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Pinpoint rust

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

Reply to
Betsy
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Reply to
Edward Hayes

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!

Reply to
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.

Reply to
NitroTrike

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?

Reply to
name

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.

Reply to
null

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

Reply to
Betsy

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

Reply to
Steve Bukosky

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