rust and pitting on the back of the car

skijapan · 07-29-2006, 03:37 AM

I gave my one year old Prius a long over due bath today. Usually I only have time to power wash it at the car wash, but today it got a sponge bath too. Anyway, I noticed what looks like dirt specs all over the rear end and when I went to wash them away, I realized that they are actually tiny pits that are starting to rust.

Does anyone else notice this on their car? There are absolutely no pits, (yet, knock on wood...) on the front of the car. I suppose it's the aero dynamics, heck, bugs don't even stick to my windshield. Could it be that the air is flying over the car and crashing into the back, embedding the dirt and creating pits?

I've been trying to get around to waxing the car for weeks now, and I finally got about half way when it started to rain. Will that help the problem? Any other ideas?

Thanks

IsrAmeriPrius · 07-29-2006, 11:19 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(skijapan @ Jul 29 2006, 12:37 AM) [snapback]294231[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Anyway, I noticed what looks like dirt specs all over the rear end and when I went to wash them away, I realized that they are actually tiny pits that are starting to rust.[/b]

Where on the rear end? The bumper is plastic and the hatch is aluminum. Neither one of these substances rust. Are you referring to the quarter panel?

**Tideland Prius** · 07-29-2006, 12:24 PM

not sure but I apparently have rust on the rear black plastic skirt.. not sure how that works.

richard schumacher · 07-29-2006, 01:41 PM

I don't know what th' heck you're seeing but it isn't rust. Compare it to the bracket which supports the rear of the muffler: that's rust.

skijapan · 07-29-2006, 08:14 PM

That would be nice if it's not rust. The pits are all over the back panel surrounding the license plate. It looks like dirt is stuck on there, but rather than bumps, they're divits. I'll go try and take a picture to post.

Godiva · 07-29-2006, 09:03 PM

Almost sounds like rock chips.....but how would you get chips in the back.

Could that "rust" be primer?

**TonyPSchaefer** · 07-29-2006, 09:38 PM

Both my wife's car and Priapus have similar spots. Tiny tiny little specs which, when you rub them, do seem to go away but come back in time. They are brownish in color.

brandon · 07-30-2006, 12:01 AM

tree sap? road tar?

Frank Hudon · 07-30-2006, 12:28 AM

GT88 and a soft cloth and some rubbing and their gone.

skijapan · 07-30-2006, 02:17 AM

Got it taken care of! My neighbor had some soft sticky puddy that you scrub the paint with while keeping the area wet. It pulls the rust right out of the paint. Apparently this is a common problem as dust and road salt get kicked up into the back of the car. I was also able to get my brown speckled license plate shiny and white again using this puddy.

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07-29-2006, 03:37 AM	#1
skijapan Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hokkaido, Japan Posts: 87 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: S Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I gave my one year old Prius a long over due bath today. Usually I only have time to power wash it at the car wash, but today it got a sponge bath too. Anyway, I noticed what looks like dirt specs all over the rear end and when I went to wash them away, I realized that they are actually tiny pits that are starting to rust. Does anyone else notice this on their car? There are absolutely no pits, (yet, knock on wood...) on the front of the car. I suppose it's the aero dynamics, heck, bugs don't even stick to my windshield. Could it be that the air is flying over the car and crashing into the back, embedding the dirt and creating pits? I've been trying to get around to waxing the car for weeks now, and I finally got about half way when it started to rain. Will that help the problem? Any other ideas? Thanks

07-29-2006, 12:24 PM	#3
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,616 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 228 Thanked 344 Times in 243 Posts Friends: 23	not sure but I apparently have rust on the rear black plastic skirt.. not sure how that works.

07-29-2006, 01:41 PM	#4
richard schumacher Destination: Eschaton Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: United States Posts: 5,508 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: #6 Thanks: 99 Thanked 93 Times in 66 Posts Friends: 0	I don't know what th' heck you're seeing but it isn't rust. Compare it to the bracket which supports the rear of the muffler: that's rust.

07-29-2006, 08:14 PM	#5
skijapan Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hokkaido, Japan Posts: 87 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: S Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	That would be nice if it's not rust. The pits are all over the back panel surrounding the license plate. It looks like dirt is stuck on there, but rather than bumps, they're divits. I'll go try and take a picture to post.

07-29-2006, 09:03 PM	#6
Godiva AmeriKan Citizen Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 10,342 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 7	Almost sounds like rock chips.....but how would you get chips in the back. Could that "rust" be primer?

07-29-2006, 09:38 PM	#7
TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 10,498 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 39 Thanked 165 Times in 106 Posts Friends: 23	Both my wife's car and Priapus have similar spots. Tiny tiny little specs which, when you rub them, do seem to go away but come back in time. They are brownish in color.

07-30-2006, 12:01 AM	#8
brandon Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Manhattan, KS Posts: 770 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	tree sap? road tar?

07-30-2006, 12:28 AM	#9
Frank Hudon Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 4,144 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	GT88 and a soft cloth and some rubbing and their gone.

07-30-2006, 02:17 AM	#10
skijapan Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hokkaido, Japan Posts: 87 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: S Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Got it taken care of! My neighbor had some soft sticky puddy that you scrub the paint with while keeping the area wet. It pulls the rust right out of the paint. Apparently this is a common problem as dust and road salt get kicked up into the back of the car. I was also able to get my brown speckled license plate shiny and white again using this puddy.