rusted through (not very clear in the photo, will get a better one tomorrow) what would my options be with that?

data, that sounds like a plan, will look into it.

I'm based in Oldbury, slap bang between j2-3 of the m5.

Thanks for your help guys

mick

 

[dogsbody]

Thanks for the advice. If you look to immediatly up and slightly to the right of the hole there is like a cresent shape where it has rusted through (not very clear in the photo, will get a better one tomorrow) what would my options be with that?

data, that sounds like a plan, will look into it.

I'm based in Oldbury, slap bang between j2-3 of the m5.

Thanks for your help guys

mick

Quick wire brush, treat the rust, chuck in some filler, paint inside and a slap of undercoat outside. Come back to it once you've you've got an MOT and decided if the car is a keeper.

 

[P38Penguin]

Thanks dogsbody, now that the weather is nice I can have a crack at that. Any particular rust prention/filler you'd reccomend?

thanks again

mick

 

[gfromleeds]

As above
That said it don't look that bad! cant see the road yet lol

 

[mutsnutz]

I used a flapper disc and painted it with under seal inside and out and had no problems since but there were no holes in it

 

[P38Penguin]

As above
That said it don't look that bad! cant see the road yet lol

You can a little bit I'll clean it out tomorrow and see how strong the metal/rust is.

mick