Have a bit of a concern with rust on my just over-a-year-old 09 Fit Sport. I removed the spoiler yesterday to replace it with an aftermarket spoiler and noticed small surface rust spots. I don't know how serious of an issue this is, as it just seems to be on the surface. It does not come off with a microfiber towel and cleaner, so it is somewhat embedded. The rust spots appear all along the line where the spoiler meets the roof. Here are some pics:


LEFT



CENTER




RIGHT





Thoughts? What should be used to remove the rust safely? It does not come off with a microfiber towel and cleaner, so it is somewhat embedded.

 

try claybar

 

Came off with clay. Don't know how the rust developed on top of the paint since there was no contact with exposed metal.

 

hmm...just swapped to my JDP rear spoiler about 3 weeks ago and I was rust free. Curious to what it could be...like you said there is no exposed metal??

 

Hmm...

It certainly does look like rust. But like you, ontop of undamaged clearcoat and paint I find that almost impossible.

So I'm wondering if what you have is technically actually "rust" and not just some gripping, strange...mold or fungus?

In some definitions rust is refered to as a fungi...so perhaps you have a fungal cousin? One that obviously is able to grow on the surface of clearcoat.

When it removed with claybar did it leave behind any actual damage to the clear coat, paint or metal?

 

There are a few marks where the clear coat was rubbed off by vibrations of the spoiler on the hatch. No rust in those spots, though. I do a lot of driving back in forth from school to home (~100 miles), so I figure small bits of metal from the air just got trapped underneath the spoiler and turned to rust after sitting for a while.

 

ouch but glad it removed nice fit by the way

 

After my first winter I had those spots all over. Some called it rail rust. Clay bar cured it and have not returned.