Rust on the GE Fit....what to do?

[Hondafrk]

Isn't really that big of a deal, but at the same time for me, it is since its on a car which is less than a year old.... Its located in the area on the front bumper where the tow hook screws into the frame...rear towhook area was fine when I checked it. Just happened to pop the cover loose earlier and noticed it. You guys think anything should be done about it, mentioning it to the dealer or anything??

Anyone else noticed this?

[Spacecoast]

I would'nt worry about that. Very little paint gets sprayed there..clean it and touch it up. I would however remove the top plastic cover..the one located just above the top grill (under the hood). With that removed, you can see the entire bumper beam, which is what you are looking at now. See if there are any more problems.

[Hondafrk]

Alright i'll do that when I get a chance, thank you.

[Virtual]

I would coat that and the threads with anti-seize compound.

[Black3sr]

I would put the cap back on and forget it. No big deal.

[Hondafrk]

Originally Posted by Black3sr

I would put the cap back on and forget it. No big deal.

But it is to me, not going to just "forget" about visual rust on something I'm working my butt off to pay for. Won't happen.

[Black3sr]

Originally Posted by Hondafrk

But it is to me, not going to just "forget" about visual rust on something I'm working my butt off to pay for. Won't happen.

Visual only if you leave the cap off. It is not uncommon to see such rust. Crawl underneath and you are going to find lots more.

[Hondafrk]

Originally Posted by Black3sr

Visual only if you leave the cap off. It is not uncommon to see such rust. Crawl underneath and you are going to find lots more.

I doubt I'd find too much yet, the car really hasn't seen any bad weather yet besides hard rain, this morning is the coldest its been since I've had the car, it was around 30 degrees F. My '91 Civic doesn't have hardly any to speak of either. We're blessed with decent winter weather in the south compared to people in the north.

[Kittengolf]

Honestly, you are making a bigger deal out of it than probably needs to be. If you are that concerned about it, take a wire brush to it, and repaint it. Otherwise, park it in a airtight bubble somewhere and do not touch it.

[Hondafrk]

Originally Posted by Kittengolf

Honestly, you are making a bigger deal out of it than probably needs to be. If you are that concerned about it, take a wire brush to it, and repaint it. Otherwise, park it in a airtight bubble somewhere and do not touch it.

Might be, just want to get it fixed and not see it again. I could be like bubble boy!

[Spacecoast]

My guess is that the paint didn't "take" there due perhaps to the threads that were cut. Maybe there was cutting oil on that spot, or some other comtaminat. I would look the car over good just to see if there are any other problems. That particular part is the front bumper beam that acually unbolts from the frame. I would look to see if it has any other problems with rust by removing that upper plastic panel, but I doubt that it will. I think that issue had something to do with the treads.

[Hondafrk]

I'll do that man, thanks!

[smaglik]

ignore it.

[cloudasc]

Factory Warranty covers rust for 5 years if I'm correct, so if you have any rust, you should talk with your dealer and they will address the issue, a little sandpaper and some touch paint might be all it takes.

[shazaam]

yea, I'd go back to the dealer n let em spray it tbh. was a paint chip/"explosion" i would call it on my roof where the metal had popped up in a spot and the paint came off on top of (really hard to explain what it was lo)...anyways, took it to the dealer n yea, honda covered the repair. they won't cover rock chips that scratch the paint n begin to rust. but yea, you could just sand it down n spray it too lol considering it's an unnoticeable spot really.

[Black3sr]

Originally Posted by cloudasc

Factory Warranty covers rust for 5 years if I'm correct, so if you have any rust, you should talk with your dealer and they will address the issue, a little sandpaper and some touch paint might be all it takes.

Can you imagine the fun they would have with that one at the Dealership?

[Selden]

As others have said, this is cosmetic, not structural. If it bothers you, clean and paint, then find a metric screw and screw it in (with some thread lubricant, or wrap the threads with Teflon tape. OR, find a piece of plastic or rubber plug big enough to engage the threads, and screw that in. Dealers have more important things to do than deal with something like this; if I were a dealer, I would probably tell you to go take a hike (which may be why I'm not a dealer...) Your time is worth something: driving to a dealer, then waiting, then driving back home will take a lot of it; you can do the repair yourself for less effort.

[smaglik]

Originally Posted by cloudasc

Factory Warranty covers rust for 5 years if I'm correct, so if you have any rust, you should talk with your dealer and they will address the issue, a little sandpaper and some touch paint might be all it takes.

The dealer would likely have a hard time hiding a smile at you. I know I would. The warranty is for rust perforation, from the inside, not for surface rust. When you ad in that the surface wasnt treated originally, likely because it is the interior threads for the two hook, which is covered by the bumper...

Haven't you ever had a car that's a few years old that has some rust on the undercarraige, but the paint was exceptional?

Just enjoy the car, and stop worrying!

[55Fit55]

Be careful not to scratch the cover taking it on and off to examine this rust spot.

If that would happen, the men in the white suits will be taking you to the padded room in a straightjacket..............