Pinpoint rust

[Betsy]

Hello fellow Subaru drivers,

My '99 Forester has recently developed some pinpoint rust spots on the rear
hatch door. Very tiny, about the size of the period at the end of this
sentence. They're not in a pattern, just 10-12 random dots. I live in the
mid-atlantic region so there's not a great deal of snow, and according to
Carfax the car was originally leased in Florida (I'm the second owner), so
I'm surprised to see this so soon.

The rest of the car is in terrific shape, so I'll most likely have the hatch
painted before it gets any worse.

It's just weird though. I could understand it if it were on the front of
the car, where rocks might fly up, or on the hood where hail might have
struck, but these are all on the vertical surface of the BACK of the car.
Does anyone have any thoughts on what could have caused this?

Betsy

 

[Edward Hayes]

Repainted before you purchased the vehicle?

 

[Betsy]

Hadn't thought of that. The Carfax report didn't show anything, but that
doesn't mean work hadn't been done on it and not reported. The paint
matches perfectly though.

I grew up in upstate New York and I've seen a LOT of rusted cars, but this
has me stumped!

 

[NitroTrike]

From: "Betsy" (e-mail address removed)

Date: 8/19/2004 7:42 PM Eastern Standard Time
Message-id: <(e-mail address removed)>

Hello fellow Subaru drivers,

My '99 Forester has recently developed some pinpoint rust spots on the rear
hatch door. Very tiny, about the size of the period at the end of this
sentence. They're not in a pattern, just 10-12 random dots. I live in the
mid-atlantic region so there's not a great deal of snow, and according to
Carfax the car was originally leased in Florida (I'm the second owner), so
I'm surprised to see this so soon.

The rest of the car is in terrific shape, so I'll most likely have the hatch
painted before it gets any worse.

It's just weird though. I could understand it if it were on the front of
the car, where rocks might fly up, or on the hood where hail might have
struck, but these are all on the vertical surface of the BACK of the car.
Does anyone have any thoughts on what could have caused this?

Betsy

Perhaps someone had something in the back that spilled, like a car or
motorcycle battery, some kind of solvent, etc. Even a can of cola ive heard
will wreak havok on paint / clearcoat.

PS Carfax wont show anything if it wasnt reported or claimed to an insurance
company.

 

[name]

Hello fellow Subaru drivers,

My '99 Forester has recently developed some pinpoint rust spots on the rear
hatch door. Very tiny, about the size of the period at the end of this
sentence. They're not in a pattern, just 10-12 random dots. I live in the

Its the paint actually gone on those spots? It might be particles of
steel or iron that got stuck to the outside of the paint, and rusted in
place. Can you pluck them away with your fingernail?

 

[null]

Its the paint actually gone on those spots? It might be particles of
steel or iron that got stuck to the outside of the paint, and rusted in
place. Can you pluck them away with your fingernail?

I was going to suggest this as a cause also. You get a 'clay bar' from the
local
pepboys etc. This should remove anything stuck in the clearcoat.

 

[Betsy]

The spots LOOK like you could rub or pick them off, but up close it's clear
that the paint is gone. I even got out the magnifying glass when I first
noticed them. "NitroTrike" suggested that some kind of solvent might have
been splashed on it at one time, that dissolved the paint. After reading
that, I looked at the spots again and they could be considered to be in a
splash-type pattern, kinda maybe sorta.

Thanks everyone for the ideas...I've been puzzling over it for weeks. My
mechanic referred me to a good body shop. I'm taking it in next week to get
an estimate and I'll let you know how it turns out.

Betsy

 

[Steve Bukosky]

Interesting. I notice one of the same on the upper side of the hatch
on my 2002 Forester.