Rust bubbling on rear arches - Xsara

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dave_xsara
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Rust bubbling on rear arches - Xsara

Post by dave_xsara »

What is the process to remove this?
Got rust bubbling on the rear arches - both sides, but predominantly on the rhs.

Can it be grinded back and sprayed or does the affected area need cut out and replaced?
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Re: Rust bubbling on rear arches - Xsara

Post by GiveMeABreak »

I think you'll only find this out when you rub them back and see what condition the metal is in - with a bit of luck it may be some moisture under the paint. Treat the metal with some rust converter, but wither way you'll need to prime, paint and lacquer regardless - but if it's over a lot of the arch it may easier to do and be less noticeable after with a larger area to spray - trying to blend in smaller dotted areas with original paint is a nightmare - better to have a larger surface IMO.
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dave_xsara
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Re: Rust bubbling on rear arches - Xsara

Post by dave_xsara »

IMG_20210104_123223.jpg
Well it flaked off when washing. Hopefully I can get away with a just working that patch. Just worried that paint matching will be an issue as the original paintwork is now 20 years old.

On another issue, how are indicator lens on the wings held on? Seems like they need glueing to hold in place, they don't snap on - I disbelief see anything fall off when I went to change the bulb.
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Re: Rust bubbling on rear arches - Xsara

Post by Paul-R »

Do you mean the little oval repeaters on the front wings? They're held in place by the springiness of the plastic at one end. You remove them by trying to slide the body sideways to compress the plastic spring and this then allows the opposite side to be manoeuvred out, followed by the side with the plastic spring.
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dave_xsara
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Re: Rust bubbling on rear arches - Xsara

Post by dave_xsara »

Tried that but didn't work. Has a bit broken off these?
IMG_20210106_193846.jpg
IMG_20210106_193627.jpg
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Re: Rust bubbling on rear arches - Xsara

Post by Paul-R »

Yes, the clear plastic has broken off the base. You might be able to glue it back on. I "borrowed" this pic from Ebay and cropped it a bit. You can clearly see the plastic spring. You have to slide the backplate against that spring and then you can flip the other side up and then fiddle the whole lot out.

These units have had their wires cut for speed of removal. The plug doesn't take much longer to disconnect on your own car.
Pug-Cit repeater lamps cropped.jpg
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dave_xsara
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Re: Rust bubbling on rear arches - Xsara

Post by dave_xsara »

Thanks - what I hadn't realised was that these indicators are supposedly sealed units and instead of replacing the bulb, you replace the entire unit. I'll just be gluing these lenses back on.

Video for Toyota, but same principle applies - I think.

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Re: Rust bubbling on rear arches - Xsara

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

I don't believe they are sealed units on a Xsara. I think that, once the units are off the car, the base can twist to allow the orange bulb to be accessed and removed. Just make sure to tie a length of string to the cable first, just in case it should drop back inside the wing. This ebay link shows multiple images of the side repeaters;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2X-Side-Mark ... SwNp1evNWd
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dave_xsara
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Re: Rust bubbling on rear arches - Xsara

Post by dave_xsara »

Ahh - see how they work now - I didn't take the base off so I didn't realise they were access from behind.
Little odds, as I knocked it off when washing so it will be a new unit or gluing the lens on for me.
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Re: Rust bubbling on rear arches - Xsara

Post by Hell Razor5543 »

Well, the pair from ebay don't look to be too expensive. The only possible problem is how long they would take to get to you.
Last edited by Hell Razor5543 on 07 Jan 2021, 13:01, edited 1 time in total.
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dave_xsara
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Re: Rust bubbling on rear arches - Xsara

Post by dave_xsara »

Back to the rust...
How much can you expect to pay for a cheap full paintjob? The front of car has got peppered over the years with stone chips and laquer peeling on bonnet, bumpers and roof. Plus now this rust on the arches. Not looking top quality only to tidy it up.
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Re: Rust bubbling on rear arches - Xsara

Post by Paul-R »

Hell Razor5543 wrote: 07 Jan 2021, 12:00I think that, once the units are off the car, the base can twist to allow the orange bulb to be accessed and removed.
That's exactly it. Remove the plug and then you can take the bulb holder out of the backplate.
Hell Razor5543 wrote: 07 Jan 2021, 12:00Just make sure to tie a length of string to the cable first, just in case it should drop back inside the wing.
An extremely good idea! =D>
As I get older I think a lot about the hereafter - I go into a room and then wonder what I'm here after.

Inside every old person is a young person wondering what the hell happened.

"Trying is the first step towards failure" ~ Homer J Simpson​
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